What if Satan reformed?

What sort of choice would you imagine He should offer...to your satisfaction? One mans slavery is another mans security. You claim to want to be given the choice to grow up and leave home, but my point is that you will find...after building your own home/country/universe that you miss having a Fathering Spirit around. Men who grow up without a father never outgrow the emptiness that the reality causes.Im betting that even satan regrets having left home---though he is likely too proud to admit it.

What about them? Ringo is free to refute them or elaborate on them, should he wish. Are they?

Who were your friends? How did they get fried? We need some info for the autopsy report...how exactly did these people get butchered? We need an outline....Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

You do have a point, though in context, Ringo and I have an understanding and method to our debates. I never willingly attack Ringos character. What I do is that I challenge Ringo to respond to my posts---and in so doing---may come across as putting words in his mouth. The motive is to trigger a response---nothing more. (Ringo please forgive me if I offend you)...now...as for you, Stile....as a non-believer how do you propose that humans describe Gods character and personality without putting words in His mouth? To some, God is a human-generated character...thus we are charged to give Him words.I am trying to give respect to God as I make these posts, though perhaps I am presumptuous to speak for Him.

Im more worried about what He thinks of me! I do think, however, that God desires social communion, interaction(as in our discussions) and action in the form of direct social change. Im leaning more towards the belief that God cares about actions more than professions of belief. In other words, God is not so concerned with people who believe(or don't believe) in Him as much as He is concerned with how people treat each other and what we do versus what we could/should do. (I guess some of jars theology is sticking to me! Guilty. I most definitely ride a middle road. Although most of my beliefs are formed through daily prayer/meditation and to a lesser extent at church and in communion with others, I often compose answers here at EvC on the fly...without giving them the thought that they may well deserve. These conversations and your responses to them are actually a small part of what my beliefs end up becoming as I mature(hopefully) in life. jar argues that the God we worship is a God of our imagination and preference more so than the likely GOD which may exist. I consciously don't try to make myself into God, but it may well be that the ideal self that I ascribe to become, coupled with my response to God as I believe GOD to be, may end up manifesting through me in a way such as you describe. Pray that I stay humble and teachable.Anyway...shall we get back to the topic idea of satan reforming? Of course, in your mind, all concepts are hypothetical anyway....where should we go from here, Stile? Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

I have changed my belief...yet again...on this subject. God knows who we are deep down. Better than we know ourselves, even.I believe that we are incapable of achieving His standards. I think that this whole idea of "making a new franchise" and redactors changing the meaning of scripture is all a lie. I stand on the Gospel of John as much as any of the other Gospels and I believe that we are incapable of behaving as Jesus behaved. God is---above all else---concerned with our honesty. To ourselves and to others. What we do will naturally reflect our progress in this area of communion and confession.I do not believe that we are expected to approach the standards set by Jesus Christ. I believe that admitting this to ourselves and others is a sign that we are placing ourselves on the altar. The initial topic is "What if Satan Reformed?" My point in connection with this is that IF Satan reformed, he would not reform by trying his best to become a Saint. He would reform by surrendering. Edited by Phat, : added emphasis

Its not free. Its a costly gift.You can try your hardest yet you can never earn it.Not that im suggesting you stop trying to do your best. By all means continue

No. First of all, Jesus and Jesus alone was able to deny Himself fully and surrender to His Father.We have trouble surrendering to eating the last doughnut on the plate or stopping a beer shy of inebriation or going out of our way to help change a tire...for a stranger...in the rain. What I mean by surrender is just that. Stepping off of the throne and surrendering our everloving ego.No slavery needed. I cant really argue with you there.My point---if I have one---is that doing good works does not come about through the lie of trying harder. Good works are produced in one who has surrendered. The slavery...if it could be called that...is voluntary. No Master stands ready to whip you should you fail to do your best. Your inner conscience will be your guide...if you have surrendered, satan has no place in you. If satan surrendered, he would again become Lucifer...another angel with unique and special gifts willfully used for the fathers glory. Edited by Phat, : added jabberwocky