If God is omnipotent, why can't He smite the devil?

[slayer-2004]

Because "he's" not really real.

I wouldnt say that without a very good backup .

 

[militantshroom]

why does he not smite the devil? I'm assuming here that the devil is evil or all the bad ***** we all gotta live through...
I wish I could come up with a literary gem, but it seems someone beat me to it...


"Is god willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him god?" --Epicurus (341-270 BCE)

Sums up the situation perfectly I think... pick the god you want or none at all...

 

[Outspoken]

why does he not smite the devil? I'm assuming here that the devil is evil or all the bad ***** we all gotta live through...
I wish I could come up with a literary gem, but it seems someone beat me to it...


"Is god willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him god?" --Epicurus (341-270 BCE)

Sums up the situation perfectly I think... pick the god you want or none at all...

*sigh* It seems you don't understand the nature of God at all. He must be universal in his action. If he judges Satan he must judge us as well. You can see in the bible very clearly he allows us to remain unjudged so that all can come to him.

 

[CSMR]

There are two used of the word will when applied to God. The first meaning is the action of God, by which God brings things about. The second is the command of God, which determines what we must and must not do. God willed evil into the world, that is willed us to do evil, despite willing (commanding) us not to do evil. He put us into evil in order that He could later redeem us. (The fall is sometimes called a happy fall, because what we lost is worth less than what will be gained.)

Is God omnibenevolant? Certainly according to the second meaning of will. God's commands are always good. This is what it means to say God is good.
According to the first? Are all the things that God wills into being in His power good? No - our evil is not good. Are God's actions morally good? Meaningless, God cannot be judged. (They are just, certainly.) Are they benevolant to all? No, only to those he saves through the gospel.

So I find that the word omnibenevolance of God is of dubious truth, true only if it is used synonymously with the justice of God.

 

[Mustaphile]

I believe the reason that Satan is not dealt with now is because man must be bring himself to a point just short of destroying himself. This will be the final evidence that man is incapable of playing God.

Satan's role is to tempt us into believing we are as gods. Human history will be the living testament to the falsity of Satan's claim.

Pain, suffering and evil are the product of man's inability to serve justice equally and other factors of human will. God's will for us is perfection. Sin is the act of doing other than God's will. Doing other than God's will brings imperfection. When we bring ourselves to the point of ultimate pain, suffering and evil, then the time will come for God to save us from ourselves.

 

[EviStar]

I wouldnt say that without a very good backup .

I'm just stating "my" belief.

 

[Charles Darwin]

*sigh* It seems you don't understand the nature of God at all. He must be universal in his action. If he judges Satan he must judge us as well. You can see in the bible very clearly he allows us to remain unjudged so that all can come to him.

what??? he judges people every time someone dies. or is therer do judgement passed when one goes to either heaven or hell??

 

[Charles Darwin]

I believe the reason that Satan is not dealt with now is because man must be bring himself to a point just short of destroying himself. This will be the final evidence that man is incapable of playing God.

Satan's role is to tempt us into believing we are as gods. Human history will be the living testament to the falsity of Satan's claim.

Pain, suffering and evil are the product of man's inability to serve justice equally and other factors of human will. God's will for us is perfection. Sin is the act of doing other than God's will. Doing other than God's will brings imperfection. When we bring ourselves to the point of ultimate pain, suffering and evil, then the time will come for God to save us from ourselves.

But if god has a plan for everyone, has he not mapped out the course of human history?

 

[Davebuck]

Satan's role is to tempt us into believing we are as gods. Human history will be the living testament to the falsity of Satan's claim.

Your rationale seems to make it sound like Yahweh had a bet with his creation, the devil. That is, Yahweh has created humans as some big experiment to prove something to satan. Using people as a means to this end is just immoral.

I have yet to hear a rationale argument that makes any sense of why Yahweh has no problem executing all kinds of humans but won't even tie the hands of satan.

Folks are coming up with whatever explanations they can to justify their belief in the devil and their belief in the old testement. Don't any of you christians find this paradoxical?

 

[Mustaphile]

Your rationale seems to make it sound like Yahweh had a bet with his creation, the devil. That is, Yahweh has created humans as some big experiment to prove something to satan. Using people as a means to this end is just immoral.

I have yet to hear a rationale argument that makes any sense of why Yahweh has no problem executing all kinds of humans but won't even tie the hands of satan.

Folks are coming up with whatever explanations they can to justify their belief in the devil and their belief in the old testement. Don't any of you christians find this paradoxical?

No

Next question?

-edit-

Poor attempt at a straw man argument too.

 

[Davebuck]

But you said that satan's role is to tempt people. And, you said that man bringing himself to the brink of destruction is necessary evidence against satan's claim.

Well, given those statements, it isn't unreasonable for me to infer that you think life is some type of experiment being conducted by Yahweh and satan. You seem to be addressing 'purpose' at least, and that something will be 'proved' in the end.

Instead of your short answer of no, please explain how you see the purpose of satan and how satan's existence benefits individuals. And, explain how it's ok for Yahweh to flood out and destroy families he doesn't like but not do a thing to satan. You'd think that, by default, Yahweh must value satan over those families, right?

