Joking with the Devil

I referenced in last Sunday's sermon a quote I thought was from C.S. Lewis.  It is located in his Screwtape Letters, but it is an epilogue attributed to Martin Luther.  Here's the larger quote...

The best way of getting rid of the devil, if you cannot do it with the words of the Holy Scripture, is to rail at and mock him.  For he is a proud spirit, and cannot bear scorn.

There's even more, wherein Luther gets all German and crass.  But suffice it to say that the pride in the Devil will not allow him to receive jesting and jocularity at his expense.  I wouldn't advise using it in every scenario.  I think saying "no" is the best first option.  And quoting the truth is next.  And then changing the environment or context of the temptation.


But if he won't yield, making fun of him might be the strategy.


But that's just me (and a German monk quoted by a British professor) thinking thoughts...