BlessedBovine on Nostr: I went to this protestant church retreat last year. Part of the retreat included ...
I went to this protestant church retreat last year. Part of the retreat included forgiving the people that hurt you. I'm genuinely a very forgiving person, so I was having a hard time calling to mind someone who'd wrong me that I hadn't already forgiven/let go of. I finally settled on forgiving the Devil for the evil he'd caused in my life. Well that sure did make the protestant chap uncomfortable.
He said he didn't think the pastor would like that very much. That we weren't supposed to forgive the Devil, and that we should treat the Devil as our enemy because he was cast out of heaven into hell.
I asked the chap if he knew why the Devil was cast out of heaven. He replied that the Devil thought he should be worshipped like God. I told him he was correct. Then I asked the chap if he knew how the Devil was cast out of heaven. Sure enough, the chap said that God ordered St. Michael the Archangel to cast him out. Again, this was the correct response. I then asked the chap why that was significant. To which he humbly expressed that he did not know.
I explained to the chap that the Devil is thought to have once been a Cherub, or a Seraphim, depending on which interpretation you rely on. Regardless, both Cherubs and Seraphim are higher beings than Archangels. The Devil's cardinal sin was that of pride. He felt he deserved worship the same as God. To punish the Devil, God ordered St. Michael, a lesser being to the Devil, to cast the Devil out. Being cast out by a lesser being must have been such a major insult to the Devil and his pride.
I think forgiving the Devil for the worst moment of my life is more insulting to the Devil than anything. I genuinely meant it, I forgave the Devil. The Devil has no power over me. I walk with the Lord, and the Lord shall guide me. I know I'm better than the Devil because I choose to walk with Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Whereas the Devil chose to walk without the Lord.
Through the Lord, I, the lowest of the spiritual hierarchy, have once again, cast the Devil out.
He said he didn't think the pastor would like that very much. That we weren't supposed to forgive the Devil, and that we should treat the Devil as our enemy because he was cast out of heaven into hell.
I asked the chap if he knew why the Devil was cast out of heaven. He replied that the Devil thought he should be worshipped like God. I told him he was correct. Then I asked the chap if he knew how the Devil was cast out of heaven. Sure enough, the chap said that God ordered St. Michael the Archangel to cast him out. Again, this was the correct response. I then asked the chap why that was significant. To which he humbly expressed that he did not know.
I explained to the chap that the Devil is thought to have once been a Cherub, or a Seraphim, depending on which interpretation you rely on. Regardless, both Cherubs and Seraphim are higher beings than Archangels. The Devil's cardinal sin was that of pride. He felt he deserved worship the same as God. To punish the Devil, God ordered St. Michael, a lesser being to the Devil, to cast the Devil out. Being cast out by a lesser being must have been such a major insult to the Devil and his pride.
I think forgiving the Devil for the worst moment of my life is more insulting to the Devil than anything. I genuinely meant it, I forgave the Devil. The Devil has no power over me. I walk with the Lord, and the Lord shall guide me. I know I'm better than the Devil because I choose to walk with Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Whereas the Devil chose to walk without the Lord.
Through the Lord, I, the lowest of the spiritual hierarchy, have once again, cast the Devil out.