Saturday, January 28, 2012

Sunday Inquiries: #3

Let's call him Baal-zebub, which, literally translated refers to the Phoenician god Baal plus the word zebub, which means Dung.

This question is quite simple, and will take very few words to depict. I just want to get to the bottom of this shit-faced villain.

My simple question is this:

Who the hell is this Satan, and why does he hate us so damn much?!!

As Christians, we must stay persistent in not-falling into a form of Manichaeism. This is the religion St. Augustine was converted from, which essentially says that Goodness is at eternal odds with Darkness. The two are equal forces and worthy opponents. Our God is far far mightier than Lucifer, the one He created, so it really isn't a contest that can be weighted; God wins. That's the point.

And in knowing that; in knowing that WE can know that, how is it that Satan came to fall? How could the most marvelous of creation be so arrogant as to think he can beat the creator of all things?

Something isn't right here. The data doesn't make sense.

How could the most brilliant of creation be so naive to think he could win a battle against the his very maker? 
I don't understand...

Adam and Eve had a serpent. They at least had a scapegoat. Who does Satan have? What slithering beast can he point to as treasonous? When he fell from grace there was no precedent of evil. There was nothing yet called evil...

And yet now we have for ourselves an arch-villain. 

Jesus speaks devastatingly to his critics in the book of John. He says: 
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies,, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 8:44

Who did he murder from the beginning? What was his first crime? 

How is it that his character is rotten? How did it become that way? Did God put that in him? How could he choose for himself such a stupid resolution? Knowing as much as he did, far more than we do, why did he not choose life? Why was he not satisfied with being the head of the host of angels? Why, why, why?

Amidst the prophet Zechariah's many visions, we see that Satan, the adversary, is our accuser. Why? Why does he choose to hate us? Both Ezekiel and Isaiah may speak to his fall (Isaiah 14:12-24, Ezekiel 28:13-17) but who among us is renown enough to interpret these passages accurately? 

The devil plays a fundamental role in the John's vision of Revelation. The prophet speaks exactly to this adversary's final judgment. 

I just don't get any of it. 

What is his hope? What is his plan? What does he think he can accomplish against an omnipotent creator? How did he come to think that betrayal would be in his self-interest? Surely he knows the prophecy, knows that he has not the power to avoid it, right? Or are we mere mortals smarter than him? 

God is keeping much of this story from us, I reckon. 

Maybe someday we will know exactly how all these things came to be..........

.....but I doubt it.


5 comments:

  1. “Don't you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions?” said Shasta.
    “There was only one lion,” said the Voice.
    “What on earth do you mean? I've just told you there were at least two the first night, and-“
    “There was only one: but he was swift of foot.”
    “How do you know?”
    “I was the lion.” And as Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing, the Voice continued. “I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you.”
    "Then it was you who wounded Aravis?"
    "It was I"
    "But what for?"
    "Child," said the Voice, "I am telling you your story, not hers. I tell no one any story but his own."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But maybe Aslan will let me take a look at one of those 'history of the angels' books.

      Delete
  2. Satan’s lies are exposed not one child of God will go into a hell fire no matter what their sins.
    It has never entered the heart or mind of God to ever do such a thing Jer 7:31, Jer 19:5.
    I invite you to read http://minigoodtale.blogspot.com the true word is now delivered.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Val! Remember when Paul spoke to the Athenians on Mars Hill? Did he not at first speak to them about their things, their gods? If you want the free publicity, at least read my bloody words.

      Listening is important, Val.

      Delete
  3. Satan’s lies are exposed not one child of God will go into a hell fire no matter what their sins.
    It has never entered the heart or mind of God to ever do such a thing Jer 7:31, Jer 19:5.
    I invite you to read http://minigoodtale.blogspot.com the true word is now delivered.

    ReplyDelete