Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Question #1

In letter 2, Screwtape says ”the Church itself” is an ally to the diabolical cause. In what sense? Read Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27: Ephesians 1:2-14, 4:1-6, Revelation 7:9-17. Why are these texts about the nature of the Church important?

3 comments:

Deacon Bill <> said...

This is not an easy revelation for the disciples to handle, as you see in Matthew if you read the entire 16th chapter. The disciples, especially Peter, continue to both understand yet not understand. They stride forward in faith when they focus on God’s revelation, yet falter when they rely on their own understanding. So in many ways our sinful nature stains anything we touch?
In Ephesians, the word walk or in Greek, peripateo, NIV, “live” ). Obedience is always a response to grace. God acts first, and humans respond. But because of our sinful nature, to paraphrase from Indiana Jones, "we choose poorly" at times. Bill <><

Unknown said...

The church is made up of sinners. We all are sinners and instead of being judgemental and critical of each other because of sin as satan loves us to do, we need to be helpful and supportive of each other through the trials and tribulations and not turn our backs on each other or think we are better than each other or talk about each other badly. The church becomes divided within and divided across different denominations which satan loves because he does not have to do much work, we are doing it for him! We need to be opened armed and help bring each other to the cross, to the feet of Jesus in times in troubles and work together to defeat the enemy, not to feed him. In the church sometimes we get that 'holier than though' attitude, when we really need to be experiencing humility and become humble before the Lord.

Jackie Williams said...

Screwtape is referring to the hypocrasy that is found in church. Most church members are very worldly, and when a person makes his or her first venture into church their expectations are met with disappointment. they are looking for sanctity and holiness and expect to see some level of reverence or Godliness in everyone, but instead they find sinners just like themselves and begin to question what the purpose of attending church is in the first place.