The fallen angel

It finally makes sense! I've never understood why people hold so adamently to the theological position that satan is a fallen angel. But, as I am reading Maximus the Confessor in the context of class discussions about the meaning of suffering and questions about theodicies, I get it! Maximus the Confessor, relying upon the writing of Dionysius, argues that "neither are the demons evil by nature; rather they have become evil through the misuse of their natural faculties." The point being that God only creates good. Here the argument goes that if God is a good god he could not create evil, but it would be important for him to create free will. Thus Satan wouldn't have been created as evil, but rather as good with a free will to choose to go against God's good nature. Thus this angel had to "fall" or choose to "misuse" its "natural faculties" in order to become evil. It makes sense now why it matters so much to people that we view Satan as a fallen angel.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Palm Sunday School Lesson for Teenagers

Scripture: Luke 22:17-20 Topic: When Jesus ate with his Disciples Background: This lesson would be taught during a Sunday morning breakfast club for teenagers. Once a month the youth meet to cook breakfast and then we try to relate the lesson to food. Last time the Middle School breakfast club met a middle school student led his peers in a devotional that went through the various stories of Jesus sharing food with his disciples. This Sunday we are going to focus on one of those stories and how it relates to Easter. Opening: 1. Ask, “Have you ever helped plan a party?” a. Ask the students to share about the various things they did to prepare (send invites, decorate, blow up balloons, set the table, plan games, order food). 2. Say, “For some families, Easter is a time of celebration, a party of sorts.” a. Ask, “What does your family do to celebrate Easter?” (family gets together, we eat dinner together, Easter egg hunt, attend church se
Read more

They touched Jesus, but then, how did they pray?

I'm sitting in my room praying and thinking, "After the resurrection did the disciples pray to Jesus?" Just imagine this with me for a moment. You have spent the past 2 - 3 years of your life following this intriguing man around, your feet are calloused, your memory is overflowing with moments around the campfire or dinner table, and you've been challenged to completely shift your Jewish worldview. And then he is gone. Just as quick as he came, just as brief as the moment he walked the shoreline past your fishing boat and called out to you, he is gone. And you are left knowing you've met an incredible man who was more than a man -- a man who was somehow divine. Now there is no one around you analyzing deep fulfilled Christological theological concepts, but there are plenty of Greek voices and new philosophical ways of contemplating life's happenings, there are Jewish commentaries, and there are the conversations that have happened along the roadside. An
Read more

Question: Multi-generational ministry

What do you think is good about churches that focus on reaching a specific age group? What do you think some of the disadvantages are? Would you rather be part of a multi-generational interactive community or a community of peers? (Assuming both are in the context of Christian fellowship.)
Read more