The Screwtape Letters - chapter 31 and Screwtape Proposes a Toast:
First of all, Screwtape pronounces the undying love and devotion between himself and Wormwood as he closes out his book. He also emphasizes his disappointment in Wormwood for allowing the patient's soul to slip through his fingers; this is devastating for the Kingdom of Hell and the very throne itself. The rose-colored glasses came off of the patient's eyes and once again, he could see things crystal--the devil lost. This happens in everyday life. Sometimes, the rose-colored glasses do not come off in time and the person ends up in a tragedy and realizes the truth too late. How many people can verify that one? However, there is a relief and a strength that increases in a person from victory when the glasses are off in time; it truly feels like a cleansing. The devil (Screwtape) is a maneuverer. However, he is defeated by God because God is the ultimate strategic maneuver against evil! And, he removes the obstacles instantaneously like 'the twinkling of an eye.' Often times, people are aware of the adversary and his tactics but cannot or will not combat the circumstances around themm feel helpless in it, or are fatigued from the battle and length of time, etc. Whatever the case is, the only way the devil can be defeated is that you look to God in these moments and draw from his strength to endure to the end of it--the bible says that God will give you strength to outlast your enemies. Screwtape states that the patient saw not only what was in those people around him, but that he saw what was in them was within himself--a mirror reflection! Often times, God will allow the devil to do this to a person so that this person can see how hideous and rediculous he or she really is and correct it; it's called "a buffeting." Embracing the pain of its reality will help you to grow in that area, recognize it in others to help them, and be strengthened from it so that you will not be tempted by it again. These values become transfinite! They are embedded in us as a template for the future. The devil's own Intelligence Department will not be so intelligent afterall and he will never win in the end.
Screwtape explains the ramifications on his life as a result of the Screwtape Letters. He states that they 'produced a strain that was a sort of spiritual cramp.' It almost smothered him before he was finished. That should have told him something: That writing these letters through the devil's eyes was more than wrong; it was down right blasphemy and disobedient to God! It is a good thing, like he stated, that he pulled back as soon as he did. Screwtape was correct when he stated that Wormwood should have been the patient's guardian angel and have been balanced by archangelical advice for him. Screwtape definitely painted a one-sided picture--the devil's side--which was his goal. What do think he meant when he stated, "Mere advice would be no good; every sentence would have to smell of Heaven?" Screwtape starts his toast with the scene being in Hell at the annual dinner of the 'Tempters' Training College for young Devils. He is giving curses (If it was a toast in God, they would be blessings!) to these Tempters in the attempt to encourage them to continue the devil's work like he did, and do it worse! They are to feed off of fear, anguish and terror. He refers to a Farinata, a Henry VIII, or even a Hitler as 'real crackling--something to crunch, an egotism, a cruelty less robust than their own, a delicious resistance to being devoured--all things to strive for. He further characteristics of the Principal that he refers to as, 'a municipal authority with Graft sauce.' His drive is there but the way he presented himself to these Tempters was that of a 'nonentity who had drifted into corruption.' Screwtape obviously had no regard for him and stated that a Trade Unionist garnished with Claptrap was a shade better. I believe that Screwtape feels that he can do a better job at training these tempters. What are your feelings? In regard to gaining souls, Screwtape states that they need to consider first, the mere quantity is better than quality and then, triumph through delicate skill and extreme labor to take them from God's saving grace. Screwtape explains that the first job of the Tempters is to harden the consciousness of the person and obscure their language through steady repetitions or habits. That is a tactic the devil uses: For a person to repeat bad behavior to where it becomes embedded and is habitual. And, he chooses certain behavioral types and plays on their mind and emotions in order to accomplish this goal. A third moral that is most important for the Tempters to use are those 'great sinners whom vivid and genial passions have been pushed beyond the bounds and in whom an immense concentration of will has been devoted to objects which the Enemy (God) abhors. These people are the ones that should have been 'thrown to Cerberus and the hell-bound unfit for diabolical consumption.' They are the trash! Screwtape refers to these 'great sinners' as being made from the same material as the 'great saints.' Do you agree or disagree and why? I agree only in the context that they are a mirror reflection of the great saints, but have went bad. Also, the capability of sin is in everyone (humans) and no one is perfect. The devil cannot stand for God to desire humans as Christ-like--like himself. He is always trying to label the great saints with foul labels and equal them to the sinners of the world. Christians are not perfect, they are just forgiven. However, when God appoints you as his qualified leader, there is a reason. You have past his tests, polished, and when you walk in his Spirit for your life, you will make fewer mistakes because it is His advice and will that you are doing, not your own. The devil is an imitator and, therefore, that is what I see in Screwtape; he is trying to advise these Tempters to imitate the ways of God and steal souls from Him by using His own tactics against Him. This is evil! The devil will even use Democracy in extreme to accomplish this goal. He will use inferiority complexes such as, "I'm as good as you" where the believer is constantly defending himself or herself, entrapping that person in a vicious cycle to where they will say or do the wrong things and harm their life with their own words. Screwtape states that the political field are for the inferior. I agree, what about you? It gives them a sense of value, worthiness, and power; however, our authority positions do not need inferior people because it is detrimental for the people under that authority. An example would be the patient, in the case of the claim to equality, and an inferiority--the patient would refuse to accept it and, therefore, resent it as well as the person who feels superior to him.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The Screwtape Letters - chapters 28-30:
I chose chapter 29 because I have seen Screwtape's scenario so many times, especially in the area of pride with men. The devil (Screwtape) is incapable of producing anything good, much less virtue of anything or any kind. The only thing he can do is imitate or use anything that God creates. He has no originality! He imitates any virtue that a person has as a facade to deceive others. This is why Screwtape states that a wicked man needs a little virtue to be greatly effective. The virtuous facade allows the wickedness to fully operate under the scenes in that person, rendering him solely to Satan as well as accomplishing his job--to deceive him and others to do his will. And, why do you think that Screwtape states that their research department (Screwtape's and his father) has not discovered how to produce any virtue and can only rely on God's? I believe that if the devil had this ability in his hands that he could and would do more damage to people. How? I also believe that the results would render Christians a copious amount of warfare as if they do not have enough. This way, with the need to only be able to use virtues from God, the devil has to fight to gain access from the believer because he cannot create it. And, he's defeated especially when there are two or more Christians together. He does not stand a chance!
