how do you deal with Christians that see "a devil" under every rock?

[Lesa Cox]

I have know people who "see" Satan as the source of all things bad and confusing". If something does not "look right," they say it has a devil or a demon...it is automaticly branded as "of the Devil."
I have found that i am just intolerant of that kind of ignorance especially when someone is judging how another person looks. If they are differant or eclectic they must be of the devil.
How do you deal with these "harbringers of doom" that are always warring with the devil instead of just resting in Gods Love?

[Ginny Pamplin]

The only way I have been able to deal with it is first of all, do what they are not:rest in God's Love.Second, I recognize the fear that drives them and am moved with compassion for them. How sad to not believe that your God is big enough to handle the devil, no matter how sneaky he is.Third, I try not to take it personal(the hardest part, because it has been directed at me personally).I wish to be free to see Him and seek Him in my own way,so I wish to grant others that same liberty. And last, but not least,I talk to the Holy Ghost about it. I ask Him to show me my heart, and usually He leads me to pray for me and them. I say usually, because my praying is sorta unstructured and many times not even in words. I have a sweet sister who once attacked me for this very cause, and for years would have nothing to do with me. It hurt. Through the pain the Holy Ghost began to show me what was really going on with her, and I found a depth of compassion for her that went beyond my pain. Today, we are closer than ever and I am honored to be able to speak into her life. That's the way I flow--but you hear God, so follow your heart.It will not lead you wrong!

[Lesa Cox]

i have found that people, oftentimes, are afraid of what they cannot understand. If they fear it, therefore it must be bad.
i have found if you look past the "scary" all people are wanting validation and love. Very few are psychopaths...
the scarist ones to me are the judgemental Christian who always have their nose in the air.. I aqm fearful they are gonna drown in a rain shower. ;) (grins...)

[Keren]

This is a wonderful question. Yet, If you dont believe what someone else is saying, maybe try to listen to them anyway. That is what I am trying to do. It is like another way of giving everything to God.. by giving His children your ear.

You cant cheat an honest man aka "You cant be sold what you dont buy".
You dont have to accept their belief as your own, yet if you hold it in your heart, you may actually learn something... maybe even about yourself. I know this has been the case in my experience.

Not being raised in a church. I do not believe in "the Devil", nor do I have a "category" or "box" for Devil, any more than I do for God. Neither do we - humans - fit in neat categories or any boxes of good or bad or anything else, as much as some seem to want us to.

Peace
Keren

[Paula]

I'll be honest and say that I'm not clear where I stand on the whole topic. People do take it to the extreme. If one sees that all things good come from God, would the converse not be true? All bad things come from the evil one. Define 'good' and 'bad'. Just because someone thinks something is bad, does not necessarily make it so. There has been much good to come from that which has been deemed bad. To make a judgment on appearances (i.e. someone being different) is, IMO, in itself 'bad'. People said Jesus had a demon.

I do believe that the devil is real - although maybe not as he has been defined for the most part. There's too much in the Bible to not believe it. Although, off the top of my head, do we see much of him in the OT, apart from the garden and in Job? There are probably some references in the Psalms to the enemy - but can't recall right off if that refers to people or the evil one, but I lean towards thinking that the reference is to people. But in the stories, I don't remember references to him, in spite of all the bad that happened. I've never thought of that before.

Ginny has a wonderful way to handle such situations. I don't have much association with 'church folk' so I don't run into this anymore.

[Paula]

I was just reminded of the following quote.

"It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually, it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either - but right through every human heart-and through all human hearts…I nourished my soul there, and I say without hesitation: Bless you, prison, for having been in my life." - Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Regardless of whether one believes "all good things come from God" and hence all bad things come from Satan, we are reminded that many things cannot be defined as all good or all bad, Many, if not most, are a conglomerate.

I cannot exercise intolerance of ignorance. I have been there - and in many ways, i still am. And I am not being judgmental of those who feel that way so please don't take it personally - I have been in that place too - and sometimes still am. I am just all too aware of my own inadequacies. Spiritual ignorance is a place where God has not yet enlightened. Maybe He'll never be able to break through the ignorance. But while a person is alive, there is still hope. I hang onto that for myself. Sadly, my words work better in my head than they do in practice, but it is that for which I strive.

