In the well-known book, The Screwtape Letters, author C. S. Lewis takes the concept of "playing the devils’ advocate" to its’ logical extremes. This thought-provoking classic was written as a series of letters from a high-level senior devil to his nephew-apprentice, outlining the manner in which mankind may most effectively be tempted away from Christianity. For example:

The advisor, Screwtape, writes to his student, Wormwood, whose task it was to "win back" or at least, nullify recent converts to Christianity on behalf of the domain of the Devil, Screwtape cautions,

A just society is the greatest threat to the devils of our world. A just society is something that the prophet proclaims is God’s will for we are called to maintain justice. The challenge that I find as a minister is in addressing the injustices we encounter in our daily walk of faith; the disparity that I witness between those of our senior members who reside in beautiful, carpeted and clean skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and those who exist in loud, messy wards with caretakers who are underpaid and understaffed, not to mention the language barriers and mutual safety concerns. Another disparity exists between those of our members with prescription drug plans and those who must buy their medical supplies on the black market. Then there is the disparity within corporations with CEOs making 500 times what the lowest worker receives, while employees are laid off after decades of service to the same company. One wonders whether we as a society are, in fact, subsidizing the wealthy, and not the poor and working poor as commonly portrayed. The cries of God’s people echo and we in the faith communities are the ears of God. How do we then become the hands of God, reaching out to comfort, aid and rescue?

In this context, Luther held not only to ‘the priesthood of all believers’ but also to ‘the magistracy of all citizens,’ that each citizen had the rights and responsibilities of a judge and that we should deliberate civic and political matters with the sobriety of a magistrate who needs to deliver a just verdict. It involves doing our homework… study, deliberation, the consideration of all perspectives…. While partisanship is obviously not our place; addressing areas often deemed ‘political’ is an essential part of our calling. The separation of Church and State does not mean that we abdicate our responsibility as faith communities with significant and vital roles to play in our neighborhoods.

In addition to exercising one’s vote, citizenship involves paying our fair share of taxes for the common good, working with neighborhood councils, participating in community organizations which lift up the needs that your personal faith walk is calling you to address. I ask you to lift up both in prayer and in action, all the victims of the disparities.

While we learn from Screwtape that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, someone much wiser once offered these words of advice: ‘The only thing that allows evil to prevail is for good people say and do nothing.’