Screwtape Letter #22 – Discussion Guide

In a way, this could be considered a trick question.

My first thought is – there’s no secret police in Heaven.

But then – if we follow Jesus’ advice – there is someone who’ll be reporting it in secret.
That’d be whatever little devil is assigned to us. That devil will be reporting down the chain of command to it’s mentor.

There’s also the flip side of this –
that when we do something wrong – the accuser will be there to report to God –
Satan.
Not like God doesn’t already know – but Satan will want to try exploit it.

Maybe He’ll tell us how to correct what we did – even inviting us to follow Him after that –

The Rich Young Man

Mt 19:16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life ?”

Mt 19:17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

Mt 19:18 “Which ones?” the man inquired.

Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’”

Mt 19:20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Mt 19:21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Mt 19:22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Maybe He’ll forgive us – and tell to to go and sin no more –

Jn 8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

Jn 8:9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

Jn 8:11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Whatever else – Jesus us always willing and ready to forgive us – when we ask.

To start with – how about Love?

Screwtape doen’t have the least bit of understanding about Love.

He cannot comprehend all the things that will flow from it – such as loving others – a commitment to following God – realization of the truth about life and death – realization that the devil cannot kill the soul – Etc.

Realizing that everything is naturally against them – everything needs to be twisted or corrupted to be useful – that should be a real warning sign that one has a real fight on their hands.

Not having a clue as to the goodness of the things they are trying to corrupt – makes it even harder for the devils. Screwtape knows what he has to do – but doesn’t seem to realize how much work it is – because he doesn’t know what the starting point is.

For us – the situation isn’t really much different. Just as Screwtape talks about trying to corrupt everything – so we must / should realize the lengths we go to in order to take advantage of some of these corrupted pleasures. Especially when they have to be done in secret and are maybe illegal – but we don’t.

Screwtape sees – maybe better than many of us – that God has filled the world full of natural pleasures.

Noise – that would be anything useless – especially if it’s a corruption of something that was originally good.

The “impenetrable mystery” – that would be the Holy Spirit. 

Rev 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Rev 3:21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Jesus is looking for us – calling for us – knocking for us to open the door to Him.

Once we are open to Him – the Holy Spirit – if we trust Him – will continue to be a guide for us – provide comfort – and be more of an influence in our lives to help overcome our devil and it’s noise.

Screwtape went too far. While God does allow Satan to mess with us to some extent – sometimes a lot – there are limits. To take the approach that somehow this is related to a “life force” means that Screwtape will never actually realize that God is the real cause for what happened – and it will likely continue to happen to him.

We could be on a similar path – if we reject God – assume something of the life force theory – or anything that would take us away from God. In any case – refusal to learn the lesson / correction that God has for us – means more lessons, until eventually we have turned away so completely that we end up allowing Satan to do pretty much as he wants. There is always the ability to turn back to God – but becoming less likely as we go. If not – we’kk turn into something so far from what God intended that we may appear to be a different (evil) person.

If we walk with God – at least trying / not always succeeding – this will not happen.