It does not matter who is bombarding the patient's town, the fact is that the town is being bombarded. The devil (Screwtape) is just looking for any opportunity to get the patient to fall to his prey with to sin, especially large sins because only in extremes can he cause a person to react dangerously and do the most harm. The devil's favorite area is emotions. God gave us emotions but to use them properly and to keep them in balance. Any deviation of any one of them places the believer into the devil's territory where they can then be distorted or twisted, exaggerated, and way out of control in extreme. He will play on your last nerve to cause you to react outwardly in a negative fashion such as, violence. Hatred is a very strong force and fear feeds it because the more you fear what you hate, the more you hate the fact that you are cowarding as well as the fact that you are fearing what you hate. For example, the devil chooses a person who is righteous and has not mastered their anger management by allowing it to be solely the wrath of God through His Spirit channeling down from Heaven. This is a "fleshly anger" of resentment or dislike (loathing) and, therefore, an emotion out of control and the devil's playground. Even righteous anger which is totally justified by God, can be misused by the devil in Christians if it is not buffered to where the person brings it to God's attention ASAP in order for Him to dispense the judgment. The devil knows that if he can steal your courage, a virtue, then he can cause you to waiver in cowardice and fear. Shame comes as a result of "you going there" and is very detrimental to a person's emotional state. The devil wants the patient to be broken where confusion sets in because that is when he will look for something to target his hatred toward. God allows calamity to come because He gets people's attention and He wiping out concentrated evil on earth. God will allow the devil to do his tactics to allow Christians to see what they are made of in order for repentance and humility to occur. The devil uses this as an opportunity for his purpose. However, to those Christians who are obedient, God will use it to warn them ahead of time of what is coming so that they can prepare themselves and overcome it. The devil (Screwtape) wants to keep the patient from learning about himself and aggravating the shame to produce despair, to be numb to the awareness of the sin and accepting God's forgiveness blindly and not giving the mercy credit. Why? Because he is then insulting God by not acknowledging His sovereignty and he continues in the sin of unbelief and falling back on his "sense of duty" as the driving force which becomes obscured by an imaginary cloud laced with precautions based on fear and superstitions to keep matters from getting worse. The emotion does not cause the sin, but the act resulting from it does because the devil "got you to go there."
I chose chapter 29 because I have seen Screwtape's scenario so many times, especially in the area of pride with men. The devil (Screwtape) is incapable of producing anything good, much less virtue of anything or any kind. The only thing he can do is imitate or use anything that God creates. He has no originality! He imitates any virtue that a person has as a facade to deceive others. This is why Screwtape states that a wicked man needs a little virtue to be greatly effective. The virtuous facade allows the wickedness to fully operate under the scenes in that person, rendering him solely to Satan as well as accomplishing his job--to deceive him and others to do his will. And, why do you think that Screwtape states that their research department (Screwtape's and his father) has not discovered how to produce any virtue and can only rely on God's? I believe that if the devil had this ability in his hands that he could and would do more damage to people. How? I also believe that the results would render Christians a copious amount of warfare as if they do not have enough. This way, with the need to only be able to use virtues from God, the devil has to fight to gain access from the believer because he cannot create it. And, he's defeated especially when there are two or more Christians together. He does not stand a chance!
