Screwtape Letters Reflection 1: On Not Confessing the Sins of Others

The Screwtape Letters Reflection… 1st Sunday of Lent

In his second letter to Wormwood, Screwtape laments the fact that Wormwood’s patient has joined the Church. However, Screwtape advises that all is not lost for the Church itself can be a great ally in their quest to gain control of his soul. Upon joining the church, the man is likely to experience disappointment when he realizes that the people next to him in the pews are rather ordinary folk. Furthermore, if he knows of the vices of any of these people, he may begin to gain a rather smug attitude towards them, feeling himself to be quite righteous in comparison.  

This hints at a paradox of Christian life: it is often by holding a rather low view of ourselves that we are able to be more compassionate towards others. During the season of lent we are encouraged to practice penitence- to reflect on our own shortcomings, to confess our faults, and ask forgiveness for our sins. When we do this honestly and sincerely, we are likely to find plenty of things on which we could improve. Seeing these flaws and viewing them with compassion in ourselves often leads to us adopting a more compassionate stance towards others who struggle as well. On the other hand, if we begin by taking an inventory of the faults of others, confessing their sins, we are often led towards judgment and self-righteousness. Screwtape advises Wormwood to prevent his patient from ever beginning by thinking of his own shortcomings, “All you then have to do is to keep out of his mind the question “If I, being what I am, can consider that I am in some sense a Christian, why should the different vices of those people in the next pew prove that their religion is mere hypocrisy and convention?” You may ask whether it is possible to keep such an obvious thought from occurring even to a human mind. It is, Wormwood, it is! Handle him properly and it simply won't come into his head. He has not been anything like long enough with the Enemy to have any real humility yet.”

This Lenten season, let us try to make a serious effort at looking inwards, acknowledging our own shortcomings, and asking for grace. It is true that there is much that is wrong in the world- war, violence, poverty, abuse, pollution. Yet the place that we have the greatest control is not over these large-scale problems, but rather in our own individual lives. If we are brave enough to look inward, we can expect great change in ourselves this Lenten season. That internal change is no small thing; it may well be the first step in bringing greater change to the world. And it is likely to bring with it the ability to view those in the pew next to us with compassion and grace. May it be so. Amen. 

Pastor Andrew Greenhaw