The Screwtape Letters—chapters 4-7:
I chose chapter 5 above the others because I have actually experienced being the patient in this scenario. The devil’s job is to torment and taunt the soul out of Christians because they are a trophy to him. He has no need to do so with someone that is already doing what he wants; those people are for his bidding. He will use anyone that will do what he wants, especially someone who is drunk and/or on drugs, etc…because their distorted perception of the “patient” or individual clouds their judgments. The devil thrives on anything that makes him feel that he is in “power and control,” using terror and intimidation tactics to get a person to fear because then he has control and your faith. He knows that faith is the only thing that moves God. One of his oldest, famous tricks is “casting the past” in a believer’s face in order to bring that person down so that he/she will never be anything for God nor have any other purpose except to remain in bondage to the past. C.S. Lewis illustrates all of the above in the first part of chapter 5 when he is speaking to Wormwood. Additionally, the plan is to slowly torment so the hunger for it can be fed as long as possible, keeping the patient in a constant state of despair and horror in order to “secure the soul eternally for Hell. My questions are: At what point do we make the devil, Wormwood, and the patient accountable and responsible for what is taking place as well as who is continuing the process? And for that matter, I apply the same question for my life and others. Is it the person, like the patient, who is me or is it the others who desire to continue the taunting and tormenting to achieve whatever it is that they are striving for? Personally, I do not perceive myself as being “a patient” to anyone or anything in the context that I present to God any and all situations that approach me--I am victorious in Jesus. Furthermore, I have walked with God all of my life and know when the devil has come to taunt, torment, mock, tempt, etc. I have loved people through it all, however, maybe the learning lesson was for them. Judgments come from God’s Spirit, not mine. Maybe God was using me and the circumstances to assess their motives and that the labels they judged me with were actually what was within them. Their judgments were not based on what they heard, not what they know. People may or may not choose me, but God did. God will turn it all around for my good!
When the devil discusses war issues concerning the patient, he acknowledges the desire to make him “an extreme patriot or an ardent pacifist.” This is another devilish tactic which pulls the person in the extreme and keeps him there with no other recourse except to suffer for the devil’s “bloodsport” as long as possible or to become eternally the devil’s possession, plunging his soul into Hell. God is in the middle and well balanced, not in the extremes. C.J. Lewis makes reference to “the Enemy” which I perceived to be God since the author is the devil. His comments concerning all humans dying in nursing homes, and doctors, nurses, and friends who lie to keep them there only reflects how our own society is and how we deal with people today. Another job of the devil is to undermine a Christian’s prayer life and lead them into their emotions so they are caught in an “emotional rollercoaster” ride. The tactic renders them powerless from a lack of prayer, ineffective and out-of-control, and distracting them through the emotions. Christians then make bad decisions and act out emotionally in a negative way--anger, lust, hatred, vindictive feelings, malice--giving him a tool to use against a person to keep them there. Then the devil can say, “See you had these emotions all along. You were just hiding them. You are no better than anybody else.” The devil also does not want the patient to continue doing good to others while Wormwood executes these tactics because he knows that good overcomes evil and will counter his nonsense. Unconditional love rids all of those negative feelings with the exception of hurts from what has been inflicted. There will be scars that need healing. Choose to continue loving people and letting God have the vengeance and vindicating! He will give you the opportunity to speak the Truth about what really happened in His time.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The Screwtape Letters—chapters 1-3:
It seems that the setting of the letters was in the European War where the battle and oppression of Christianity occurred to stop the spread of it across Europe. During the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution occurred, the influx of modern arts, literature, architecture, music and culture from other countries had infiltrated and highly influenced the people there. Because of the rise in science technologies and materialism, it produced a parallel of the opposite extreme, a religious uproar--the war between Christianity and the Church which was Catholic. The Church was about money and, therefore, polarized toward the revolution. Christianity opposed materialism and focused more on spirituality and the soul. The “half-finished sham, Gothic erection” on the new building estate observed by the patient clearly depicted the era of the setting as well as the lack of religious influence.
My thoughts are: It is more important to focus on “real life” or “stream” experiences than on universal issues because you need to fix your own life before you can adequately fix the world. Also, if each individual fixes their own life, it could prevent some of the universal issues. If we keep it real, living in an ordinary world, then the devil cannot distort what is actual, only if we are delusional or extreme can he distort.
