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josephback
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Do insults bring anyone to God? Druidism is a deception. Leave it at that.
Why are the New Age movement and other exotic ideas so attractive?
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Holly3278
Guest
Because they seek to control that which should only be controlled by God alone.
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josephback
Guest
A lot of people have never perhaps heard the Truth, but for others we are seeing the time when “they will gather to themselves teachers who will tell them what they want to hear.” (2nd Timothy 4:3) We are living in such times.
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Holly3278
Guest
We’ve been seeing those times in abundance since Martin Luther.
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Anna_Scott
Guest
Ephesians 6:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12** For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.**
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, . . . . .
Peace,
Anna
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Anna_Scott
Guest
Lost Wanderer,
I understand that having a statue of Buddha does not make one a Buddhist. I have had some disturbing experiences with spirits and objects, which I won’t go into on this thread. People who have these kinds of experiences understand. Some, even fellow Christians, who have not had these experiences, can sometimes be either dismissive or judgmental.
Anna
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
I’ve had a doll cursed by a witch and it nearly killed my sister. That doesn’t mean I’m going to call myself pagan for wanting to watch the movie Thor or designing a prop of the hammer Mjolnir.
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Anna_Scott
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Lost Wanderer;
Would you share more about how this came about–a doll cursed by a witch–only if you feel comfortable giving more details.
Anna
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Lost_Wanderer
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I’ll try to make this real quick cuz I’m heading off to bed soon.Lost Wanderer;
Would you share more about how this came about–a doll cursed by a witch–only if you feel comfortable giving more details.
My family was screening housekeeper candidates. One of them was this really old woman who wasn’t exactly good with hearing. Because of that, we had to let her go. I actually didn’t know until recently from my brother that she gave my little sister a doll right before she left.
That doll was creepy. Nuff said. One time I woke up in the middle of the night and saw its shadow moving across where my sister was sleeping. Other times, when the whole family came home, I always noticed that it was sitting in the sofa across the door when we came in, like it was waiting for us.
The scariest thing though happened one morning. We were getting ready for school when we noticed my sister (who was just a little girl back then) wasn’t anywhere around the house. We saw the gate open and the next thing we knew, she was found near a bridge on the outskirts of our subdivision.
That doll was all she carried with her.
I don’t know what happened to that thing after that. All I know was that something was really freaky about that thing and I’m glade it’s gone.
Despite all that though, I don’t believe “pagan” statues are just as evil. It takes a lot of special circumstances to cause something to be cursed. Such things are RARE, just as miracles and relics are RARE.
In most cases it’s really just people’s psychological aversion to anything outside their faith that causes them to feel willies.
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Anna_Scott
Guest
Lost Wanderer,
Thanks for taking the time to tell that story. Wow, really creepy, especially seeing that shadow moving across where your sister was sleeping. I’m glad nothing bad happened to your sister or any of you.
Though I’m not so sure this connection between spirits and objects is rare. I’ve had a number of experiences.
I also know that symbols and objects are very important in Satanic cults. I worked with Satanic cult survivors, in an acute Psychiatric setting, for two years–strangest two years of my life. All of us who worked there had to learn all the Satan symbols.
Symbols and objects would trigger certain behaviors in these patients. We had to do frequent room searches, and often patients created symbols in hidden places. I found one on the bottom of a toilet tank lid. We also had to do body searches for evidence of self mutilation. On one particular patient, there was a symbol on her leg that would actually appear and disappear. I witnessed this myself. We never did find a physiological reason for this. One night as I giving report to the night nurse, she said, “These people don’t need a doctor, they need an exorcist.” I remember the chill of that statement on that night. As nurses, we were educated in the sciences, but nothing could quite prepare us for what we witnessed there. I saw things that still haunt me to this day.
Anna
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CHRISTINE77
Guest
Here is an interesting article on the use of talismans. Catholics are never use them:
unhealthydevotions.com/new-age/invoking-saints-with-talismans-amulets.htm
unhealthydevotions.com/new-age/invoking-saints-with-talismans-amulets.htm
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Anna_Scott
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CHRISTINE77,
Thanks for posting this link. I just read the article and it is excellent.
One of the problems with objects is that you never really know what has been spiritually attached to the object before it comes into your possession. Spirit masks are an example of this. Many people collect these kinds of things from other cultures and have no idea what has been infused into these masks.
One of my friends told me about a collection of masks from different countries displayed around the walls of her boss’s office. She said every time she had to go into that office, she would hear voices, whisperings, and other sounds, but nothing to account for this. Then one of her co-workers asked her one day if she ever heard anything strange in the boss’s office. They both realized they were hearing things with no logical explanation. Both thought it was the mask collection. I’d say that is very likely.
