Screwtape letters: chapter 2

I have started reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. This book is so different from any other theological type book I have read. There are 31 chapters and these chapters are in the form of letters. The letters are written to Satan's demon nephew, Wormwood who is on earth, from Satan (Screwtape). Basically, Satan is training Wormwood how to keep people away from Christianity. I have read through the first six chapters. The book is pretty deep so I don't want to read through it fast and miss something that could be really important (Screwtape would tell Wormwood good job, you distracted Liana from reading something that could benefit the "Enemy's" kingdom--He calls Christ the Enemy! Craziness).

Chapter 2 starts off with Screwtape being displeased about Wormwoods patient becomming a Christian. Then he tells him not to despair but to make the best of the situation. Screwtape (Satan) tells Wormwood that hundreds of adult converts have "been reclaimed after a brief sojourn in the Enemy's camp"..."that the 'habits' of the patient, both mental and bodily, are still in our favour".

My viewpoint on this small section:

There are so many Christians that seem to have their "golden ticket" to Heaven but don't do anything else about their conversion. Sometimes it isn't the person's fault entirely. Evangelists get people to come forward by the masses, but they don't disciple them afterwards. These people that had their conversion experience don't really know what to do afterwards because no one is helping them along the way. That is why I think so many Christians fall back to the lives they were living before Christ--no discipleship/mentorship was available to them! So, these people walked down the aisle, they prayed the prayer in their bed at night alone, etc...There is this huge emotional feeling they start going through and they are all holy and godly for a week, month, year...and then it dies down. It is no longer this emotional high they once had and they fall back into the temptations of the world: drunkenness, drugs, pornography, lying, adultery....They are Christians but their habits are of this world. It is no wonder why people say they don't want to go to Church...they see us as huge hypocrites, especially when all the media covers about Christianity is when a pastor or pastor like figure has an affair or molests little boys and girls. Christianity is seen so negatively and Satan is just LOVING it!

Christians these days seem so scared to stand out. They don't want to "offend" anyone. We are called to hold our brothers and sisters in Christ accountable, yet when we try they get mad at us and don't want to listen. Christians need to realize the responsibility they have for the people that Christ has put in their lives. If we see a brother or sister in Christ living in sin, we should come to them (in a loving and humble way!) and talk to them about it. They won't want to hear it, but I feel it is our job to bring it to light. We see in Galatians 2: 11-21 that Paul opposes Peter. Verse 11 states, "When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong (NIV)."

So, to fight Satan in this area, Christians can disciple/mentor new Christians. Hold Bible studies to help teach and encourage these new Christians live life for Christ. We need to hold our brothers and sisters in Christ accountable! Life is not easy! Especially when Peter tells us, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings" - 1 Peter 5: 8-9. Satan is on the prowl and wants to devour us. How awful is that? It is no wonder we struggle daily with temptations! We need to reach out to our loved ones and pray with them and pray for them! We need to quit pleasing Satan by letting our fellow Christians slide by the way side.

C.S. Lewis uses a quote from Luther in the beginning of the book:

"The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn." Luther

Let us drive out the devil. Let us win the fight over temptations and let our habits glorify the Lord.

I love you all! I pray Christ dwells in your hearts and you follow him all the days of your life!