Screwtape Letter #3 – Discussion Guide

Letter #3

Screwtape is on a roll again -
full of advice for his nephew on how to affect his patient.
Let's see just how good the tactics might be. (or not)

My dear Wormwood,

I am very pleased by what you tell me about this man’s relations with his mother. But you must press your advantage. ... build up between you in that house a good settled habit of mutual annoyance; daily pinpricks. The following methods are useful.

3.1) Notice how Screwtape says: The Enemy will be working from the centre outwards. Contrast this to how Satan works in our lives.

What we have then is a corrupted world - but God in us.

Screwtape definitely gets this one right - "The Enemy" will most definitely be working from the centre outwards. He's already there.

And so we have what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 -

Treasures in Jars of Clay

2Co 4:1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

2Co 4:13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.