Precisely my point. What good came out of the garden for the serpent or the humans? So, it was not God's work.
even though it sounds counterintuitive, God was working for our good when He let the serpent in
Really? And just how did we benefit from going from being in Paradise to being cursed? Where is the "good" in it?
The operative and magic word used by many Apostolic around here is that we "COOPERATE" with God
Yes, that is a western construct and it is somewhat bogus, like the "fellowship." You and your lawyers are "fellows," partners so to say, not necessarily equal but partners nonetheless.
The Greek word would be synergism, more like the patient-doctor relationship or perhaps even client-lawyer relationship. The doctor/lawyer is in charge, but you can't help an unwilling patient/client.
Eastern Orthodoxy actually only refers to us (faithful) as slaves/servants of God. In Greek it is doulos and in Slavonic it is ryab/rab. In both cases, the word is obligate servant, bondsman, slave. The emphasis is on obligate and completely subordinate relationship to the master.
Thus, when receiving the Eucharist, a Deacon will call "Approach with the fear of God, faith, and love." Those receiving Holy Communion will approach the cup and the priest will say:
"The servant of God (Name) receives the Body and Blood of Christ for forgiveness of sins and eternal life."
The term (servant/slave) is also used during commemorative services (panikhidas/parastas). The priest reads:
O God of spirits, and of all flesh, Who hast trampled down death by death, and overthrown the Devil, and hast bestowed life upon Thy world: do Thou Thyself, O Lord, grant rest to the soul(s) of Thy departed servant(s), (name-s of the deceased), in a place of brightness, a place of verdure, a place of repose, whence all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled away.
As the gracious God, Who lovest mankind, pardon every transgression which he (or she or they) has (or have) committed, whether by word, or deed, or thought. For Thou alone art without sin, and Thy righteousness is to all eternity, and Thy word is truth. For Thou art the Resurrection, and the Life, and the Repose of Thy departed servant(s) (name-s of the deceased).
O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe gory, together with Thy Father, Who is from everlasting, and Thine All-Holy, and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
So, it is clear that we Orthodox do not form "fellowships" with God, but try to be His humble servants, giving ourselves and all our life to Him.
As we sing "Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God."
There is no confusing who is the master and who is the servant. An Orthodox faithful may not be well versed in Bible reading but, simply by attending the Divine Litirgy they will not think for one moment that somehow we are doing God a "favor." We are His servants because we gave up our will to Him and we come to Church to worship Him as our Lord and God, not our "fellow."
Knowing ahead of time there is going to be random anarchy, and refusing to do anything about it because man must control his own destiny, is NOT being in control
What random anarchy? Man controls his own destiny by either dying unto himself and giving his whole life and will to Christ, or by refusing God and choosing perdition. No matter how you look at it, we exercise our will, and God exercises His foreknowledge.
No good came to the serpent because he did not love God, and God does not work for the good of such people/entities. The garden was good for all human believers because God designed our existence to be in this world during these years. For believers, it is good by definition since it happened.
And just how did we benefit from going from being in Paradise to being cursed? Where is the "good" in it?
For believers being cursed is only a temporary state. Of course I can't tell you WHY God wanted it this way. If I had to take a wild guess I would consider what sort of love did Adam REALLY have for God before the Fall. He could do anything in the world that he wanted, except for one little thing. Yet, he did it anyway. Death ...... apple. Death ...... apple. Why? Perhaps because he had no knowledge whatsoever of why he needed God. How can one love God if he doesn't understand his own need for Him? We (and all believers since Adam) are better off now because we DO recognize our need for Him. That's one possibility anyway. :)
FK: "The operative and magic word used by many Apostolic around here is that we "COOPERATE" with God."
...... The Greek word would be synergism, more like the patient-doctor relationship or perhaps even client-lawyer relationship. The doctor/lawyer is in charge, but you can't help an unwilling patient/client.
OK, I can't come all the way there, but I like this a lot better than "cooperate".
Eastern Orthodoxy actually only refers to us (faithful) as slaves/servants of God.
Paul would agree. :)
What random anarchy? Man controls his own destiny by either dying unto himself and giving his whole life and will to Christ, or by refusing God and choosing perdition. No matter how you look at it, we exercise our will, and God exercises His foreknowledge.
I've been talking about this in other recent posts so I don't want to sound too combative. :) The synopsis is that man's decisions, uncontrolled by God, result in anarchy, or randomness. I disagree with the idea that God is thereby forced to work around all those random decisions to somehow figure out a way to get what He wants.