Friday, July 18, 2008

Blogment: Angels and Man

Today has turned out to be a day where I was destined to post another "Blogment."

You may be asking, "What is a blogment?"

Well, I owe recognition of the new word to my Christian blogging friend, Carlotta. She first mentioned it to me a while back when I took a section of comments and posted them in a new blog post.

Another Christian blog friend, Duane, created a post about it and shared the following definition:


"Blogment [Blog-ment]: n. A comment left in response to a blogpost that is sufficiently long and detailed enough to qualify as a blogpost in and of itself."


As it turned out, I have spent several hours on a comment written to Susan in this thread. As usual, I worked on my reply in between answering the phone, chatting with our gardener, walking the dogs, and doing a few household chores that needed immediate attention. When my reply was complete, I thought that others here might like to share some thoughts about what the Bible has to say regarding the differences between angels and man.

Several questions were raised so there is lots of opportunity for others to join in with some answers. I thought it was a fascinating topic for discussion. So, I have decided to turn it into a new blog post. Here is the blogment:


Susan wrote: "Angels are not human beings as Jesus pointed out to the person who asked whose wife would she be at the resurrection after having seven husbands (MAT 22:28). According to Watchman Nee, the soul consists of the mind, will and emotions. Do angels have souls? I do not know."


Wow! That's a good subject to study! I haven't ever thought of angels as being without a "soul." Scripture also tells us that we will one day "judge the angels." And, we are told that Jesus as the God-man sent to us through the virgin birth was described as willingly humbling himself to the point of being "a little lower than the angels." (Hebrews Chapter 2 explains what this means in more detail.) Particularly this verse:


Hbr 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.


And, how awesome it is that we are (so undeservedly) called "his brethren":


Hbr 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,


1 Corinthians 6 discusses how Christians should utilize the proper method of judgment while we are on this earth. And in the following verse, we find believers are destined to one day judge angels:


1Cr 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?


This brings up a whole host of additional questions...doesn't it?

We are creating quite the Bible study in this thread Susan! I really like it! As we "bounce off verses and explanations" with each other, I am certainly learning a lot!

I do recall a study about the fact that people will not be given in marriage to each other in eternity. Why? Because of that higher level of the "marriage supper of the Lamb" - with Jesus Christ. It will be a whole new way of existence. The purpose (to have children) of the sexual union between men and women will no longer be needed. (I may have just lost all of the non-Christians reading here...ha!) That may sound like bad news to those who are so singularly focused on and attached to the "pleasures of the flesh." However, there will be an existence in heaven that is FAR BETTER than anything we could imagine here on earth!


Susan wrote: "So often I am in error, because of my ignorance of the Scriptures (the written Word of God)."


Ah my sister...I can certainly relate! The more I study the Bible, the more I realize how much I don't know!! But through God's grace, I'm learning more and more each and every day.

The Bible is the most marvelous book in existence. It's timeless wisdom and knowledge can never be replaced by anything that man could ever write or achieve! Thank God we HAVE the written Word of God to guide us through - while discovering, and learning about truth vs. error!

I personally think that you have a very high level of Scripture knowledge. Your writings show this to be true.

On another thread I am having a discussion with a new commenter here named Cindy. We have been discussing recognizing truth from error and one thing we both agree on is the importance of discernment, correction, and reproof. It can be difficult, though. Even little disagreements can lead to hurt feelings.

Yes. We are to try and avoid the "silly arguments" (as you have stated in the past), however, when someone errs in a heretical way (especially regarding the gospel of Christ), then we are obligated to speak out.


Susan wrote: "An individual human being without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God (1CO 2:14)."


So true. I have had debates with non-believers who have accused me of "speaking another language" just because I use a lot of Scripture to back up what I am saying. God's written Word IS ANOTHER LANGUAGE! And, without the Holy Spirit's guidance, it often does not make sense to non-believers. Therefore, our discussions with them often just turn into battles.