Or, perhaps that Yahweh didn't make satan to benefit anyone. That's what others seem to be saying.

Now, I'm saying people's explanation of satan on this thread so far are ones where people are being used as means to an end. You're saying that's a false depiction of these explanations (i.e., straw man argument). So, show me how I'm false.

 

[Mustaphile]

But you said that satan's role is to tempt people. And, you said that man bringing himself to the brink of destruction is necessary evidence against satan's claim.

Well, given those statements, it isn't unreasonable for me to infer that you think life is some type of experiment being conducted by Yahweh and satan. You seem to be addressing 'purpose' at least, and that something will be 'proved' in the end.

Instead of your short answer of no, please explain how you see the purpose of satan and how satan's existence benefits individuals. And, explain how it's ok for Yahweh to flood out and destroy families he doesn't like but not do a thing to satan. You'd think that, by default, Yahweh must value satan over those families, right?

Or, perhaps that Yahweh didn't make satan to benefit anyone. That's what others seem to be saying.

Now, I'm saying people's explanation of satan on this thread so far are ones where people are being used as means to an end. You're saying that's a false depiction of these explanations (i.e., straw man argument). So, show me how I'm false.

I've gone over it before. You didn't accept it then, I see no sign of you accepting it now. Now you choose to rehash what I have stated, distort the words I used and then try to present it to me as a completely different arguement. Your methods lack integrity and your attitude is adversarial. You have no intention of ever attempting to understand.

The old proverb .." don't throw your pearls before swine..", applies I think in your case. If someone doesnt want to appreciate a persons thoughts, then its not worth sharing those thoughts with them. Anyone else who might gain something from my thoughts can read them for themselves. Your a sideshow in my efforts to expound upon my views, rather than the target of my views.

I agree with CSMR, your just playing with words. I see no reason to enter a dialogue with you.

 

[Emmy]

It is always enlighteningnto hear different opinions.Crazy Liz seems to be on the right road by saying that GOD is all powerful and He is using Satan to do His will.Always as He did in Job`s case."So far,and no further." Paul`s advice to us," resist the devil and he will flee" is very valid.When Our Lord Jesus rose from death,Satan was defeated for ever.When the devil wants to tempt,or lie and enslave me,I remember Paul`s words and stand on God`s Word.Greetings from Your sister in Christ Emmy.

 

[Outspoken]

what??? he judges people every time someone dies. or is therer do judgement passed when one goes to either heaven or hell??

you need to read your bible. It clearly says there is a judgement day when all will be judged.

 

[DatingSmarts]

Question: If God is omnipotent, why can't He smite the devil?

Answer: its not a matter of can't; its a matter of won't---

The devil is jealous of god which just flatters god more

mwa ha ha

so god just loves to agitate the devil back by doing what He wants to do anyway

mwa ha ha

 

[DatingSmarts]

did you see how God got the devil going by praising Job and saying what a great guy Job is.

same thing happened with Adam, god said many wonderful things about man and women and the devil didn't see it that way...the more positive things God says, the angrier the devil becomes.

you should check it out on other messageboards when a group is downing a girl and then someone comes in and starts building her up. they go nuts! it just inflames their jealousy more

which leads me to believe that those who suffer from jealousy are tormenting themselves.

 

[chriscarlander]

In response to the original question as to why god can't get rid of Satan. I'll say this loud and clear:

Because none of them EXIST!

 

[Ferahgo-Under-God]

Wow, loud and clear, that really helped a lot you know!
Well, if neither of them exist, how is that an answer to the question at hand? The question was why does God not smite the Devil? Saying they don't exist isn't an answer, as that leaves no room for a question, and therefor the only possible way to explain this would be time travel. Now we have another problem. First, time itself does not even really exist, not in the sense of traversing through it at least. Time is merely a method of explaining the passing of events in a specific sequence. That, however, is a different paradox I won't bring up as 99% of you can't understand it (I don't think I myself do!)

 

[MoonlessNight]

did you see how God got the devil going by praising Job and saying what a great guy Job is.

same thing happened with Adam, god said many wonderful things about man and women and the devil didn't see it that way...the more positive things God says, the angrier the devil becomes.

you should check it out on other messageboards when a group is downing a girl and then someone comes in and starts building her up. they go nuts! it just inflames their jealousy more

which leads me to believe that those who suffer from jealousy are tormenting themselves.

Satan doesn't seem angry to me in Job. He's just being the Devil's Advocate to God, so to speak. God says Job is good, Satan says that Job's only good because things are going good for him. God then let's Satan afflict Job (The LORD said to Satan, "Very Well, he is in your power; only spare his life." Job 2.6). If God had told Satan not to do this would Satan have been able to do anything to Job? Also note how Satan never kills Job, Satan is following God's commands. Satan doesn't seem angry or rebellious to me. He's just pointing out something to God (much like Abraham did when God wanted to destroy Soddom and Gomorrah. Was Abraham angry at God there?), and then he does as God commands him.

 

[slayer-2004]

humans have free will .