Why is Christianity so mysterious and self-contradictory?

VCR-2000

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I think there is a lack of clarity or a mismatch between what Christians see they experience vs. what everyone else sees. I think that Satan is winning the war on people, at least for right now. Yet, I always hear platitudes like "God is in control" or "Satan is weak" while they ignore the problems and situation in this world down here right in front of their eyes and ears, or at least they try to downplay or justify it as being "good" in the end, despite God hating Satan and evil works the most times in the Bible. How could I take such paradoxes or contradictions seriously? If you insist seriously that Satan is weak or losing now and God is "winning", clearly what I see going on right now is exactly the upside-down opposite?

Why does Christianity speak like this?
 
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Maria Billingsley

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I think there is a lack of clarity or a mismatch between what Christians see they experience vs. what everyone else sees. I think that Satan is winning the war on people, at least for right now. Yet, I always hear platitudes like "God is in control" or "Satan is weak" while they ignore the problems and situation in this world down here right in front of their eyes and ears, or at least they try to downplay or justify it as being "good" in the end, despite God hating Satan and evil works the most times in the Bible. How could I take such paradoxes or contradictions seriously? If you insist seriously that Satan is weak or losing now and God is "winning", clearly what I see going on right now is exactly the upside-down opposite?

Why does Christianity speak like this?
Because Christianity ultimately has to do with our afterlife and not the tribulation and contradictions in this life. We are in the flesh and that comes with all the pitfalls it presents to us. Christianity brings light to darkness and promises to wipe every tear and a final destiny with our creator, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Be blessed.
 
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Albion

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Why does Christianity speak like this?

Some Christians speak like this. They are not the majority.

But we don't behead every member of our faith who comes up with a strange interpretation of some spiritual matter...no matter how incorrect they might be. As a result, there is inevitably going to be a range of opinions about such stuff. You shouldn't let it color your thinking about Christianity itself.
 
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Abaxvahl

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I think there is a lack of clarity or a mismatch between what Christians see they experience vs. what everyone else sees. I think that Satan is winning the war on people, at least for right now. Yet, I always hear platitudes like "God is in control" or "Satan is weak" while they ignore the problems and situation in this world down here right in front of their eyes and ears, or at least they try to downplay or justify it as being "good" in the end, despite God hating Satan and evil works the most times in the Bible. How could I take such paradoxes or contradictions seriously? If you insist seriously that Satan is weak or losing now and God is "winning", clearly what I see going on right now is exactly the upside-down opposite?

Why does Christianity speak like this?

Christianity speaks like this because no evil comes to pass that God has not permitted and Satan is not even allowed to tempt people if He does not give him permission, and then only to the degree and amount God has specified. That is why there are no contradictions. This is simply God's Providence.
 
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HTacianas

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I think there is a lack of clarity or a mismatch between what Christians see they experience vs. what everyone else sees. I think that Satan is winning the war on people, at least for right now. Yet, I always hear platitudes like "God is in control" or "Satan is weak" while they ignore the problems and situation in this world down here right in front of their eyes and ears, or at least they try to downplay or justify it as being "good" in the end, despite God hating Satan and evil works the most times in the Bible. How could I take such paradoxes or contradictions seriously? If you insist seriously that Satan is weak or losing now and God is "winning", clearly what I see going on right now is exactly the upside-down opposite?

Why does Christianity speak like this?

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth...
 
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1watchman

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I think there is a lack of clarity or a mismatch between what Christians see they experience vs. what everyone else sees. I think that Satan is winning the war on people, at least for right now. Yet, I always hear platitudes like "God is in control" or "Satan is weak" while they ignore the problems and situation in this world down here right in front of their eyes and ears, or at least they try to downplay or justify it as being "good" in the end, despite God hating Satan and evil works the most times in the Bible. How could I take such paradoxes or contradictions seriously? If you insist seriously that Satan is weak or losing now and God is "winning", clearly what I see going on right now is exactly the upside-down opposite?
Why does Christianity speak like this?

Good question, VCR! Satan is truly the 'deceiver' (called "the beguiler" by God). While he cannot lay a hand on man, he is a master at deceit --and allowed by God to test man who has fallen in sin (as Genesis 2&3); and when he whispers in the mind to draw one away from God, we need to say as did the Lord Jesus: "get thee behind Me..". Professing Christians need to understand the TRUTH of God by hearing God speaking to a seeker in the four Gospels and the Epistles. We can therein learn the mind and ways of God. We all "...must be born again" as told. Let us urge all seekers after our Creator-God to read and trust His Word to us! I urge seekers to seek a truly Bible-only fellowship, rather that the various sects man develops to please religious seekers. I have found much help at the site: Biblecounsel.net, where one can ask questions too. If you might wish to chat you can write me personally at the Conversation page on CF.
Keep looking up, VCR!
 
