Screwtape - Ruining the Race 

The premise of the the book is that Screwtape is an experienced devil. His nephew, Wormwood, has had a bumpy start to his demonic career but has been given a new opportunity with a group of recently retired Christians. Screwtape's advice as to how to plot the ruin of these humans and stop them running the race, is contained in a series of letters.

Steven Lee, the author does not claim to know the Devil's mind, but writes about the temptation, opportunities and challenges that he finds in retirement.

A fresh letter (chapter) will appear each week from May 31st to August 2nd.

Preface
 
Many of you will hopefully have read the far superior Screwtape Letters. My only explanation for the difference in quality is that perhaps even devils slowly degenerate in the sharpness and insight of their thinking. It would seem that their grasp of English grammar and literature also suffers!

Some things however remain constant. “I have no intention of explaining how the correspondence which I now offer to the public fell into my hands.
There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors” (from the preface of The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis)

This is an eminently sensible warning but I would want to add that we need to heed Paul’s concern in his second letter to the Corinthians. Christians should not be “unaware of his schemes,” “in order that Satan might not outwit us”     (2 Corinthians 2:11).

Know your enemy is good advice.

Steven Lee
 
1
 
My dear Wormwood,

Your release and letter took me by surprise. You were very fortunate, after the severe blunders you made, to get away with merely a prolonged stay in the House of Correction for incompetent tempters. The catastrophic loss of your first temptee’s soul is something most junior Devils do not recover from. I am sure that I wrote to you previously that Hell expects and demands that your career should be one of unbroken success.

I was even more taken aback to hear that you have not only been freed but also given a junior administrative post in the Lowerarchy. Whatever clever wheedling you used I cannot imagine. However, do not get too excited; it is only supervising young tempters working amongst the retired humans at a particularly annoying local church. Nevertheless, your new position reflects a growing concern amongst our leaders that the Enemy sees such people as an underused and potentially powerful weapon in his despicable Kingdom building schemes.

Retirement has been one of our greatest successes. The result of decades of hard work by our nefarious influencers. It should have been a disaster for us. Those pesky human vermin, as they have become more virulent, are now enjoying 20 or more active years, with no need to work at all. All that time that could be offered in thankful service to Him – it is enough to bring howls from the throne of Our Father below.

Yet thanks to our graft, retirement has been largely rendered ineffective. The very word ‘retired’ is in itself a major triumph. Thankfully those horrific words "continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant to the end of your life," said in their vile initiation ceremonies are so readily forgotten. Instead through our tireless work we have substituted ideas of: “It’s time to let others take the strain”; “It’s me time now”; “It’s finally time to do the things I want.” They see it as an innocent desire to enjoy more time for family, holiday and hobbies. Sadly, our Enemy does liberally give such pleasures to the underserving creatures. However, His intent, which of course we must pervert, was never for these things to become the central focus of their lives.

Extraordinary as it may seem to us, your patients if handled correctly, will continually imbibe such thoughts as “it’s me time” without it even entering their heads as to how close this is to blatant selfishness and rebellion. What genuine pleasure there is in seeing a time which could have been one of fruitful growth in selflessness actually becoming a snare bringing them closer to our clutches. An extra delight can be gleaned from some who find themselves financially better off in retirement and yet greedily guard their bounty.

However, do not underestimate what dangerous ground we are on. What is blindingly and painfully obvious to us, that all time is His gift, must remain ever obscure to them. Never let them grasp the enormity of the treasure that they have been granted.  If more than a few should truly offer up these hours in service – well, the consequences are too dreadful to consider. Just remember that great nuisance John Stott and his prayer for an additional thirty years of fruitful ministry. I recall our Enemy’s sickening joy at his request.

It is important in all the many and often bewildering adjustments to retirement that affect your group, that you quickly introduce what is one of the greatest triumphs of our propaganda department. You may laugh at how many of them so readily declare ‘I don’t know how I ever found time for work. Life is so busy’. But make sure the message spreads quickly among your recent retirees. We must press home our advantage.

You should not let them get worked up or anxious about where the time is going. Vagueness is key here. Leave them in a fog of wondering where the time goes and a general sense of being as busy as ever. Do not, I repeat do not, let them look closely at what they do all day. And if, despite all your best efforts they do, then steer them to look at a time period when they were unusually active.  

I expect that as you start your new role you will carefully study the dossier entitled ‘Not on my watch’. It points out the dire consequences of allowing certain behaviours to, in any sense, take hold in the life of your retirees. These behaviours have been repeatedly discovered to lead to rapid spiritual growth. Remember the mantra of your training at the College of Young Devils. ‘If we cannot win them back, then we must render them ineffective.’ So be on your guard for: sudden increases in time deliberately spent in the Enemy’s presence; strong Christian friendships with a culture of genuine sharing, encouraging and challenging; ‘Epiphanies’ where a life changing truth suddenly becomes clear and takes a transformative hold on people; deliberate exposure to situations outside their comfort zones – where faith most definitely involves active trust.

I am sorry to use their disgusting terms – it leaves a most unwanted taste in the mouth. But be on your guard.  I am already receiving reports of these being discussed by one or two in your group. This is really most disturbing. You have been warned.

Your affectionate uncle,

SCREWTAPE