"Christians And Catholics" Are Satan's Spawn
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I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict and a very active member of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.). I do a lot of volunteer work for the organization, including speaking to large groups of other “A.A.ers”.
Well, one cold winter day, I visited New York City’s largest A.A. chapter where I stood behind the podium and spoke to about 300 or 400 people who were in various stages of recovery. I delivered a speech that consisted of what we in A.A. call a “message of experience, strength and hope” and at one point, I mentioned that I am a Christian.
As is the custom, I spoke for about 20 minutes and when I was finished talking, the person chairing the meeting invited the attendees to briefly deliver their own “messages of experience, strength and hope”.
The first person to respond was a young woman who opened by saying to me, “I am not a Christian like you are. I am Catholic … ”
As soon as those words came out of her mouth, I was overcome by a strong urge to stop her right there and correct her. I wanted to say something like, You don’t know what in the hell you’re talking about. There is no such thing as Christians and Catholics. It is just that Christianity is made up by two major denominations: Protestantism and Catholicism.
However, I restrained myself and did not say a word, because the “Traditions” of A.A. strongly discourage what is called “cross-talking”. Specifically, if during a meeting, someone says something that is inaccurate, or that you disagree with or are opposed to, you are not supposed to openly correct that person, or voice your disagreement with or opposition to what he/she said. The only thing you are supposed to do is “let it slide”.
When I left the meeting, though, I called one of my sisters in Jesus and told her about the way the woman had opened her comment. I expressed that I was as angry as I could be, not at the woman but at Satan for reeking so much havoc, divisiveness and confusion in this world of ours.
I went on to say that it was no wonder that the woman in the meeting viewed Christianity and Catholicism as being two separate religions. It was no wonder because Satan has a huge army of operatives here on earth whose job it is to confuse and misinform large numbers of Christians, and to drive wedges between them, for the purpose of keeping the group from being a powerful unified force against him.
A vast number of Christians are confused and misinformed today because Satan is effectively using one of his main tools, the major media, to ignite and fan the fires of confusion and misinformation. For example and for many years now, a number of the nation’s leading news outlets have branded it into the brains of millions of Americans that Catholicism and Christianity are two separate religions by frequently opening news stories with a line like, “Recent polls show that more than half of the nation’s Catholics and the vast majority of its Christians are in favor of a woman’s right choose”.
One of Satan’s other tools is comprised by numerous Protestant ministers -- and they are doing even more than the major media are to fracture and weaken the Christian religion. In fact, nearly every time I look up, TV preachers with huge followings are carrying out full-scale offensives against other Christians. While grandstanding in front of the cameras, they are doing such things as criticizing Catholics for “worshipping and praying to saints and statues”, attacking Mormons for “following and believing in the teachings and prophecies contained in a book that was written by a mortal man”, and putting down non-denominational ministries for “spreading watered-down versions of Christianity”.
And all the while those "TV stars" are dishing it out, they are leaning on their followers to send them cash ... and more cash.
Moving on, Christians are, and have almost always been, so divided that even many of the sects of Protestantism are segregating/separating themselves from one another. Many Baptists are holding themselves above Methodists and vice versa; many Southern Baptists are holding themselves above other Baptists and vice versa; many Episcopalians are holding themselves above Presbyterians and vice versa, many Evangelicals and Pentecostals are holding themselves above non-denominational ministries and vice versa, and I could go on.
What it all comes down to is, it is time for Christians of all stripes to wake up and fully recognize that Satan is working 24/7 to destroy them and their religion, and one of the primary ways he is getting the job done is using a wide range of under-handed tactics to shatter the religion into hundreds of little pieces. They must also fully recognize that there are no such things as one Christian being a “better Christian” than some other Christian and one denomination being “closer to God” than another is.
Thus, it is very important for Christians to be acutely aware that a little catch phrase like “Christians and Catholics” is one of Satan’s spawns.
