Do I have to believe in Satan, to be a true Christian?

[wayfaring man]

Do I have to believe in Satan, to be a true Christian?

To be a true Christian , one must be truly Christ-like , and apparently Jesus acknowledges the existence of Satan , as do His Prophets + Apostles .

And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. <-----> 1st Chronicles 21:1

And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. <-----> Zechariah 3:1

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. <-----> Luke 10:17+18

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. <-----> Luke 22:31+32

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. <-----> 2nd Corinthians 11:14

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. <-----> 1st Peter 5:8+9

Satan is / was a covering cherub . He was lifted up in his heart because of his beauty and riches ( Ezekiel 28 ). Cherubims have four faces , and can expose or cover any or all of those faces with their wings .

Satan which means opponent or adversary is also described as -

Lucifer = light bearer ( angel of light ) . ( Isaiah 14 )

The Tempter . ( Matthew + Luke 4 )

The accuser of the brethren . ( Revelation 12:10 )

Destroyer / death angel . ( Hebrews 2:14 + 1st Peter 5:8 )

So his device is basically to gain our confidence as an angel of light .

Then tempt us into some sin .

Then accuse us before God .

Then receive license to destroy us .

Why ?

Because we are his / their potential replacements . [ Satan drew 1/3 of the angels away from God with his deceptiveness .] ( Revelation 12:4 )

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. <-----> Matthew 22:30

But Jesus defeated him on the cross ( Hebrews 2:14+15 ).

Before Jesus , all that Satan brought death to were guilty of sin , and the wages of sin is death , so by the strength of the law , Satan killed without incriminating himself ... until Jesus , Whom he threw all that he had at - yet Christ did not sin ... and therefore His death turned the wrath of the law back upon him who had grown accustomed to using that wrath to destroy with relative impunity . In essence , Christ's Innocence condemned the condemner !

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he [ Jesus ] also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. <-----> Hebrews 2:14+15

I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. <-----> Revelation 1:8 ( Words of Jesus )

May The Lord Be Magnified !

wm

 

[White_Wizard]

I am not entirely ignorant of Eastern beliefs. But a Ying and Yan stance is merely two sides of the same coin. There is no other reference point. Eastern religions tend to propose an impersonal 'diety' and a stance that reduces life on planet earth as illusion, something to escape from.

Taken together, these beliefs do not allow for a personal God (ie relationality) or science, and thus modern society and human rights issues are really beyond their scope, simply being absorbed from Western, Christian based values. Westerners fail to see the inherent cultural clashes between the two world views. Hindus oppose racial equality and support the existence of the 'untouchables' on the basis of karma, just desserts, a fundamental tenet of their religious beliefs.

John
NZ

Did you read anything that I said? Hense the reason why I stated that Christian theology would not absolve into any of the Eastern religious beliefs such as the ones you've mentioned. As a principle, it does provide some important insight into the nature of 'evil' and 'good' being defined.

 

[TheDag]

I have an issue in that I don't believe in Satan. The Jewish religion sees Satan as a character in the Torah, not a real force. I have always believed evil is a real force but comes from the human heart. Plus, I don't think our beloved Lord God would give us a devil to deal with on top of everything else.


The Christian writer Max Lucado says that Satan is an angel who has no power but can only act when God gives him the green light. That's all well and good but its not enough for me to believe.

I struggle with this because believing in Satan is part of Christian theology. Ironically, I do believe in demonic possession but I have my own theories on that.

Can anyone help me sort this out?

personally I believe there is a devil. Do I believe you must believe the devil exists as a real force to be a true christian? No. I am at odds with most christians. I don't think you need to believe mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus even. Sure I believe it is true but necessary for salvation? Not at all. I think we need to work out what is necessary for salvation and focus on that. If you don't know something don't be afraid to say so. The damage done by christians trying to explain stuff they don't understand is massive.

So remember you are saved by god's grace alone and that you have good works to do that God has prepared for you and that you should bear good fruit. Remember that no matter what as long as you truly repent God will forgive you. beyond that I personally think is all extras that don't really matter much.

 

[Catherineanne]

I struggle with this because believing in Satan is part of Christian theology. Ironically, I do believe in demonic possession but I have my own theories on that.

Can anyone help me sort this out?

No, you do not have to believe in personified evil if you choose not to. It is not an essential of our faith. We are called to believe in Christ, not in satan.

The term 'satan' can be useful when talking of evil as if it were personified, but personally I do not think that there is such a being. Evil certainly exists, in a great variety of forms; satan as the modern understanding has it, not so much.

'I was tempted' and 'satan tempted me' both mean the same thing. What matters most is how we deal with the temptation, not who we recognise as the source of it.

 

[lutherangerman]

The thing about satan is that we must resist him. It is a very very good attitude not to think much of the devil and to keep your thoughts on pleasant and helpful things. But we do need to develop a certain spiritual toughness when dealing with evil in general, no matter if it comes from satan, from men or from chance, so we can deal with it faithfully and honorably and are not overwhelmed by it. The bible says that the problem with the devil pertains to all of us, so one essential thing is to remain a brother/sister and for us to help each other when evil strikes. Let's not be mindless counselors like Job's friends were. Instead when one of us is smitten by the devil we must run to his or her aid and fight the evil with good. To that end we cannot ignore satan. But as for how to lead our daily lives and how to be happy in it, it remains important not to obsess about the devil and not to give him attention. We're safe if we concentrate on Jesus, on each other, and on living life.

 

[Catherineanne]

But as for how to lead our daily lives and how to be happy in it, it remains important not to obsess about the devil and not to give him attention. We're safe if we concentrate on Jesus, on each other, and on living life.

I agree. Too much emphasis on evil/satan is far worse than too little.

Put our focus on the Lord, and we won't go astray.

 

[Hotpepper]

Yikes... I hope you don't believe [in] Satan. The bible will clear this all up for you. Open it up on the first page and start reading. It won't take very long until you see for yourself.

 

[JESUS<3sYOU]

"The supreme craft of the devil, however he may be conceived, is to make us deny his existence."

René Guénon, The Spiritist Fallacy.
​

 

[Uncaptured]

Satan is simply evil. Why should you view him as something alive, when people can think of him as something abstract.

 

[Johnnz]

Did you read anything that I said? Hense the reason why I stated that Christian theology would not absolve into any of the Eastern religious beliefs such as the ones you've mentioned. As a principle, it does provide some important insight into the nature of 'evil' and 'good' being defined.

My misreading of your post. Old age is catching up fast.

John
NZ

 

[Catherineanne]

To be a true Christian , one must be truly Christ-like , and apparently Jesus acknowledges the existence of Satan , as do His Prophets + Apostles .

This may well be the case, but neither Christ nor any of his apostles make belief in satan a prerequisite of our faith.

What is necessary is that we love God, and our neighbour as ourselves. Satanism is optional.

 

[Hotpepper]

Satan is simply evil. Why should you view him as something alive, when people can think of him as something abstract.

I would say it is because we trust in what the Bible says.

 

[Aibrean]

I personally am more worried about putting more faith in the words of Max Lucado than the Bible itself. Max Lucado does not write the inerrant words of God.