Last year, we provided copies of C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce and had a couple discussion nights.
The Screwtape Letters is another of his short stories that involves a series of letters from a senior devil, Screwtape, to an underling demon, Wormwood, assigned to keep a young man away from God, contrary to his guardian angel. Below is a contemporary letter, written in Lewis' style, which fits our current situation. Don’t get distracted from what is truly important … I recommend reading the actual book.

From a pseudo-Lewis (not from the book as originally indicated)
My Dear Wormwood,

Plagues are a most effective weapon given to us by our father below. Normally, Christians are quite comfortable in receiving the dreaded sacraments and gathering in their prayers and other heinous Arts. But if you can stir up a hysteria by means of a plague so that they cut themselves off from our enemies gifts to them, the torment of isolation will drive them to despair and season them quite deliciously much to our delight.

Get them to forget about their usual practices of prayer, fasting and alms giving and encourage them to become gluttons, slanderers, and lose all regard for their neighbor thinking only about themselves and their immediate needs. Storing up treasures which we can send moth and rust to destroy further sweetening their torment.

If you can, help them to redefine their usual words like “church” and “fellowship” and “ministry” so that they feel comfortable cutting themselves off from our enemies care and they can be tempted all the more.

Yes, Wormwood, a plague is a tried and true method of taking their eyes off our enemy and getting them to worship their own bodies. A most desirable position for we tempters. Never let a good crisis go to waste!

Your Affectionate Uncle,
Screwtape