It does not matter who is bombarding the patient's town, the fact is that the town is being bombarded. The devil (Screwtape) is just looking for any opportunity to get the patient to fall to his prey with to sin, especially large sins because only in extremes can he cause a person to react dangerously and do the most harm. The devil's favorite area is emotions. God gave us emotions but to use them properly and to keep them in balance. Any deviation of any one of them places the believer into the devil's territory where they can then be distorted or twisted, exaggerated, and way out of control in extreme. He will play on your last nerve to cause you to react outwardly in a negative fashion such as, violence. Hatred is a very strong force and fear feeds it because the more you fear what you hate, the more you hate the fact that you are cowarding as well as the fact that you are fearing what you hate. For example, the devil chooses a person who is righteous and has not mastered their anger management by allowing it to be solely the wrath of God through His Spirit channeling down from Heaven. This is a "fleshly anger" of resentment or dislike (loathing) and, therefore, an emotion out of control and the devil's playground. Even righteous anger which is totally justified by God, can be misused by the devil in Christians if it is not buffered to where the person brings it to God's attention ASAP in order for Him to dispense the judgment. The devil knows that if he can steal your courage, a virtue, then he can cause you to waiver in cowardice and fear. Shame comes as a result of "you going there" and is very detrimental to a person's emotional state. The devil wants the patient to be broken where confusion sets in because that is when he will look for something to target his hatred toward. God allows calamity to come because He gets people's attention and He wiping out concentrated evil on earth. God will allow the devil to do his tactics to allow Christians to see what they are made of in order for repentance and humility to occur. The devil uses this as an opportunity for his purpose. However, to those Christians who are obedient, God will use it to warn them ahead of time of what is coming so that they can prepare themselves and overcome it. The devil (Screwtape) wants to keep the patient from learning about himself and aggravating the shame to produce despair, to be numb to the awareness of the sin and accepting God's forgiveness blindly and not giving the mercy credit. Why? Because he is then insulting God by not acknowledging His sovereignty and he continues in the sin of unbelief and falling back on his "sense of duty" as the driving force which becomes obscured by an imaginary cloud laced with precautions based on fear and superstitions to keep matters from getting worse. The emotion does not cause the sin, but the act resulting from it does because the devil "got you to go there."
Friday, April 25, 2008
The Screwtape Letters - chapters 25-27:
I chose chapter 26 because I have experienced certain situation(s) that are similar to Screwtape's scenario. But first of all, I will address Screwtape's definitions of the following: Keep in mind that the devil (Screwtape) views the opposite way that God (the Enemy) views it as. Courtship is a time to plant seeds of friendship, love, trust, security, bonding, intimacy (emotion and spiritual), not domestic hatred. Charity is not to be acts of sympathetic love but acts of compassionate love where you are seeing the unsatisfied desires as a period of weakness and out of that compassionate love, you help that person to become strong until the desires are met. Then the unsatisfied desire will not turn into hatred. That person will grow strong or part in peace because you have helped the person. When handled correctly, the problem(s) will not be postponed or waived but will be solved or at least addressed and the person remain accountable for theirself to take care of it. For each person is responsible for their own actions unless the other person does not comply, then he or she is fully accountable. Do you agree or disagree when Screwtape states that he substitutes the "negative unselfishness" for the Enemy's "positive Charity?" I believe that the negative unselfishness is a "false unselfishness" where there are serious undertones of selfishness or self-righteousness and, therefore, is not really unselfishness because the real meaning of "unselfishness" is to totally deny "self" from all motives of the love of self. So, the grand problem is not "Unselfishness" it is negative unselfishness or the undertones of selfishness like Screwtape wants the person to be when he or she is set up by an initial act of unselfishly surrendering their benefits to make someone else happy and, in turn, is skewed by the divergence of the male's and the female's views of Unselfishness. I believe that the woman's view to take trouble for others is just as detrimental as the man's view to not give trouble to others. Christianity means not only to be a peacemaker by disarming the trouble for others and enabling them to solve it themselves as well as not giving trouble for others. So, by the man and the woman taking opposite views, thinking that they are righteous in it, are really both right and wrong. Both are right, in that, they are standing on an aspect of truth. And, both are wrong, in that, neither is standing on the whole truth, in the middle and balanced in it. Each sex needs to recognize the other as not selfish because they are standing on what is right and call a truce! Or, the one who out of true sacrificial unselfishness--pure compassionate love from God--concedes even when that person knows that he or she is standing on truth. This person is the righteous one and deserves exaltation to the highest. A compassionate love from God is not "enchanted or clouded" but rather sound and merciful in motive. This was my situation and I chose the latter.
I believe that a person who mistakes charity with sexual excitement should be assessed mentally and emotionally. Their sense of love is confused with the desire (passion) of the sexual excitement. At this point the person needs to step back and reassess themselves because love from the flesh is temporal which is where Screwtape wants them. However, love from God through the Spirit is eternal and non-confusing; the emotions remain under control and the love is from your spirit and not your flesh. The devil (Screwtape) wants people in between these two, in a state of nothingness, so that each side will do something wrong to the other because of the confusion. The love of God prevents the feelings of self-righteousness and grudges as well as the Generous Conflict Illusion of Screwtape's. Personally, I have been handling two sides as in the Generous Conflict Illusion to where both sides are wrong for using me in their quarrel. Out of their undertone of selfishness and false motives, both sides became bitterly resentful and dishonest and consequently, made me the "punching bag" through it all. Finally, they continue to try to blame me for things that I am not guilty of because they feel blameless and ill-used when their true motives were self-righteousness, obstinancy, and accumulated grudges. But their souls are in jeopardy because they all had some degree of mutual falseness. I believe that if they truly loved the way they are suppose to that they would not be using something that is not in me to justify the blame, especially when it is not the truth. This is not of God and is sick to go to such extremes just to satisfy the devil. What are your views regarding this?
I chose chapter 26 because I have experienced certain situation(s) that are similar to Screwtape's scenario. But first of all, I will address Screwtape's definitions of the following: Keep in mind that the devil (Screwtape) views the opposite way that God (the Enemy) views it as. Courtship is a time to plant seeds of friendship, love, trust, security, bonding, intimacy (emotion and spiritual), not domestic hatred. Charity is not to be acts of sympathetic love but acts of compassionate love where you are seeing the unsatisfied desires as a period of weakness and out of that compassionate love, you help that person to become strong until the desires are met. Then the unsatisfied desire will not turn into hatred. That person will grow strong or part in peace because you have helped the person. When handled correctly, the problem(s) will not be postponed or waived but will be solved or at least addressed and the person remain accountable for theirself to take care of it. For each person is responsible for their own actions unless the other person does not comply, then he or she is fully accountable. Do you agree or disagree when Screwtape states that he substitutes the "negative unselfishness" for the Enemy's "positive Charity?" I believe that the negative unselfishness is a "false unselfishness" where there are serious undertones of selfishness or self-righteousness and, therefore, is not really unselfishness because the real meaning of "unselfishness" is to totally deny "self" from all motives of the love of self. So, the grand problem is not "Unselfishness" it is negative unselfishness or the undertones of selfishness like Screwtape wants the person to be when he or she is set up by an initial act of unselfishly surrendering their benefits to make someone else happy and, in turn, is skewed by the divergence of the male's and the female's views of Unselfishness. I believe that the woman's view to take trouble for others is just as detrimental as the man's view to not give trouble to others. Christianity means not only to be a peacemaker by disarming the trouble for others and enabling them to solve it themselves as well as not giving trouble for others. So, by the man and the woman taking opposite views, thinking that they are righteous in it, are really both right and wrong. Both are right, in that, they are standing on an aspect of truth. And, both are wrong, in that, neither is standing on the whole truth, in the middle and balanced in it. Each sex needs to recognize the other as not selfish because they are standing on what is right and call a truce! Or, the one who out of true sacrificial unselfishness--pure compassionate love from God--concedes even when that person knows that he or she is standing on truth. This person is the righteous one and deserves exaltation to the highest. A compassionate love from God is not "enchanted or clouded" but rather sound and merciful in motive. This was my situation and I chose the latter.
I believe that a person who mistakes charity with sexual excitement should be assessed mentally and emotionally. Their sense of love is confused with the desire (passion) of the sexual excitement. At this point the person needs to step back and reassess themselves because love from the flesh is temporal which is where Screwtape wants them. However, love from God through the Spirit is eternal and non-confusing; the emotions remain under control and the love is from your spirit and not your flesh. The devil (Screwtape) wants people in between these two, in a state of nothingness, so that each side will do something wrong to the other because of the confusion. The love of God prevents the feelings of self-righteousness and grudges as well as the Generous Conflict Illusion of Screwtape's. Personally, I have been handling two sides as in the Generous Conflict Illusion to where both sides are wrong for using me in their quarrel. Out of their undertone of selfishness and false motives, both sides became bitterly resentful and dishonest and consequently, made me the "punching bag" through it all. Finally, they continue to try to blame me for things that I am not guilty of because they feel blameless and ill-used when their true motives were self-righteousness, obstinancy, and accumulated grudges. But their souls are in jeopardy because they all had some degree of mutual falseness. I believe that if they truly loved the way they are suppose to that they would not be using something that is not in me to justify the blame, especially when it is not the truth. This is not of God and is sick to go to such extremes just to satisfy the devil. What are your views regarding this?
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Screwtape Letters - chapters 22-24:
I chose chapter 24 because Screwtape has really overstepped his boundaries when he attacks this Christian girl who the patient is in love with. First of all, the devil (Screwtape) will always attack a Christian because this person is a "trophy" to bring down, destroy and kill; he/she is powerful. God uses the girl to help the man through her example to be all that he can be. Also, when you have two believers, it is even more of a threat for the devil because there is twice as much power to defeat him at his game. Second, she is a great influence to the patient who is weak; he can be led through that love providing that she remains sincere and strong.
What kind of a name is "Slumtrimpet?" He must be an imp from hell; one of Screwtape's associates. What do you think he's referring to when he says, "a chink in her armour?" I believe that Screwtape is referring to the girl's attitude (chink) and her covering (armour) of faith and Christianity. He demeans her character by stating that she looks down at others who do not share the same way that she believes. He feels that she is just using this as a cover for her "real" personality which is not so pretty and Christ-like. In other words, she is putting on a "form of godliness" and a "holier than thou attitude," in thinking that she's right and they are wrong. He further states that her large quantity of ignorance and naivety as well as her small amount of spiritual pride of the girl cannot be used by him. The reason being that these are characteristics of purity and she is not a contaminated vessel. He can only use a dirty or broken vessel (weaknesses). So, he can use the patient because he is a novice with the quality of the family's Christian life and will imitate the girl's spiritual pride and will exaggerate to others which will grow into a spiritual giant (lots of PRIDE). According to Screwtape, the patient is seeing this life through enchanted glass in his love for the woman. God uses love to win another person in closer to Him through the other person where this person will imitate until it becomes rooted deep inside and a way of living. The devil (Screwtape) cannot stand it and, therefore, wants to use the man's weakness so that the pride can spill over into other areas and be consumed with the thought that although he is unworthy of the girl, he is worthy of the others because he is like them. Screwtape emphasizes how the man's happiness stems from the love for this girl and he wants to jazz it up by deterring the man in thinking he has found his own level and is equal to them. He wants to minimize the man so that he can confuse the difference between the man and who he is around (the Christians), so that he is not feeling accepted, but feeling equal. This will bring him down by bringing his outlook on them down. But the devil never stops there because his goal is to not get you to sin small or alone; his job is to get you to start small and alone so you will continue sin bigger in it and spill it over on others and including them. He accomplishes this by having Wormwood make Christianity through his patient a secret game and that he is an equal player of that game. I am repulsed at Screwtape's outlook and I see this scenario in relationships today. My thought is for everyone to stop the nonsense, grow up and let people live. This couple is not any of Screwtape's business and he probably needs a life of his own. These people need to get rid of the pride and show their real light with the love that they have for each other from God. What are your comments?
