Devils attacks when witnessing?

[Papist]

I have often found that when I have been 'witnessing' to Christ, I come under spiritual attack. Today, I have had an opportunity to 'witness'. This evening, some of my old, old problems with anxiety and depressions have crept back, after lying dormant for many years now. I prayed for proetection, and these horrible thoughts and feelings scuttled away.


This is very spooky ...

 

[kern]

I personally don't believe in "devils" in that way, or "spiritual attacks" -- I wonder if that gets me in deeper **** with the people here.

My reason for this belief is this: I feel that if we try to "externalize" evil or negative feelings too much (in the form of "devils", "demons", or "spiritual attacks"), then we reduce the responsibility of humanity for sin and for failings. I prefer to think of my sins and my weaknesses as being fully mine -- God does not have to protect me from supernatural beings, he has to protect me from myself. I am the sinner, and the devil did not make me do it.

For instance, in your post it almost sounds like you are saying that the weaknesses you felt were not really yours, but were being caused by some external force that you had no control over. I don't know if this is really what you meant, but that's sort of what it looked like to me.

(AFAIK the Catechism is silent on this issue, but I could very well be wrong -- I did a search for "demon" and "devil" and did not find anything directly relating to this.)

-Chris

 

[Papist]

I believe there are malicious spirits out there.

 

[Papist]

Kern -- you might be happier as an Anglican ...

 

[kern]

Heh heh, maybe, maybe not. I'm fine with Catholicism, though.

(Note that I edited my post above to explain myself more thoroughly.)

-Chris

 

[Papist]

I personally don't believe in "devils" in that way, or "spiritual attacks" -- I wonder if that gets me in deeper **** with the people here.

My reason for this belief is this: I feel that if we try to "externalize" evil or negative feelings too much (in the form of "devils", "demons", or "spiritual attacks"), then we reduce the responsibility of humanity for sin and for failings. I prefer to think of my sins and my weaknesses as being fully mine -- God does not have to protect me from supernatural beings, he has to protect me from myself. I am the sinner, and the devil did not make me do it.

For instance, in your post it almost sounds like you are saying that the weaknesses you felt were not really yours, but were being caused by some external force that you had no control over. I don't know if this is really what you meant, but that's sort of what it looked like to me.

(AFAIK the Catechism is silent on this issue, but I could very well be wrong -- I did a search for "demon" and "devil" and did not find anything directly relating to this.)

-Chris

I see what you are saying ... yes, I can see how it looked like that.

I think there are psychological problems that are our own, but also spiritual attacks. I had depression for a long time and I was treated for it and recovered, eventually. I am not attributing that to the devil. No, when the symptoms suddenly came out of the blue today, I suspected something was up, spiritually. They went away when I spent some time in prayer. I think there are malicious powers out there that can use your 'baggage' to discourage you.

 

[kimber1]

oh i absolutely belive we come under attack during certain times, but how comforting is it to know that prayer usually eases that?

 

[Bastoune]

Spiritual attacks are real. Of course Satan takes no pleasure in our evangelization of others and is out to get us (cf. Eph. 4:24-27, 6:11; 1 Tim. 3:7; James 4:7; Rev. 12:17) but "the devil made me do it" excuse is weak. Through Christ, we are dead to sin and we know what we must do.

 

[ej]

I hope you;ve all read CS Lewis's Screwtape Letters

 

[Papist]

Yes I have.

EJ -- have you ever been to Old St Paul's church, under the North Bridge?

 

[KennySe]

C.S. Lewis doesn't exist.

 

[ej]

Yes I have.

EJ -- have you ever been to Old St Paul's church, under the North Bridge?

no - should i go?

its not part of the ghost tour is it?
/me is afraid of the dark

 

[darby8]

The Devil doesn't make me sin, he tempts me to sin. It looks good at first because of the great deceiver. Then, I realize after the fact that it was really not worth it. But I'm the one that chose it.

 

[Papist]

Och, not it's not part of the ghost tour! i used to attend OSP. The Sunday morning choral High Mass is sublime, as is Solemn Evensong and Benedition.

http://www.osp.org.uk/

 

[darby8]

Free will...

 

[darby8]

I've been to St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Does that count? Beautiful place!

 

[ej]

Och, not it's not part of the ghost tour! i used to attend OSP. The Sunday morning choral High Mass is sublime, as is Solemn Evensong and Benedition.
[/QUOTE]

I think I've ben there - is it on Jeffrey Street? Leads from Waverley Station up tot he Royal Mile?

If so,I took my grandparents to a candle-lit concert there a few years back

 

[ej]

Lol, I just checked out your link, its the same place

 

[kimber1]

i haven't read the C.S. Lewis thing. should i? what's it about?

 

[ej]

i haven't read the C.S. Lewis thing. should i? what's it about?

Its a book of letters between two demons who try to mislead people living good Christian lives

It's funny as well as poignant. Apparently its available on tape too.