Thursday in the 2nd Week of Lent: Letter 12

Introduction:

  • Brief introduction of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, focusing on the theme of spiritual procrastination.  I made that term up so don’t be wondering why you might never have heard it before.
  • In Letter 12 of The Screwtape Letters, Uncle Screwtape advises his nephew Wormwood on how to gradually lead the human patient away from God.
  • This is where patience comes in.  Patience is a virtue for a reason.  We always want God to do things on our schedule.
  • Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns recounts the story of a conversation between a grandfather and his grandson about prayer.  The grandson tells his grandfather that he prayed for a million dollars and didn’t get it.  His grandfather replies, “That’s not praying, that’s wishing. 
  • Too many of my prayers are wishes.  God knows our needs before we ask and we need to recognize that God acts in God’s time.
  • Screwtape emphasizes the importance of small, seemingly insignificant sins and distractions that can accumulate over time. By encouraging the patient to indulge in minor vices and neglect his spiritual duties, Wormwood can create a sense of complacency and spiritual apathy. This gradual erosion of faith and virtue is more effective than sudden, dramatic temptations.
  • Mention the specific focus on Letter 12 and its emphasis on gradual spiritual decline.
  • Mere Christianity and why we do things.  In Mere Christianity, Lewis remands us that we all know the right thing to do and the right way to live.  This is the meaning of Spiritual Righteousness. 
  • But we begin to rationalize that our way of living is actually OK.   A good example are those folks who commit crimes that make us wonder how they thought they could get away with it.
  • Introduce the biblical passages: Jeremiah 17:5-10, Psalm 1, and Matthew 16:19-31, highlighting their relevance to the theme.
  • Remember the Lewis did not write The Screwtape Letters with our lectionary in mind.  I am using the scripture lessons assigned for each day in Lent as a way of illustrating our discussion of each Letter. 

 

2. Jeremiah 17:5-10:

·       Scripture Lessons work well with Letter 12.

·       Not by design

·       Tempting to say scripture speaks to everything – we need to be careful.  Proof texting is making the scriptures say what we want them to say.

·       Spare the rod and spoil the child has nothing to do with spanking your children.

  • But in this case Letter 12 and our Scripture lessons show us the contrast between trusting in ouselves and trusting in God.
  • Certainly! Jeremiah 17:5-10 is a passage from the Bible that contrasts the fate of those who trust in human strength versus those who trust in the Lord. Here's a brief summary:
  • Verses 5-6: These verses describe the consequences for those who rely on human strength and turn away from God. They are compared to a shrub in the desert, living in parched places and unable to see prosperity when it comes.  Like the constant pessimist who grumbles continually even when people are trying to help him.
  • Verses 7-8: In contrast, those who trust in the Lord are blessed. They are likened to a tree planted by water, which sends out its roots by the stream. This tree does not fear when heat comes and remains green, bearing fruit even in drought.
  • Verses 9-10: These verses highlight the deceitfulness of the human heart and God's ability to search and understand it. God rewards each person according to their deeds and the condition of their heart.
  • Compare this with Screwtape's strategy of leading the patient to trust in worldly things, resulting in spiritual dryness.

 

3. Psalm 1:

  • Memorizing the Psalms while I was in seminary.
  • Discuss the imagery of the tree planted by streams of water, representing a life rooted in God's Word.  Importance of Living Water in the desert.
  • Compare this with Screwtape's goal of uprooting the patient from spiritual nourishment, leading to a withered spiritual life.

 

4. Matthew 16:19-31:  Rich Man & Lazarus

  • One of my favorite stories in the Bible
  • C.S. Lewis  - The Great Divorce
  • If the Rich Man had repented, could he have joined Lazarus in the arms of Abraham?

 

Conclusion:

Close with our prayer for today.

O Lord, strong and mighty, Lord of hosts and King of glory: Cleanse our hearts from sin, keep our hands pure, and turn our minds from what is passing away; so that at the last we may stand in your holy place and receive your blessing; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.