I chose chapter 24 because Screwtape has really overstepped his boundaries when he attacks this Christian girl who the patient is in love with. First of all, the devil (Screwtape) will always attack a Christian because this person is a "trophy" to bring down, destroy and kill; he/she is powerful. God uses the girl to help the man through her example to be all that he can be. Also, when you have two believers, it is even more of a threat for the devil because there is twice as much power to defeat him at his game. Second, she is a great influence to the patient who is weak; he can be led through that love providing that she remains sincere and strong.
What kind of a name is "Slumtrimpet?" He must be an imp from hell; one of Screwtape's associates. What do you think he's referring to when he says, "a chink in her armour?" I believe that Screwtape is referring to the girl's attitude (chink) and her covering (armour) of faith and Christianity. He demeans her character by stating that she looks down at others who do not share the same way that she believes. He feels that she is just using this as a cover for her "real" personality which is not so pretty and Christ-like. In other words, she is putting on a "form of godliness" and a "holier than thou attitude," in thinking that she's right and they are wrong. He further states that her large quantity of ignorance and naivety as well as her small amount of spiritual pride of the girl cannot be used by him. The reason being that these are characteristics of purity and she is not a contaminated vessel. He can only use a dirty or broken vessel (weaknesses). So, he can use the patient because he is a novice with the quality of the family's Christian life and will imitate the girl's spiritual pride and will exaggerate to others which will grow into a spiritual giant (lots of PRIDE). According to Screwtape, the patient is seeing this life through enchanted glass in his love for the woman. God uses love to win another person in closer to Him through the other person where this person will imitate until it becomes rooted deep inside and a way of living. The devil (Screwtape) cannot stand it and, therefore, wants to use the man's weakness so that the pride can spill over into other areas and be consumed with the thought that although he is unworthy of the girl, he is worthy of the others because he is like them. Screwtape emphasizes how the man's happiness stems from the love for this girl and he wants to jazz it up by deterring the man in thinking he has found his own level and is equal to them. He wants to minimize the man so that he can confuse the difference between the man and who he is around (the Christians), so that he is not feeling accepted, but feeling equal. This will bring him down by bringing his outlook on them down. But the devil never stops there because his goal is to not get you to sin small or alone; his job is to get you to start small and alone so you will continue sin bigger in it and spill it over on others and including them. He accomplishes this by having Wormwood make Christianity through his patient a secret game and that he is an equal player of that game. I am repulsed at Screwtape's outlook and I see this scenario in relationships today. My thought is for everyone to stop the nonsense, grow up and let people live. This couple is not any of Screwtape's business and he probably needs a life of his own. These people need to get rid of the pride and show their real light with the love that they have for each other from God. What are your comments?
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The Screwtape Letters - Chapters 19-21:
I chose chapter 20 because it clearly illustrates the devil's (Screwtape's) focus on "sexual temptation" as an ultimate weakness in order to accomplish his attack on man. Why do you think that Screwtape considers this area the "main attack?" The way is made by "darkening the person's intellect" in which their judgments are clouded. Misfortune is conceived as nothing unless it produces harm on that person and thus, increase anger. If you notice, the devil loves to feed on the emotions that are in extreme, out-of-control. It is not enough that he gets someone to "go there" but he wants that person to, for example, get angry to the point of losing their temper. According to Screwtape, it is the unexpected things of the opposite of what we want at the time, that inflame us. At this time, God expects us, first of all, to expect the unexpected and second of all, to extend courtesy at this opportune time because you do not know when He sends a person to you to be with or to help. You might be surprised as to what this person will do for you later in your time of need. The devil wants us to view this time selfishly when we should view it as not only a necessary time for ourselves but also as an opportune time for someone else. We will not become angered if we keep ourselves with this open frame of mind that the devil cannot then use. I believe that this is what Screwtape means when he states, "Let man think that his time is his own." What do you believe man's reason is--either to believe that it is his own time or believe that he has the choice in it being his own time or to give the time to someone? Screwtape believes that man should believe this is his own personal birthright because he knows that it makes man prideful and in control; this is the ultimate way to falling. The bible says that pride cometh before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction. Furthermore, Screwtape knows that it is designed in a man's spirit to not refuse the demands of his maker's, God's, Spirit and that God gave a free will to choose which the man will choose to give God whatever He asks. Why? And, why does the devil (Screwtape) choose at the moment, of darkening man's intellect with confusion, to allow man's sense of ownership to shine through and be encouraged? We promote in today's society that man owns his own body in a relationship. However, the bible states that when we marry that the husband owns the wife's body and the wife owns the husband's body and that in sex, each shall submit to the other one.
