CHRISTIANS ONLY.....Why.... do so many Attribute SATAN.... with all sickness and temptation in Humans?

Question

I see many Questions... here in R&S about Satan and how he temps believers!

There are about 6-to-7 BILLION... persons on Planet Earth! Satan is ONLY ONE BEING. Isaiah 14 & Ezekiel 28 tell more about him.

He does NOT have THE POWER AND THE OMNIPRSENCE of GOD. Yet MANY SAY THAT THEY ARE TEMPETED BY HIM?

It simply cannot be! Neither are there Enough Demons to go around!

The BIBLE does say.....

(James 1:13-to-16) Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one.

(Jam 1:14) But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away and seduced by them.

(Jam 1:15) Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is fully formed, brings forth death.

(Jam 1:16) Do not err, my beloved brothers.

Why.... do so many Attribute SATAN.... with all sickness and temptation in Humans?

Thanks, RR

Answer 1

As a Christian, I can tell you that the role of "Satan" is overblown by many modern Christians.

People love to have someone to blame other than themselves. They want to blame Satan for tempting them as a means of escaping responsibility for their actions. They want to blame Satan for the evil in the world because they don't want to admit the depths of evil and depravity of which humans are capable all by themselves.

As for disease and suffering, blaming Satan for all of that is, once again, absurd. Many say that the book "The problem of Pain" By C.S. Lewis is the best Christian explanation for suffering in the world. I don't pretend to have all the answers, but blaming Satan for all of it is simplistic, and ignores concepts such as a fallen creation and original sin.

Answer 2

I don't think most educated Christians think that all temptation comes from the devil. Like the verses from James 1:14-15. We are tempted by our own desires.

You said: It simply cannot be! Neither are there Enough Demons to go around!
I disagree with you here. Why not? There can be millions and millions of angels out there and probably demons. The Bible describes a multitude of angels at many different points in time. So there literally could be an angel and demon for each person. It's entirely possible. There is nothing in the scriptures that may say anything for or against it.

Finally, I do think that the devil has his plan of action going to destroy the world. And he probably doesn't tempt people on a 1:1 basis, but probably oversees the entire operation, with managers and others under him. Btw, is there anyone left to tempt? We're all sinners and fallen. Good question.

Answer 3

You are right. Satan is not omnipresent. But when Satan fell he took about one third of the angels with him (Revelation 12:4 4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born). So they carry out this orders. The notion that Satan is the one that does everything is a misconception. In my Christian walk of life I am young and still learning, although i'm almost 30. Being so young in my Christian life, I have come to learn so much. Each time I read passages in the bible I learn something new. I always thought the Devil could be everywhere like God and knew what we were thinking. But he can't.

Now, how many angels were there? More than we can count. The Apostle John, in Daniel 7:10, reported seeing ten-thousand-times-ten-thousand angels encircling the throne of God. In Hebrew, the biggest number is ten thousand. That would be one hundred million in one place if we take the count literally, so this number, I don't think, would be a literal one, rather, the perception of the multitude.. Most likely references, such as Hebrews 12:22 (“to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly”) indicate that the number of angels is beyond counting.


So The devil falls right? And he takes 1/3 of the angels with him, which would be an overly sufficient amount of angels (remember they are eternal beings...that is...until God kills them) to corrupt mankind.

Answer 4

Most sickness in humans are caused to some extent by the choices we make. Other than genetic diseases, diet, alcohol and drug abuse, multiple sex partners, smoking, and stress cause the biggest majority of illness. These are all choices made by the individual.
As far as temptation to do or want the wrong things-just watch a few hours of tv any day or night and see all the things that people are tempted to try out or buy into. Satan knows how to use modern technology as well as anyone else.

Answer 5

Because it's easier than admitting human frailty and guilt. If we can blame all our sins on Satan then we don't have to take responsibility for them. I call it "The Devil made me do it" syndrome. So, rather than admitting that we aren't perfect that part of being human is desire (temptation), we cast the blame on Satan... unfairly, I might add because the Bible says the only One Satan ever tempted was Jesus... and then only because Jesus didn't have those natural human desires. But we're not fully divine and fully human so chances are, we do.

Of course, we blame sickness on Satan because of Job. But it's an incomplete reading to do so - God had a hand in it. And, as evident in many places in the New Testament, sickness is not outside of the will of God, not necessarily a punishment and not the act of demons.

But, then, I'm a thinking Christian who understands that the Biblical insistence that there is none beside God means there is none beside God - in eternity, essence or Being - and none beside God - when beside also means besides, in opposition to. There is no eternal, opposing force to Divinity. That's not even Platonic philosophy. It's Greek superstition superimposed upon the Christian texts.

Answer 6

In ancient Jewish tradition Satan is simply an angel doing the work that God assigned to Satan to do.

The word Satan means challenger. With the idea of Satan challenging us, or tempting if you will. This description sees Satan as the angel who is the embodiment of man's challenges. This idea of Satan works closely with God as an integral part of Gods plan for us. His job is to make choosing good over evil enough of a challenge so that it becomes clear to us that there can be only one meaningful or logical choice.

Contrast this to Christianity, which sees Satan as God's opponent. In Jewish thought, the idea that there exists anything capable of setting itself up as God's opponent would be considered polytheistic or setting up the devil to be an equally powerful polarity to god or a demigod.

Oddly, proof for The Christian satan/devil mythology is supposedly found in the ancient Jewish texts that were borrowed to create the bible. One can’t help but wonder how Christians came up with such a fantastically different interpretation of Gods assistant Satan in their theology.

Other hints about Satan’s role in human relations can be seen if you look at the name Lucifer. It’s meaning in the original tongue translates as Light bearer or light bringer. Essentially the bringer of enlightenment. The temptations of the Satan idea bring all of us eventually into Gods light. Hardly the Evil entity of Christian mythology.

Love and blessings
don

Answer 7

In the minds of most Christians there are only 2 sources of continued being, God (good) and Satan (bad). They don't believe that God would make you sick, but perhaps that He would let Satan make you sick (as He did Job). God has told us He does not tempt people, though He does test us and discipline us. Whatever happens, however, happens with His knowledge and approval, and for His purpose, and we have His assurance that ALL THINGS will work together for the good of those who love Him.

Answer 8

The Devil doesnt literally tempt people. Everything that's bad was created by the devil which includes sickness and temptation. Once people start doing bad things they blame it on the devil. But if they continue to sin that's not the devil's fault, that's just them not willing to change.

Answer 9

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Answer 10

Usually, when people refer to Satan being responsible, they are including his demons with him. They are Legion. (many). Remember, when Satan was cast down to earth, a third of the angels were cast out with him. This is the legion of demons.