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Palmfever

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What contradiction? And who says Satan is weak?
Jude 1:10 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
 
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VCR-2000

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It seems like you think Christianity is losing in some sense. Can you give an example of what you have in mind?
Tons of things, like the mark of the beast stuff, and evil things are being celebrated in the world. Satan is allowed to have this way over us full rein, but their is an imbalance of power here.
 
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timothyu

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Why does Christianity speak like this?
Don't confuse Christianity, a man made religion, with the truth of scriptures. They tell opposing stories. Christianity has struggled under the burden of those who wish to return man to the world rather than enjoy the freedom the Spirit has offered them. Look at how the religion rejected the Kingdom/governance of God to instead harlot itself to Rome and the governance of man, and enjoy a partnership with the world of man, seeking wealth and power side by side following the self serving ways of man rather than the other oriented will of God.
 
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timothyu

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Satan is allowed to have this way over us full rein, but their is an imbalance of power here.
We were cast into this world to learn the consequences of living a self serving lifestyle started in the Garden There is no balance here but only learning and ultimately a choice once again of which will to swear allegiance to, the will of the Adversarial spirit or the will of God. This is middle school.
 
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VCR-2000

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Because Christianity ultimately has to do with our afterlife and not the tribulation and contradictions in this life. We are in the flesh and that comes with all the pitfalls it presents to us. Christianity brings light to darkness and promises to wipe every tear and a final destiny involving our creator.
Be blessed.
Okay, why didn't God just create us to be in Heaven then instead of having to be down here and getting to acquire the desires of being down here? It's not fair. If I was able to have my own afterlife, it would be relatively CONSISTENT with this life now and it would be a true paradise where I can do anything I can practically imagine. The only thing I'd take is no more murder.

Otherwise, I don't feel a purpose here. Sometimes I wish I was never born or existed at all if I knew I was going to be here and have to make a choice between a Heaven or Hell.
 
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Albion

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Tons of things, like the mark of the beast stuff, and evil things are being celebrated in the world. Satan is allowed to have this way over us full rein, but their is an imbalance of power here.
Have you tried mainstream Christianity, either Protestant or Catholic?
 
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TheWhat?

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Tons of things, like the mark of the beast stuff, and evil things are being celebrated in the world. Satan is allowed to have this way over us full rein, but their is an imbalance of power here.

I'm not familiar with what you mean by the mark of the beast, or I should say, I've heard scores of theories about one thing or another, and none of these have proven true or reliable over the years.

As for a general falling away, well yes that is a big problem, without a simple answer. Every country is different too with its own history even if we're affected by similar problems. I realize it is alarming to many but I believe that God is still very much God, and remains sovereign.
 
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VCR-2000

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Christianity speaks like this because no evil comes to pass that God has not permitted and Satan is not even allowed to tempt people if He does not give him permission, and then only to the degree and amount God has specified. That is why there are no contradictions. This is simply God's Providence.
Then why does God give Satan unconditional permission and why doesn't he allow us to have a say in it, say if it was somebody who is a killer, only one person's free will is taken away for potentially hundreds of lives. I don't think it's a violation of free will if we could give God requests once in a while to stop or not allow a person to do such a thing (by proxy through Satan).
 
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iluvatar5150

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I think there is a lack of clarity or a mismatch between what Christians see they experience vs. what everyone else sees. I think that Satan is winning the war on people, at least for right now. Yet, I always hear platitudes like "God is in control" or "Satan is weak" while they ignore the problems and situation in this world down here right in front of their eyes and ears, or at least they try to downplay or justify it as being "good" in the end, despite God hating Satan and evil works the most times in the Bible. How could I take such paradoxes or contradictions seriously? If you insist seriously that Satan is weak or losing now and God is "winning", clearly what I see going on right now is exactly the upside-down opposite?

Why does Christianity speak like this?

Because encouraging a persecution complex among your followers is a good way to encourage their loyalty to you and build up your own power and wealth.
 
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timothyu

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Not at the hands of the Christian churches, they weren't.
You obviously missed out on the last 1700 years of church persecution especially with the beginnings of the Reformation. Even your own archbishops were executed.
 
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