An Angel of Light

And what I do I will also continue to do, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want an opportunity to be recognized as our equals in what they boast about. For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds. -II Corinthians 11:12-15

Has the pope washed the feet of prisoners or invited the homeless over for dinner? Don’t worry, we can still assume that he’s a satan-worshipper; after all, “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Have persons from other faiths done good deeds? Not to worry, we can still hate them; after all, “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Has someone we disagree with done something that scripture says is good? Relax. “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

This passage has been used relentlessly to allow Christians to despise and reject the Other. No matter what fruits of righteousness come from them, we can always remember that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and assume that the Other is working with Satan in an attempt to lure Christ’s followers away to worship the devil.

Is Obama a peacemaker? (Judging by the Iraq-Afghanistan body count since he’s taken office, I’m going to go with “no,” but for the sake of argument, let’s say “yes.)  Then he must be the anti-Christ. …On second thought, Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and judging by the body count, maybe Obama is Anti-Christ. Though this war started under Bush, so he would have to be anti-Christ as well.

But seriously. Where did Christians get the idea that the Anti-Christ would be a peacemaker? Might it be our lust for war that shows us for the anti-Christs that we ourselves have become in our passion for God and Country?

Where did we get the idea that those who do not share our doctrines must be anti-Christs, in spite of their obedience, intentional or otherwise, to Christ’s command to love our neighbors?

What if we, in our refusal to obey Christ’s command to love our neighbors, hate those who are different from us yet follow Christ’s commands and are anti-Christs, or ministers of Satan disguised as ministers of righteousness?

“Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.” -Jesus, Mark 9:40-41

“Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.” -Jesus, Matthew 12:33

Author: David M Schell

I am a doubter and a believer. I have a Master's in Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, but because faith grows and changes, I don't necessarily stand by everything I've ever written, so if you see something troubling further back, please ask! Read More. View all posts by David M Schell