See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8
“But the greatest triumph of all is to elevate this horror of the Same Old Thing into a philosophy so that nonsense in the intellect may reinforce corruption in the will. It is here that the general Evolutionary or Historical character of modern European thought (partly our work) comes in so useful. The Enemy loves platitudes. Of a proposed course of action He wants men, so far as I can see, to ask very simple questions; is it righteous? is it prudent? is it possible? Now if we can keep men asking “Is it in accordance with the general movement of our time? Is it progressive or reactionary? Is this the way that History is going?” they will neglect the relevant questions.
And the questions they do ask are, of course, unanswerable; for they do not know the future, and what the future will be depends very largely on just those choices which they now invoke the future to help them to make. As a result, while their minds are buzzing in this vacuum, we have the better chance to slip in and bend them to the action we have decided on. And great work has already been done. Once they knew that some changes were for the better, and others for the worse, and others again indifferent. We have largely removed this knowledge. For the descriptive adjective “unchanged” we have substituted the emotional adjective “stagnant”. We have trained them to think of the Future as a promised land which favored heroes attain — not as something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.”
C.S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters: Letters from a Senior to a Junior Devil (Samizdat University Press) 51.
Are you (and the people you spend time with) asking the right questions? I continue to enjoy my fresh exploration of this classic work, in which Screwtape explains how to perform devious tactics in order to mentor the little devil, Wormwood.
In the words of Paul to the Colossians, such tactics are hollow and deceptive. Paul even pins the blame on the spiritual forces of this world – like Screwtape and Wormwood – lest you think such writings can be understood as just imaginary.
Money and generosity also come into view as people think about the future. The comment by Lewis that the devil’s tactics leave people stagnant and thinking of the future a promised land only favored heroes attain struck me. Let me explain.
I see honest, God-fearing people stagnate because as they think about the future, rather than putting to work what they have obediently through giving and sharing, they stockpile wealth. And they hold on to much fear along with it.
So like stagnant stewards they don’t do the things God desires for them to do. As a result, nonsense in the intellect reinforces corruption in the will. They embrace nonsense and do exactly the opposite of obedience. Let me give an example.
Jesus says explicitly not to store up treasures on earth but to store them in heaven. But most American Christians ignore Jesus. I know. I did it for years. I bought the devil’s schemes. He uses these questions to stagnate us.
“Is it righteous? is it prudent?” So we rationalize that they only right and prudent way is to ignore Jesus and store up money. If this stings, don’t take it personally. You will thank me in 20 million years if you change directions now.
Don’t be a stagnant steward. Remember, God cares about and sees your obedience (or disobedience) and can be trusted to care for you better than you could ever care for yourself. Keep trusting the Same Old God who never changes!