In 1 Timothy 3:6 Paul warns against ordaining a new convert, cautioning that such an act might cause the person to become conceited and fall under the same judgement as the devil. How does Paul's statement throw light on the two passages above, and in what way do these three passages together help us to understand some issues in the controversy?

This text compares  a new converts pride to what happened with Lucifer. What was the Judgement that Lucifer fell under? "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor (Ezekiel 28:17). Because of Lucifer’s position he became prideful and he wanted more than he was entitled to have. The bible tells us that He wanted to ascend higher and higher and be like the most high(Isaiah 14:14). Interesting enough Lucifer talks about ascending and he is descended by God. Jesus talks about descending and he is exhaled by God (Phil 2). Phil 2:6 talks about how Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped at. I could surmise that there are some , or there was one who thought equality with God something to be grasped at. Lucifer is a likely candidate because he explicitly says that he wants to be like God and was also the closest to God next to Jesus. Lucifer wanted to be the creator instead of being the creation. Lucifers fall happened because He thought he deserved more because he was so pretty.

Pride, autonomy, independence. What do these words conjure up in your own mind? In what ways are any of us in danger of falling into the traps, sometimes very subtle, that pride, autonomy, and independence can set for us? After all, under the right conditions, what's wrong with any of these concepts?

The problem with these things is that sometimes they leave out God altogether. There can never be any real autonomy or independence from God because it is His grace which sustains us each day ( Acts 17:18). In seeking to have complete independence from God we are deceiving ourselves.Seeking autonomy can eliminate the need for authentic community. I think a more balanced principle is interdependence as opposed to independence. By thinking like Christ we can avoid the same mindset which caused Lucifers fall.

Prayer: Lord God Almighty, Help us to have the mind of Christ. Thank you in Jesus name amen.

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