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Jesuslives321
Guest
Since Jesus started the one, true, Catholic Church, is it fair to say any other Christian church was not started by Jesus, but of the devil? Or is not that simple?
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Livenotonevil
Guest
They were started by men from the influence of the Devil.
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0Scarlett_nidiyilii
Guest
Are you trying to win souls for Christ?
If so, I wouldn’t use that as my opening shot.
Look. Life is messy, and people have many reasons for doing what they do.
Some reformers were sincere but misguided
Some were power mad.
Most folks were somewhere in the middle.
Please don’t go saying “satan” in the context of people’s religious beliefs.
Peace :v:t2: !!
If so, I wouldn’t use that as my opening shot.
Look. Life is messy, and people have many reasons for doing what they do.
Some reformers were sincere but misguided
Some were power mad.
Most folks were somewhere in the middle.
Please don’t go saying “satan” in the context of people’s religious beliefs.
Peace :v:t2: !!
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angel12
Guest
They were started by fallible human beings. People like you & me.
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Jesuslives321
Guest
Great point. My purpose of asking this question is to understand satan’s role in protestantism… Not to use it as arguments for our separated brethren . However, yes in their sincerity, I have heard it often that God told me to start this church… I just think to myself that, "well, that wasnt God 
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ErJ
Guest
Well at least they worship Jesus so that doesn’t really matter, it just happened to be that way. I don’t know about the ‘satan’ thing, though…
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jas84173
Guest
Well I don’t know about Protestants but the Orthodox can rightly claim to be the original church just as much as the Catholic Church. Unfortunately we have been in schism now for over 900 years but they still have valid apostolic succession.
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misstherese
Guest
Though we may not like to admit or picture it, the devil is always lurking around in order to trip us up in the slightest ways.
I have no doubt that the devil influenced others to start other religions because his main goal is to further God’s creature’s from the Truth and to make it harder for us to reach perfection. Being in other religions other than the one True Catholic Church makes it a lot harder for us to reach perfection and to cultivate a relationship with God.
I have no doubt that the devil influenced others to start other religions because his main goal is to further God’s creature’s from the Truth and to make it harder for us to reach perfection. Being in other religions other than the one True Catholic Church makes it a lot harder for us to reach perfection and to cultivate a relationship with God.
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lilypadrees
Guest
I don’t believe Protestant churches were started by Satan. They were started by fallible men who meant well but strayed off the path.
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jas84173
Guest
The official name of the Eastern Orthodox Church is the Orthodox Catholic Church… So which one is really true? I’m Roman Catholic I’m just saying we are only separated in schism with the Eastern Orthodox Church, we differ in opinion on certain doctrines. But think about this the five original Church Patriarchs were the Bishops of Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople, Antioch, and Jerusalem. Since the schism the Patriarch of Constantinople is the first among equals but prior to that is was the Bishop of Rome aka the Pope. But can we really say the other four who split from Rome were totally wrong? No. Both sides were at fault. It’s something that annoys me about Trent Horns "Why We’re Catholic “. It is a great book but in the section of " Who started your church?” It says Eastern Orthodox founded by Eastern Patriarchs in 1054. That is such a ridiculous and uneducated thing to say about the true history of the East West schism. They didn’t start anything. Both sides were doing some really cruel things and instead of addressing the problem they just met up in Constantinople and ex communicated each. Orthodox can say the Bishop of Rome started the Catholic Church in 1054 just as much as we can say they started it.
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ErraticFaith
Guest
So for arguments sake;
If I have a severe reading ineptitude and start a religion based on something Jesus said to peters, cousins, brothers, mum on Sunday in a particularly nasty sandstorm, I’m moved by satan?
Chances are I’m just really bad at reading and shouldn’t make large theological decisions based on a man who could have easily said ‘ham Ben?’ but instead was recorded at ‘damn them’.
I can’t possibly ponder the reality of claiming that a Buddhist represents Satan or is inspired by him. The people virtually take stepping on an ant as an intolerable sin. Interpretation is a product of exposure to culture, education, environment and much more. Often at a young age.
Chances are people didn’t get the memo and are waiting to receive the good news. Preferably from someone who wasnt stood in my sandstorm at the time they heard it themselves. Hardly a recipe for devil worship.
If I have a severe reading ineptitude and start a religion based on something Jesus said to peters, cousins, brothers, mum on Sunday in a particularly nasty sandstorm, I’m moved by satan?
Chances are I’m just really bad at reading and shouldn’t make large theological decisions based on a man who could have easily said ‘ham Ben?’ but instead was recorded at ‘damn them’.
I can’t possibly ponder the reality of claiming that a Buddhist represents Satan or is inspired by him. The people virtually take stepping on an ant as an intolerable sin. Interpretation is a product of exposure to culture, education, environment and much more. Often at a young age.
Chances are people didn’t get the memo and are waiting to receive the good news. Preferably from someone who wasnt stood in my sandstorm at the time they heard it themselves. Hardly a recipe for devil worship.
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Kei
Guest
Hmm…this can get theologically deeper than one might think upon merely hearing the question.
