We're under attack! Ok you might be thinking who is attacking us maybe Terrorist? Or Rebels? Well I'm talking about another type of attack. Its a spiritual kind. Just think about this if our country was at war right now our whole perspective on things would be different. We would focus on the need rather than the want. Same thing most of us take our spiritual life for granted. We tend to think that nothing is going to happen to us because we are invincible Christians. But the truth be told we are under attack 24/7 by the devil. He wants us to fall.
I would like to recommend this book to you "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis. Just a brief background on the book its about letters written by a more senior devil Screwtape to his a junior devil nephew named Wormwood. Here Screwtape gives Wormwood tips and advises on how to tempt a new Christian assigned to Wormwood. My thanks to my fellow blogger for lending me this book. The English is not easy reading, have to concentrate. Anyways I tried to adapt a chapter here using my own words and making it shorter to give you guys a preview ( Sorry Mr. Lewis ;) )
Chapter XVI (this means chapter 16)
My Dear Wormwood,
You mentioned in your last letter that he still goes to one church since his conversion. What do you think your doing? How come your not tempting him to go to other churches? I'm sure you know that if you can't cure a man from going to church, the next best thing is to send him to different churches looking for gimmicks and fun until he becomes someone who is a taster or critic of churches.
It is obvious. The church is a place of unity, it brings people from different classes and walks of life together. That is the kind of unity the Enemy desires. The congregational principle on the other hand make the church into a club and if it goes well into a faction. Well if the guy still continually searches for a "suitable" church, it makes him into a critic rather than a student of the Bible. It makes the person unreceptive and and his growth will be hindered. Your performance is unsatisfactory so better do something about it.
There are 2 churches near his place. I looked at the records in our office and both are good. The first one is a pastor who has been known to water down the gospel to supposedly cater to the hard hearted congregation. In order spare his congregations of the "difficulties" he does not do much teaching rather focusing more on the singing and having fun. So he just revolves around the 24 favorite lessons. So we are safe to know that this church is not familiar with the Bible. But your patient is smart enough for this - or is he?
At the other church we have Pastor Spike. The people often wonder what his stand is. He has lots of opinion on different issues from politics and society. The connecting link here is Hatred. He cannot bring himself to stop preaching anything that shocks, grieves or humiliates his parents or friends. We teach him to use the line " The teaching of the Church is..." but what he really means is "I think I read somewhere in the Daily bread or email...". But he has one defect: he really believes. So this might ruin our plan.
But there is one good point about these 2 churches, they are party churches. Remember I told you that if your patient can't be stopped from going to church then he ought to be at least join some party within. I don't mean on doctrinal issues but the more lukewarm he is the better. The real fun is making them fight over words or terms but they don't really know anything about the essential stuff of the Bible like the Trinity or Election. Let them focus on the non essential things like the type of music or clothes they should be wearing. we should make sure we make them forget what that horrible apostle Paul teaches them about food and other unessentials. The one who is more "highly" mature giving way to the who is "lowly" mature. Keep up the good work or else the church will become a useful tool that God will use.
Your affectionate Uncle,
Screwtape
