I did this in the community too..not sure if it worked...
The Screwtape Letters
Caitlin Powlus
Letters 22-26
Question eleven:
-In Letter 24 Screwtape speaks of human beings’ social vanity--the allure of belonging to a certain clique or the “in crowd”. Why is this desire such a powerful temptation to sin? Have you faced this temptation in your own life? If so, how did you handle the situation? Where do you most see this temptation?-
This is a popular sin for Christians. The desire to ‘fit in’ or ‘be normal’ can cause us to forget our faith.
In the heat of the moment when we must decide if we are going to ‘fit in’ or stand-up for what we believe in, it is common for us to choose the easy way out. The Bible is very specific about what we should and shouldn’t do as Christians. We are told in the Bible that we should never ‘forget’ our faith in order to fit in.
I have experienced this temptation quite a bit at swim practices. For the most part I have stuck-up for what I believe in. I have had many conversations with my friends about what I believe in. It’s been interesting to talk to them while training and while we’re in the locker rooms, but I’m glad that I’ve been given opportunities to share. There have been times though, when I took the easy way out. I have resisted my gut to tell them about my faith when I’m ether too tired, or just don’t feel like talking about it. But ever since I became a Christian, I have resisted this particular temptation.
So, I guess that I am most often faced with this temptation at swim.
Letters 27-36
Question ten:
-In letter 28, why does Screwtape say it serves Hell’s purpose to have humans feel comfortable in this world? Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (but see 1 Corinthians 5:9-13); Philippians 3:17-4:1; Hebrews 11:13-16; James 4:4. What is the Christian’s true relationship to this world?-
Screwtape needs us to be comfortable in this world so that we can be more easily tempted.
We are told by Christ to fellowship with non Christians like Christ himself did. This doesn’t mean however that we should get so into being with ‘people of the world’ that we turn our backs on God.
We are told that as Christians we shouldn’t be “comfortable” in the world, but look forward to the next world.
The Bible also says in James 4:4
(You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.)
that if we are “friendly” towards the world we “become an enemy of God.”
So therefore a true Christian’s relationship with the world should be that of “in the world but not of it.”
Caitlin Powlus
Letters 22-26
Question eleven:
-In Letter 24 Screwtape speaks of human beings’ social vanity--the allure of belonging to a certain clique or the “in crowd”. Why is this desire such a powerful temptation to sin? Have you faced this temptation in your own life? If so, how did you handle the situation? Where do you most see this temptation?-
This is a popular sin for Christians. The desire to ‘fit in’ or ‘be normal’ can cause us to forget our faith.
In the heat of the moment when we must decide if we are going to ‘fit in’ or stand-up for what we believe in, it is common for us to choose the easy way out. The Bible is very specific about what we should and shouldn’t do as Christians. We are told in the Bible that we should never ‘forget’ our faith in order to fit in.
I have experienced this temptation quite a bit at swim practices. For the most part I have stuck-up for what I believe in. I have had many conversations with my friends about what I believe in. It’s been interesting to talk to them while training and while we’re in the locker rooms, but I’m glad that I’ve been given opportunities to share. There have been times though, when I took the easy way out. I have resisted my gut to tell them about my faith when I’m ether too tired, or just don’t feel like talking about it. But ever since I became a Christian, I have resisted this particular temptation.
So, I guess that I am most often faced with this temptation at swim.
Letters 27-36
Question ten:
-In letter 28, why does Screwtape say it serves Hell’s purpose to have humans feel comfortable in this world? Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (but see 1 Corinthians 5:9-13); Philippians 3:17-4:1; Hebrews 11:13-16; James 4:4. What is the Christian’s true relationship to this world?-
Screwtape needs us to be comfortable in this world so that we can be more easily tempted.
We are told by Christ to fellowship with non Christians like Christ himself did. This doesn’t mean however that we should get so into being with ‘people of the world’ that we turn our backs on God.
We are told that as Christians we shouldn’t be “comfortable” in the world, but look forward to the next world.
The Bible also says in James 4:4
(You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.)
that if we are “friendly” towards the world we “become an enemy of God.”
So therefore a true Christian’s relationship with the world should be that of “in the world but not of it.”