Monday, July 24, 2006

• Currently Reading The Screwtape Letters By C. S. Lewis see related

  Letter #10
  Main Theme: Negatively influential relationships in becoming two-faced.
  Background: The patient has become friends with a couple of worldly atheists. Wormwood's job is to keep the patient trying to fit in with the world of the new couple without realizing the negative influence they are having on him.
  
  You see the idea--the worldy friends touch him on one side and the grocer on the other, and he is the complete, balanced, complex man who sees round them all. Thus, while being permanently treacherous to at least two sets of people, he will feel, instead of shame, a continual undercurrent of self-satisfaction.
  
  I almost don't want to comment on this quote. I believe almost everyone has at least one friend (if you aren't that friend) who is considered to have "gone down the wrong path." Several passages in Proverbs directly caution about what friends we keep. But, yet, in the New Testament we find Jesus hanging out with all kinds of "sinners"--prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, etc. How is it that Jesus can associate with such people, but we cannot? If we are truly to be Christ-like, shouldn't we also hang out with the misfits of our time?
  
  Before I answer those questions, I need to explain a major difference between Jesus and us. Here's an obvious one: Jesus=God=Holy Spirit (probably the most used reference for this comes from John 1). Since Jesus and God are the same, even as a human Jesus had an infallible character supported by a strong mind--He knew His mission and was not about to let anyone influence Him in a bad way. Those sinners Jesus hung out with, He sought to help. He knew they had open hearts and minds that were willing to change, and His time spent with them served a purpose to help them learn about God and help them part from their past lives.
  
  We, on the other hand, are weak minded and easily swayed, despite what we may think about ourselves. Though our intentions are good, we too often strike up a relationship in hopes of witnessing to the person. Instead, we try so hard not to offend the person that we get caught up in their lifestyles--in the quest of gaining trust and influence on the other, they end up influencing us. The smallest weakness in our consitution or smallest doubt in God can allow Satan to work through our "friend" and affect us for the worse.
  
  In the case of Wormwood's patient, this guy has formed a friendship with this worldly couple. Eventually, he begins living a double life by acting how this couple acts when he is around them, then acting pious and holy around church people. Not only is this guy becoming hypocritical, but he is living an inconsistent life and enjoying it! The patient actually feels satisfaction and pride for being able to pull off two completely different lifestyles.
  
  So how are we to reach out to the lost? Don't do it alone! Sure, make friends with non-Christians, but don't waste your time on anything less important than their salvation. Invite that person to join your group of Godly friends. If that person declines, then it's their loss, but do not become engulfed by their unGodly friends--that's when the pressure to give in to the world can become the greatest. Instead of throwing yourself into a pack of wolves, take out one wolf at a time to tame with the help and guidance of others.
  
  I like this site, it has some specific passages: http://www.bible-knowledge.com/bible-friends.html
  
  Well, I'm tired and I have a belly full of milk. So, goodnight!
  
  ~Mme. Darcy

  • 11:31 PM
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