C.S. Lewis’ classic book, The Screwtape Letters, is a view of reality from below. A fictional series of letters from an experienced devil to his first-time temptor nephew, the letter gives advice on how best to influence a human away from God. The demonic perspective is difficult, as everything is turned upside down – the Enemy is God, our Father Below is Satan and the basic view of reality is twisted inward. While Lewis’s treatment is creative and humorous, it contains his deep insight into human nature – both our virtues and vices.
The Bible and Jesus himself assume that there is more to reality than we can see and that we live in contested, enemy territory. When it comes to demons and spiritual warfare, Lewis himself argues against the extremes of either dismissing it all as mere myth or becoming so obsessed with spiritual warfare that you see a devil behind every bush. In this series, we’ll bring Lewis’s imagination into conversation with the Bible’s teaching on the spiritual realities of evil. We’ll consider how this view from below can help us understand the lies we so readily believe and what it takes to resist them.
Reading Plan
January 6-12
Luke 4:1-13
I Corinthians 10:1-13
Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16
James 1:2-15
I Thessalonians 3:1-5
January 13-19
Matthew 16:13-20
Acts 26:12-18
Ephesians 4:1-16
I Peter 2:4-10
I John 3:7-10
January 20-26
Matthew 6:5-15
Mark 1:21-28
Ephesians 3:14-21
Ephesians 6:10-20
II Thessalonians 2:1-12
January 26-February 2
Job 1
Job 2:1-10
Zechariah 3
James 4:1-10
I Peter 5:8-9
February 3-9
John 3:16-21
John 8:31-47; 10:10
Romans 5:1-11
II Corinthians 2:10-11
I John 4:7-21
February 10-16
Genesis 1 – 2:3
Psalm 63; Isaiah 55:1-3
II Corinthians 11:1-15
II Corinthians 12:1-10
II Timothy 2:22-26
February 17-23
Genesis 3:1-15; Romans 16:20
Luke 10:17-20
Matthew 12:22-37
Revelation 12:7-17
Revelation 20:1-10
