Pride

One of the great classics of English literature that speaks volumes on key spiritual issues is John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost. The central figure is Satan and Milton’s artful poetic prose develops key aspects of Satan’s character. One classic line captures the essence of the spirit of rebellion that is the foundation of the original sin of pride. Satan states that it is “better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven.” As an ex-atheist and agnostic who tasted the intoxicating but ultimately bitter wine of rebellion against God, I understand this spirit well. Whatever the source of our wanderings from God, the spirit of the anti-Christ usurps God’s rightful place and replaces godly standards of accountability and purpose with our own. In essence, Satan is saying that we can do a better job than God of ruling our own life, and by extension, running the universe; when we embrace other worldview masters, we endorse this. I hear many atheists complain that there cannot be a God, as no rational or loving God would make a world so rife with contradictions and pain. My reply to this line of reasoning is to thank God that we are not controlling the universe, as our standards would result in an even greater level of insanity and evil than the present world order. Evil and suffering were never part of God’s plan, as he voluntary limited himself and delegated to us the freedom to choose good or evil in charting our own course and destiny.