Convince Fletcher that today he doesn’t have time for the Book and the talk. Then do it again tomorrow and the next day and the next. He’ll never make a conscious decision to stop prayer and Bible study, but the bottom line will be the same.
Turn forbidden talk and Bible reading into an intention, something he’ll do when he has time. Then all you have to do is make sure he never has time. The intention to pray and read the Bible is no threat whatsoever to us. It’s the actual doing it that’s the danger. When it’s put on the calendar, when the alarm clock is set because of it, that’s when it’s time to panic.
After reading his Bible, praying, going to church, and sharing his faith, he always feels better, doesn’t he? Then why is it the things he feels best after doing are the things he most doesn’t want to do? This is a question for you, not him. The obvious answer is us. If he realized there’s a supernatural explanation for his reluctance to do what brings him joy, we’d lose our clandestine edge. He’s increasing in humility? Then make it a point of pride. If he becomes aware of his pride about being humble, then confesses it, make him proud he was humble enough to confess his pride at being humble.
You deliberately neglected to tell me they decided to forgo a new car to give to the needy. If the Enemy is getting hold of their money, it’s a sure sign He’s gotten hold of their hearts. The worst is, everything they give away increases their joy.
Conhock told me the vermin and his wife agreed to go on that summer missions trip. Do you see what’s happening? They’re relocating their treasure, and the Enemy’s relocating their hearts. You’re being beaten at every turn, Squaltaint. What more can go wrong?
If Fletcher sells the boat, next thing you know he may sell his second house and do Satan-knows-what with the money. If he becomes free from debt, he’ll be more free to serve the Enemy, more free to say yes to His promptings, to make a habit of these miserable missions trips, to pull up stakes and follow Him elsewhere, or serve Him where he is now with far less distraction.
What can I say to convince you of how disastrous this is?
You must persuade Fletcher that when the Enemy provides more money He’s expecting them to raise their standard of living, not their standard of giving. Remind him of a thousand practical reasons it’s nuts to give up a new car. Let him buy up shares of Microsoft or General Motors, but never the Enemy’s kingdom. Keep his vested interests on earth, not heaven.
As long as the check hasn’t been put in the plate, it’s not too late to persuade Fletcher and his wife to postpone their giving. Do it like you postpone prayer, Bible reading, baptism, evangelism, and everything else. There’s a word for postponed obedience: disobedience. That’s what we’re looking for.
You must take decisive action to bring him down before the Enemy’s hold on him tightens further. Work relentlessly to link him back to his secretary. It’s still not too late, I tell you! He must look at her, think about her, lust for her. Go after him—hunt him down as you would a wild animal. Lead him by his glands to the slaughter.
Where’s your vision, Squaltaint? A broken home, betrayed wife, violated children. We can breed from them another generation of heartbroken hardened little vermin with no concept of moral permanence. They’ll grow up suspicious and skeptical of marriage. If they enter it, divorce will be the back door to which they run. Wife and children will be embittered toward the Enemy because they’ve been betrayed by a man who professed to be His follower. It can still happen, I tell you, Squaltaint. Don’t give up!
Do not disappoint me! We must take him down; we must have him; we must consume him.
If you don’t pry Fletcher from the Enemy, I won’t be able to protect you from the consequences.
Empowered by my hatred,
Lord Foulgrin
This article originally appeared on epm.org and is reposted here by permission.