Ask the Pastor: Satan and His Children, Ephesian Evangelism, and Cloning
by the Rev. Walter Snyder

Q: Since he is not in the abyss, where is Satan now?

A: We aren't told. We know that he is bound through the death, resurrection, and ascension
of Jesus. We are not told how he is bound or the exact restrictions. We do know that his power is
diminished and that he is not able to fully and directly attack Christ's holy Church. Still, he's "a
roaring lion" looking to devour us. Yet since he is a fallen angel, his essence is spirit and not physical
flesh. Thus, the "place" where he is may not be so much a physical place as it is a state of being.

Q: What is the disposition of the devil's children, particularly his evil sons?

A: Scripture says nothing about biological children of Satan. All who deny Christ are his sons,
as Jesus tells some of the Jews who refuse to believe in him and who wish to plot his death: "You are
of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he
speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)" What will
happen to those who reject the Christ? They will be separated from God for all eternity and will
suffer hell for their unbelief.

Q: Can you tell me the founder of the church of Ephesus, and if it was Paul on his
second missionary journey?

A: If not the founder, Paul was one of the first Christians active in Ephesus. He spent much
time among them and dealt with both pagan and Jewish resistance. Much of Acts 18--20 includes
Paul among the Ephesians. Note that while Paul worked, he was not alone. Prisca and Aquilla were
there and Apollos came to spiritual maturity and was a powerful contender for the Gospel.

Paul spent a short time in Ephesus before returning to Antioch after his second missionary
journey (Acts 18:19--22). His third journey included three years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31). A number
of notable events occurred there. Paul baptized a dozen of John the Baptist's followers (Acts 19:1--
7). After being barred from the synagogue, he had daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus
(19:8--10). Unusual miracles  (19:11--12) and  strange events (19:13--16) took place; sorcerers were
converted (19:17--20), and the city rioted over silversmith Demetrius' loss of business because of
people turning away from Artemis worship to Christ (19:23--41). When Paul returned to Jerusalem
from his third missionary journey, he gave a moving farewell address to the Ephesian elders at the
coastal town of Miletus (20:13--35). That was the last time we know that he saw them (20:36--38),
although Paul could have visited Ephesus after he was in Rome (cf. 1 Tim. 1:3 and 3:14).

Q: What's the Lutheran stance on Genetic Manipulation (cloning, gene therapy, genetic
engineering, etc.)? I know that Roman Catholics oppose prenatal screening, abortion, and
cloning to create organs for transplantation and I know that the Anglican Church is not as
fundamental. I'd appreciate knowing the Lutheran perspective.

A: The web page of The Lutheran Church---Missouri Synod says, "At its most recent (1998)
convention, the Synod adopted a resolution in which it 'reject[ed] without reservation as contrary to
God's Word any technique or method of human cloning that results in the destruction of human
embryos or the creation of human embryos for the purposes of fetal tissue research or organ
harvesting or transplantation.' In the same resolution, the Synod asked its [Commission on Theology
and Church Relations] to prepare a study document 'to help the church, on the basis of the Word of
God, make informed ethical judgments concerning cloning and attendant issues.' The CTCR is
working on this assignment and hopes to complete this study document in the near future." Along
with human cloning, the Missouri Synod opposes fetal tissue research and abortion. We are still
examining animal cloning and are looking at the boundaries of other areas of genetic research.

To Ask the Pastor, please write Ask the Pastor, PO Box 12, Emma, MO, 65327 or send
email to askthepastor@aol.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of
the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."