Friday: Further Thought – The Great Controversy
The concept of a struggle, a controversy, between good and evil is found in many cultures. The idea has persisted through the millennia often expressed through myths. Today, because of the influence of higher criticism and modernist rationalism, many Christians deny the reality of a literal devil and evil angels.
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
These were, the argument goes, just a primitive culture’s symbols for human and natural evil. From our perspective as Adventists, it’s hard to imagine how anyone makes sense of the Bible at all without belief in the reality of the devil and his angels.
Not all Christians have fallen for the deception that denies the reality of this cosmic conflict between supernatural forces of good and evil. An evangelical scholar named Gregory Boyd, for instance, has written extensively on the reality of the age-long (but not eternal) battle between God and Satan. In the introduction to his book God at War, after commenting on a few passages in Daniel 10, Boyd wrote: “The Bible from beginning to end presupposes spiritual beings who exist ‘between’ humanity and God and whose behavior significantly affects human existence, for better or for worse. Indeed, just such a conception, I argue in this work, lies at the center of the biblical world-view.”-Gregory A. Boyd, God at War (Downer’s Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1997) , p. 11. How correct he is.
Discussion Questions:
- What other texts talk about Satan and other demonic powers? What is lost if these are interpreted as merely symbols for the dark side of humanity?
- Niccolo Machiavelli, a Florentine writer of the sixteenth century, said that it was much better for a ruler to be feared by his subjects than to be loved by them. In contrast, Ellen G. White wrote: “Even when it was decided that he could no longer remain in heaven, Infinite Wisdom did not destroy Satan. Since the service of love can alone be acceptable to God, the allegiance of His creatures must rest upon a conviction of His justice and benevolence. The inhabitants of heaven and of other worlds, being unprepared to comprehend the nature or consequences of sin, could not then have seen the justice and mercy of God in the destruction of Satan. Had he been immediately blotted from existence, they would have served God from fear rather than from love.” – The Great Controversy, pp. 498, 499. Why does God want us to serve Him from love, and not fear?
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The second discussion question opens with the statement, "Niccolo Machiavelli... said that it was much better for a ruler to be feared by his subjects than to be loved by them."
Here is Machiavelli's statement in context :
"Here a question arises: whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the reverse. The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved... Love endures by a bond which men, being scoundrels, may break whenever it serves their advantage to do so; but fear is supported by the dread of pain, which is ever present."
Stewart, I fail to see how giving us the context changes the contrast Ellen White points out about the charactor of God.
I accept that, John. Fair comment.
God gave us freedom of choice, I believe that this is the most beautiful and precious gift he could have bestowed upon His children. That is why Jesus said, \"If you love me, Keep my commandment. His commandments are not grievous, they are precious, they are there to protect us. His commandments are a Token of His Love. Therefore, we must love Him to serve Him. \"There is no fear in love, for perfect love cast out all.... fear. We cannot serve God if we are afraid of Him, we will be tormented.... For fear brings TORMENT. And He that is FEARFUL is not perfected in love, for God is LOVE.
Why does God wish us to serve him from Love and not fear? Because everything depends on our motivating factor.
. Why does God want us to serve
Him from love, and not fear?
Niccolo Machiavelli's thought of the end justifying the means is flawed when generalised. In most cases, the means determines the end, like in this context. It is obvious that God is love despite the downs we often experience (which is an evidence of our choices). His love is depict in nature, His love attracts us to Him and its not repulsive as against hate/fear. Knowledge about Him makes one to reverend Him.
Love extol sincere attitude. Even when we get it wrong along the way as we often do, we feel guilty, this is something good because it nurishes our consciences to be atuned positively. The need to love is meant to make us be like God and we truly need to be like Him before we can meet Him. Have yourself a lovely Sabbath.
I prefer to serve someone who loves me. Moreover God's love lead Him to do everything to save us. Paid the price for our sin through His death, and now He intercedes to our Father for us. In heaven we will understand more about it's depth, width and height.
Discussion Question #1. "What other texts talk about Satan and other demonic powers? What is lost if these are interpreted as merely symbols for the dark side of humanity?"
One text that comes to mind is Ephesians 6:11, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Those "wiles" ("schemes"(NASB), "stratagems" (TCNT), or "devices" (NEB)) are conducted intelligently and rationally. The enemy's strategies are a result of "intelligent design", and they are not simply "the luck of the draw". I think we would be surprised if we were to understand just how intelligently the enemy of souls is working. (And especially to hold and "groom" humanity for what is coming upon the earth.)
So "what is lost" if Satan and his angels are interpreted as merely symbols for the dark side of humanity? Security is potentially lost. Clarity, understanding, and perspective are lost. Souls are lost. The battle is not make-believe, it is not always internal. There are strong, intelligent, external 'players'.