The Screwtape Letters....Worth the Read
Most of you know that I am participating in the 31 Days Series. I am sharing 31 days of C.S. Lewis quotes, but today I am combining my 31 day post with my Journey of Faith Friday post in hopes that you will be challenged (and will follow through) with reading one of Lewis's books.
The first book I would challenge you to read is Mere Christianity, but I realize it is a more difficult read that is often intimidating. It took me 7+ months to finish, but it was TOTALLY worth it. Therefore, I will start with one of Lewis's easier reads--The Screwtape Letters.
What is The Screwtape Letters and why should you read it?
What is The Screwtape Letters?
Wikipedia does a good job with its summary, "In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis provides a series of lessons in the importance of taking a deliberate role in living out Christian faith by portraying a typical human life, with all its temptations and failings, as seen from devils' viewpoints. Screwtape [elder demon] holds an administrative post in the bureaucracy ("Lowerarchy") of Hell, and acts as a mentor to Wormwood [nephew of Screwtape], the inexperienced tempter. In the body of the thirty-one letters which make up the book, Screwtape gives Wormwood detailed advice on various methods of undermining faith and promoting sin in the Patient [Christians], interspersed with observations on human nature and Christian doctrine. Wormwood and Screwtape live in a peculiarly morally reversed world, where individual benefit and greed are seen as the greatest good, and neither demon is capable of comprehending or acknowledging true human virtue when he sees it."
Why should you read it?
As a Christian, it is easy to take lightly or ignore the reality that, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12).
This book highlights our every day struggles from a different perspective: the perspective of an adversary who wants only to rob you of who you were created to be.
This book will challenge you to examine areas of your life you may have never thought needed to be examined. It deals with issues from church attendance to material possession to prayer to war to our thought life.
It is an easy read that provokes a TON of thought. It is 31 short chapters that can easily be discussed and re-read with a friend. I have read this book. I have listened to the audio book. I have discussed in small group. Each time, I learn something new and view the devil and his schemes in a new light.
*My friend, Carolina, attended The Screwtape Letter play a few weeks ago. To learn more about the book and how reading it challenged her click here.
Day 1: Love your neighbor
Day 2: Atheist to Christian
Day 3: Pride
Day 4: Christian home
Day 5: Marriage
Day 6: Truth
Day 7: God's Voice
Day 2: Atheist to Christian
Day 3: Pride
Day 4: Christian home
Day 5: Marriage
Day 6: Truth
Day 7: God's Voice
Day 8: Wisdom in waiting
Day 9: Hell
Day 10: Worship
Day 11: Worry
Day 12: Modern Christians
Day 13: Legalism
5 comments:
I agree that it is a must read! I had read parts of it before but finished it all for the first time last year.
I am enjoying your quotes this month, Amber.
I triple agree that all of his books are a must read. We read Mere Christianity with our 11 year old this year (leaving out some parts that weren't suitable). But his ability to take logic and reason and fuse it with the gospel message resonates with children - maybe that is why his fiction is loved by youth. I have The Screwtape Letters on audio from the library right now - listening to them has made me late for work!! :)
xoxo michele
I havent read it. I am going to now!
I have read Mere Christianity, but haven't read this one. I need to!
Thanks for linking up with my blog! You did a much better job of expanding on the screwtape letters and what is about. Next challenge book for me- the great divorce!
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