God never allows the devil to tempt one more than they can handle.
That said, say He decided to punish immorality, loosening of Faith, and simony by the fallible men who are in positions of power in His Church.
Then, I could certainly see the devil being given some power to influence people with a temptation of revolution or of pride, etc.
I do believe Luther even said the devil would fling poop at him, etc.
Think about it this way: many sins are by the devil’s temptations.
God never allows the devil to tempt one more than they can handle.
That said, say He decided to punish immorality, loosening of Faith, and simony by the fallible men who are in positions of power in His Church.
Then, I could certainly see the devil being given some power to influence people with a temptation of revolution or of pride, etc.
I do believe Luther even said the devil would fling poop at him, etc.
Think about it this way: many sins are by the devil’s temptations.
po18guy
Well-known member
As a claim, I think that is a little hyperbolic or incendiary in nature. The evil one is the author of division, but that does not necessarily indicate that he directly incited the various founders to action. They retained their free will, (despite many disbelieving in free will!) and disobedience is one primary action of a misuse of that free will.
All division pleases the evil one, but he may not be directly responsible for it. To claim so seems to me to support the denial of free will.
All division pleases the evil one, but he may not be directly responsible for it. To claim so seems to me to support the denial of free will.
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misstherese
Guest
We all have the choice in committing sin or not. The devil is not directly responsible for it, but he would be indirectly responsible just as he is indirectly responsible for tempting someone to lust. He is prompting the thoughts in order for us to turn away from God.
I would say that Luther consented to thoughts of pride, thinking that he knows more than those in authority in the Catholic Church. This would work quite well for satan as this has led to the loss of numerous souls because those in other religions don’t have all the helps of being in the Catholic Church.
I would say that Luther consented to thoughts of pride, thinking that he knows more than those in authority in the Catholic Church. This would work quite well for satan as this has led to the loss of numerous souls because those in other religions don’t have all the helps of being in the Catholic Church.
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Livenotonevil
Guest
Does it matter if they don’t know who Christ was? Was he just the Son of some deified human being (Mormonism)? Was he some created being (Arianism / Islam)? Or is He GOD?
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runningdude
Guest
Absolutely not. Christ works through all men of good will. Christian sects that are not part of the Catholic Church are founded by men with a true vocation for service to the church, but greed and pride lead them astray. It is still the seed of service planted by Christ that motivated the formation of these communities however. That is why we have hope for reunification!
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tseleehw
Guest
In a way, yes, you can say that all other churches were started by Satan. At the very least, they came into being because of his influence. This does not mean that all of their beliefs or actions are without merit, but until they unify or re-unify with Rome, they are (most likely unknowingly) following Satan and not Jesus in many ways.
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Reuben_J
Guest
You got a point there. Definitely God would not want anyone to start a separate church. That would be against His commandment for us to be one. Now the question is: if they are not from God, then from who?
As in any discernment process, the answer boils down to two possibilities - human or the Evil One or combination of the two.
About the Evil One, just to be careful - sometimes he can be very subtle, one wouldn’t know whether it’s his work or not. Ultimately it can be measured by the net gain he can achieve. If he can sell one big lie together with less important truth, we can be sure he would sell it.
God will not give us lies, never, not at any cost.
As in any discernment process, the answer boils down to two possibilities - human or the Evil One or combination of the two.
About the Evil One, just to be careful - sometimes he can be very subtle, one wouldn’t know whether it’s his work or not. Ultimately it can be measured by the net gain he can achieve. If he can sell one big lie together with less important truth, we can be sure he would sell it.
God will not give us lies, never, not at any cost.
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Avila123
Guest
Would it help to remember what Jesus said about people who were not part of his group of disciples but were using His name? I offer Mark 9:38 - 40 as something to think about.
“John said to him,l “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”
Also as another offering, sadly there have always been individuals and small groups of people who belong to the Church but in name only as they have been led along wrong paths to the extent that they have excommunicated themselves (so we have to be careful about throwing stones). Whilst Jesus established one Church, in our fallibility people were led astray away from the Church (and do not know it.) They are our separated brethren and I do not believe for one moment that God will ever abandon them, He gives them the same opportunities He gives us. How can someone who loves God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit and within their understanding and knowledge do everything they can to be a disciple of Jesus be less than anyone else who does the same but is blessed to be part of the Church founded by Jesus?
“John said to him,l “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”
Also as another offering, sadly there have always been individuals and small groups of people who belong to the Church but in name only as they have been led along wrong paths to the extent that they have excommunicated themselves (so we have to be careful about throwing stones). Whilst Jesus established one Church, in our fallibility people were led astray away from the Church (and do not know it.) They are our separated brethren and I do not believe for one moment that God will ever abandon them, He gives them the same opportunities He gives us. How can someone who loves God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit and within their understanding and knowledge do everything they can to be a disciple of Jesus be less than anyone else who does the same but is blessed to be part of the Church founded by Jesus?
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metanoia1
Guest
Since I don't believe a being such as Satan exists I would have to say no to the op title question.- Status