It is one of the wicked devices he is using to keep those of us who are Christians divided and at odds with another, so that we will not have sufficient strength to stop him from seriously wounding us or from nearly destroying us altogether.
I urge you to read the hub listed below. It is closely related to this one:
Hubber: Guanta
http://hubpages.com/hub/All-Christians-are-Brothers-And-Sisters-In-Christ
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Hyphenbird,
Now that I think about it, you are right. No longer am I an alcoholic and so forth. I am a "victorious child of God who will be in the Army of Christ when He fights the great battle".
In fact, I am already one of The Lord's holy warriors.
First off I would like to congratulate you on your recovery and the journey you're taking. Secondly, I love that you posted this because some members of my family are Catholic, such as my little cousin. They live in an area where there aren't many choices for schooling, so she went to a Baptist school being open-minded and was told that she is not a Christian. She doesn't believe this method and they are transferring her to the recently added Catholic school. It doesn't matter to me what people believe in, I just disagree when people try distinctly shoving their beliefs into other people's lives. Thank you for posting this.
Hi Feenix! I hope you are enjoying the warm summer days in NYC! You are so right in that the divide and conquer strategy is evident within the Church and from outside of it.
It's just an effort to keep us focused on our differences instead of rejoicing in our similarities and praising the Lord. Great hub, my friend!
Thanks for sharing that with us Feenix...
I heard it said once that Satan is the most regious soul on earth. He started all of the different denominations...and created "bickering" between them all...Baptists vs. Methodist, Church of God vs. Presbyterian and on and on and on....as long as they are fueding and taking their eyes off of worshiping Christ.
IMO..Christianity (in a nustshell) is nothing more than a personal relationship between Christ and yourself.
Dear Feenix my brother: You have no idea how many times I have wanted to address the "Christian Hub Writers" screaming at the top of my lungs, that If you are a Christian, the denomination you belong to makes "NO DIFFERENCE". OK so one church does one thing, that the other disagrees with but fundamentally speaking, if you are "Christian" anything, you are Christian first and formost.
I am a Christian, born and raised in the Roman Catholic Church. Many of the Catholic Church's dogma, beliefs, I disagree with and do so openly, because they are not "Scriptural" but I remain there to try and effect change, to correct the wrongness. I feel God has called me to do this.
Dear Feenix, I feel your pain. The woman who spoke to you was simply wrong. Roman Catholicism is the religious expression of a Christian faith. But perhaps she is just used to being referred to in that way due to living in a largely out-spoken Protestant country. I lived with two lovely girls at university who were born- again Christians and told me that my baptism wasn't a valid Christian baptism. There's a fella on these Hub pages who told me that Catholicism is the thorn in the eye of Christianity. Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and also I believe Methodists, recognise that baptism in the name of Christ is a Christian baptism. Of course you are absolutely right that making a deal of our differences is just playing into the hands of the devil. We mustn't forget, however, that Protestantism is, by its nature, in protest against Catholicism. It is painful but true that the body of Christianity is divided into opposing sides and continues to divide itself, so that at times it reflects the Tower of Babel where no one can understand each other.
Someone like you, who has survived trials and tribulations, has such gratitude for his faith that it is awful for you to see people at odds with each other within that same faith.
I have a good friend who works in Catholic medical ethics and deals with all sorts of difficult cases every day. He told me that whenever you are entering into an argument you must have love for your opponent. He said that if you don't, then you should avoid the argument altogether. I try to bear that in mind. But it's hard to keep your cool when people who are supposed to be on your own side are ignorant of what they stand for.
Wherever good people are, the devil will be hanging near. No victory in catching a liberal out.
You're on the side of the angels though feenix. Always good to read your Hubs.
Lizzie
I hear you feenix, what people fail to realize is that no body can be smarter than Satan, he is master at what he does. He has superhuman intelligence and we without an advocate have no chance. We have to rely on scripture for specific information as to how to succeed inspite of him.
