Post by nina2 on Oct 3, 2008 18:50:46 GMT -5
A little while back, there was a mention in a thread of a minister claiming to have had a visitation by a female angel.
Angels are real, however, we (christians) don’t talk about them as much as others, who are constantly coming up with all things related to angels, and not necessarily biblically sound “things”.
So, could it be that there are actually be male and female angels?
In the Bible, the only scripture that is usually quoted as possibly mentioning female angels is:
Zechariah 5:9-11.
"Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel who talked with me, Where do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build for it an house in the land of Shinar; and it shall be established, and set there upon its own base,"
“The "women" spoken of here are not definitely identified as angels, although they have wings. Note that the "angel" who explains this vision to Zechariah is identified as an angel and is spoken of in the masculine gender. Theologians differ about the identity of these women. Some believe they symbolize Assyria and Babylon, under whose captivity sin was purged from Israel, God’s people. Others believe they are literally women who were used as part of the vision. Still, it is also possible that they were actually angels. If so, this is the only place in the Bible in which angels are spoken of in the female gender.”
Not everybody concludes from the scripture and the description of the women that they were actually angels....
Then, a successful show portraying female angels “in action” was Touched By An Angel.
If I remember well, I heard back then that some ministers were actually consulted about the “accuracy” of the topics of some episodes (I am not sure if I remember that correctly...)
However, I did find this article, about angels and how popular they have become again in the media and entertainment business, portraying “good angels” as well as “evil angels” and, in it, a reference to that show and why it is misleading.
(The article is a lot longer. This is an excerpt of the part speaking specifically about how the show Touched By An Angels depicts angels and what they do, how they interact with us):
THE FLURRY OF WINGS
Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer
Chapter 4
DECEIVED BY ANGELS
“My concern is not with such gross distortions of angels, however. Something much more sinister is taking place with this new angel fad, something that ultimately is more damaging than trash television or blatant, liberal theology.
I refer to this: that millions of evangelicals are accepting the “Touched by an Angel” TV series as good viewing for Christians everywhere. People who should know better are looking upon this show with approval.
If you are not acquainted with the TV program, “Touched By an Angel,” the basic formula as stated by the producers is this: “The angel meets her assigned human at a crossroads in his or her life. The angel (by the power of God) performs a miracle to bring that person to a point of decision or revelation. He or she, by their own free will, then takes life-changing action.”
Thus, in virtually every episode a troubled person is helped, perhaps there is a physical healing, or an emotional barrier overcome. Sometimes the needy person might be facing a personal crisis in his or her marriage or with the children.
Whatever the situation, an angel is used by God to resolve the crisis, proving that there is a spiritual dimension to the world, and that God Himself stands at the ready to help us by sending angels to those who least deserve or expect it. Each show has a “feel good” ending, since a crisis has been resolved, and the troubled person has turned a corner, setting out in a new direction.
Why do I object to this harmless story line?
The answer, briefly put, is that the show is loaded with theology, a cultural theology that reinforces the prevalent views about man and God. Through its pleasing portrayals of needy people, helped by heavenly messengers, it lobs a grenade at the heart of the Christian Gospel.
A False View of Human Nature
First, it assumes that people are basically good, rather than sinners who stand in desperate need of God’s saving grace. The show avoids concepts such as sin and the total depravity of the human race. Everyone has good within, waiting for it to be unleashed. Indeed, one of the show’s actors says that “there might be an angel in everyone of us, waiting to do a miracle.”
The show reinforces the prevailing cultural myth that sin is never the problem we face, rather it is always a feeling of disconnectedness, a need for knowledge about how God’s help can be enlisted. Thankfully, an angel comes to help in a crisis, and there is relief knowing that at last one has made contact with God.
The Bible teaches that an understanding of our sinfulness is central to our understanding of how we must approach God. If we don’t know how bad off we are in the presence of a holy God, we will try to access Him in ways that He despises. Thus, a wrong view of man always leads to a wrong view of God.
A False View of God
In the television series, the Almighty can be contacted by anyone who has the good fortune of connecting with an angel. Like Cain, who thought that God could be approached in any creative way, the show teaches that ordinary people, if they have enough ordinary good will, can have contact with God, without a mediator, without a sacrifice, without blood.
It follows that the show has no place for Christ, neither His cross nor His resurrection is necessary for us to make contact with the “powers that be.” Angels are waiting to help us get connected. They are more approachable than God; thus, it is possible to be in touch with the spiritual world without appeasing God.
“But” you protest, “it does not claim to be a Christian program, but is committed to presenting a generic faith, showing that there are people who believe in God; and that angels are real beings just as the Bible says.” But the point cannot be made too strongly: The view of human nature portrayed in the series is not biblical and therefore the God the show portrays is not biblical either. It reinforces a destructive cultural stereotype.”
.../...
What do you think about that?
- Could there be female angels?
- Would it be relevant if there were female angels?
- Why don’t we mention angels more often?
- They are real, and certainly busy so, why do they seem to be so absent and very seldom mentioned?
- If there are multitudes of angels, according to the Bible, all created by God, they must be important to us, today.
