The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis

Full Title: The Screwtape Letters

Author: C.S. Lewis

Summary

This book is a collection of letters written to a "junior tempter" named Wormwood from his Uncle Screwtape. As you read, you'll learn something about the bizarre relationship between uncle and nephew and the mostly fictional description of the demon (or tempter) world. But beside these purely entertaining bits, you'll also learn from Lewis' unique take on spiritual warfare.

If you've read other non-fiction books from Lewis, you will find common themes in this one. But these themes are transposed into a harsh and dissonant tune. What Lewis normally speaks of as vile is described here as desirable. And what Lewis praises is described here as revolting. The "god" of the tempter's world is referred to as "Our Father Below", and the one true God is simply called the "Enemy". I think this is the most startling part of reading the book. It will probably take you a few chapters to get used to it.

After the book was published, Lewis said this about the process of writing it:

"Though it was easy to twist one's mind into the diabolical attitude, it was not fun, or not for long. The strain produced a sort of spiritual cramp. The world into which I had to project myself while I spoke through Screwtape was all dust, grit, thirst, and itch. Every trace of beauty, freshness, and geniality had to be excluded. It almost smothered me before I was done."

Thankfully, we do not have to live in this world like Lewis did for however long it took him to write the book. We just get to visit. And if you're planning a visit, prepare yourself for something very unique - an experience that is both comically entertaining and gravely serious. It will change your view of sin, temptation, and spiritual warfare. And it will also make you smile, which, I think, is also a part of effective spiritual warfare. It was Luther who said, "The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn."

Coming from Luther, I am understandably cautious. But I think he's right here. I think there is a way to laugh at Satan without being arrogant or frivolous. After all, we're not laughing at our own joke. We're laughing at a joke that's been making the rounds since the resurrection.

So if some of our more severe brethren accuse us of being a tad too flippant about something so serious, I think we can respectfully and accurately point them to Colossians 2:15 and say, "Hey, don't look at me. Jesus started it."

Contents

Key Ideas

Adversaria

C.S. Lewis on the process of writing the book:

I was often asked or advised to add to the original Screwtape Letters, but for many years I felt not the least inclination to do it. Though I had never written anything more easily, I never wrote with less enjoyment. The ease came, no doubt, from the fact that the device of diabolical letters, once you have thought of it, exploits itself spontaneously, like Swifts big and little men, or the medical and ethical philosophy of Erewhon, as Ansteys Garuda Stone. It would run away with you for a thousand pages if you gave it its head. But though it was easy to twist ones mind into the diabolical attitude, it was not fun, or not for long. The strain produced a sort of spiritual cramp. The world into which I had to project myself while I spoke through Screwtape was all dust, grit, thirst and itch. Every trace of beauty, freshness and geniality had to be excluded. It almost smothered me before I was done. It would have smothered my readers if I had prolonged it. I had, moreover, a sort of grudge against my book for not being a different book which no one could write.