In conclusion, man really does not have full control or possession over himself or anyone else like he thinks. He has deceived his own mind in believing this and the bible reinforces this fact. Our society has taught people the "world of meism" as Screwtape emphasizes, placing our focus on self-sufficiency, inflated egos, and false pride where decisions in crucial times such as in sexual temptation cannot be made correctly. If we do not notice the different senses of the possessive pronouns where they are reduced, thus reducing the relationship--with a woman and with God--through degrading them and minimizing their value. This is the main attack--to break the image of God through man, to break the sanctified order of God in these relationships, and to demean the value of pure and sacred love, and the unity between all that He created. This is really the devil's ground of conquest to break and to take the things that God created.
I chose chapter 20 because it clearly illustrates the devil's (Screwtape's) focus on "sexual temptation" as an ultimate weakness in order to accomplish his attack on man. Why do you think that Screwtape considers this area the "main attack?" The way is made by "darkening the person's intellect" in which their judgments are clouded. Misfortune is conceived as nothing unless it produces harm on that person and thus, increase anger. If you notice, the devil loves to feed on the emotions that are in extreme, out-of-control. It is not enough that he gets someone to "go there" but he wants that person to, for example, get angry to the point of losing their temper. According to Screwtape, it is the unexpected things of the opposite of what we want at the time, that inflame us. At this time, God expects us, first of all, to expect the unexpected and second of all, to extend courtesy at this opportune time because you do not know when He sends a person to you to be with or to help. You might be surprised as to what this person will do for you later in your time of need. The devil wants us to view this time selfishly when we should view it as not only a necessary time for ourselves but also as an opportune time for someone else. We will not become angered if we keep ourselves with this open frame of mind that the devil cannot then use. I believe that this is what Screwtape means when he states, "Let man think that his time is his own." What do you believe man's reason is--either to believe that it is his own time or believe that he has the choice in it being his own time or to give the time to someone? Screwtape believes that man should believe this is his own personal birthright because he knows that it makes man prideful and in control; this is the ultimate way to falling. The bible says that pride cometh before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction. Furthermore, Screwtape knows that it is designed in a man's spirit to not refuse the demands of his maker's, God's, Spirit and that God gave a free will to choose which the man will choose to give God whatever He asks. Why? And, why does the devil (Screwtape) choose at the moment, of darkening man's intellect with confusion, to allow man's sense of ownership to shine through and be encouraged? We promote in today's society that man owns his own body in a relationship. However, the bible states that when we marry that the husband owns the wife's body and the wife owns the husband's body and that in sex, each shall submit to the other one.
In conclusion, man really does not have full control or possession over himself or anyone else like he thinks. He has deceived his own mind in believing this and the bible reinforces this fact. Our society has taught people the "world of meism" as Screwtape emphasizes, placing our focus on self-sufficiency, inflated egos, and false pride where decisions in crucial times such as in sexual temptation cannot be made correctly. If we do not notice the different senses of the possessive pronouns where they are reduced, thus reducing the relationship--with a woman and with God--through degrading them and minimizing their value. This is the main attack--to break the image of God through man, to break the sanctified order of God in these relationships, and to demean the value of pure and sacred love, and the unity between all that He created. This is really the devil's ground of conquest to break and to take the things that God created.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Chapters 16-18:
Screwtape informed Wormwood that the subject "sexual temptation" does not pertain to them, meaning him and other devilish spirits. The have no need of sex. However, Screwtape feels that since Wormwood is human, he needs to know and thus, explains to him about God's and his views on the subject. Why do you think that God made spirits to not desire or need sex?
Screwtape states that the Enemy (God) places demands on human's sexual intercourse as either "complete abstinence or unmitigated monogamy." This was one of the reasons I chose to comment on chapter 16 because there are so many misconceptions concerning these issues in today's world. He states further that the former is more difficult and the latter is a way of escape. I suppose that a person could view "complete abstinence" as difficult and "unmiti- gated monogamy" as a way of escape. It is the sexual drive that God gave humans for reproduction, the desire so we would be affectionate and a heart filled with emotions to express love. I believe that in our human nature God meant sex not only for the reproducing of children but to further the expression of love to our spouse because He designed us this way. Otherwise, He would not have given us these emotions. God did not plan for us to misuse what He has given us and, therefore, He set down parameters for us to follow--not to make things difficult or unrealistic for us but to protect us from harm when we lose control. God created passionate people which are the ones that He uses the most in His service. These passions can overtake us if we do not exercise temperance and resist temptation. The reason it is difficult is because we are resisting our very nature that God gave to us. However, He also gives us strength and the Holy Spirit if we ask Him for it which helps us. The Bible states that If you cannot contain your passions, then marry because it is not wrong and it is better to marry than to burn. So, He already knows that it will be difficult.
Screwtape's idea of God providing these demands as a way of escape is not a completely accurate statement. Sex to God is permitted in the marriage because He wants us to commit to one person in life to have this privelege. Our bodies are a sacred thing to God--our temple that houses His Spirit. This is the only way that is acceptable and pure to God.
