“Why does God allow Satan to exist?”—Emma
In the previous column, I likely did not answer your question satisfactorily. The figure of Satan is one of the most mysterious in the Bible. We should note that the biblical perception of the devil changed over time. In the Hebrew Bible, Satan only rarely appears as a distinct figure, notably at the temptation of Eve (Gen. 3:1ff) and the suffering of Job (Job 1, 2). At the beginning of the Christian era, people had come to see Satan as the ruler of a demonic empire and the world as a battleground between good and evil.
In the overall view, Scripture presents Satan as a created being (not a separate or equal deity) who rebelled against God and who is free, to some degree, to wreak havoc among humans in the arena of their free will (II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:1-3; I Jn. 5:19).
The good news: Satan has been defeated (Jn. 12:31; 16:11). His ultimate doom was sealed by Jesus’ death and resurrection (Eph. 1:20-22; Col. 2:13-15). One day he will be imprisoned forever (Rev. 20:7-10).
Understanding the character of Satan helps believers grasp the tremendous power of evil in the world while remaining confident that God in Christ sets us free and makes us new (Eph. 2:4-10). The message of the Bible: God invites us to know Him and His power which rescues us and enables us to stand strong in the face of evil (Eph. 6:10-18; I Jn. 4:4).
Showing posts with label creation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creation. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Work
“How does the Bible help me think about my job right now?” --John
The Bible may not refer to your particular job, but it does have some things to say about work. First, the Bible shows that work is right and good, and not a curse! It mentions teachers, construction workers, and “scientists.” Jesus was a carpenter; His followers, working men. Paul, the missionary, made tents for a living (Acts 18:3).
Scripture does not elevate “sacred” over “secular” occupations. (Jesus was not a religious professional!) Being a Christian does not mean you may do only religious work: God calls you to your work and wants you to continue doing it well (I Cor. 7:20-24).
Daily work is, in a sense, participation with God in His creative activity in the world. The significance of your work is based in the teaching that humans are created in the image of an active, creative God (Gen. 1:26ff). As such, you are a free, responsible person who is able to leave the world different (better) than the way you found it.
Being a collaborator with God imbues your work with meaning and demands that you bring integrity and high standards of ethics to your work. You work well then, not simply because you get paid, or because you fear your boss, or because your identity and self-esteem are wrapped up in your job, but because you realize that you somehow fit into the larger picture of what God is doing in the world!
The Bible may not refer to your particular job, but it does have some things to say about work. First, the Bible shows that work is right and good, and not a curse! It mentions teachers, construction workers, and “scientists.” Jesus was a carpenter; His followers, working men. Paul, the missionary, made tents for a living (Acts 18:3).
Scripture does not elevate “sacred” over “secular” occupations. (Jesus was not a religious professional!) Being a Christian does not mean you may do only religious work: God calls you to your work and wants you to continue doing it well (I Cor. 7:20-24).
Daily work is, in a sense, participation with God in His creative activity in the world. The significance of your work is based in the teaching that humans are created in the image of an active, creative God (Gen. 1:26ff). As such, you are a free, responsible person who is able to leave the world different (better) than the way you found it.
Being a collaborator with God imbues your work with meaning and demands that you bring integrity and high standards of ethics to your work. You work well then, not simply because you get paid, or because you fear your boss, or because your identity and self-esteem are wrapped up in your job, but because you realize that you somehow fit into the larger picture of what God is doing in the world!
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