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provides a conservative Christian, Bible-centered, view of the angels. He tells us that the angels fulfil the role of messengers, executors of God's will, sometimes as avengers, proclaimers, observers, praisers, protectors, comforters, rescuers, but never evangelists. He claims that they can't be evangelists because they never sinned (except the fallen ones), therefore were never redeemed by Jesus' death on the cross and are therefore unqualified to preach the good news.
But angels are making a comeback even among the liberal Christians; there is currently a surge of interest in angels, at least in the U.S. where several recent books on angels are popular. But some people are decrying the way angels are being portrayed in these books. They complain that the angels described sound more like cuddly puppies than like the fierce cherubim that guard the entrance to the Garden of Eden with flaming swords. I believe that many people will find The Urantia Book image of angels as enablers more believable and appealing than as either divine messengers or cuddly puppies. Wouldn't it be interesting if the angelology of the book suddenly became popular? Perhaps this will provide a path into the book for some people. Of course, some people may not like everything the book has to say about guardian angels.
A popular idea about guardian angels is that they are protectors. In Dr. Graham's book about angels and in many other books and articles, many cases are cited to show an angel came to someone's aid in a desperate situation. But if the angels' primary task is to protect us, then I must say they are incredibly inept or they are usually out on coffee break when a crisis arises. For the hundreds who have had miraculous interventions, there are millions who suffer disaster. The Urantia Book says that the main task of these angels is to lead us into situations that will stimulate our spiritual and social growth. Regarding intervention in our affairs, the authors have this to say, "They do not (ordinarily) intervene in the routine affairs of human life... .They do not, therefore, intrude into the picture of human drama except in emergencies and then usually on the direct orders of their superiors....Seraphim are able to function as material ministers to human beings under certain circumstances, but their action in this capacity is very rare." (1246) The authors give at least one example of angelic intervention to rescue someone, telling us that angels freed some gospel teachers from prison. (837) The authors tell us that while Peter was also set free from prison, it was a secondary midwayer who did it. But later on, Peter died a nasty death by crucifixion. Why was he rescued the first time, and not the second?
My understanding of angels is that we are rescued by angels or other spiritual agencies only when it might be beneficial to our spiritual growth or if we have an important role to play in the spiritual growth of others. I'm sure that the angels must have very specific guidelines that they follow in such matters. And of course there is one situation in which they really do guard us; when they transport our souls to the mansion worlds.
Despite a naturally skeptical nature, due possibly to my engineering training, The Urantia Book has made angels as real to me as the folk next door. Nevertheless, having a relationship with someone you can't see, hear, or detect in any way isn't quite the same as a relationship with neighbors. After all, you see the neighbors mowing the lawns, weeding their flower beds, and pretending they don't see their dog when it comes over to decorate your yard. But since the angels don't have yards to mow, gardens to weed, or dogs to walk, we don't observe them at work or play. In a sense, we are the gardens that they tend, but the gardener's touch is so light that we seldom feel it. Because we are generally unaware of their work, angels are among the unsung heroes of our world. I believe we should pause once in a while to remember and appreciate all of the things they do for us. Of course, we may not at the time appreciate some of the growth provoking experiences they lead us into, but eventually we know that they have our best interest at heart. As the authors of The Urantia Book tell us, they are our friends and only good can come from trying to love and understand them. (419, 1243)
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