[Keren]

I read everyone comments this morning and Paula is correct Jinny's response is perfect, and Paula I love everything you say.

With regard to God and The Devil...Didnt our heavenly Creator create "everything" ? All that is seen and unseen? Including the good bad and ugly. Wasnt Lucifer an angel?

Im with you Lesa, I dont like it when people negatively judge anyone's appearance for whatever reason. I understand where you are coming from but I cringe at the word "ignorance" I guess with regard to spiritual subjects "ignorance" is not such an offensive word. I know none of you in this conversation site are judgemental in that regard because we know people do have different beliefs.

One more thought...There is a Mark Twain story where he asks....Why dont Chrisitians pray for the devil? The poor soul that needs it the most? It is funny, I am going to post it on a blog at some point.

Happy Halloween,
Peace
Keren

[Lesa Cox]

omg that is sooo good, pray for the devil cause he needs it the most. LOVE it..
Jenny is indeed a wise woman. i have seen her go through so much ..bad stuff.. and come out shining on the other end because of her attitude of love and christ.

[Becky]

In my mind, evil doesn't exist except as the absence of God/Light. When we turn away, knowingly or unknowingly, from the Light, we face only darkness, negativity and fear. In our terror at losing the steady comfort of the light, we attribute the darkness to a force of evil that actively fights against good. However, if one who is facing the dark turns back around and looks only towards the Light, positivity, love and joy, there is no such thing as the darkness, evil, or the devil.

This is not to say that I embody one who is turned to the light at every moment; I have times of discontent and sadness, but I know that they happen simply because I have turned my attention away from positivity and hope and light, and off towards doom-and-gloom darkness.

I agree with Lesa that often people, not understanding something, will look at it with the darkness of fear instead of the trusting of Light. It is really a choice. If you believe that God/Light/Love is all powerful, and that he loves you, there is never anything to fear. Only things to learn about, and see what meaning they might have in your life.

[Ruth Nesloney]

You're right, Paula, I do read the Bible to say that there is an adversary, the devil, who we struggle against. I think where so many people miss it is by giving this adversary way too much power. He is a creation of God, an angel who fell. We read in Job that he has no power over us that God does not allow.
I don't so much run across people who see the demonic in the actions of others as those who try to blame every problem in their lives on the devil. I have found that if I look for God in the difficult times, He will often show me that the problem is within me. I think our own flesh, selfishness, is more often a stumbling block than that ole devil.
And these days, my "warfare" is going to my Father and resting in the shadow of His wings, and seeking a deeper place in Him. As I move closer to the Light, the darkness is always pushed back.


Paula said:

I'll be honest and say that I'm not clear where I stand on the whole topic. People do take it to the extreme. If one sees that all things good come from God, would the converse not be true? All bad things come from the evil one. Define 'good' and 'bad'. Just because someone thinks something is bad, does not necessarily make it so. There has been much good to come from that which has been deemed bad. To make a judgment on appearances (i.e. someone being different) is, IMO, in itself 'bad'. People said Jesus had a demon.
I do believe that the devil is real - although maybe not as he has been defined for the most part. There's too much in the Bible to not believe it. Although, off the top of my head, do we see much of him in the OT, apart from the garden and in Job? There are probably some references in the Psalms to the enemy - but can't recall right off if that refers to people or the evil one, but I lean towards thinking that the reference is to people. But in the stories, I don't remember references to him, in spite of all the bad that happened. I've never thought of that before. Ginny has a wonderful way to handle such situations. I don't have much association with 'church folk' so I don't run into this anymore.

[Paula]

And I think you're right, Ruth!

Ruth Nesloney said:

I think where so many people miss it is by giving this adversary way too much power.

[Keren]

Yes she seems a very admirable character. My mother is that way too...very resilient through her faith and her nature.

Lesa Cox said:

omg that is sooo good, pray for the devil cause he needs it the most. LOVE it..
Jenny is indeed a wise woman. i have seen her go through so much ..bad stuff.. and come out shining on the other end because of her attitude of love and christ.

[Lesa Cox]

Ruth that was just awesome.. you said:

I have found that if I look for God in the difficult times, He will often show me that the problem is within me. I think our own flesh, selfishness, is more often a stumbling block than that ole devil.
Oh wow how true.Very good point..!!