Does It Really Matter If You Believe In The Devil?

[ResidentAlien]

I just use some of their tools like meditation. I am forever a pragmatist in faith, I simply use things that I think will work. Meditation has helped me with the mood aspect of my disorder. Their thinking strategies have brought me peace. Jesus has pulled me out of my depression though, I have developed this thing I call "love meditation" where I just sit down and try to experience as much love for things as possible. It's a sort of east meets west thing and it's improved my mood greatly at times.

Well, Jesus wants to do a whole lot more for you than pull you out of depression. He wants to save your soul and give you a whole new life. Eventually, human philosophy is going to let you down. When it does, give the real Jesus a try.

 

[Nicolas]

I don't know honestly. I am and am not a Christian. I heed Jesus, but not necessarily the rest of the bible. I treat most of it like a series of rumors that may be true.

Sadly my friend, you cannot say that you are a Christian and not believe what the Bible says or read and study it, only the Bible guides you to the truth and to the understanding of God. Otherwise you are like the Muslims who say they believe that Jesus is a prophet and who say they believe in God, but with another name; however, they had to invent another religion and another book, they say that he is prophetic and even another prophet simply because they were full of envy and to satisfy their own ego, leaving aside the true that God had already manifested.
That attitude does not reflect a belief in God nor does not believing what the Bible says. Star reding your Bible and you will find that everything that have been said on it is the truth.

Blessing.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Now let's say the devil is putting thoughts in your head, does it really matter if you decide he's the devil or the ego? Different paths, similar choice.

It matters a whole lot. Are you not aware that the devil -- Satan -- is shown in the Bible to be a very evil adversary of both God and man? And the devil (pretending to be a serpent) is responsible for the arrival of sin and evil into the world. All evil thoughts are from the devil, and there is a spiritual war raging against Christians.

 

[Magenta]

It's just a guess really, the ancients had a good sense of what is, they had less idea of the why.

The answer to any question of "Why" can always begin with, "Because God...." You say the ancients knew less of the why but really what is true is that today there are just more possibilities offered by those who do not believe in God, and many of their theories are just wool gathering and pointless exercises in nayville gazing. I do have an understanding of your sense of frailty and vulnerability though... Because that is where I was 20 years ago before I finally surrendered my opposition to Him.

 

[Edify]

If you don't believe in the Devil, you won't see your enemy at work against you and you can't possibly win against him.
If anyone else listens to this they won't either.
You've already lost & have become the saints' enemy.

Sorry folks, some things you can't beat around the bush with.

 

[daisyseesthesun]

Yes, it matters where the bad thoughts come from. The devil is a liar and will put thoughts into your head many dangerous thoughts can come from the devil, and they are not good for you or your family.

If you think you came up with the bad thoughts, you will think you are a horrible human being, and that's not good for you.

 

[Magenta]

If you don't believe in the Devil, you won't see your enemy at work against you and you can't possibly win against him.
If anyone else listens to this they won't either.
You've already lost & have become the saints' enemy.

Sorry folks, some things you can't beat around the bush with.

One of the things that I find interesting is that people are more prone to believe the devil exists than they are to believe in God. That is, the One true God depicted in Scriptures. But it is a fact that it is the estate of the natural man to not believe in God and to be hostile in his mind toward Him. It is also a spiritual truth that it is only by the Holy Spirit of God that one can say, "Jesus is Lord."

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Think about it this way. In Buddhism for example, they have a whole process related to thinking. They believe that a thought is just a thought, it doesn't have to be part of you, you are your actions. What they do in meditation is try to let go of the ego (defined as the false sense of self) and attain enlightenment. They do this by letting thoughts surface and then slowly letting them go. This is the best self control training you can do in my experience. There's some debate about whether you should examine those thoughts later, but it's a common practice to let the thoughts go for a time.

Now let's say the devil is putting thoughts in your head, does it really matter if you decide he's the devil or the ego? Different paths, similar choice.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It matters if you know you have an active enemy bent on destroying you and also matters that you believe you have an active savior who is there to keep us safe if we don’t rebel against him and follow the guy trying to destroy us and make us slaves

 

[Magenta]

I am just doing everything I can to help my mental health.

Good morning Kafziel, how are yuou doing today? It is probably mid-afternoon where you are... Did you get a chance to look up the Alpha Course in your area?

 

[daisyseesthesun]

Kafziel,

This clip may answer some of your questions.

 

[Nicolas]

Yeah I am slowly recovering, but it's taking a very long time. I am just doing everything I can to help my mental health. It's not at all helpful being afraid, I try to catch every moment of peace I can. The thing I hate most is my mind will come up with little characters based on my religious beliefs, and sometimes it creates demons. I feel so vulnerable sometimes, and frail.

Reading the Psalms and listening a lot of Christian music would be an extraordinary help to get over all those negative things.