Should we really concern ourselves with what they do or don’t do?
Angels are real, however, we (christians) don’t talk about them as much as others, who are constantly coming up with all things related to angels, and not necessarily biblically sound “things”.
So, could it be that there are actually be male and female angels?
In the Bible, the only scripture that is usually quoted as possibly mentioning female angels is:
Zechariah 5:9-11.
"Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel who talked with me, Where do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build for it an house in the land of Shinar; and it shall be established, and set there upon its own base,"
“The "women" spoken of here are not definitely identified as angels, although they have wings. Note that the "angel" who explains this vision to Zechariah is identified as an angel and is spoken of in the masculine gender. Theologians differ about the identity of these women. Some believe they symbolize Assyria and Babylon, under whose captivity sin was purged from Israel, God’s people. Others believe they are literally women who were used as part of the vision. Still, it is also possible that they were actually angels. If so, this is the only place in the Bible in which angels are spoken of in the female gender.”
Not everybody concludes from the scripture and the description of the women that they were actually angels....
Then, a successful show portraying female angels “in action” was Touched By An Angel.
If I remember well, I heard back then that some ministers were actually consulted about the “accuracy” of the topics of some episodes (I am not sure if I remember that correctly...)
However, I did find this article, about angels and how popular they have become again in the media and entertainment business, portraying “good angels” as well as “evil angels” and, in it, a reference to that show and why it is misleading.
(The article is a lot longer. This is an excerpt of the part speaking specifically about how the show Touched By An Angels depicts angels and what they do, how they interact with us):
THE FLURRY OF WINGS
Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer
Chapter 4
DECEIVED BY ANGELS
“My concern is not with such gross distortions of angels, however. Something much more sinister is taking place with this new angel fad, something that ultimately is more damaging than trash television or blatant, liberal theology.
I refer to this: that millions of evangelicals are accepting the “Touched by an Angel” TV series as good viewing for Christians everywhere. People who should know better are looking upon this show with approval.
If you are not acquainted with the TV program, “Touched By an Angel,” the basic formula as stated by the producers is this: “The angel meets her assigned human at a crossroads in his or her life. The angel (by the power of God) performs a miracle to bring that person to a point of decision or revelation. He or she, by their own free will, then takes life-changing action.”
Thus, in virtually every episode a troubled person is helped, perhaps there is a physical healing, or an emotional barrier overcome. Sometimes the needy person might be facing a personal crisis in his or her marriage or with the children.
Whatever the situation, an angel is used by God to resolve the crisis, proving that there is a spiritual dimension to the world, and that God Himself stands at the ready to help us by sending angels to those who least deserve or expect it. Each show has a “feel good” ending, since a crisis has been resolved, and the troubled person has turned a corner, setting out in a new direction.
Why do I object to this harmless story line?
The answer, briefly put, is that the show is loaded with theology, a cultural theology that reinforces the prevalent views about man and God. Through its pleasing portrayals of needy people, helped by heavenly messengers, it lobs a grenade at the heart of the Christian Gospel.
A False View of Human Nature
First, it assumes that people are basically good, rather than sinners who stand in desperate need of God’s saving grace. The show avoids concepts such as sin and the total depravity of the human race. Everyone has good within, waiting for it to be unleashed. Indeed, one of the show’s actors says that “there might be an angel in everyone of us, waiting to do a miracle.”
The show reinforces the prevailing cultural myth that sin is never the problem we face, rather it is always a feeling of disconnectedness, a need for knowledge about how God’s help can be enlisted. Thankfully, an angel comes to help in a crisis, and there is relief knowing that at last one has made contact with God.
The Bible teaches that an understanding of our sinfulness is central to our understanding of how we must approach God. If we don’t know how bad off we are in the presence of a holy God, we will try to access Him in ways that He despises. Thus, a wrong view of man always leads to a wrong view of God.
A False View of God
In the television series, the Almighty can be contacted by anyone who has the good fortune of connecting with an angel. Like Cain, who thought that God could be approached in any creative way, the show teaches that ordinary people, if they have enough ordinary good will, can have contact with God, without a mediator, without a sacrifice, without blood.
It follows that the show has no place for Christ, neither His cross nor His resurrection is necessary for us to make contact with the “powers that be.” Angels are waiting to help us get connected. They are more approachable than God; thus, it is possible to be in touch with the spiritual world without appeasing God.
“But” you protest, “it does not claim to be a Christian program, but is committed to presenting a generic faith, showing that there are people who believe in God; and that angels are real beings just as the Bible says.” But the point cannot be made too strongly: The view of human nature portrayed in the series is not biblical and therefore the God the show portrays is not biblical either. It reinforces a destructive cultural stereotype.”
.../...
What do you think about that?
- Could there be female angels?
- Would it be relevant if there were female angels?
- Why don’t we mention angels more often?
- They are real, and certainly busy so, why do they seem to be so absent and very seldom mentioned?
- If there are multitudes of angels, according to the Bible, all created by God, they must be important to us, today.
Should we really concern ourselves with what they do or don’t do?
