5 thoughts on “The Screwtape Letters | Letter Three”
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As a new christian it is natural to begin to pray for the salvation of those nearest to us. Yet when we don’t see their behavior change we go back to seeing them in their worldly self and tend to just focus on all the things that irritate us about them. We can begin to resnt them which brings up unchristian emotions on our part.
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As Screwtape closes this letter to Wormwood he reminds him of the older brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15). The son who had all the Father owned and yet had no grace for his younger brother. The other side of the coin is problematic as well, the new believer that now has all of the answers and proceeds to make sure everyone knows how right he is and wrong they are. Both of these I have been guilty of and both are a false spirituality since each lacks love. The problem is they both drive family members away from Christ rather than making him attractive. Once that irritation is in the family dynamic, any additional “irritations” are multiplied.
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The enemy is using perception and emotion to attack the “patient” in his own home. He notices that the patient lacks patience and uses that to his advantage by deceiving him when he interacts with his mother. The enemy knows that the less support he has, the less likely he is to continue his journey as a Christian.
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Sometimes we can be “so heavenly minded” that were no earthy good. We need to remember to show grace and forgiveness to family and friends,leaving them more open to receive the good news of Christ.
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Your family knows you…warts and all…The potential for a Christian to…with the BEST intentions….point out in other family members their, what he considers sins, the accused are likely to see this as a problem. The Christian…in an attempt to establish peace…with retreat from their positions. And ofter the “sins’ they see in others is or was present in their own lives.
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