Theme Of The Screwtape Letters

The Screwtape Letters, an epistolary novel written by C.S. Lewis in the midst of World War II, encompass the hearts of many faithful Christians across the globe. This satirical piece of literature has become the initiator of many theological discussions. Although the novel was published over eighty years ago, in 1942, the major theme of The Screwtape Letters is still widely debated. Sara N. Patterson, a student from Ouachita Baptist University, states, "In my research frenzy, I missed many deeper layers of meaning present in this book from the constant back-and-forth between typing into online search engines and reading the book. The theology of this book is deep, thorough, and extremely helpful for this generation, but the barriers of its

As Screwtape advises his nephew, "When they meant to pray for courage, let them really be trying to feel brave. When they say they are praying for forgiveness, let them try to feel forgiven. Teach them to estimate the value of each prayer by its success in producing the desired feeling, and never let them suspect how much success or failure of that kind depends on whether they are well or ill, fresh or tired, at the moment" (Lewis, 16). The emotional rush that occurs when drawing near to the Holy Spirit is a feeling almost every Christian has experienced. New believers tend to use this feeling as their sole motivation for prayer, study, and worship. Lewis warns against the idea of using emotions as a reason for faith multiple times. "Faith, in the sense in which I am here using the word, is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods" (C.S. Lewis, Mere

Many churches ignore the intended purpose of sermons by preaching only what the congregation wants to hear. These sermons frequently turn into ear-tickling cash grabs. The warnings seen throughout The Screwtape Letters continue to be relevant for this reason. "By restoring reason to its rightful place, Lewis showed how Christianity could appeal to those earnestly seeking answers to the great questions of life" (David A. Theroux, Why C.S. Lewis Is as Influential as Ever). Evangelistic events like modern revivals, church camps, and even megachurches are designed to stir up these intense emotions. While these feelings can be beneficial for conviction, they are not to be used as a foundation for a person’s