| Author |
Message |
Timmy
Registered user
Username: Timmy
Post Number: 13
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 12:17 pm: |     |
I had an interesting thought last night and was wondering if any of you have notice or experienced this.
It has been alomost two years since I quit the SDA church and it just dawned on me that my new church hardly ever talks about Satan. I would say in the last 18 months they might have mentioned him twice. Its like Jesus is so powerful that there is no room for the devil, it's like he is very insignificant now and Jesus is very significant.
Growing up in the SDA church I was terrified of Satan, which made me afraid of the dark and afraid to be alone, afraid of basements and all kind of things. I wonder if my childhood would have been different if I had gone to a place that focused on Jesus.
Am I alone here? Or have some of you noticed something similiar?
Thanks for your input.
Tim |
Grace_alone
Registered user
Username: Grace_alone
Post Number: 168
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 12:37 pm: | |
Tim,
Being a never-been, I've never thought of it, but you're right! We rarely talk about Satan, although we do like to blame him if we run out of gas on the way to church!
I've always had the confidence that against Jesus, Satan has no power. It's a blessing, certainly, because I haven't had a fear about it. If I get scared or worried, I give those cares to Jesus and I know He's got me covered~
I wish you that peace!
 Leigh Anne |
Timmy
Registered user
Username: Timmy
Post Number: 14
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 12:57 pm: | |
Don't get me wrong, I have that peace now, but as a child I was terrified. I just knew Satan was going to pop out of the bushes or lurking around a corner ready to get me...
It sounds silly now but it was real to me then (my wife is still scared of the dark) but realizing that my new church doesn't really focus on Satan just makes me wonder if things would have been different.
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Grace_alone
Registered user
Username: Grace_alone
Post Number: 169
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 1:08 pm: | |
I believe so. I have friends from all different Christian denominations, and most of us would agree that Satan doesn't get a lot of "attention" in our churches (as a whole). However, if you're raising young children, you'll be able to get a better answer to that question when they've grown up.
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Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 4538
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 1:40 pm: | |
Yes, Tim, you're right about that. There's much less "satan" in our church than in Adventism.
I think the reason for that is we KNOW he is defeated already by Jesus' death and resurrection. We're not in the middle of a great controversy drama unfolding between and Jesus. Adventism gives Satan very high billing by teaching that he is engaged with Jesus in a struggle whose outcome is yet to be determined, by saying our sins ultimatley are placed on his head, by saying he was the highest angel in heaven next to Jesus, and he was angry when God exalted Jesus to the position of Son of God, etc.
Whether they come right out and say it or not, Adventism denigrates Jesus and raises Satan's importance.
Colleen |
Raven
Registered user
Username: Raven
Post Number: 533
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 1:46 pm: | |
Tim, I know exactly what you're saying! I had the same fears in childhood, and to a lesser extent in adulthood. As a child, besides being afraid of the dark and being in the basement alone, I used to have nightmares of being demon-possessed and worried if it could happen to me. It seems the SDA stories for the older kids often dwelt on people who had dabbled in the occult, and/or the terrible things that happen when one believes that the spirit continues after the body dies. I remember around age 6 or so, playing with an SDA neighbor about the same age where we were re-enacting a story we had heard at church where there were Satanic things happening in a house. You know how kids have to play through things that confuse or bug them. Don't get me wrong, we didn't do anything occult-like, but we basically pretended certain scary things had just happened that upset our dolls.
As an adult, those fears matured into just being fearful that my spiritual weaknesses were no match against Satan and maybe I wasn't on God's good side enough to be protected from whatever came my way. It's not that way at all, now. Instead there is perfect peace and confidence in Jesus. And yes, our church also focuses completely on Jesus. |
Timmy
Registered user
Username: Timmy
Post Number: 15
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 1:46 pm: | |
Wow, thats right, I never thought of it that way. When you look at it that way it almost makes Jesus and satan equal!
It is also kind of hard on the whole Jesus is God thing too... isn't it?
O.K. I am getting uncomfortable now...
tim |
Timmy
Registered user
Username: Timmy
Post Number: 16
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 1:54 pm: | |
Raven, That is exactly what I am talking about. We were not aloud to have a T.V. in the house so I know that this is where all those thoughts originated.
Sometimes I think my move to a Christ centered organization was to protect my child and offspring. Hopefully I got him out of there in time!
Tim |
Raven
Registered user
Username: Raven
Post Number: 534
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 3:03 pm: | |
We didn't have a TV either! |
Helovesme2
Registered user
Username: Helovesme2
Post Number: 628
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 3:17 pm: | |
Yes Tim, I grew up scared of the devil, scared of the dark, scared that if I didn't stay 'just right' with God, something terrible was going to happen. . . and that staying 'right' was something I had to stay conciously focussed on.
Becoming an adult helped with some of those fears, but getting to know God, surrendering my life to Him, and letting Him take Adventism away has done so much more! I do believe that devils exist. I do believe there is great evil, that there is a destroyer. However, I no longer believe that that destroyer is somehow almost equal to God.
