With Apologies to C.S. Lewis

(I mistakenly thought I had posted this last Thursday. Instead, I had saved it as a draft. Oh well…)

My friend Ron Man, who puts out the monthly Worship Notes, has composed a number of fictitious letters based on C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. In light of recent conversations about Draw Me Close to You, I thought this one was particularly appropriate.

Let me make it clear that pastors need to determine what kinds of songs their people are singing, and repeatedly singing theologically shallow or emotionally driven songs will produce Christians who live by musical experiences rather than the unchanging Word of God. However, in these discussions, our first concern should be our own hearts, and how tempted we are to sound more authoritative when we have less Scriptural support for what we’re saying.  Enjoy…

My dear Woodworm,

When human creatures first come into the world, they are notorious for their single-minded focus on their basic needs, and their effectiveness in making those needs known. They make it very clear to everyone around them that they want what they want, and they want it NOW, and they won’t rest until they get it.  —- Delightfully, many of them never seem to advance beyond this stage!

I tell you, we have certainly put that tendency to good use when it comes to their worship services. The “tyranny of taste”, I like to call it, or the “power of preference.” You see, when they first show up for worship, they may enjoy well enough mingling with others, usually chatting idly and mindlessly about things like the weather or last night’s sports scores. But the moment the service starts, “it’s every man for himself,” as they say. Any thought of community is quickly extinguished as each one prefers instead to see it as an opportunity for some “one-on-one” time with the Enemy.

This perspective causes them to evaluate everything which goes on in the service through their own individual grid. Each one comes with a whole set of personal standards, expectations, hopes, needs and desires— and they each see worship as a failure if their own agenda is not accomplished. And so we get a delightful cycle of frustration and disappointment and disillusionment which only serves to turn them even more in on themselves.

And of course, when everyone comes to the service with his or her own agenda, they are on a collision course with each other. What one likes, the other despises, and vice versa. It’s just marvelous to see that kind of dynamic! Rarely is any pleasure is taken in one another’s spiritual journey— and we’re often able to encourage rather a sort of competitive spirit which guarantees a total lack of community.

This whole area of worship has certainly been worth all of the attention and effort we have given it over the past several years. How like our Father in hell to so skillfully corrupt something so central as worship in the hearts and minds of the Enemy’s people! Would you believe it, we can so fill their minds with disapproving thoughts about the songs or the musicians or the decorations or the lighting, that sometimes they can go through an entire service with hardly a thought about the Enemy Himself!  And even if they leave with a positive feeling, it’s often because of a satisfying personal experience which has stroked their ego but still largely left God out of the picture. How delicious it is that in all our work of seeking to distract them from a heavenly focus, one of our most effective tools should be the worship service itself!!

And so, my dear Woodworm, don’t fret yourself about all this attention being given to worship these days: the programs in their churches, the books, the seminars and conferences, the recordings and concerts, the sermon series– this new fad just adds to their busy striving, and leaves them wonderfully ignorant that the worship they’re working so hard at, is to be found simply through a restful preoccupation with the Enemy Himself. As long as we keep them from learning that, we’ll be OK.

Stay the course, my dear nephew.

Affectionately yours,
Tapescrew

2 Responses to With Apologies to C.S. Lewis

  1. MARILYN April 18, 2006 at 7:12 AM #

    I HAVE BEEN READING AND ABSORBING YOUR BLOG ENTRIES FOR A FEW MONTHS AND CONTINUE TO BE ENCOURAGED AND CHALLANGED IN MY THINKING BY YOUR SHARINGS……..
    IT IS SO KIND AND GENEROUS, OF YOU TO TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE TO US
    PRAYING…………
    GOD RICHLY BLESS YOUR LIFE IN HIM..
    THANKS FOR YOUR HEART……
    marilyn

  2. Allan April 18, 2006 at 9:23 AM #

    Bob:

    I think the Screwtape motif is an effective way of exploring this type of issue. It helps us get beyond the technical aspect and move to what is more important: the attitude of our hearts as we worship God. Thanks for the post.

  3. Jean April 18, 2006 at 9:13 PM #

    Very insightful and sadly true to life! This will help me to focus even more on the Lord as I work on planning “the worship service” each week. What a challenge for us who plan when so many come with their own “grid”.
    Thanks for this!!

  4. Amy April 19, 2006 at 9:01 AM #

    Whew!

    Here’s a question: How do you balance discernment without being critical? I find myself struggling with this constantly. Where is the balance between noticing and being concerned that the theology presented in songs/sermons is man-centered, or that the gospel is missing, vs. being critical of the music and preaching and thus being unable to actually worship?

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