As with Talismans and Amulets, as described in the article you linked; other objects may be connected to evil spirits. So, we have to be very careful what we bring into our homes.
Peace,
Anna
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CHRISTINE77
Guest
I absolutely agree. There are definitely things with evil attached to them.
However, even good, Catholic things should not be idolized. For example, blessed Palms are only to be a reminder of Christ, and should not be thought of having special powers.
As the article says, this verges on idoltry. And idoltry can actually bring in evil spirits, fallen angels and Satan himself.
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Anna_Scott
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CHRISTINE77,
This brings up the issue of miracles related to relics of the Saints. What is your perspective on this issue?
I know that the N.T. gives accounts of miracles from handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched the skin of Paul. But, what about relics of departed Saints?
Acts 19:
11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.
18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. **19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. **And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
Interesting discussion–I hope this is not too much of a departure from the thread topic.
Anna
Edited to add question for the OP
spiritualwrrior, since you are the OP, are we too far off topic or is this discussion O.K. to continue on your thread?
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CHRISTINE77
Guest
Good question and great quote! I imagine that Paul was actually full of the power of Christ, as was Peter when he healed with his shadow, as well as the other apostles. After all, Jesus gave them that power when he met with them after his death and ressurection. As for the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched Paul’s skin, I really don’t know what to say.CHRISTINE77,
This brings up the issue of miracles related to relics of the Saints. What is your perspective on this issue?
I know that the N.T. gives accounts of miracles from handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched the skin of Paul. But, what about relics of departed Saints?
Acts 19:
11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.
18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. **19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. **And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
Interesting discussion–I hope this is not too much of a departure from the thread topic.
Anna
Edited to add question for the OP
spiritualwrrior, since you are the OP, are we too far off topic or is this discussion O.K. to continue on your thread?
Saints’ relics, I don’t think they are supposed to have special powers, other than to be very holy, but I could be wrong on that
Maybe someone else knows?
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Sufjon
Guest
I’m not certain that I get your meaning, but it sounds a lot to me as though you are equating the beliefs of others, or those who are different than you in their spirituality to be somehow aligned with evil. I am making this connection because my original question was in regards to whom you feel you are having spiritual warfare with. Are you feeling that you are having a spiritual struggle with people like me?Ephesians 6:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12** For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.**
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, . . . . .
Peace,
Anna
Your friend,
Sufjon
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StTommyMore
Guest
Spiritual warfare is, by definition, not with people, but with the powers of evil.
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Sufjon
Guest
The original person I addressed had said this:
"I’m shocked by the number of Christians who have statues of Buddha in their gardens and use Feng shui to design their homes.
This is spiritual warfare spilling out into the open."
I then asked: “with whom do you think you are waging spiritual warfare?” The reply I received was a number of quotes on fighting evil. I’m sorry, but the connection between fighting evil and spiritual warfare in regards to eastern religious thought is not even thinly veiled, and the sort of thinking it reveals is a real problem in a world that is growing smaller all the time. Those who fail to see God in others and in the world around them are the ones who can see demons around them and feel the encroachment of evil. They are the ones who have to have things such as exorcists and the like in their religious repertoire. These things are a product of what lives in the heart. My heart has no fear of such things, but it does have concern over people who cannot see God in others simply because they wear a different label. God is revealed in every person. The question is whether or not we see it. So long as He is not seen in others, then He will not be seen. Practice any incantations, prayers or receive whatever sacrament or perform whatever rite you may, you will not see God. There can only be a profoundly diminished spirituality for him who sees those of other faiths as spiritual adversaries. It doesn’t mean such a person will suffer in some Miltonian pit of fire, but such a person won’t realize the fullness of their spiritual potential either.
Your friend
Sufjon
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StTommyMore
Guest
Messing with false religions such as Buddhism is inviting the unholy into your life.
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Sufjon
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Seeing unholiness in what is held in the hearts of others reveals only what is unholy in one’s own heart. Likewise, seeing God in the hearts of others reveals what is holy in one’s own heart. Mother Teresa did not stop to ask people what religion they belonged to before she revealed the Christ within her by seeing the Christ within them and acting in accordance with what she saw. She knew Him, because when He was hungry, she gave Him to eat. When He was thirsty she gave Him to drink. She saw Him. She did not see Catholics or Hindus or Buddhists. She saw God. Therefore He will know her as well. He will not know the one who sees not the Lord in others, and that includes the hearts of others, because therein He resides. Better to throw out all the other trappings of what one believes than to miss this. It is the only thing you have to achieve, because then you can love the Lord properly and fully and thy neighbor as thyself. They are in fact one in the same, and because this is so important to know, it is in fact the only commandment you were given when your people encountered God in the man Jesus, is it not?
Your friend
Sufjon
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