The Gospel of Safety

Context: Inspired by C.S. Lewis’s classic – The Screwtape Letters, this fictional series features letters from a senior demon to his young protégé, exposing hell’s subtle strategies against believers. These are not meant to amuse, but to awaken.

This isn’t just satire – it’s a mirror. A sharp one. Because sometimes the enemy’s strategies sound uncomfortably familiar.

My dear Wormwood,

Let’s begin with something gentle, something modern – comfort.

Your patient believes she is “following Jesus,” but make sure she never follows Him too far. Let her keep the label, just not the lifestyle. She can sing about carrying her cross, but don’t let her actually lift anything.

If she starts to feel convicted about sin, tell her it’s growth.
If she starts to pursue holiness, tell her it’s religious.
If she starts to talk about repentance, tell her that’s shame-based thinking.
Yes, yes, twist her vocabulary. Let her confuse grace with apathy. Let her think that God’s mercy excuses what she no longer wants to fight.

Above all, make her believe that comfort is her portion.
That God’s blessing is a life free of stretching, pressing, pruning, or pain.
That if it’s difficult, it must not be from God.
Oh Wormwood, this one lie has built entire doctrines.

Distract her with phrases like:
“God just wants me to be happy.”
“It’s not that deep.”
“Do what works for you.”
Yes! Make her forget that her body is not her own. That she was bought with a price.

The goal?
Keep her safe.
Keep her small.
Keep her far from the upper room where fire falls, far from the wilderness where God speaks, far from Gethsemane where flesh is crucified.

Let her pray for breakthrough but avoid brokenness.
Let her hunger for a platform but never for presence.
Let her post verses but never tremble at the Word.

As long as she’s comfortable, she’ll never be consecrated.
And as long as she’s not consecrated, she’ll never be dangerous to our cause.

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape.