It's awfully difficult being Christian and not quoting CS Lewis. But here I go again:
"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them."
The Screwtape Letters
Here Lewis alludes to humanity's mistake in either (i) ignoring Satan or (ii) being overly interested.
Do we often neglect John Calvin's words that, "...Satan has his miracles, too"?
What is the extent of Satan's power? How much control does he have in the world? Do we often ignore his existence? Are we overly interested in him?
Is Satan a real being?
TMT
3 comments:
The power of Satan is something I consider often. To the questions of do ignore satan and overly interested in satan can be answered with a yes. Many people i believe do ignore satan's existance and it causes them a lot of confusion and troubles when some trial comes up. I also think that a lot of people are overly interested in satan. One of the phrases I hate the most is 'satan made me do it'. I dont think satan can make us do anything. He for sure has the power to manipulate, and when man has a sinful nature it is easy to manipulate man to do something.
As far as the extent of power satan has I dont think he has as much as we like to think. Take for instance the quote I hate above, if multiple people say that it I dont think it possible that satan told everyone to do it because I dont believe satan is omnipresent like God.
Second off when we look at scripture when satan take things from people (besides the in the garden) satan has to ask God for permission. For example in Job 1:11-12 satan asks God to put forth His hand, and in v.12 God grants satan to take from Job. And again in 2:6 God says, "Behold he is in your power..". In Luke 22:31 Jesus says, "Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift you as wheat".
These are a few example of satan asking God to have power over someone. God has supreme power over satan, and in that assurance we can thank God for his grace.
Then I think the question is why whould God allow satan to 'sift as wheat'?
sorry about the typos...I got a little excited
We have weaknesses to make us stronger. Overcoming Satan makes us stronger. Without him, we would not know the good from the evil; we would not know the joy. His mission is to make us miserable like he is. Christ's mission is to provide a way for us to become strong enough to overpower Satan. We will never be tempted above that which we cannot bear.
Post a Comment
Please respect others/