Advent Logos

While doing some reading I came across something interesting. I wanted to share a passage from, “The Screwtape Letters” a book by C.S. Lewis.

In this book a Demon by the name of Screwtape is writing to his nephew, another Demon, tasked with winning the soul of his subject (man) for his father below (Satan). In this book Screwtape instructs this young demon on the most effective ways to win a soul. While the entire book is worth a read, a particular excerpt caught my attention about the use of humor and flippancy.

Flippancy is defined as: disrespectful, frivolousness, levity, superficiality, shallowness,glibness, thoughtlessness, carefreeness, irresponsibility, insouciance, offhandedness.

Screwtape talking to his nephew about the use of humor and flippancy:

“Anyone can be trained to talk as if virtue were funny. Among flippant people, a joke is always assumed to have been made. No one actually makes it. Every serious subject is discussed in a manor which implies that they have found a ridiculous side to it. If prolonged the habit of flippancy builds up around a man the finest armor plating against the enemy (God) that I know. Flippancy is also quite free of the dangers inherent in the other sources of laughter. It is 1000 miles away from joy, it deadens instead of sharpens the intellect, and it excites no affection between those that practice it.”

We have all heard someone make a mockery of a virtue or demonize Christian morality. It is important to remember the words of insight from C.S. Lewis because he pulls back the curtain to reveal something many of us are to busy to recognize.

Our society is preoccupied with the need to be humorous. Being humorous is substantial. It is a measure of who we are within society. It is so powerful that we judge ourselves by our proclivity to make people laugh. Inadequacy arises for those that can’t deliver the punchline of a joke. Flippancy is different. Flippancy can be use by anyone because it doesn’t require delivering the punchline. It’s a mockery. It’s disrespect for a belief. It’s also a skill that can practiced. Making fun of the morals of others is a tool of Satan.

How many times have you heard celibacy until marriage is stupid? How many times have you heard the term sky daddy? I’m sure every one of us can think of an instance where our faith has been mocked.

But there’s good news! We were already told this…

2 Timothy 3:12 reminds us: Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

God takes care of his people through his word. He has already given us everything we need to understand the world.

One of the reasons non christians are so difficult to reach is because they have spent so much of their lives being flippant that an armored plating has developed around them shielding them from seeing truth. Something mocked is something devalued.

This message doesn’t resonate?

Well let me change the words around. You may know flippancy by another term:

Sarcasm.

When is the last time you used sarcasm to mock or disrespect something? I do daily, but I’m working on it. The same armor forms around us when we use these tools.

Speak what you mean. Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no. No wizardry. Don’t be consumed with being the funny guy or girl. Be who you are. Break the training and be 1000 miles closer to joy.

Know thine enemy.

God bless

AL

PS the entire audio book can be found on YouTube for free for those interested in giving it a listen.