AP

Everyday Warfare in ‘The Screwtape Letters’

In the increasingly secular west, we are constantly tempted to compartmentalise the Christian faith. The so-called “spiritual” components of our lives are limited to church on Sundays, quiet times, and the occasional moments of self-reflection. But when it comes to our everyday interactions, we often think there are few spiritual stakes at all.

In reality, life under Christ means everything is a matter of godliness – even down to our eating and drinking (1 Corinthians 10:31). As Abraham Kuyper states: “there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” Our everyday lives are not just flesh and blood, but spiritual battlegrounds against the powers and forces of this world (Ephesians 6:12).

This is precisely the point that C.S. Lewis makes in his book, The Screwtape Letters. Through depicting fictional letters between a senior devil (Screwtape) and his nephew (Wormwood), Lewis highlights the real spiritual warfare behind the everyday circumstances of the believer. Lewis’ satirical edge ensures his words cut to the heart, spotlighting battlegrounds about which we might otherwise be ignorant. Here are just two standouts from my own reading of this book.

1. Language

Rarely do we consider our everyday conversations as the setting for intense spiritual warfare. There is much going on behind the scenes. Screwtape’s promotion of flippant humour as an “invaluable means of destroying shame” in the believer is enough to make anyone think twice about what forces really lie behind our words (ch. 11). In an age where banter and online memes often muddy the line between honest humour and outright crudeness, Lewis’ words are a helpful reminder for us to maintain a firm grip over our tongues.

Furthermore, Lewis also contends that particular words like “puritanical” can be deployed to create an aversion (or even a shame) toward the pursuit of holiness. The weaponisation of such language is, as Screwtape gleefully remarks, a great help to the kingdom of darkness in rescuing “annually thousands of humans from temperance, chastity, and sobriety of life” (ch. 10). How true this proves to be in our culture today, where attempts to encourage godly living are so often shouted down as being “legalistic” or “prescriptive”!

2. Food

Gluttony is a subject that, as Screwtape suggests, “you will hardly find a sermon preached or a conscience troubled about it in the whole length and breadth of Europe” (ch. 17). Yet as Lewis argues, gluttony is a sin of insatiable demand that leaves us susceptible to ill temper, selfishness and poor spiritual disciplines alike. Interestingly, Lewis believes that gluttony is not limited to displays of overeating – even habits such as chasing after delicacies can reflect a gluttonous heart.

Today, even among believers, so many of our social media posts feature picture perfect brunches and trendy restaurants – vain attempts to show the best sides of our lives. We normalise indulging our appetites, and feel entitled to chase after the next fashionable place to eat, not seeing the spiritual forces at work behind these desires. If we wish to avoid the spiritual decay that comes with gluttony, we would do well to heed Lewis’ warnings.

The Takeaway

Packaged in an interesting and engaging format, The Screwtape Letters is an effective rebuttal of the division of sacred and secular. Wherever we may be in your walk with God, Lewis’ book helps believers to think deeply about their everyday lives, and to spot the spiritual temptations that present themselves in seemingly small decisions. This book will be a blessing to anyone with the willingness to engage with its convicting subject matter.

– Shun Kwong