I no longer have to base my faith on the intellectual theory that God will protect me (if I have everything right) but can trust Him because I know Him; because I am on speaking terms with Him; because He's proven Himself trustworthy in my everyday life. I no longer have to fear the devil, because I'm under the protection of his Conqueror. . . . and not only under that protection, I'm His child!
Do I still find myself fearful from time to time? Yes. But I know what to do with that fear now. When I find a particular place or situation scary, I have the joy and freedom to tell my Dad about it, ask Him to send away every spirit that is not from Him and to fill me and my surroundings with His Holy Spirit. I get to do this as a request, but with the full knowledge that this is a request He delights in honoring.
I have the right, by His grace, to ask Him to take me firmly in hand and guide me. To place me where I need to be, give me the words I am to speak, and the wisdom to do what needs to be done.
And the humiliatingly awesome thing about it is that I have this right not because I 'got it right' but because He outright gave it to me! I have this right, not because I'm better (or worse) than other people, not because I'm indespensable and He 'has' to protect me, but because He delights in me and loves me - with the same delight and joy that He has for each of his dust children!
Glory!
Mary
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Grace_alone
Registered user
Username: Grace_alone
Post Number: 170
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 3:58 pm: | |
Mary,
"And the humiliatingly awesome thing about it is that I have this right not because I 'got it right' but because He outright gave it to me! I have this right, not because I'm better (or worse) than other people, not because I'm indespensable and He 'has' to protect me, but because He delights in me and loves me - with the same delight and joy that He has for each of his dust children"
Beautifully said!! It is humiliatingly awesome.
I like the term "dust children".
Thank you Jesus!! Praise God.
Leigh Anne
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Timmy
Registered user
Username: Timmy
Post Number: 17
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, September 02, 2006 - 6:12 am: | |
Thanks Mary, I like that too. "I don't got it right, but he outright gave it to me!"
So have you had the impression that satan gets alot less emphisis in your new church than in the SDA?
In my old church it was like satan and Jesus were battling for my soul every second so it was very important to understand the strategy of the enemy, but in my new church, satan is a has been, a big loser, a nobody, powerless and worthless because Jesus defeated him!
Needless to say, I like my new church approach.
Praise Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
Tim |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 2774
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 02, 2006 - 7:29 am: | |
I have not thought of the Jesus Christ vs Satan and who is stronger for a loooooong time. Since becoming a born again Christian, I have not heard satan's name mentioned at church. Jesus Christ conquered him at the cross amd I am so thankful.
I used to be afraid of the evil one as all of you were.
I have no need to be afraid any more. Jesus will never leave me. He promised.
Hallelujah, praise God. You are awesome.
Diana |
Cathy2
Registered user
Username: Cathy2
Post Number: 195
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, September 02, 2006 - 10:36 am: | |
This is so interesting! I had no idea other SDA kids grew up the way I did; scared of the dark, scared of getting demon possessed if I went wrong, scared of Satan, scared of seeing an evil spirit in the dark (mostly pretending to be my beloved dead uncle). My dad was obssessed about warning us about the occult and what evil would do, to the point of terrifying me. Later, it only created an unhealty intrest in it.
In my 30's, I finally learned I had no fear and bondage to and of any of that, and was free in Christ.
I really relate to Raven's and Mary's posts.
Cathy |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 4545
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, September 02, 2006 - 5:29 pm: | |
Yes, Cathy--I think it was a pretty universal experience. I was absolutely guilt-ridden and filled with fear that I would forget to confess a sin, "accidentally" say something that would be cause me to commit the unpardonable sin, encounter demonic forces unawares, give in to Satan instead of to Jesus and sin, sin, sin...
I am so thankful to know Satan is defeated and Jesus is Lord of all!
Colleen |
Cathy2
Registered user
Username: Cathy2
Post Number: 197
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, September 02, 2006 - 6:00 pm: | |
With such a universal experience and so closely similar, it more than ever makes me believe that there is a real, active, evil spirit of bondage--at the least--operating.
Now, we are free, unchained!
Cathy |
Dd
Registered user
Username: Dd
Post Number: 708
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 02, 2006 - 7:35 pm: | |
Cathy,
If you ever want to take an exceptionally, spiritual Bible study on the spirit of bondage, check out Beth Moore's study entitled "Breaking Free". I took the study within a year of truly having my eyes opened to the New Covenant gospel of Jesus. It is a fabulous study of letting go of those things that get in the way of an unbroken relationship with Him.
Free indeed!
Denise |
Jeremiah
Registered user
Username: Jeremiah
Post Number: 133
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 02, 2006 - 8:37 pm: | |
What you all mention about being scared of the dark, scared of the devil jumping out of the shadows or appearing to you, etc is exactly what I grew up being scared of! It's so interesting to hear that it wasn't "just me"!
Jeremiah |
Leigh
Registered user
Username: Leigh
Post Number: 107
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, September 03, 2006 - 5:55 am: | |
Through Christ we are MORE than conquerors! see verse 37 of Romans 8!
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."*
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 2778
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 03, 2006 - 9:20 am: | |
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
Diana |
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