But you have to ask how does Christians reading the same book come to so many different conclusions that support the endless number of denominations/differing interpretations to the basic tenets in this day and age.
Very good Hub! Important that we bridge the gap and show the love for those who are different we all believe in christ
I know what you are saying. I believe anyone who believes in Jesus Christ is a Christian. It is God's place to judge, He can read the heart, I can't.
I am voting up.
"The devil made me do it."
God gave people free choice.
I think some people blame the devil instead of taking the responsibility for their wrong doings.
mkiaconis,
Thank you for thanking me. I just said what I think needs to be said. And I am not finished yet. :-)
Hello, Dexter,
" ... focused on our differences rather than rejoicing in our similarities and praising the Lord".
That was a really beautiful and effective way to sum it all up, my good friend. Thank you.
CMeritt,
This morning, I told a friend what you said and like me, she fully agrees with you. In fact, she said that religion is Satan's version of a Tower of Babel.
Dave,
It is quite obvious that The Lord has called on you to get The Word out because you are doing a magnificent job of doing just that.
In fact, I consider your hubs to be "my church".
Hello, lizzeeBoo,
What a thoughtful and wonderful comment you added to this page. It really does make the place look good ;-)
One of the things that struck the most was what your friend said about having love for our opponents. That is something I am learning to do and, as a result and opposite of the way things were before, my blood pressure is always normal.
Credence2,
Satan certainly is a "super being or entity" that we are no match for.
And so far as Christians coming up with different ways of interpreting The Holy Scriptures -- that is in the same league as that famous Japanese play in which 24 people saw the same crime committed at the same time but gave 24 different accounts of what took place.
Naomi's Banner,
It is important that we, as Christians, come together, especially at a time when our beliefs and practices are coming under fire from all directions.
ruffridyer,
Thank you very much for the vote -- and you are right. All of the people on this planet who have accepted The Lord Jesus as their Savior are Christians, PERIOD!
Sueswann,
I am definitely one who always takes responsiblity for my actions. I do not ever make excuses and I do not ever place the blame somewhere else. I am a highly-trained and highly-disciplined infantry soldier.
However, the devil has made me do a whole lot bad stuff -- and mostly by dangling some kind of temptation (that I was not strong enough to resist at the time) in front of me.
In my opinion, anyone who believes that Satan does not have the power to make him/her do bad things is destined to succumb to him. He is a powerful enemy that must be feared and respected.
Feenix,
Hi Feenix
I see God as a positive energy that runs through all living things. So the devil to me represents negative energy. Negativity energy is very powerful and I think it is something we all have to fight, some more than others.
Sueswan,
You are so right and I, for one, always have to watch my step, because I have a tendancy to see things in negative terms rather than positive ones.
feenix, great write. Your passion for the subject really shined through. I, too, am a recovered alcoholic. One of the things that I learned in "the rooms" is, what someone else believes or thinks is none of my business unless they choose to involve me. There are two things that my fellow Christians seem to forget when it comes to differences of opinion. Opinions regarding doctrine especially. Our first priority as Christians is to love God and love others and second is judge not. I've seen too many heated arguments over the years. Arguments which comes down to I'm right and you're wrong(pride). I keep waiting for one of the conflicts to end with a tongue sticking out. We humans have so much growing up to do. Yet, we waste so much time on making sure that we are right just to feel OK with ourselves.
Yeshuan,
Thank you very much for your thoughtful and supportive comment.
Interestingly, I learned how to be a good Christian in "the rooms". In those places, I was taught such things as not to be judgmental, to always exercise self-restraint, to always be empathetic, to always assist those who are less fortunate than I, and to express my gratitude to God on a constant basis.
I wish you well, Yeshuan, and I know that I do not have to tell you that you and I are brothers.
Hi Feenix.
I myself am Catholic, For hundreds of years in this country (England) The battle between Catholic and Protestant has caused devastation. Even till this day faith has been offered up as the cause for many of the attrocities all countries have suffered. So many have died in the name of faith.
