In The Screwtape Letters, Lewis writes from the perspective of a senior devil Screwtape, who sends letters to his nephew Wormwood, instructing him in the ways of temptation and evil. In Letter XII, he talks about how good it is that the patient has become lukewarm in his faith. He is pleased that he is still going to church, still thinking he is a Christian, because as long as the patient remains unaware of his spilling away from God he will not realize that something is wrong and that he needs to repent and change his lifestyle. Screwtape describes this as a "dim uneasiness." It is crucial that Wormwood nurtures this feeling so that the patient will not become too aware and "spoil the whole game." This dim uneasiness is also an advantage for the devil because "it increases the patient's reluctance to think about the Enemy." Screwtape then tells Wormwood that the hard work is almost over, because as he becomes comfortable in this state, he will no longer need to be tempted by pleasures. Instead, he will be looking for excuses not to spend time with God or try developing a better relationship with Him: "You no longer need a good book, which he really likes, to keep him from his prayers or his work or his sleep; a column of advertisements in yesterday's paper will do." The patient will then slip into a state of nothingness. He concludes his letter with these troubling but true words: "Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."
I think that it is very important that we as Christians take the time to consider what we look like to the devil. And though Lewis can only use his imagination in writing these letters, to me a lot of it makes sense and it seems like a probable strategy for the devil. It is kind of scary to realize that even when we do not do wrong, we are still sinning because we are not doing right, by being stagnant and lukewarm in our faith. Though it is slightly terrifying, it is also important that we realize that it is the acculmulation of small sins that often leads down the road of destruction.
I agree with you that it is a scary thought that everything, every little thing we do can be either leading us closer or farther away from God. It is scary that the devil is using these little things that are barely noticable to attack us. That is why the Bible tells us to be alert at all times. It also challenges us to test our faith to see if we are in the truth. There is no other way to fight it. We must constantly be aware that we are being attacked in every small areas in our life.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the way you described the lukewarm faith and "dim uneasiness." This state is such an easy one to slip into and does build resentment toward God. Once this state becomes comfortable and we really do get to the point where we are looking for things to distract us from God. The way that I think we can combat this is being very intentional about our relationship with God and also searching our hearts for sin and repenting often.
ReplyDeleteIt is a terrifying reality that there are beings that are entirely bent on our destruction. It would give Satan no greater pleasure than to lead one of God's lambs into the awful fate of Hell, of which Satan knows he is doomed. That contrast of the hatred of the devil versus the love of God for His flock, gives us great reason to praise our God, because we know that Satan cannot succeed in our destruction.
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