I observed that the people (patients) had to see things to believe it and proof was required. There is reference to “the devil being a liar and not a pure spirit as well as arguing being the devil’s ground.” Additionally, a warning of not using science as a defense against Christianity was emphasized. The letters definitely convey the two errors to “falling about the devils”--“disbelieving in their existence and believing and feeling an excessive and unhealthy interest in them” in which the author ensures through his advise to Wormwood’s handling of his patient Glubose. In order for neither one of the two errors to occur, Glubose was monitored in the Enemy’s camp to deprogram him from his new found Christianity in order for them to reprogram him the Enemy’s way. And, to further break him down, they used the relationship with his mother through fault finding and arguments so that everything that Glubose was trying to accomplish with his mother--saving her soul and healing her of the rheumatism--never happened.
My thoughts are: Enemy’s camp dehumanized patients mentally and physically. The author’s emphasis on Christianity was a mockery to expose Christians as hypocritical (double standard). The patient was fooled by his neighbors’ appearance rather than seeing that they were not really Christian internally and putting him to the “test.” He was also made to “self-examine” himself and his mother to keep him busy and to relinquish both of them from the blame. This method is very demonic. It is the devil’s job to play with a Christian’s mind and cause them to make bad decisions through confusion, disappointment, deception, and a wavering (fogged) mind. The patient was serious undermined and manipulated like a pawn in a chess game--strategically maneuvered.
My personal reactions are: The methods used on the patient were demeaning to Christianity and humans, diabolical and treacherous. Their goal was accomplished, however, the mental and emotional torment that the others went through at their expense was repulsive.
I feel that these methods are counter-productive and sub-human. And, I am utterly repulsed by it because I experienced a similar situation in my life; however, I did not react in the same manner. I viewed it as the devil was “playing a vicious game” and he needs to “stop his nonsense!”
My questions are: What is the productiveness in all of this? Or, is that the point, there is not any productivity that is suppose to come from all of it?
It seems that the setting of the letters was in the European War where the battle and oppression of Christianity occurred to stop the spread of it across Europe. During the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution occurred, the influx of modern arts, literature, architecture, music and culture from other countries had infiltrated and highly influenced the people there. Because of the rise in science technologies and materialism, it produced a parallel of the opposite extreme, a religious uproar--the war between Christianity and the Church which was Catholic. The Church was about money and, therefore, polarized toward the revolution. Christianity opposed materialism and focused more on spirituality and the soul. The “half-finished sham, Gothic erection” on the new building estate observed by the patient clearly depicted the era of the setting as well as the lack of religious influence.
My thoughts are: It is more important to focus on “real life” or “stream” experiences than on universal issues because you need to fix your own life before you can adequately fix the world. Also, if each individual fixes their own life, it could prevent some of the universal issues. If we keep it real, living in an ordinary world, then the devil cannot distort what is actual, only if we are delusional or extreme can he distort.
I observed that the people (patients) had to see things to believe it and proof was required. There is reference to “the devil being a liar and not a pure spirit as well as arguing being the devil’s ground.” Additionally, a warning of not using science as a defense against Christianity was emphasized. The letters definitely convey the two errors to “falling about the devils”--“disbelieving in their existence and believing and feeling an excessive and unhealthy interest in them” in which the author ensures through his advise to Wormwood’s handling of his patient Glubose. In order for neither one of the two errors to occur, Glubose was monitored in the Enemy’s camp to deprogram him from his new found Christianity in order for them to reprogram him the Enemy’s way. And, to further break him down, they used the relationship with his mother through fault finding and arguments so that everything that Glubose was trying to accomplish with his mother--saving her soul and healing her of the rheumatism--never happened.
My thoughts are: Enemy’s camp dehumanized patients mentally and physically. The author’s emphasis on Christianity was a mockery to expose Christians as hypocritical (double standard). The patient was fooled by his neighbors’ appearance rather than seeing that they were not really Christian internally and putting him to the “test.” He was also made to “self-examine” himself and his mother to keep him busy and to relinquish both of them from the blame. This method is very demonic. It is the devil’s job to play with a Christian’s mind and cause them to make bad decisions through confusion, disappointment, deception, and a wavering (fogged) mind. The patient was serious undermined and manipulated like a pawn in a chess game--strategically maneuvered.
My personal reactions are: The methods used on the patient were demeaning to Christianity and humans, diabolical and treacherous. Their goal was accomplished, however, the mental and emotional torment that the others went through at their expense was repulsive.
I feel that these methods are counter-productive and sub-human. And, I am utterly repulsed by it because I experienced a similar situation in my life; however, I did not react in the same manner. I viewed it as the devil was “playing a vicious game” and he needs to “stop his nonsense!”
My questions are: What is the productiveness in all of this? Or, is that the point, there is not any productivity that is suppose to come from all of it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)