Screwtape Chapter 1
Chapter 1 serves the dual role of setting up the theme of the text as well as delivering Lewis’ first message. For those not familiar, the book is a collection of letters written from a senior demon in hell to a younger apprentice demon who is tempting a resident of WWII London.
The first paragraph deals with philosophies. Lewis states through his writing that people today tend to evaluate philosophies based on qualities such as being conventional, contemporary, practical, academic, ruthless, outdated, etc. but never commit to a philosophy as true or false. He states that in the past, people recognized that a philosophy was true when it was proven so and were willing to adopt it and mold their lives around it, but that today, people simply evaluate them from an intellectual standpoint, never committing to one or the other. This provides Satan an in.
This is a form of distraction, a theme Lewis addresses directly in the next paragraph. He instructs his apprentice to be sure the man stays fixed on the events going on around him instead of those going on within; on the worldly experiences instead of the spiritual. Romans 8: 7 – 8 (NIV): 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. “
By keeping our minds focused on worldly issues, whether that be what the new and ‘hip’ philosophy and its value to society or whether or not Justin Bieber will have a new cd out this year, allows Satan an avenue into our hearts, our minds, and ultimately our souls and we are powerless to fight back until we realize that the root of issue is that our mind is on the material instead of the spiritual!
I have been there many times. I have been so focused on work, on school, on friends, on video games, on books, on gaining knowledge, on food, on fitness, on many other things and I have slipped in my faith and wondered why! The first step to getting closer to God is getting your head in the game! A quarterback who is thinking of cheeseburger instead of the game will never win the game and if we are focused on material life, we can never achieve salvation.
God can not work in you when you are focused on the world.
