You've just labeled about a half a dozen old and new testament
writers/prophets as "bad." These were tremendously godly men; much
more so than you or I. More importantly, their writings were "God
breathed."
I haven't labeled anyone or anything as "bad". Even those who
blaspheme are not "bad". The writes/prophets called 'em as they
saw 'em in accordance with their level of realization at the time.
We all do the same.
You call 'em as you see 'em and I call 'em as I see 'em. We each do so
in accordance with our level of perception, and realization, as God has
lead us, and as we each have responded to the call.
I'm taking a hard line here because of the consequences of giving you
an inch. In other words, I cautiously agree with you about God using
Satan for God's ultimate purposes. But as we've come to understand, the
"devil is in the details" in these emails.
Yes, God created Satan but Satan got greedy and was kicked out of heaven.
Yes, God knew this would happen and let it happen anyway. God also
planned to eventually destroy Satan.
If God knew what was going to happen before it happened, and if God
is using everything that has "happened" in order to further HIS
plan, then this leads to an inevitable conclusion.
Everything always has and always will go in accordance with God's
plan. Whatever "happened" was a part of God's plan all along.
What is to happen is already pre-ordained. Where so called free-will
comes in is that God allows us to choose (within certain restrictions)
WHEN we want to learn, grow, and move forward with the next lesson in our
spiritual growth.
It's like the analogy of being in school.
You have three options:
--You can pass a certain grade and move on to the next grade level.
--You can fail a grade and be held back.
--You can pass a grade level, but decide to stay back in order to
help your less able classmates.
But what we do not choose is the curriculum.
Devils (what I refer to as adversarial situations, NOT a malevolent
competing deity) are an important part of God's PLAN.
The illusion of separation (getting kicked out of the Garden) is a
key element of that plan which God had planned all along.
God can do that; He's sovereign. We Christians have a hard time with
some of God's actions. For instance, "God hardened Pharaoh's
heart." That doesn't seem fair on the surface, does it?
But I have decided not to question God. He is sovereign and can do
what he wants. I believe him when he says that "in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according
to his purpose." I just humbly thank Him for calling me. One day, I
will come to understand.
Final comments.
Your concept of God and Satan being essentially the same (my words)
doesn't match scripture. Read the following:
(1 John 3:8b NIV) ...The reason the Son of God appeared was to
destroy the devil's work.
Agreed. The ego becomes fearful and enraged when it begins to suspect
that it is not the center of the universe. This is because the human ego
erroneously thinks that entering into union with God would mean it's own annihilation.
As much as it seems that we are our ego (the personality's self-conscious
awareness), the fact is that the (little) ego is but the vehicle for the
TRUE EGO, the one EGO of all in existence - Christ.
The human ego in it's unaware natural (sinful) state feels that it is "separate" and that it
has its own "personal" will. This error prompts the
separative ego-centric person to puff his self up and to see all that
opposes him as a
"devil" when in fact it is this very unregenerate ego that is
acting like a "devil".
The unregenerate ego (devil) knows that all will return to union with God the creator, and it (the
unregenerate ego) is shittin' bricks over it.
H., worry not, for you must realize that what may be seen as
poison to you has become for me, my salvation.
I shall pray as I always do:
"God make me an instrument of your Will"
This statement more than anything else I can say, is what drives
away the "devil" (my separative ego-centric side), for it
speaks the truth that "I of myself do nothing".