 

[CS1]

Think about it this way. In Buddhism for example, they have a whole process related to thinking. They believe that a thought is just a thought, it doesn't have to be part of you, you are your actions. What they do in meditation is try to let go of the ego (defined as the false sense of self) and attain enlightenment. They do this by letting thoughts surface and then slowly letting them go. This is the best self control training you can do in my experience. There's some debate about whether you should examine those thoughts later, but it's a common practice to let the thoughts go for a time.

Now let's say the devil is putting thoughts in your head, does it really matter if you decide he's the devil or the ego? Different paths, similar choice.

I respectfully disagree. Christians should not even consider anything from Buddhism. If one want to deny the existence of the devil, be my guest; however, that too is a trick of the devil as it is to not believe in a God. If your human intellect thinks If I refuse to think
there is a devil, he will not be affected. Wrong! Buddism is self-enlightenment where there is no God needed. It is demonic and unbiblical.

 

[Magenta]

I respectfully disagree. Christians should not even consider anything from Buddhism. If one want to deny
the existence of the devil, be my guest; however, that too is a trick of the devil as it is to not believe in a God.
If your human intellect thinks If I refuse to think there is a devil, he will not be affected. Wrong! Buddhism
is self-enlightenment where there is no God needed. It is demonic and unbiblical.

Some Buddhists are theistic, though it is not a requirement/mandatory. Any who, Kafziel is not a Christian.
They are in that very uncomfortable and vulnerable place known as "sitting on the fence." I remember being
there. God had repeatedly revealed Himself to me until I refused to submit, and then... I experienced the
number one most terrifying and traumatizing supernatural thing I have ever had the horror of suffering in
my life. Was it a demonic attack? It could have been. Was it the circumcision of my flesh? It could have been.
Whatever it was, God allowed it, and God knew what the eventual outcome would be. Praise the Lord for He is good!

Praise the Lord

 

[Bruce_Leiter]

Think about it this way. In Buddhism for example, they have a whole process related to thinking. They believe that a thought is just a thought, it doesn't have to be part of you, you are your actions. What they do in meditation is try to let go of the ego (defined as the false sense of self) and attain enlightenment. They do this by letting thoughts surface and then slowly letting them go. This is the best self control training you can do in my experience. There's some debate about whether you should examine those thoughts later, but it's a common practice to let the thoughts go for a time.

Now let's say the devil is putting thoughts in your head, does it really matter if you decide he's the devil or the ego? Different paths, similar choice.

No, ultimately, it doesn't matter whether the devil or your sinful nature put your thought there. It does matter whether or not the thought agrees with the Bible's teachings or not. That's where Buddhism and the Bible part ways.

 

[Dino246]

Hello,
YES it does matter, if you believe in the devil.. Gods Holy Word names HIM, Describes Him, tells stories of His actions, therefore he exists...to NOT believe is to NOT believe GODS word thus NOT a Christian...

What makes a person a Christian is their belief that Jesus' death on the cross paid the penalty for their sins... period. That person's view on secondary matters is irrelevant, though through the instruction of the Holy Spirit, they will grow in their understanding. None of us begins our journey with full understanding and right beliefs about all things. Don't judge one's salvation by the wrong standard.

 

[rrcn]

The things you believe will determines your actions and reactions. If you study the Bible you will see numerous references to the existence and malevolence of satan. If you do not believe he exists you cannot call on God to deliver you.
[Jas 4:7 KJV] 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
[Joe 2:32 KJV] 32 And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

 

[Magenta]

If you do not believe he exists you cannot call on God to deliver you.

Scripture says the one who calls on God must believe that God exists, not that Satan exists.

Hebrews 11:6

 

[Rosemaryx]

Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
This is the word of God Amen...

 

[rrcn]

Scripture says the one who calls on God must believe that God exists, not that Satan exists.

Hebrews 11:6

True, both Biblical reference I posted emphasized the subject of salvation.

The question poised in the subject is : “ Does It Really Matter If You Believe In The Devil?”.
The OP indicated he had mental problems, however I at times fail to clarify my position.

This is the plan of salvation as detailed by the apostle Paul in the New Testament book of Romans., and is known as the Roman Road:

Acknowledging Human Sinfulness:
Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:10-12: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Understanding the Consequences of Sin:
Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God’s Provision for Salvation:
Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Receiving Salvation:
Romans 10:9-10: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

The Results of Salvation:
Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”

Thanks Magenta

 

[JohnRH]

Think about it this way. In Buddhism for example, they have a whole process related to thinking. They believe that a thought is just a thought, it doesn't have to be part of you, you are your actions. What they do in meditation is try to let go of the ego (defined as the false sense of self) and attain enlightenment. They do this by letting thoughts surface and then slowly letting them go. This is the best self control training you can do in my experience. There's some debate about whether you should examine those thoughts later, but it's a common practice to let the thoughts go for a time.

Now let's say the devil is putting thoughts in your head, does it really matter if you decide he's the devil or the ego? Different paths, similar choice.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:6-9 (KJV)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt 11:28-30 (KJV)