Letter 19: God Loves Them?

Review:
We confuse "being in love" with some sort of prerequisite for marriage and therefore excuse to marry anyone I want or not the one God wants me to marry.

 Outline:
  • Screwtape admits he was wrong and asks Wormwood not to show letters to anyone. He had repeatedly said that God loves us humans, but that cannot be since unique things are in competition. Therefore, God must have an ulterior motive.
  • Tells lie of how Satan left heaven over this point.
  • Wormwood had asked whether "being in love" was a good state. Screwtape says that is question for patient; just use it to keep him away from God. So it depends on the patient:
    • "I am saving myself" not because God wants him too, but because of pride (Gluttony of delicacy). Make him think it is "bad".
    • Prone to emotion, romantic, who thinks it is irresistible. Make him think it is "good".
  • Steer patient into an undesirable marriage (though God's invention) that could be useful to the cause. Asks for report of women who might fit this requirement.
Terminology:
  • Flouting - insulting, mocking.
  • Asceticism - the practice of self-denial.
  • Meritorious - deserving reward or honor.
Questions/Discussions:
  • Is "being in love" a good or a bad thing?
  • Do angels (elect or evil) understand God's unconditional love? The atonement? 1 Peter 1:10-12
  • Can evil angels become good angels? No (see Mt 25:41, Heb 2:14-18)
  • What's wrong with dating a non-christian? (2 Cor 6:11-18)

Scripture:

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