Screwtape Letter #24 – Discussion Guide

The verse above is the start of Paul warning the Corinthians about the arrogance that is coming over some of them. The very beginning is the best place to deal with this, before it becomes so entrenched that it’s even harder to get rid of. Given the analogy of fish-knives and the belief that it’s more out of ignorance and less out of pride – that’s why he isn’t so hopeful about getting the girl. But – if she can be used to make him more prideful – that’s good for them.

1Co 4:6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

1Co 4:8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings—and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

1Co 4:14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

1Co 4:18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

Since the girl is along with him, it’s possible that he may see things through her eyes and come to more realization of what’s going on that he would without her. He may pick up on her joy – just as the dog does when going hunting with his master, even though the dog doesn’t have a clue. Of course – once he starts the journey, the Holy Spirit will also be there.

Once he starts the journey – there are also the other people as well. Looking at “The River From the Temple” – one can see the progression of the river from easy to pass all the way to impossible. But – along the way – others will help at first – and ultimately only God can help. The same can happen with the patient once he starts his walk.

The River From the Temple

Eze 47:1 The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side.

Eze 47:3 As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4 He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. 6 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8 He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea. 11 But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

The end goal of having Christianity being a secret sect with an inner circle / trained minority of theocrats, Etc is so far from what it’s meant to be that it seems hard to imagine anyone could believe it. And yet – it’s not so impossible at all. It happens.

And – it can start from confusion – not knowing the real Truth – either misunderstanding and not being corrected or just plain led astray. Once that happens – and especially when questions don’t arise because any doubts are never expressed – there’s no telling where it can lead.

That’s why a good Christian community is so important – especially where there is discussion and accountability. Things would be open – Biblically based – and everyone would be free / encouraged to ask questions.

In letter #5, it appears that a faith destroyed by war isn’t worth destroying – meaning that it wasn’t much of a faith to begin with. Even back in that letter, while he was talking about the war being “entertaining” – Screwtape wasn’t putting much stock in the war to corrupt the patient. Given that he believes other devils feeling about the possibilities from wars are overblown – plus his statement that a faith destroyed by war wasn’t really worth the effort – even then he seems to be saying the patient may be beyond novice stage, especially after him praying prompted letter #4.

Now – here in this letter, Screwtape doesn’t even want to hear anything about the war. It isn’t even entertaining anymore. Sounds more like Screwtape is getting very worried about the outcome.