Robert A. Lotzer

05/16/97

142 pages

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS

1.  What is the main teaching (or thesis) - or what are the main teachings (or theses) - of the work?

The Screwtape Letters (1942) was the most difficult of all of his works to write.  The book was written from the perspective of hell by two demons praying on their "patients."  The senior demon, Screwtape, is instructing the apprentice demon, Wormwood.  The story proceeds with Wormwood failing to keep his patient from becoming a Christian.  Once the patient becomes a Christian, Screwtape instructs Wormwood on how to keep him down as a Christian and possibly even reclaim him for their father the Devil.  The letters each develop a certain theme about the life of the Christian. 

Lewis wrote these letters and published them in a religious journal called The Guardian during WWII.  The overall theme of the book is that there is a greater war going on than the present war.  This spiritual war was placed at the front of the reader's mind.  The book seems to be merely a creative piece on the horror of hell, however, I think it teaches more about men than about demons.

One of the sub-themes of the book is to emphasize the necessity of "mere Christianity" not "Christianity and the Crisis, Christianity and the New Psychology, Christianity and the New Order . . . " and so on.  In letter 25 Screwtape writes to Wormwood telling him to keep the Christian from mere Christianity.  "Work on their horror of the Same Old Thing," says Screwtape.

Another theme in the book that pleasure is good when recognized that it is from God.  In letter 9 Screwtape says to Wormwood "Never forget that when we are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy and normal and satisfying form, we are, in a sense, on the Enemy's ground."  The pleasures of life are a gift of God.

Another theme is the danger of "little" sins.  Screwtape writes to Wormwood, " It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing.  Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick.  Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."  We should fear even the smallest of sins.

Probably a letter that had much affect on the readers at the time of original publication was letter 29.  Screwtape writes to Wormwood to play on fear and cause the humans to be cowards in the face of the war.  I'm sure that many who read this letter were strengthened to be brave when England was in the midst of war.

Yet, another theme in the book is on what pleases God.  Screwtape tells Wormwood that God is pleased with dogged obedience, even when it does not feel good.  For instance, in letter 8 Screwtape writes, "Hence the prayers offered in the state of dryness are those which please Him best."  Lewis instructs the believer that he should walk in obedience to what God has commanded even when it does not seem to be the most comfortable thing to do.

God is described as one Who really loves his people.  Screwtape writes in letter 13 that "He really likes the little vermin, and sets an absurd value on the distinctness of every one of them."  Lewis shows that God really does care for His people and wants the best for them. 

Lewis describes the Holy Spirit as the asphyxiating cloud which is the most effective defense of the Christian in letter 13.  The demon has no ability to cross the barrier and has no affect on the patient when the cloud in surrounding him. 

The demons see the visible church as a ally.  Screwtape writes in letter 2 that the church is one of their greatest allies.  He goes on to describe that the church is very often filled with people who are not truly Christians or who are weak in their faith.  He encourages Wormwood to attack his patient by letting him see only the facade of these people. 

One of the more interesting, yet almost unbelievable ideas of the book is the optimism of the senior demon.  He writes as if he thinks that in the end hell will conquer.  He writes in letter 31, "All that sustains me is the conviction that our Realism, our rejection (in the face of all temptations) of all silly nonsense and claptrap, must win in the end."

2.  How does Lewis illustrate his teaching?  Or, how does he support or defend his thesis?

Lewis illustrates his teachings primarily through a creative dialog between two demons.  The senior demon writes to the apprentice helping him figure out a way to reclaim his new Christian. 

Lewis supports his theses with this creative dialog.  The reader is brought into the room, sitting and reading the letters of the instruction.  They are almost paralyzed with fear about how subtle the demons attack.  However, at the same time it is almost comical how optimistic the demons are to the end. 

3.  Indicate one or two ways in which this work addresses a need (theological, philosophical, or ethical) in today's church; in today's secular society?

I think the primary need of the church is to have a healthy balanced in their approach to the demonic activity.  As Lewis suggest in the preface, we should not be overly interested in demons nor should we disbelieve in their existence.  We should recognize the daily battle and be faithful in our obedience to God's Word.

We should recognize how subtle Satan attacks and how easy it is for our own flesh to slowly draw us away from God.  We should be awake and prepared to do battle with demonic attacks and with our own flesh.  The weapons of warfare are faith, obedience, the Word, the Sacraments and prayer.  We should be diligent in our Christian walk.

The church should recognize how society is controlled by demonic activity for the purpose of the downfall of the church.  We should respond to society with firm kindness realizing that the ultimate battle stands behind the member of society.  We should be diligent in confronting error with truth and praying for our neighbors.

One of the most beneficial teachings of the book is the teaching on dogged obedience.  As Christians, we must learn to faithful to God's law at all times.  There are times when we will be sick or down emotionally.  However, at these times we need to be more awake and focus on our faithfulness.  There will be times when life is going well and we will be drawn to forget our present walk of obedience.  As Christians we must learn to follow our Lord even when we do not feel like it.