The reason that love is the only acceptable ground for marriage is first, God is all about love. He governs only in love. So, He bases this sacred institution on the very foundation of His love and requires that we love each other with His love. Sex is the act that expresses this love that you and your spouse have for each other is not meant to be exploited by sleeping around. However, love is not based on sex. Love comes from the heart where God's Spirit dwells. It is a place where God joins two people together for life. That is what binds a marriage--God--and through sex, you have joined your bodies and become one. A piece of paper does not join you. It outwardly acknowledges before people and the law that you have committed to this person. It does not make you any less married in God's eyes if you do not get it first as long as He ordains your marriage. However, this does not mean for everyone to not abstain from sex before marriage marriage, get married nor get married on paper first. This is the "ideal" way but it does not always happen that way because of circumstances. God looks upon the heart and He's the one that joins two people in marriage, not a paper. Anyone can go downtown and get married. Also, God holds only the person who is resisting to do the right thing into account and needs to make it right. Respect for one another is not gained through lust. It is gained through love. According to Screwtape, love is a foothold in God's own nature. What does he mean by that? To me, love is the binding tie in all things. And, there is something about the number 3 which represents "God's triple braided chord" which represents man, wife, and God joined together in that love.
Screwtape states that God associates affection between the two people with sexual desires. Their children are dependent on the parents and the parents feel a sense of responsibility to take care of them, thus producing a family. This is another chord--man, wife, and children. Love gives a unity of conscious and responsibility.
Any comments?
Screwtape states that God says a married couple are "one flesh" whether a man and woman like it or not. "If they entered into it obediently will produce affection and the family; that wherever the man and woman lie down together, a transcendal relation is set up between them which must be eternally enjoyed or endured." I agree with this statement because the Bible says that whoever God joins together as man and wife, let no man put asunder. That means let no one divide that marriage. Also, God was aware of what would happen in society so he made certain stipulations permitting divorce and remarriage only under those guidelines. You are to make your marriage work, both of you. Not one more than the other. And, there are scriptures that prohibit a man from ever divorcing his wife under certain circumstances. I agree with Screwtape's comment when he states that God says being in love makes marriage either happy or holy. And, the idea of marrying for any other reason is low and cynical. What are your comments on this subject?
Screwtape informed Wormwood that the subject "sexual temptation" does not pertain to them, meaning him and other devilish spirits. The have no need of sex. However, Screwtape feels that since Wormwood is human, he needs to know and thus, explains to him about God's and his views on the subject. Why do you think that God made spirits to not desire or need sex?
Screwtape states that the Enemy (God) places demands on human's sexual intercourse as either "complete abstinence or unmitigated monogamy." This was one of the reasons I chose to comment on chapter 16 because there are so many misconceptions concerning these issues in today's world. He states further that the former is more difficult and the latter is a way of escape. I suppose that a person could view "complete abstinence" as difficult and "unmiti- gated monogamy" as a way of escape. It is the sexual drive that God gave humans for reproduction, the desire so we would be affectionate and a heart filled with emotions to express love. I believe that in our human nature God meant sex not only for the reproducing of children but to further the expression of love to our spouse because He designed us this way. Otherwise, He would not have given us these emotions. God did not plan for us to misuse what He has given us and, therefore, He set down parameters for us to follow--not to make things difficult or unrealistic for us but to protect us from harm when we lose control. God created passionate people which are the ones that He uses the most in His service. These passions can overtake us if we do not exercise temperance and resist temptation. The reason it is difficult is because we are resisting our very nature that God gave to us. However, He also gives us strength and the Holy Spirit if we ask Him for it which helps us. The Bible states that If you cannot contain your passions, then marry because it is not wrong and it is better to marry than to burn. So, He already knows that it will be difficult.
Screwtape's idea of God providing these demands as a way of escape is not a completely accurate statement. Sex to God is permitted in the marriage because He wants us to commit to one person in life to have this privelege. Our bodies are a sacred thing to God--our temple that houses His Spirit. This is the only way that is acceptable and pure to God.
The reason that love is the only acceptable ground for marriage is first, God is all about love. He governs only in love. So, He bases this sacred institution on the very foundation of His love and requires that we love each other with His love. Sex is the act that expresses this love that you and your spouse have for each other is not meant to be exploited by sleeping around. However, love is not based on sex. Love comes from the heart where God's Spirit dwells. It is a place where God joins two people together for life. That is what binds a marriage--God--and through sex, you have joined your bodies and become one. A piece of paper does not join you. It outwardly acknowledges before people and the law that you have committed to this person. It does not make you any less married in God's eyes if you do not get it first as long as He ordains your marriage. However, this does not mean for everyone to not abstain from sex before marriage marriage, get married nor get married on paper first. This is the "ideal" way but it does not always happen that way because of circumstances. God looks upon the heart and He's the one that joins two people in marriage, not a paper. Anyone can go downtown and get married. Also, God holds only the person who is resisting to do the right thing into account and needs to make it right. Respect for one another is not gained through lust. It is gained through love. According to Screwtape, love is a foothold in God's own nature. What does he mean by that? To me, love is the binding tie in all things. And, there is something about the number 3 which represents "God's triple braided chord" which represents man, wife, and God joined together in that love.
Screwtape states that God associates affection between the two people with sexual desires. Their children are dependent on the parents and the parents feel a sense of responsibility to take care of them, thus producing a family. This is another chord--man, wife, and children. Love gives a unity of conscious and responsibility.
Any comments?
