Toward an Understanding of the Enemy: A Meditation on Satan

bttt

...we have a crying need, in my humble view, to more deeply and seriously contemplate the nature of God.

That's for certain, Phaedrus -- JMHO. But I have a question: When you say you don't believe in Satan or the Devil, does that mean you don't believe in evil? Please share your thoughts with me. all my best -- bb.

p.s.: You wrote, "For myself, I feel no need to understand their 'position'. If we are satisfied that our cause is just, and I am so satisfied, then we must move from words to action...." I couldn't agree more.

If you've got a rabid dog coming down the street at you -- foaming at the mouth, snarling, snapping, biting -- you shoot it down, dead. You don't approach it and say, "Oh poor little pupster, you seem so upset. Tell me, what's bothering you? Let's see if we can fix it." No. You SHOOT. In a heartbeat. IMHO.

Yes, beckett -- I've seen that picture of the image of Satan forming in the smoke. Pretty weird. Another thing that's pretty weird: I can see the image of Christ in the face of OBL -- yet I know OBL reviles and repudiates Christ, seemingly in all things. It's the most distressing puzzle, and to me more truly frightening than the image in the picture you posted. Thank you so much for putting it up. all my best, bb.

Wow, this OBL pupster is . . . is . .

Hello Slingshot! I just read this morning that President Bush has increased humanitarian aid to Afghanistan by some $25 million, to be delivered immediately. I guess this is just another case of the "Great Satan" caring more about starving Afghans than their own government does. Those poor people are victims, too. (At least the ones who realize OBL's "holy jihad" is a lying, nasty crock. :^)

Thanks for writing -- bb.

Bumpity-bump-bump-bump

Beautiful, casings! Thank you for posting your poem here. best, bb.

Wow, this OBL pupster is . . . is . .

Okay, okay; so you've caught me "mixing metaphors," cornelis. :^) But one will just not do! best, bb.

But I have a question: When you say you don't believe in Satan or the Devil, does that mean you don't believe in evil? Please share your thoughts with me.

Now this, as I'm sure you're aware, is a huge, mammoth subject and I certainly don't have anything like all the answers. I will say that we humans have a way of personalizing things, anthropomorphising (sp?). And I will say that most moral issues represent a conflict between or among values, and perhaps among the most prominent of these is the loss of balance or perspective regarding the importance of means versus ends. Yes, there is evil but we have to be very careful as to just what we mean by it. As measured by intent, I'm sure there is an extremely minute number of people in the world who could be so considered, perhaps none, but that cannot be the only measure. Well, you have my little "sermon" but I make no claims to "expertise".

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Here's one I wrote in 1997: It's based on book of Matthew Chapter 3: verse 1-11 when Christ was tempted:

The Majesty Of Christ

Satan took Him by the hand
showed Him riches over all the land
said to Him, this is yours
if you will acknowledge me as your lord

The Majestic One said to him
you dare to offer this great sin?
get thee hence, away from me
I rebuke you and your mockery

The day will come when you'll be through
My Father's justice will come to you
you have caused Him such great ire
He will cast you into the Lake of Fire

There you'll remain for eternity
never again will you be free
with you will be the other two
who will suffer torment along with you

Then will begin the new regime
of which all believers dream
when they'll no longer be alone
as Yashua Messiah sits upon His throne

Copyright (c) 1997. All Rights Reserved.
January 28, 1977

Speaking of the devil, it is the villain in Shakespeare who knows how to use language best.

Well, if we're going to discuss Satan for awhile, I would like to offer the following:

If one believes in Jesus as the Risen Christ, as I do, what is there to be found in Scripture that is any more fantastic an idea than that?

I don't mean to offend, but I've always been amused by folks who claim to believe in the Resurrection, but insist there can't be a Satan. Why accept one supernatural and reject the other? On what basis?

[Not to mention that Jesus spoke to Satan, as well as various and sundry demons, and they spoke to him, according to that same Scripture. The Bible is either what it claims to be, in toto, or it ain't. One untruth would seem to negate it all, IMO.]

Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal[3] goes down into the earth?"

Ecclesiastes 12:6 Remember him--before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Solomon asks the question in chapter 3, and answers it in chapter 12. I just remembered the chapter 3 reference.

You are quite right about the Jarius' daughter's resurrection--it could mean her living breath as opposed to her spirit. The Bible uses the same word for both, in the OT (ruarch, I think) and New (pneuma).

Notice 1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"[2] -- 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Here "man's spirit" is pneuma . Clearly Paul is drawing an analogy between man's spirit and God's spirit--man's spirit gives intellectual understanding and God's Spirit gives spiritual understanding. So "pneuma" can be the human spirit--so the passage about Jarius' daughter could refer to her spirit.

Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal[3] goes down into the earth?"

Ah...but the preceeding verses make it clear why he said this:

Ecc 3:19 Because the fate of the sons of men and the fate of the beasts is the same. As is the death of one so is the death of the other, and all have one spirit. Man is not higher than the beasts; because all is to no purpose.
Ecc 3:20 All go to one place, all are of the dust, and all will be turned to dust again.
Ecc 3:21 Who is certain that the spirit of the sons of men goes up to heaven, or that the spirit of the beasts goes down to the earth?

Solomon is clearly saying that men and beasts have the same fate...death. It seems that in 3:21 he may be asking a question that today would be "Whoever said that the spirit of man goes up and the spirit of beasts go down??"

But it's probably a small distinction.

Ecclesiastes 12:6 Remember him--before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

I agree here. I went back and read your original post. I think I mis-interpeted your statement. I think the Bible clearly says that we have a "soul" or are a "soul" (hebrew Nephesh) that can die. It also refers to what seems to be a seperate "spirit" (Hebrew ruwach, you were close :-) ) that does return to God upon death, for whatever reason. Thank you for helping to clear my head about this. Sorry.

You are quite right about the Jarius' daughter's resurrection--it could mean her living breath as opposed to her spirit. The Bible uses the same word for both, in the OT (ruarch, I think) and New (pneuma). Notice 1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"[2] -- 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Here "man's spirit" is pneuma . Clearly Paul is drawing an analogy between man's spirit and God's spirit--man's spirit gives intellectual understanding and God's Spirit gives spiritual understanding. So "pneuma" can be the human spirit--so the passage about Jarius' daughter could refer to her spirit.

Agreed, it could be either or.

You've been most instructive...do you mind telling me what denomination or faith you are? You can do it in freepmail if you like. Thanks!

”… nations have no friends, they have interests. ALL interests of the USA and a good portion of this good earth have been changed. Some of this will take years to discern clearly. Other changes and realignments are occurring daily, right now.
"You are either with us or you are with the terrorists." Either, Or. When was that last done?
“All opinions are right, is the mantra. No opinion is wrong….
“Which nation or world leader would you chose to replace the United States of America? Would anyone come half way to the position we are in? Do the Muslim people realize what this world would be like if their radical Mullahs were in charge?
“Where is the economy of the world going if the USA falls? What will happen to their families then? Who will they blame?

“It would appear to me that a few influential Mullahs had better stand up loud and clear FOR the actions of the USA. Even if there are civilian casualties. They need to say there was NO intent by the USA to offend anyone, except the terrorists. If the Muslims desire to maintain their culture they better start realizing who makes it possible for them to have a culture. “

Thought all of this warranted repeating, dear Slingshot. As you say: "Let's Roll."

All my best, bb.