Letter 27: Petitioning the Lord

Review:
Letter 26 talked about being charitable versus unselfish. I know I realized that in small group, I often held off saying something that probably needed to be said because I didn't want to take time away from any one else.

 Outline:
  • Screwtape scolds Wormwood for allowing the patient's love and its distraction to become the top topic of the patient's prayers.
  • Screwtape suggests that the patient should be encouraged "to thrust it away by sheer will power" instead of taking it to the Lord.
  • New strategy based on the patient thinking about his happy life on Earth. This in turn has him praying more purely petitioning prayers. While there is some hope by Screwtape that this could be used to make the patient feel he should not pray selfishly, the Lord does command us to pray for our daily bread. Therefore, petitioning prayer is in obedience to the Lord.
  • However, if the patient must petition in his prayers, then use that to make him start to doubt or question the value or truth in God's grace.
    • If his prayers are not answered then, make him think those prayers do not work.
    • If his prayers are answered, then point out all the reasons why this might have happened anyway.
  • The discussion then turns to one of predestination and free will. We forget that God sees the past, present, and future at once in "His unbounded Now". For we can think that if God knows what we'll do in the future, then we do not have free will.
  • Then a side discussion about "The Historical Point of View". Mentions that Boethius already wrote of this, but that was "history". And Screwtape and company have taught us to not think about history as whether it is true.
Terminology:

  • Boethius - Roman Senator and Philosopher from 6th century; Wrote Consolation of Philosophy.

Questions/Discussions:
  1. Are you ever distracted by something in your prayers? Is it easier to take things to the Lord when things are going well or when they are going bad? How should we deal with the distractions?
  2. What does the Lord say about petitionary prayer? How has it affected our lives? this group?
  3. What do you think about the "Historical Point of View"? Have you ever heard anyone say "the bible is a good book, but it was written for people a long time ago."? How do we answer that question? 
  4. From Fischer's Book (Be Thou My Vision): The opposite of striving in our strength is striving in God's strength; the opposite is not doing nothing.
Scripture:
Homework:
How do you feel about asking (petitioning) the Lord in prayer? Think about it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Letter 17: Gluttony of Delicacy

Review: Focus on the Present and Eternity with God, not the Past or the future. (Letter 15) Becoming part of a fellowship of believers. Romans 14 (Letter 16) Outline: Gluttony of Excess versus Gluttony of Delicacy Patient's mother is in bondage to Gluttony of Delicacy amounts are small rationalize that she is avoiding waste in the "All-I-want" state of mind Too focused on food, not quantity, but type of food. Rationalizes with her son "does like to have things nice for her boy" Males are not as caught up in the "All-I-want" approach Screwtape recommends using male vanity: He 'knows' where the best is. He can do it 'himself' Goes on to talk about using Excess Gluttony as attack on chastity someone in excess, will want more and more of other lusts exercise in excess is not especially a cure for chastity. Terminology: Contemptuous - feeling or expressing contempt Dossier - a file of papers containing a detail...
Read more

Letter 13: Asphyxiating Cloud

Review: Let patient believe they are not slipping away from God Nice slow gentle path to Hell Outline: Wormwood has lost ground. Serious ground. Patient was protected by strange cloud. Allowed patient to enjoy true pleasures: An enjoyable book, not a book to discuss with new friends Walk to old mill & tea Real pleasure (or pain) puts things in perspective; Wormwood had made some progress in detaching him from himself, but that is undone. This detachment different from the 'die to self' God wants God loves us, and the differences. God wants the loss of "the clamor of self-will" God "hates to see them drifting away from their own nature for any other reason" Satan wants "to eradicate … any strong personal taste which is not actually a sin" this is true in the indifferent things (non-virtues). if he enjoys it in spite of what other folks think, it is humility. use jargon, do not read an enjoyable book, but an 'important...
Read more

Letter 1: Jargon, not Argument

Review: Remember that Uncle Screwtape, a demon, is writing to his nephew Wormwood. Outline: Wormwood thinks he can argue the patient to his side. Using the goal of materialism. Screwtape points out the problems in this approach: thinking doesn't lead to anything (due to demon influence of press?) absolutes, proofs, truth are no longer common (gee, kind of like are world today?) avoid real science since that makes one look at things you can't necessarily see (of course thinking we can explain everything is dangerous). However, true debate and sincere searching will lead to the truth (and the truth shall set you free) The approach to take is: "Jargon, not argument, is your best ally in keeping him from the Church." Judges 5:15,16 - the tribe of Reuben had "great searchings of heart", but never did anything. Keep the  "ordinary"  in front of him, have him concentrate on  "real"  life. "Do remember you are there to fud...
Read more