Screwtape Letter #19 – Discussion Guide

From “Opening Up Proverbs”:

Angry speech

‘Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools’ (Eccles. 7:9). Anger stems from pride and selfishness (James 4:1–2a). Angry people wrongfully play God, pouring out their vengeance on those who have offended them (but see Rom. 12:19). Their anger is not a righteous zeal for the glory of God but a passion to vindicate themselves. Their angry words and acts express the murder that resides in their hearts (Matt. 5:21–22). The angry person is out of control and vulnerable to many other transgressions: ‘Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit’ (25:28; see also Eph. 4:26–27). Anger impairs judgement: ‘A quick-tempered man acts foolishly’ (14:17a). Angry words wound deeply: ‘There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword’ (12:18a). Hateful speech can escalate into violent acts: ‘A hot-tempered man abounds in transgression’ (29:22b). Those who are angry often stir up strife (15:18). The wise avoid people given to anger (22:24).  ¹Newheiser, J. (2008). Opening up Proverbs (139–140). Leominster: Day One Publications.

Like Screwtape – we are subject to all the things above when we start to talk like he does in these letters.

There are all sorts of Proverbs and other verses telling us to watch what we say – and often to not say it.
We are also told to listen to The Holy Spirit. The following is from Charles Stanley –

When We Fail to Heed God’s Prompting

What should you do if you fail to heed a prompting of the Holy Spirit? First, confess that you have made a mistake or a sin against God. Receive His forgiveness. But then, take a second step. Ask yourself, “Why did I fail to heed this prompting? Why didn’t I act immediately on what I felt the Holy Spirit was telling me to do? How can I keep this from happening again?” Don’t just confess your error—learn something from it!

I learned from that incident in my life not to lay my cellular phone down after I’ve completed a call. Instead, I put it back in its case and in the place I have designated for it in my briefcase or luggage.

Now a cellular phone is a fairly minor thing to almost lose. There are far more important things that we are in danger of losing if we don’t heed the Holy Spirit. Not only can we lose possessions, but also we can lose our health, a relationship we deeply value, an opportunity that won’t come our way again, or an encounter that could make a significant difference in our lives.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you heed His promptings in the future. And then … heed them!  ²About Walking Wisely: Real Guidance for Life’s Journey”, Charles Stanley

The problems comes most likely in realizing the correct order of things. Since Screwtape learned from Satan – who’s first love is himself – he can’t comprehend what’s happening with God.

Look first at Romans 5:8 –

Ro 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Then at John 3:1 –

1Jn 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

And we see the first problem – there is no hidden motive – God just plain loves us.

Then – keep going in 1 John –

1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1Jn 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

And we see another problem. With Satan’s pride – there was likely some fear about us – and why God would love us. Had fear been driven out by perfect love, it’s not necessary to (Our Father very naturally sought) seek an interview and ask(ed) for an explanation.

Wormwood says Screwtape’s last letter isn’t clear – Screwtape tells Wormwood that there’s no answer – and proceeds to give one anyway.

The problem isn’t that there is no answer – it’s that they don’t understand the question – they have the premise all wrong. Rather than “having ears to hear” – they insist that what they heard is a lie and set out to prove it. In logic there’s a thing called a negative proof. By reasoning – following the logic laid out by Screwtape – it is possible to show that the original proposition must be false, because the outcome from it is not true.

The trick is to keep the other person open and engaged during the reasoning process. For that – we need God’s help.

get it quite clear in your own mind

That sounds like Wormwood doesn’t have it clear at all.

Screwtape – he actually doesn’t seem to really have it down either – otherwise he wouldn’t be falling into his own traps. Of course this happens because the premise is false and the logic is faulty. But – once one tells a lie often enough, one begins to believe the lie.

What we need to do is get to people before they are so far gone that they can’t see the lie.

But – even then – God can get through to anyone.