It is not faith that does harm rather the faithless followers who present their own agenda and place it at Gods doorstep.
As far as I am concerned their are 2 different groups of people Good and Bad. Christians/Muslims and every other faith in between should consider this.
I have tried to explain this view in a poem called Godless Sheep.
Perhaps it would help if we respect others values and choices, because personally I would prefer a Good person of another faith than a bad person of my own.
Thanks for a thought provoking hub my friend.
Hello, Scarface,
And thank you for taking the time to read this hub and to leave your thoughtful comment.
I believe that what a lot of people are unaware of is that Satan is the one who is in charge of religion.
I agree and we see this in many different guises. We can take an example in my own religion. Their has been huge emphasis over abominable events of Priests. This throws terrible review of all Priests but These people have taken something special and used it for their own foul needs. The truth is that this also extends wherever unscrupulous evil people use a good platform i/e Religion, Healthcare professionals, Carers, Politicians etc. That use this caring platform for evil purpose thus creating a dark casting shadow over something predominantly used for good.
Hi again, Scarface1300,
The thing about Satan is he takes over everything that is good or that was established with good intentions in mind and corrupts them.
I was raised a Baptist but changed to Catholicism in college. I would not call myself religious anymore. I do consider myself spiritual though. My wife was raised as a Buddhist and after our first son was born we went to various Christian churches of all denominations to see if any of them would appeal to us as a family. Oh my God churches have changed since I was younger. Everyone of them now,that I went to, made me feel like I was at a rock concert. Not a place of worship. About a year later we went to a Buddhist temple, first time I had ever been to one. I absolutely love it. I don't know what most people would want to classify my faith anymore. Maybe a Christian Buddhist? One thing I love about going to temple is if you sit there quietly and listen. You hear the words of Jesus Christ very strongly. The names may have change but that is true in any religion. Most of the bog religions come from Abraham anyways. Thanks for the hub. I enjoyed your writing like I have all of the rest of them!
Hey, das,
"Christian Buddhist" is cool.
Way back in the day, I "lived" in Southeast Asia for two years, and it was then that I gained very high degrees of respect, admiration and affection for Buddhism.
And thank you very much for gracing this page with your thoughtful and terrific comment.
There's a huge difference between catholicism and protestantism and this makes for two different categories completely. As Gods church in the wilderness could not have a blended religion this is entirely the work of catholicism - a blended religion with paganism.
Catholics neeed to sever connections with that cult.
Satan is not doing the work, i hope you discover the gaping holes in this fleshly catholic doctrine sometime. Flesh is the enemy, human choices this is part of the simplicity that is in christ jesus. We can't go around yelling Lucifer lucifer because we cannot make doctrine of only one scripture, scriptures must always support each other. This is just a catholic fear doctrine.
TV evangelists play the numbers. If their show gets 100,000 viewers then just by saying "send in your money" if one in 10 react to that, 10,000 people send in extra cash. Quite the tempting morsel huh and as usual flesh gets the better of them.
To say christians are devil spawn is rather blasphemous. There are many denominations but each one grew, based on a different truth not a different falseness. As churches examined certain beliefs and realized they were not correct, a separation occurred; this is not wrong but actually correct. Protestanism was correct to separate from catholicism, baptists realized their truth in baptizm and pentecostals realized the truth in baptism of the Holy Ghost. Nowadays we have nondenominational churches because they don't want to be lumped in with the others and that is fine also.
keep up the good work
Hello, brotheryochanan,
Thank you very much for your thoughtful comment and for the encouraging words.
Personally, I admire all Christians, whether they be Protestants, Catholics or Mormons. Additionally, I believe that due to the fact that human beings are as imperfect as they are, there is no such thing as a "perfect" sect or denomination of Christianity.
They are all flawed, in my opinion.