I agree with you that some are called to live a single life. For example. A male cousin of mine (who is a few years younger than I) has never married. We aren't in touch often enough for me to know all of the reasons why he is single. However, I found out some details from his much older step-sister recently. Apparently, his father (deceased for many years) was brutally verbally abusive to him. My cousin went through decades of counseling because of this abuse. It just broke my heart to find this out after all of these years. I knew that my male cousin had a temper (like his father), but did not realize the extent of the emotional abuse that he had suffered when his dad was alive.

Thirteen years ago, my male cousin attended my dad's funeral. I spoke at the podium and shared how my dad accepted Christ as Savior (it was mostly a Catholic audience) just four months before he had passed away. My male cousin came up to me afterwards and our discussion led me to believe that he is born again. Praise God! The Lord our God turns everything to good - for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose!


Susan wrote: "It means my calling and purpose on earth is different from those who are married. Singleness is a great blessing for me."


Amen! And what a blessing your calling and purpose is for those who love you! :-)

God bless your day, my dear sister! Time to check my email and read your newsletter!

Christine

*******

Dear readers: What are your thoughts regarding the differences between angels and man? Please feel free to share any thoughts on that subject and/or anything else that was brought up in the conversation.



HT's:
Duane's Mind

Christocentric

Bible reference: Blue Letter Bible (KJV)

11 comments:

GMpilot said...

CJW: "I have had debates with non-believers who have accused me of "speaking another language" just because I use a lot of Scripture to back up what I am saying. God's written Word IS ANOTHER LANGUAGE! And, without the Holy Spirit's guidance, it often does not make sense to non-believers. Therefore, our discussions with them often just turn into battles."

If you ARE "speaking another language" (as you have just admitted above), then how can anyone ACCUSE you of it? The accusation happens to be true!

The gobbledygook--or, as you like to call it, the "codewords"--is/are the third stage of any religious indoctrination, but it's especially prevalent in cults.
The first stage, "Benign Attractive Persona," sells the religion, and participation in it, as a good thing for anyone looking at it. The second stage, "Discrediting The World," starts by saying that if you want the positive effects of the benign interaction, you should not trust those outside of the system who would attempt to discredit it.

The third stage is called "Logocide". It means to redefine certain words in unique ways. To the Christian, "love", "good", "saved", "life", and so on, have been redefined.
"To love" is about obedience to the beliefs;
"Saved" is one in the Church, thus making those outside "lost"--and being lost and unsafe is something most of us fear;
"Life" means claiming to posess Christian attributes (whatever they are); thus those who lack them are in a state of "death".
"Good" is simply to be part of the Christian community--"evil" is everyone else, but especially those who actively do not want to be part of this redefinition.

(The first time I heard of the TV show "Life Today", I thought it was a science program. I should've known better; Trinity Broadcasting Network does not do science.)

If God's written word is another language--and I don't mean Aramaic--I would expect it to be so simple that legions of apologeticists and theologians would not be required to understand it. I would expect it to be so natural, like a small child acquiring the language of those around her, that there would be no need to teach it. But that's not the way it is, is it? People, by and large, don't choose their religious beliefs; they inherit them. You were raised under one banner of God, but you've abandoned it for another one...and the core beliefs remain.

It's all part of cultural indoctrination. Religion takes it further than culture because it threatens your survival forever, whereas culture can only kill you once.
Christian discussions with non-Christians* often degenerate into battles because one side or the other takes a position that they believe is unassailable. Usually (but not always) that is the Christian, waving the Stick of Eternal Thwacking at the person who dares to not believe them.

Yes, GMpilot still has questions. Looks like you'll have to answer them yourself, though, and they'll have to stand or fall on their own merits. Everyone else just wants to see blood, and don't even seem to care whose it is, as long as they see it.

Men? I know there are billions. Angels? I haven't seen even one. That's a HUGE difference.
---------------------------------
*NOT "non-believers": Jews and Hindus and Santerians are all 'believers'--just not in your particular flavor of God. So stop calling them that.

Anonymous said...

Lol! Christine, I like you using "blogment" and Duane's definition of it!