Screwtape states that God says a married couple are "one flesh" whether a man and woman like it or not. "If they entered into it obediently will produce affection and the family; that wherever the man and woman lie down together, a transcendal relation is set up between them which must be eternally enjoyed or endured." I agree with this statement because the Bible says that whoever God joins together as man and wife, let no man put asunder. That means let no one divide that marriage. Also, God was aware of what would happen in society so he made certain stipulations permitting divorce and remarriage only under those guidelines. You are to make your marriage work, both of you. Not one more than the other. And, there are scriptures that prohibit a man from ever divorcing his wife under certain circumstances. I agree with Screwtape's comment when he states that God says being in love makes marriage either happy or holy. And, the idea of marrying for any other reason is low and cynical. What are your comments on this subject?
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Screwtape Letters - Chapters 12-15:
From chapter 14, Screwtape's (the devil) goal is to advise Wormwood that his efforts to deter or seer the conscience of the patient will be met through centering him on self--the patient's opinion of their talents and become "puffed up" with pride. This is the opposite of God's (the Enemy) way which gives Him the credit because man did not create himself, his talents were given to him, and he is to look to others for encouragement with humility (no vanity). God's goal is for the patient to keep his thoughts on Him after repentance and Wormwood's job is to deter the patient's thoughts onto himself at all costs. The devil's job is to keep a Christian's attention inward in a selfish way and not looking toward God or others (outward) in an unselfish way so that they will question God as to where their talents and integrity come from--self-sufficiency or "God dependent." God's way is to look inward first, in an unselfish or self-denying way and then looking outward toward Him and others unselfishly.
I chose chapter 15 because it finalizes the previous chapters by stating that the devil's desired state of mind for humans is tortured fear and stupid confidence so that they are in a constant state of confusion, making unwise choices, continuously looking inward with self-sufficiency. That way the devil can accomplish complete separation from God and others where there is absolutely no more prayer or relationship between the patient, God and others--no repentance, no eternity--the goal is to keep the patient caught up in the future where he does not think about the present day salvation and only immediate gratification and strives for the future where there is no certainty. Pleasure is a biproduct of the sin--lust--whether it be lust for money, power, control, etc. But what actually leads a person into this sin? Could it be lust or a strong desire? God wants man to think of the future as well without losing sight of the present by doing good for Him. Simultaneously, He wants man to be totally free from worry and not to think so hard on the future but to place his faith and trust in Him to secure the future, keeping a Godly conscience.
The devil (Screwtape) looks for any loophole that he can use to bring a person down. For example, God wants our future secured in Him and "agreeable" for the person and the devil wants to use these attributes to set the person up for a fall so that he/she will have no future. By choosing a prime candidate, a person who seeks God's approval and places their hope in the eternal things, the devil wants to set up the person through thinking only of his or herself so that their attention remains off of God and others so that there isn't any good act or obedience in faith that will move God to secure their future. For example, Screwtape (the devil) wants the patient's focus on the War rather than living for the present for himself, not for God's purpose. If the devil can get the patient to concern himself with the present--where the all grace, all knowledge and all pleasure dwell--then the patient is in a state of complacency and stagnates (nothing accomplished). What are your feelings regarding this situation? And, where do you draw the line of accountability for the patient's eternity?
From chapter 14, Screwtape's (the devil) goal is to advise Wormwood that his efforts to deter or seer the conscience of the patient will be met through centering him on self--the patient's opinion of their talents and become "puffed up" with pride. This is the opposite of God's (the Enemy) way which gives Him the credit because man did not create himself, his talents were given to him, and he is to look to others for encouragement with humility (no vanity). God's goal is for the patient to keep his thoughts on Him after repentance and Wormwood's job is to deter the patient's thoughts onto himself at all costs. The devil's job is to keep a Christian's attention inward in a selfish way and not looking toward God or others (outward) in an unselfish way so that they will question God as to where their talents and integrity come from--self-sufficiency or "God dependent." God's way is to look inward first, in an unselfish or self-denying way and then looking outward toward Him and others unselfishly.
I chose chapter 15 because it finalizes the previous chapters by stating that the devil's desired state of mind for humans is tortured fear and stupid confidence so that they are in a constant state of confusion, making unwise choices, continuously looking inward with self-sufficiency. That way the devil can accomplish complete separation from God and others where there is absolutely no more prayer or relationship between the patient, God and others--no repentance, no eternity--the goal is to keep the patient caught up in the future where he does not think about the present day salvation and only immediate gratification and strives for the future where there is no certainty. Pleasure is a biproduct of the sin--lust--whether it be lust for money, power, control, etc. But what actually leads a person into this sin? Could it be lust or a strong desire? God wants man to think of the future as well without losing sight of the present by doing good for Him. Simultaneously, He wants man to be totally free from worry and not to think so hard on the future but to place his faith and trust in Him to secure the future, keeping a Godly conscience.
The devil (Screwtape) looks for any loophole that he can use to bring a person down. For example, God wants our future secured in Him and "agreeable" for the person and the devil wants to use these attributes to set the person up for a fall so that he/she will have no future. By choosing a prime candidate, a person who seeks God's approval and places their hope in the eternal things, the devil wants to set up the person through thinking only of his or herself so that their attention remains off of God and others so that there isn't any good act or obedience in faith that will move God to secure their future. For example, Screwtape (the devil) wants the patient's focus on the War rather than living for the present for himself, not for God's purpose. If the devil can get the patient to concern himself with the present--where the all grace, all knowledge and all pleasure dwell--then the patient is in a state of complacency and stagnates (nothing accomplished). What are your feelings regarding this situation? And, where do you draw the line of accountability for the patient's eternity?
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