The Screwtape Letters have one simple and profound message. The devil is out to get you everyday and in every way that he can. He is patient and he does not sleep. He cares enough about getting your soul that he can and often will put a devil in charge of procuring it from you without you even knowing you sold it. This is a scary thought that there is a devil watching you all the time just waiting for you to slip up so he can capitalize on a moments hesitation to follow God. That is all the devil needs is an instant to begin to chip away at your faith.
We say that the devil cannot steal our souls, WE are God-fearing and church-going people. Dear Uncle Screwtape says, in essence, "Great keep on thinking you are God fearing and that your church going will save you. It is absolutely OK that you THINK that I'll work in the back of your mind rotting your faith from the inside out." Kind of scary isn't it? That just when we think we are most secure in our faith in God that the devil starts chipping away at the foundations of our faith. We see examples of this everyday. The friend who slights us not in a major way but simply so that the friend can have a small gain. The CEO that decides to cut some workers just so that he can avoid cutting his own salary. Each of these may go to church and do great works of charity, but the devil is beginning to worm his way into their hearts.
God cautions against this laxity. He says in the Bible that we must guard our hearts and our minds lest our own human nature over run our spiritual defenses. After all, who knows our weaknesses better than ourselves, our true selves that cannot be deluded with all the "white" lies. Now I say this as one who has a tendency to think of himself as much better than others and to get wrapped up in whatever I happen to work on and neglect his spiritual life. It reminds me that when I start building up that pride of mine the devil sees a great opportunity to begin to undermine my faith and tries to keep me over-fascinated with the small wonders of this world and forgetting all about its amazing creator and savior.
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I really like your thoughts on people who think just because they go to church every week. The devil does like our ignorant we have when it comes to faith. It seems people think just because the go with the motions of christianity that makes them a true believer. I would hate to make it seem like I am judging but I do think as believer we have a duty to bring others to their knowledge of apathy.
ReplyDeletePeople like to just follow directions to solve issues spiritually and in life. It is easy, but That is the difference between a normal worker and a person with a Degree. Getting the degree is not about training, you can get that anywhere. the Degree is about teaching you how to find the purpose in what you are doing so that you can do it better.
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