The link between pastoral care and spiritual warfare is something that feels complex at times. Some of us have a tendency to see demons around every corner and forget that other factors may be at play in life’s hardships. Others of us struggle to see the very real spiritual component that lies within every facet of human pain and forget Satan’s activity completely. As C.S. Lewis once commented, we tend to either speak too much or too little of the devil – it is hard to get the balance right.
There are reasons for not talking about him greatly. We don’t want to give Satan too much airtime – he is, after all, defeated and there are much better things to think about. However, the Bible is clear we are in a spiritual battle. And our times of pain can be seasons where that spiritual battle is felt particularly keenly.
Many of us might be familiar with Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. It’s a masterful piece of writing – one that imagines the kind of conversations that might go on in the spiritual realm between those evil beings who long to cause us to abandon our faith and live apart from the God who loves us so much. One of our Certificate Programme students, with the encouragement of a wise counsellor, spent some time reflecting on how two demons (one senior – Screwtape, and one junior – M.Eddling) might talk about her and about God (who they tragically name, the Enemy). She is able to look back on many years of growth but still acknowledge there is struggle. In doing so, she acknowledges her vulnerability, becomes wise to the attack – and becomes better equipped to fight the father of lies, with words of truth and hope.
If you are struggling, why not try something similar? Engaging in an activity that helps you remember the battle is real, and spot where the battle is fiercest, can be a useful step toward victory. Best done in conjunction with a wise friend – becoming alert to temptations equips us to flee or fight them well.
If you are in pastoral ministry and someone you are walking alongside is struggling, maybe consider this exercise for reflection between conversations. It can be fertile ground for understanding and equipping those we care about well. It is probably helpful if they read the book first though.
Satan’s ways are destructive – let’s be wise to them and, as Scripture says, not let him get a foothold in our lives.
Dear M. Eddling,
I must express my growing concern over your human’s recent progress. For a time, you had such a firm grip on her weaknesses—how gratifying it was to watch her spiral! But lately, she has shown an alarming degree of resilience. It is imperative that we correct this at once.
As you well know, she crumbles under pressure. The more overwhelmed she feels, the easier it is to convince her she is incapable, worthless, and doomed to failure. We must rekindle those delicious moments where she tears herself apart, both in mind and body. She must be made to feel unneeded at that insufferable church of hers—oh, how persistently they labor for the Enemy! It is sickening. And yet, in recent weeks, she has found strength. She has turned, irritatingly, to the Enemy for help. We must act swiftly before this reliance deepens.
Her mother’s visit presents a golden opportunity. That relationship has long been fertile ground for our cause—an endless supply of wounds left raw. Ensure her mother greets her with coldness, perhaps laced with a cutting remark or two. A well-placed criticism can fester beautifully. The smaller she feels, the less likely she is to seek solace in the Enemy’s words. Whatever you do, keep her from opening that wretched Book. You know as well as I do how dangerous it is. If she so much as glimpses its pages, she might remember that she is loved—intolerable!
Then, of course, there is the husband. Their bond has lasted far too long. Nudge her into believing the little things don’t matter—no need to cuddle on the sofa, no need for a goodnight kiss, and certainly no need for those three poisonous words: I love you. Keep her too busy, too tired, too preoccupied to enjoy him. Above all, make her assume it is his responsibility to lead their conversations with the Enemy. If she believes that, their silence will stretch on indefinitely.
You must also keep whispering reminders of her past. You once did a masterful job of chaining her in shame, convincing her she was irredeemable. And yet, the Enemy has been prying at those shackles. Infuriating! But do not lose heart—old wounds have a way of reopening. Remind her, subtly, that she was a horrid, dirty little girl. Let her see traces of her abuser in the faces around her—such moments weaken her resolve, making her ripe for attack.
The Enemy’s use of these insufferable so-called counsellors is particularly galling. She keeps reminding your human of the battle. We cannot have that. Keep working—undermine, distort, confuse. Do whatever it takes to make her dismiss their words.
And then there are the friendships. How did you let these relationships grow? I expect better from you. Still, there may be time. Plant seeds of doubt: They don’t really like you. They just tolerate you. You are a burden to them. If you can drive a wedge deep enough, she may yet withdraw.
Do not fail me, Eddling. I will expect a full report soon.
Uncle Screwtape the 3rd
