we were talking about god and the devil. she thinks the devil plays a major role in everyone's everyday life. she says non believers don't feel or see it as much as christians because the devil already knows he has the non believers, so he focuses on the believers to try to trick them into betraying god. she continued to talk about how satan tries to take a hold of good christians and they have to fight him off.
so my question to her (and you) was: what motivation does someone have to become, or stay, christian, when they have to put up with the devil's antics, but a non believer doesn't?
2007-04-16 05:15:22 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
just so you know, we often get into conversations like these ones. i respect her beliefs, i just try to get her to explain them so that i can understand. i don't judge her or ever tell her i think she's wrong for what she believes. (even though she tells me i'm wrong for mine all the time LOL)
2007-04-16 05:20:22 · update #1
Father G - i don't choose my friends based on their religious beliefs, i choose them for being good people. i perfer to choose friends who i can learn something from. in my opinion, that's why we're on this earth, is to learn
2007-04-16 05:22:03 · update #2
Everyone has to deal with the World, the Flesh, AND the Devil. While it is true that Satan focuses his attention on those closest to God, the rewards are well worth the extra problems he causes. Besides, he can't do ANYTHING without authorization, and we are promised that we will never be given more than we can handle. Prayer is powerful. The better we get, the bigger the attack, the greater the reward. Remember, we are in preparation for eternity!
2007-04-16 05:28:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
God promises us eternal life with no pain, suffering and only love and happiness. Satan can only give empty promises unless he tells us that we will be torched and burned and have no eternal life. I don't like the misery and pain here on earth, I believe God will be there for us and we only have to ask and he gives us the strength to keep satan away. Just because something might seem easier doesn't mean it is the right thing. It usually means satan has taken over your heart and nothing good can come of it.
2007-04-16 05:28:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christians know the devil is real and there is a spiritual war going on around us or they should. People who do not believe in God, have no reason to believe in the devil either so it is hard for them to understand how the devil tries to infiltrate our lives. He causes illness, strife, breaks families up and other things to try and cause Christians to be disillusioned about God and the choice we made. We stand firm against him even if he causes us to stumble at times. I say Get the behind me Satan, in Jesus' name. Or I rebuke you Satan in the Name of Jesus the Christ.
2007-04-16 05:28:01 · answer #3 · answered by Chloe 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because I can deal with ANYTHING the devil trys to put me through!! I have all my true strength through God, and the devil can do NOTHING to compare to God!!! Everything I go throug is only a lesson that makes me stronger for the next one. I can and I will do anything for God. He is what I live for and I only wish other people could see. The small things we go through in life is nothing compared to what you'll be going through for eternity!! See, life can be like a bad dream, BUT, if you do the right thing and follow God, you will be spending eternity,forever and ever and ever etc..,in Heaven. Happiness. nothing ever bad in any way. But if you pick ANY THING else, besides Gods way, you will be spending eternity in hell, where all there is is sadness. If you want to be happy forever, rough it a little in life, if you want sadness forever, have life easy. So, whats really the best way to go, a little hard and forever good, or a little easy and forever hard? Blessed be Always -
2007-04-16 07:37:05 · answer #4 · answered by Kelli R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The non-believer is many times the one who the devil manipulates to attack the believers faith.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil so we could have life & have it more abundantly. The devil knows the power of even the youngest child of God who prays to Father God in faith. The devil can't do his destructive work then. We, as Christians can see the spiritual enemies at work, so need to learn how to take authority over the devil & demand that what he stole be returned, all of it. Take back what the devil stole.
The non believer is a victim of the devils antics, because they are spiritually blinded/dead. So, they aren't saved yet. When a person is born again, ones spiritual eyes are opened, because one is spiritually born of God. One has eternal life within him/her.
As a Christian, no power in heaven or earth can take me from the love of God. God loves me sooo much & will never let me go. Though in past battles he (devil) was successful in leading me to doubt God through a loved one who criticized my faith. But, Gods Spirit grieves when I doubt, because I can even see visions of cutting my wrists, so I repent for not believing that God Is who God reveals God Is. And He loves me & will never leave or forsake me. It doesn't matter if so & so thinks I'm right or wrong. It matters what God thinks of me & that I trust & obey God.
2007-04-16 05:26:43 · answer #5 · answered by t_a_m_i_l 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Interesting question. The Bible says that Satan is subtle, and many people (including Christians) forget this. The opposite of subtle is "obvious", so in all that Satan does, you are not even aware that it is him doing it. The devil is at work even now at destroying marriage, moral foundations, even things as basic as "your word is your bond". People disregard laws as if they are suggestions, to lie is just as simple as a curse word. Those who are pornographic in their thinking are considered "progressive" in society. Yet all this did not happen over night. This has been a gradual "subtle" decay.
The deal with Christians is they KNOW who is behind it. And once it is revealed to them, the Christian becomes the enemy to the enemy and his subtlety is lost, and thereby must be silenced or nullified. The devil's favorite ploy? "They are nuts."
As for "why" we would become a Christian and endure all the guff? Well, what is the free gift of eternal life worth? Also, I have no fear of that fallen cherub. For the Bible makes it clear in 1 John 4:4...
"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he [the devil] who is in the world."
2007-04-16 05:20:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just back up one more step, and forget all the holy book crap or Koran crap, or what is commonly called "revealed truth". Have faith in nothing that cannot be proven. (read the last sentence again. ) Sky daddies, and the supernatural are fairy tales. Choose your friends because they are great people, fun to be with, helpful, and all the rest.
People stay, or become chistian or muslim or whatever because they fear... and their parent pushed fairytales into their lives very early.....This amounts to child abuse, in my estimation.
"In every vilsage there is a torch -- the teacher, and an extinguisher -- the clergy. "
Victor Hugo
My parents were torches that taught us to read everything, learn everything, question everything, be kind, enjoy life, and when time, find a loving partner, drink nice wine, and eat good food. Be kind to animals, and supportive of those in trouble.... thank you mom and dad.
2007-04-16 06:20:24 · answer #7 · answered by April 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christians continue as a matter of faith and dogma.
Non-believers don't believe in the Christian Satan, so they don't concern themselves with it.
Personally, I don't blame my problems, my flaws, or the ills of the world on some supernatural evil. Nor do I believe that the afterlife depends on whether or not one claims to belong to a specific religion.
I think it's the deeds that matter, not the religion. But then, that's just my $.02.
2007-04-16 05:36:25 · answer #8 · answered by Johnny Sane 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ask her this.
Does she believe that her god is the one and only true god?
Does she believe that her god is all powerful, all knowing, all seeing?
And yet her all powerful god can not destroy, once and for all time, a lowly fallen angel (the devil) with a sweep of one finger?
Doesn't sound like much of a god to me.
Or maybe her god and the devil both enjoy playing games and watching us squirm and suffer.
2007-04-16 05:31:57 · answer #9 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Fighting off the devil" makes a person feel heroic, even if it's not real. I don't say that your friend's motives are bad. It's been engrained into people by churches.
Why do you suppose the Christian Church became the world's biggest and RICHEST religious organization? There's tremendous SUBLIMINAL appeal in what they teach.
Once you swallow the idea that a person's being good or bad hinges on opinion or theory, there's no responsibility. I'll just believe that somebody walked on the water, my fellows in church will call me a wonderful Christian, and it won't matter what I do. I'll be forgiven and have respect and friendship built in.
It's easier to wait for the second coming than to take responsibility for your life.
2007-04-16 05:26:21 · answer #10 · answered by Nancy A 1 · 3⤊ 3⤋