Do you have a category for . . . . .?

      I began a journey of discovery a few months ago and it has changed my life. It has changed the way I look at the Bible and my natural curiosity/desire to learn has been heightened exponentially. I want to dig into my Bible in a greater way than I think I every have. Due to this journey of discovery, I've begun to learn how to look at the Bible through the worldview lens of those who wrote it. Things I either glanced over (due to ignorance) or might have briefly puzzled over now fit into a framework that makes sense. 

      A major aspect of this framework is my need to have categories for the supernatural beings and worldview presented in the Bible. A 're-emergence' of these categories in some Christian circles has led to some very strong opinions, both for and against their accuracy and/or necessity. Some are more willing to accept their presence in Scripture and others are vehemently opposed, often to the point of inconsistent interpretations of the text. My father taught me never to be ashamed of my loyalty to the Word of God, regardless of the cost (does strong disagreements with dear friends count?). As I've studied the framework and compared it to the text, the text is jumping off the page and my hunger for it is growing. My understanding of the Author of the text, along with His supreme authority over it and His creation (including the beings who populate it - both seen and unseen) has blossomed and deepened. 

     I feel as though the lenses that I look at Scripture through are being adjusted and the text is becoming clearer - like going from a fuzzy to a clear prescription. There are passages in the Bible that I had no context for but now I can see how they are connected. Let me give an example:

What do you know about the group of beings called, "the sons of God"? Do you realize that we are a part of that group, but have not always been so? Did you know that there is a connection between the spiritual beings this title refers to and us?

To begin with, something that may go without saying, 'sons of God,' is a familial title. It denotes relationship. As you consider this, ponder the following passages. How does this reality affect your ability to 'listen' to these passages? Does it bother you that other beings have a familial relationship with God? Does it encourage you? Does it get under your skin? 

The sons of God were present at creation (pre-creation of human beings). - Job 38:7

They were given governance of the nations. - Deut. 32:8-9 (ESV) - referring to Babel (see also Daniel 7, 8, 10)

Some of these beings had children with human women. - Genesis 6:1-4 (i. e. These are not human beings.)

They are part of a council/assembly of beings who stand in the presence of God. - Job 1-2; 1 Kings 22

Some rebelled and were judged by God. - Psalm 82, 89 (see also the Hebrew term elohim - the name for these 'gods' in these chapters. Do a word study on elohim and you will find that it's not a proper name so much as a category for supernatural beings.)

We too will judge angels (i.e. these fallen beings). - 1 Cor. 6:3

Believers are called 'sons of God'. - Galatians 3:26; Romans 8:14; 1 John 3:1

We, as believing humans, have replaced the fallen beings in His presence -> Post resurrection, when we are given glimpses into the throne room of God, there are human beings enthroned in His presence where these fallen 'angels' used to reside - Revelation 4, 5, 11, 19, 20 (contrast with Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 10).

     This is by no means an extensive list. It is but one example of a category that I did not have, or rather, a set of connections that I had never made but was there the whole time. I know many are suspicious of the 'new,' but this is, in reality, old news. The Biblical authors had this supernatural understanding of their world. Look at the prophets who are given glimpses into God's throne room - Isaiah 6 and Ezekiel 10. Who populates heaven pre-resurrection according to 1 Kings 22 and Job 1-2? Look also at the heavenly imagery in the construction of the Tabernacle - supernatural beings were embroidered into the veil between the Holy and Holy of Holies and stood above the Mercy Seat as its protectors (just as they protect the heavenly throne of God). Couple this with the reality that the earthly Tabernacle/Temple were to reflect heavenly realities, and you're caused to stop and ponder. For another example, consider that the beings who rebelled against God in Genesis 6 and led to the destruction of the world through the flood are explained in more detail in the inter-testamental literature called, "The Book of Enoch" - literature that Peter and Jude were familiar enough with to quote or paraphrase in their books (2 Peter 2:4-5; Jude 6). They (and the Holy Spirit) considered, at least parts of, this literature to contain truth, enough to use/reference it in inspired Scripture. 

     

     The church has also historically had answers and categories for the reality of the supernatural worldview of the Bible. They recognized the existence of those who populated the realm of the unseen and took seriously its interaction with our world (see Martin Luther's baptismal exorcism prayer, Thomas Acquinas' Summa Theologae, questions 50-64, 106-113 - can be found for free online). They had categories for these things. What does it mean for Protestants that the Roman Catholic Church still takes this reality seriously, to the point that they have installed an exorcist on the staff of every diocese worldwide? 

     How should we respond to these things? Do we bury our heads in the sand, hoping that ignoring it will make it go away? Do we take ourselves out of the conversation and thus push those searching toward less than Biblical answers. The supernatural is our wheelhouse, and, yet, we can limit acknowledgement of it to our comfort zones and ignore or dismiss what we don't want to hear.

     Hear me say that I'm not encouraging an unhealthy obsession with these realities - this can easily happen when one does not exercise discernment and pursue these things prayerfully. What I am seeking to do is to encourage the church to become educated enough to give the answers.

Warning: The more aware you become of these realities, the more aware these beings will become of you. You will experience spiritual warfare in an effort to discourage you from shining the light of truth into their dark habitations. You could easily be tempted by fear and anxiety about your weakness and vulnerability in the face of these beings. You need not fear them at all! You are one with Christ and He has publicly shamed and defeated them on the cross - Colossians 2:8-15. (Also, not all the beings who inhabit the unseen reality are against God and His purposes. There are just as just as many who work with, rather than against Him. The unseen is densely populated!) 

      This study is not for the faint of heart but will encourage your soul in the supremacy of Christ over all things - both visible and invisible (Colossians 1:15-18; Ephesians 6:12, 16) Darkness is where they reside, but, don't forget, "Yours is the day, yours also the night," (Psalm 74:16), "even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you," (Psalm 139:12), "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all," (1 John 1:5-9), and "I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things," (Isaiah 45:7).To pursue these things, you must have a solid grasp on the promises and truths of Scripture, because you will need these truths to anchor you as you study. The presence of Christ is real and evil cannot remain in His presence. These beings co-exist alongside us. Christ's presence is always present, but it is not always as tangibly felt as at others. This study will strengthen your heart in the reality of the felt presence of Christ. Fear is but a weapon of the enemy (1 Tim. 1:7). It cannot reside where true, just, noble, excellent, pure, and praiseworthy thoughts exist (Philippians 4:4-9). Fear cannot remain where perfect love exists - it is driven out (1 John 4:18). Cling to Truth and know that He has an even tighter grip on you.

     Should the Lord lead you to pursue this study with me, I'd love to hear about it. This is not something to take lightly or casually, but I believe it can greatly increase our effectiveness in an increasingly disillusioned society. I humbly acknowledge that not everyone wills or is able to pursue such things with the same measure of passion as I have been given. The Body of Christ is gifted according to the will of the Spirit for its mutual up-building (1 Cor. 12-14). There is no shame in passing these things by, but, perhaps, you will stop a little longer over those "problem passages" when you see them in and ponder them longer. I hope I may have peaked the curiosity of some, enough to encourage them to dig deeper into their Bibles. Regardless of what that may look like, spending time in the Word is never wasted. Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like a list of some of the resources that I have found helpful in this pursuit.