But bare with me as I catch up on my reading. The topic of "judging" is very important especially in this day and time when it seems like folks are so afraid of "judging" others so they just leave them alone. And you see what that's doing to our country. Did you see the paper (SDUT) yesterday on the poll for support of gay marriages? Now 65% are in support! That's all about folks fearing to JUDGE!

I had just commented once again to a gay man on my blog who threw out the "judge not lest ye be judge" verse at me (unsurprisingly). I gave him the verses in context explaining that we are to judge. Then I saw on 4Simpsons blog from your blogroll his entire post on that very topic. (I've since added him to my blogroll as well!)

Well, let me do some more reading. I've been so busy trying to learn the WordPress software so that it can be fully functional for what I need it to do.

But I needed a break and just catching up on folks blogs.

I love my bloglife!

Anonymous said...

Ron Rhodes has a book called "Angels Among Us" (Separating Truth From Fiction).

http://www.ronrhodes.org/angels_among_us.htm

Christinewjc said...

GM: "Yes, GMpilot still has questions."

Who doesn't? However, when certain people don't like the answers they get (or, they have a habit of misconstruing the questions/answers in the first place) then, the discussion erodes into a mocking session rather than an intelligent debate.

GM: Men? I know there are billions. Angels? I haven't seen even one.

Then why are you on this thread if you don't believe that angels exist? Seems pointless...don't you think?

Christinewjc said...

Hi Carlotta,

I don't pay much attention to polls. Many are untrustworthy and seriously skewed in order to get people to think in a particular way.

I was tempted to switch to Wordpress a while back, but I quickly noticed that they charge for a lot of the extras.

Neil's blog is a great daily read. Glad you found it!

The good news about the pseudo "gay" marriage issue is that the activists were unsuccessful at getting it off of the ballot!

Just the fact that they aren't confident that the voting will go their way proves to me that the SDUT poll was most likely just a propaganda-activist-led one.

Christinewjc said...

Thanks for the link, Sosthenes! I will read it today. I have found Ron Rhodes to be a trustworthy and biblically accurate apologist.

GMpilot said...

CJW:Then why are you on this thread if you don't believe that angels exist? Seems pointless...don't you think?

Well, because you wrote:

Dear readers: What are your thoughts regarding the differences between angels and man? Please feel free to share any thoughts on that subject and/or anything else that was brought up in the conversation.

Which I did.

I don't believe in angels, but people who do affect me. People who, in the name of the supernatural, would save lives--or end them--also affect me. Call it self-defense if I study how such people think.

Christinewjc said...

GM - Apparently, you don't believe in Jesus Christ either. You might consider yourself consistent (by not believing that angels exist,) and sincere; but according to God's written Word you are sincerely wrong.

Self-defense? From a supernatural realm that you don't personally believe in? Self-defense from those who do?

I take it back...you are not very consistent after all...

Anonymous said...

To some degree, I can understand how GMPilot feels.

My stepsister's aunt put an angel pin on my stepsister's hospital clothes when she was debilitated in the hospital and unable to remove it. And then she put a rosary in the casket which my stepsister never would have approved of. And then the whole family got these prayer cards that someone pays for at the Catholic church.

GMpilot said...

CJW: Self-defense? From a supernatural realm that you don't personally believe in? Self-defense from those who do?

Yes...and yes, because those who DO believe in a supernatural realm will often try to make me behave according to their supernatural leader(s). If I do not wish to participate, they can make things very, very bad for me while I live, and forecast even worse things for me when I die ("...according to God's written Word you are sincerely wrong.").

Well, at least you're willing to admit that I could be sincerely wrong, rather than the avatar of evil you seemed to think I was at first. Maybe there's hope for you, too.

You already know my opinion on Jesus. I believe he lived; I do not believe he was divine. I don't believe in any divines--or infernals. And I don't need a powerful multinational organization to convince/coerce others into believing there are.

But I digress. I made comments because you invited readers to do so. I'm a reader. I did.
If you don't want responses, don't make comments.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the HT Christine :)

Sorry I haven't been commenting much. The kids are taking up a lot of my time while I am on hol's.

God keep you,
Duane