2007-02-01 02:29:05 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
As our helper.
In ancient Jewish tradition Satan is simply an angel doing the work that God assigned to Satan to do.
The word Satan means challenger. With the idea of Satan challenging us, or tempting if you will. This description sees Satan as the angel who is the embodiment of man's challenges. This idea of Satan works closely with God as an integral part of Gods plan for us. His job is to make choosing good over evil enough of a challenge so that it becomes clear to us that there can be only one meaningful or logical choice.
Contrast this to Christianity, which sees Satan as God's opponent. In Jewish thought, the idea that there exists anything capable of setting itself up as God's opponent would be considered polytheistic or setting up the devil to be an equally powerful polarity to god or a demigod.
Oddly, proof for The Christian satan/devil mythology is supposedly found in the ancient Jewish texts that were borrowed to create the bible. One can’t help but wonder how Christians came up with such a fantastically different interpretation of Gods assistant Satan in their theology.
Other hints about Satan’s role in human relations can be seen if you look at the name Lucifer. It’s meaning in the original tongue translates as Light bearer or light bringer. Essentially the bringer of enlightenment. The temptations of the Satan idea bring all of us eventually into Gods light. Hardly the Evil entity of Christian mythology.
Love and blessings
don
2007-02-01 02:33:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God's reign. Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries - of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature- to each man and to society, the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human and cosmic history. It is a great mystery that providence should permit diabolical activity, but "we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him
2007-02-01 10:42:35 · answer #2 · answered by Gods child 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only what you give him.
If I were you, I'd put my focus elsewhere. Have it land on something more positive that you would like to see grow and flourish. The negativity inherent in the satan concept is highly counterproductive. If everyone took a moment to say, "I will no longer put my focus on or think about this satan creature. Instead, I will put my creative focus on those things that will aid and create a better world," our planet and all life on it would be far, far better off!
2007-02-01 10:40:09 · answer #3 · answered by gjstoryteller 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When Satan was thrown out of heaven to the earth's vicinity, he became the ruler of this world. 2 Corinthians 4:4
All false religious organizations and governments are temporarily under his control. That is why the earth is so filled with violence, hatred and confusion.
Thankfully, Satan's control is limited and God has promised that he, along with his demons, will be put out of existance. Rev.20:10
2007-02-01 10:57:20 · answer #4 · answered by Micah 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only what we empower him with. That is the catch in all of this. He can tempt, suggest and even confront us. But, he cannot force us to do anything. It's really amazing when you think about it, we've had the ability to fight him all along and don't use it. The most important thing we all have to remember is that it is usually in a benign, pretty, or emotional way that he approaches us. Not directly and not truthfully. All we have to do is say no. It may not always be easy to do so, but we have the power and it always feels good when we do.
2007-02-01 10:36:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alot. The Lord says that for this time, Satan is the ruler of the Earth, but it also says in the bible that one day God will say "enough" and put Satan in his place in Hell. Hope this helped!
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2007-02-01 10:34:05 · answer #6 · answered by Jesus_Freak 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
he only has to the capability to do what we as humans let him do, unfortunately we a pretty weak as far as resisting him and that gives him alot of power, if we could resist him then he would be powerless, thank god for paying the price of our inability to resist satan.
2007-02-01 10:35:16 · answer #7 · answered by YourDailyDoseOfCommonSense 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To deceive, thats about it. The power to inspire men to commit evil acts against each other. He is good at that because most men are pathetic weaklings.
2007-02-01 10:33:41 · answer #8 · answered by ConstElation 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The act of not existing.
2007-02-01 10:32:11 · answer #9 · answered by Zhukov 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Everything except take a life. That power is solely God's and not shared.
2007-02-01 10:33:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