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Better than Angels
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Some time ago the number one single on Billboard's hot 100 list was "Angel"
by Sara McLachlan. It pushed out the previous number one "Angel" by
Celine Dion and R. Kelly. Coming up fast was the number four son, "Angel
of Mine" by Monica, which hit number one two weeks later. Interestingly
enough, the number three song was "Believe" by Cher. Am I jumping to
the conclusions if the conclusion I make is that popular culture is intrigued
(obsessed?) with angels? "Touched by an Angel" is a top 10 television program.
"City of Angels" was one of the top movies last year, and it's soundtrack,
which features the Sara McLachlan tune already mentioned, was the top selling
album last year. Books about angels have constantly been on the New
York Times Bestseller list for almost a decade. More of us believe
in angels (96%) than believe in God (91%)(explain that if you can). Along
with our cable TV, our gourmet coffee, our lying President, and our
pro-wrestlers, we Americans love our angels. The movie, "City of Angels"
is about an angel, played by academy award winner Nicholas Cage, who falls
in love with a human woman played by Meg Ryan. His dilemma is this:
Does he give up his status as and angel in order to become human and have
the women he loves. There is much about the movie I appreciate. In
it angels are men (as in the Bible), and they are everywhere, ministering
to humanity (as in the Bible - Heb. 1:14, Matt 18:18). But as the the dilemma
he suffers - it is the stuff of Hollywood - No angel would turn down the
opportunity to be human, whether or not Meg Ryan was part of the bargain.
An angel will never be God's child, but a Christian is. "Beloved,
look at the great love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be
called the children of God - and indeed that is who we are." 1John 3:1
see also John 1:12-13. Hebrews chapter 1 and 2 makes this very
point. Christ is superior to angels (1:4-13,2:5-9). Angels are
servant-spirits for our benefit (1:14). We are the very brothers and
sisters of Christ, and the very children of God (2:10-18). Jesus died
for us, not for angels. Jesus became us - not and angel. In the
1049 movie " the Bishop's Wife" the Bishop, played by David Niven has to
compete for his wife's (Loretta Young) affections with the angel Dudley,
played by Cary Grant. He feels he's at a great disadvantage (of course
he is, he's competing against Cary Grant) until his friend, played by Monty
Wooley, reminds him the mere fact he is human means there is no contest.
There is none. It is much better to be human, if one is God's child,
than it is to be an angel
- Barry Bryson |
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