Just so you don't think I've lost my bitter edge

[cyrano]

We were out driving earlier this week. One of the things I've noticed that's different here is the large collection of churches. And each one has a readerboard out front, most of them taking advantage of this literary real estate to post some ecumenical bon mot. (Can I use 'ecumenical' there? I'm not certain.)
One of them told me that "Angels are God's special helpers". And I was highly annoyed by this, but it took me quite some time to figure out why. "Special helper" is what you call your six year old child when se doesn't dump legos all over the floor while you're trying to vacuum, and picks up hir own dirty clothes. An angel, on the other hand, dispenses the justice of The Lord with a friggin' SWORD MADE OF FIRE. An angel trumpets the birth of the Messiah. An angel wrestles with a prophet to bring him to task. An angel is a being of righteous power--or in Lucifer's case, less on the righteous and more on the power. If your religion is serious to you, don't try to make it cute.
Okay. That's done. Back to fluffy bunnies and happy thoughts.

Comments

[mnarra.livejournal.com]

What you say has merit, but that doesn't make the "special helpers" designation wrong.

It just casts God's daily routine into a new and frightening light, by implication, if the "wing dipped in blood" sort of task is how he keeps those playful angels out of his hair. What sort of things does God spend his time on, if inconsequential business like raining fire on the unrighteous is how he sends the angels out to play? And what sort of sensibilities does He have?

*shudders and tries to take up atheism in self defense*

*fails*

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

You're a sick man. No wonder you're on my friends list.

[mnarra.livejournal.com]

Hey, I just analyze the data. Not my fault what conclusions are supported.