But the important thing is that we all believe that Jesus is Lord.
feenix, a fun hub, it really tests the borders of ones faith when looked at with both eyes open and an open mind. I, like you, read my Brother Dave's messages as part of my church or fellowship. Dave has clarified much smoke from the air and surprisingly he rose up from the ashes of Catholicism, a church that I have been inside of one time, I had a grandmother from my birth woman, who took me to her church one time when she wanted me to visit with her for a couple weeks as a 10 year old. It kinda blew my mind getting a lot of exercise standing and kneeling on kneeling boards built to fold down from the pew in front of the pew we sat in, she told me to do like she did, as a kid and having my Dad bring me up as Baptist and Southern Baptist, all the goings on there made me want to laugh, I don't really remember why it was just a different experience.
Living in a self sufficient town that the copper mine owned in Arizona it had every flavor of religion in it you could want. My dads,dad was a Pentecostal Preacher that was as full of shit as a Christmas goose telling me peace signs were satanic as upside down crosses with the arms broken at an angle and on and on. He was in Tennessee, and I only went one time while we were there again a to the wall people jabbering jumping up and down women rolling in the floor pulling their dresses up, and gramps beating the pulpit raining fire and brimstone upon us sinners at the top of his lungs, it was better than a circus to a kid, I was laughing and Dad was thumping me in the head to stop and finally hauled me outside for the lecture and threat of a whipping. I swear it was over the top hilarious and speaking in tongue and all the physical antics of women showing their bloomers while rolling about, I told Dad that I could not help it and we went back in and things had simmered to knee slapping and hallelujahs so I was able to maintain. I was allowed to go to church on Sundays when a friend would ask to any of the churches, Mormon, Methodist, and on. I have come to a point I cannot sit in any of them, but the teachings of John 3:16 and Mathew 25:31-46 if they teach that I'm good with them. The faith of Christ and his sacrifice and love, grace, and charity toward all is key in the connection to the Father. Then we can agree on that I think all are good, but that doesn't get them on the narrow gate and path, I think it is our walk that demonstrates our willingness. I give money to drug addicts as well as alcoholics knowing they lie to me saying they are hungry and many tell me they won't do that and they give the cards for burger joints so they can only get food. To me that is judgmental and not giving them what they want and need the street is no place for any to detox alone in a cardboard box, they need to find the bottom and a place with assistance when they are ready to detox until then their drug of choice is what they need and I'm willing to pay for that just like a hamburger. I'll drive them to the liquor store or to the bad side of town to get their stuff and talk to them on the way telling them about how and where to get help and tell them I'll let them get right with their drug and take them to a detox and help them check in while they are on level ground with either being filled to level ground with booze or heroin, it don't matter the detox is set to handle all addictions. It's their choice and the fix I buy may be the one that kills them, but you know like I do some have to die so others live, they set the example for others to see where they are headed. Once at the detox I leave them for the interview and what they say to them establishes their acceptance to an expensive ordeal where 30 grand will be spent out of coffers of money that come from donations from the "dirty no good rich" that the likes of the Democrats rail against, those dirty capitalists are the ones who give to support these detox centers with beds and meds to bring a once hard working person back to earth to a new shot at life after falling prey to addictions of success. These centers are funded by the rich and generous and former addicts when the coffee can is passed at meetings. In the big cities there is a meeting taking place right now giving support to those in need and a true Christian is willing to give no questions asked and on my birthday I go to one of these meetings and I know before I go there will be no 30 year coin waiting unless it's a large club that has a large amount of money and members that go consistently with years unthinkable to new folks hugging a cigarette and cup of coffee taking their 3 day or thirty day chip that anyone can say 29 years when they ask about birthdays. A silence falls on the room and I'll get the 30 minutes to tell them a story, how Jesus Christ brought me the strength to go this far and faith will carry me on to the end that I will never stick a needle into my veins and shoot a cocaine/heroin "speedball" again, nor jonesing for it again. People just don't wake up and say "hey today I'm gonna get clean" first they gotta break down and pray, admitting they have a problem that they can't fix alone.
