ANGELS: HEAVENLY BEINGS HELP BRING COMFORT TO HUMANS

"Are not angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" -- Hebrews 1:14 (New International Version)

Cherubim and seraphim. No matter what their order or rank, angels are popular icons in today's society.

And their popularity can be both a theological blessing and a curse.

Angels offer comfort and security, said Nancy Bray, who has gathered a vast collection of angels over the years.

Bray first became interested in angels when she taught a Sunday school class for adults at Centenary United Methodist Church. At the time, little was published about angels and their spiritual roles.

But as their popularity has increased, so have the number of resources available.

"Of all the world religions, angels are the common denominators," Bray said.

Judaism, Christianity and Islam have the most intricate doctrine about angels. They recognize an order of angels ranking above humans but below God. The order of angels, from highest to lowest, are: seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations, virtues, powers, principalities, archangels and angels.

Angels have several roles, but the most important is that of messenger. An angel spoke to Joseph telling him of the impending birth of Jesus, the Christ child. An angel delivered the good news to the shepherds about Jesus' birth.

Emphasizing angelic activities can be problematic if people don't also recognize the true object of worship.

"For Christians, Jesus is the most important messenger," said Dr. Andy Pratt, a campus minister at the Baptist Student Center. He also teaches a course on the Old Testament at Southeast Missouri State University.

"There is a danger of people forgetting that Jesus said, 'I am the one who will be with you always.'"

But angels do serve as a connection to God.

"They help us feel connected to God in a world that is so scientific and rational," Pratt said. "They are sort of a point of security that God is with us."

Angels helped to calm the fears of the cast in the Christmas story. As Mary and Joseph tried to understand the events happening around them, angels helped bring comfort and peace.

"They helped them to a certain extent to understand what was going on was God's plan," Pratt said. "They are a good reminder."

The word angel is Greek for messenger. According to religious customs, angels live in heaven and are God's servants who act as messengers between God and human beings. Angels are often portrayed as having a human body or form but with wings.

Bray said she learned a great deal about angels from her study in 1992 and has since helped educate others.

"The big eye opener is that they help us become closer to God and have a relationship with God that maybe we wouldn't have had without that angelic intervention."