Screwtape Letters - Week #1

The Lord bless each of you! He is with you right now as you read this - wow!

I'll begin our venture together with some opening comments followed by questions to help stimulate the hearts and minds of those of you who find that helpful. If the questions aren't helpful to you, just ignore them and dive in!

• The assigned reading for this week (June 2-9) is the first 4 chapters/letters from The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
• On June 9 I'll make some comments on the first week's reading then post some more questions for the following four chapters, etc.
• This book is a wonderful source of revelation about the nature of God, the nature of the devil, and the nature of humans. Because any genuine spiritual understanding comes from the Holy Spirit, I strongly recommend that you approach your reading with an attitude of devotion to God (i.e., ask the Holy Spirit for revelation and understanding as you read with a submissive heart).
• My role in this venture is to give a little direction to the discussion, but I don't plan on getting unduly involved in it. I won't necessarily try to answer all the questions that I will post the week before. This is in part because I probably won't have time and also because I won't have answers all the time. (It's great not to have to have answers for everything!)
• There are a couple of key realities to keep in mind as you read - 1) Remember who is speaking - if this is your first time to read this book, you may find yourself forgetting who the letter-writer is and who the "Enemy" is. 2) C.S. Lewis refers to "reason" a lot; because of how Western thinking has distorted the meaning of reason, you may think he is referring to the brain and cognitive powers only. However, he understood true reason to be the union of an awakened heart with the mind. This is important to know in order to correctly understand his writings. (For more on this, see The Real Presence by Leanne Payne.) 3) Watch for subtle and wonderful references to the nature and character of God and to His passion for weak humans! Also, getting a good look at the evil intentions of the devil for humans (in contrast with God) can help you be fascinated with the undeniable affections and goodness of God towards His children.
• Whenever you want to, jump online and share what you're seeing and receiving from this book - or, simply enjoy the book and what others are sharing!

Questions on Chapters 1-4

1. General questions/observations for the whole book: Who is...Screwtape?...Wormwood?..."the Enemy"?..."Our Father Below"?...the "patient"? Note the following statement by Lewis from the Preface: "Readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar. Not everything that Screwtape says should be assumed to be true even from his own angle. I have made no attempt to identify any of the human beings in the letters; but I think it very unlikely that the portraits, say of Fr. Spike or the patient's mother, are wholly just. There is wishful thinking in Hell as well as on Earth."
2. Letter #1: How does Screwtape make reference to the Incarnation, God made flesh? What does this letter show you about humanity? For example, what does Screwtape mean when he says, "Thanks to processes which we set at work in them centuries ago, they find it all but impossible to believe in the unfamiliar while the familiar is before their eyes"?
3. Letter #2: What does the following statement by Screwtape suggest about humans: "All the habits of the patient, both mental and bodily, are still in our favor"? Note the study on Christians that Lewis makes through Screwtape in this letter. What is suggested about God's nature - particularly in the statement: "The Enemy takes this risk because He has a curious fantasy of making all these disgusting little human vermin into what He calls His 'free' lovers and servants..."
4. Letter #3: At the beginning of this letter, Screwtape instructs Wormwood that "The Enemy will be working from the centre outwards, gradually bringing more and more of the patient's conduct under the new standard..." What implications does this have for our own maturing in God and for the maturing of others in Him? Observe Screwtape's methods; what do they tell you about human tendencies? What do they tell you about prayer?
5. Letter #4: Note carefully the nuances of prayer referred to and the power of prayer brought out in this letter. Note how effective prayer and our bodily/physical limitations are connected.

ENJOY YOUR READING!