Well I carried on past the point, but a hamburger card won't give you the chance to testify to the person and just maybe get them to see the light that Christ will carry them if they sincerely ask and you can't help a person with prayer while they are sick and wanting a fix. You have to work backward with them, get them level then talk to them, this only will make sense to the experienced
dusty
Hello, 50,
I closely identified with a whole lot of the things you mentioned in your comment. For example, when some person asks me for money in the streets and say they want it to buy a sandwich and cup of coffee, I know they're lying and want the money for booze and/or drugs. But that is none of my business. Once I give them the money, it is theirs and they can do whatever they please with it. It is not up to me to judge or to try to convert them there on the spot. And I know how it is when one is jonesing for a drink or a drug. I've been through that myself.
And finally, I do believe that as long as a person accepts The Lord Jesus as his/her Savior, that individual is a "good Christian," regardless of what denomination they happen to be.
feenix, your exactly right a gift is a gift and you lose any interest in it's destination. Many don't get that part of giving.
Blessings Amigo,
Dust
Hello, 50,
Thank you, my very good friend. Those words coming from a real man like you mean a lot to me.
I think that Satan is a true horror and should be stopped at all costs. All Christians need to be united to stop Satan so that he doesn't get the chance to destroy the world and universe, which is his true intentions. Satan is total evil. My father had been an alcoholic and it helped cause his death.
Hello, gail641,
Everything you said in your comment is so true and that is why I am a warrior for Jesus. I am going to fight to defeat Satan, with every fiber of my being.
It's very interesting to see what is ascribed to Satan and what is not. I was curious what your take on Mormons would be, and was gratified to see that it came up. Interesting read, I'm glad you shared.
Hello, Shadesbreath,
I believe that is very important for all Christians to be aware that Protestants, Catholics and Mormons are all brothers and sisters in Christ.
It doesn't matter if you are a Catholic or Protestant, as long as you believe in Christ the Redeemer and the Son of God (and not just a prophet). We are all Christians. We should strive to unite, not divided, when fighting evil as we live our lives towards redemption.
Hello, freelanceauthor,
Amen to what you wrote, and thank you very for taking the time to read this hub and to comment on it.
Greetings you amazing soldiers of God! I am so glad others think as me, especially since my parents never really took me to visit Big Daddys pad! I always knew and so patiently asking and never letting go to my uninformed thoughts and dreams, wondering as a child, are my parents right, why am I different thinking thinks never explained till later! Praise the Lord,with total faith in his wise plans designing my delayed schooling. I know he will educate me if he fels necessary! I am still a baby trying to understand God,s instructions. Thank you for letting me aware of others and I was not crazy like the atheist shrinks tells me and trys to shove evil man made pills to make me vulnerable to their beliefs. I may be new, but I remember not to spray judments nor opinions no matter how eager I feel to help show him the the Awsome Truth, only may I show a example. I still make bo bos, but I 100% faith, so I believe that God knows my heart! God Bless us all, I pray that I might be graced if the Great Father might please consider myself to witness this awsome miracle, please, Lord If I may be so bold, maybe if I deserve it, might your all of all, maybe can I help! Please, either way I appreciate all of your unreal miracles and please extra credit, maybe can I help! Love, Blessings along with toall Love and gratefullness for showing me the truth.
Feenix, good article. Religion is just designations. We are all one under God period. You are always on target as usual. Keep writing.
Hey, GM,
I am very grateful for your encouraging comment. And my receiving a compliment from an excellent writer like yourself is a high honor.
Hyphenbird Level 8 Commenter 10 months ago
My friend feenix, I must disagree with you. You WERE a "I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict and a very active member of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.:
Now you are an over comer and a victorious child of God who will be in the army of Christ when He fights the great battle.
However I know what you are pointing out in this Hub. Satan uses denominations to separate and divide. We must be smarter than him. He is not going to win and we must become a tri-braided cord now and stand firm against him. He gets too much attention anyway so I am not talking about him anymore.
Have a great night. HB