“Whatever is true… think about these things.”

In 1942, C. S. Lewis published The Screwtape Letters. If you’re not familiar with it, Lewis wrote the book from the perspective of a demon in hell. Screwtape is mentoring his nephew guiding a soul through life. In this book, every human has a “guardian demon” just like a guardian angel. Lewis attempted to enter the mind of a devil and write how they try to bring souls to “Our Father Below.”

In the book, Screwtape advises his nephew, Wormwood, to distract his “patient” as much as possible. Thus, he desires the soul to be caught up in noise. Screwtape  further says he detests music and silence, which are the sounds of Heaven. He refers to noise as, “the grand dynamism, the audible expression of all that is exultant, ruthless, and virile.” Screwtape says the demons “will make the whole universe noise in the end.”

The World is Noise

The world does seem to be noise. We are constantly berated with what’s acceptable, what agenda is okay to push, what social war needs to be declared. It is harder to find silence of peace and even more difficult to seek the music of truth and goodness.

A few Sundays ago, I was reminded how to find silence and music among the noise. St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things…. Then the peace of God will be with you.”

What is True?

God is true. Pursuing Him is honorable. Instructing the ignorant is just. Living in accordance with His design for our sexuality is pure. Protecting the innocence of children is lovely. Praying for our enemies is gracious.

Refusing to be consumed by the noise of the world is worthy of praise.