Religious Pilgrimage, is this possibly satans trick?

[GodLovesUs]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to know your opinion about Religious Pilgrimages. In my opinion most of the religious pilgrimages are tricks by satan so that we open our hearts. If we open our hearts to God, it also opens it to satan since God puts us to the test to ensure that the battle in heaven would never happen again. If you are a good person and satan whispers in your ear, you will still do good deeds, if you are bad then you will follow the temptations.

God has given all of us freewill as the second greatest gift (entering God's Kingdom is first), so none of the religious images sending us messages (apparitions on earth) do not make sense. Why would God sway you to do something else. God's plan is already embedded in us, its our free will that makes the plan come out different. I remember a passage in te Book of Revelations that only satan whispers in mans ears, in my opinion the apparitions of holy relics/images does not make sense if it coming from God. Remember also that the anti christ will come in as a false prophet teaching good. I truly believe the anti christ is satan and no one else. I want to hear your opinion.

Thanks and God bless us all!!!

 

[James the Persian]

Huh? I've made religious pilgrimages to holy places, saints cells, monasteries, venerating the relics of saints, and also to St. John's Basillica near Ephesus where St. John the Evangelist is buried. Why on earth (and how?) would this be the work of Satan? Whenever I visit such a place and pray I come away stronger and more secure in my faith in God so if Satan inspired me to do it he's obviously shooting himself in the foot.

James

 

[Dark_Waltz]

I never really understand why you people think god would be present in one place more so than another?
I mean fair enough site seeing etc but pilgrimage?

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to know your opinion about Religious Pilgrimages. In my opinion most of the religious pilgrimages are tricks by satan so that we open our hearts. If we open our hearts to God, it also opens it to satan since God puts us to the test to ensure that the battle in heaven would never happen again. If you are a good person and satan whispers in your ear, you will still do good deeds, if you are bad then you will follow the temptations.

God has given all of us freewill as the second greatest gift (entering God's Kingdom is first), so none of the religious images sending us messages (apparitions on earth) do not make sense. Why would God sway you to do something else. God's plan is already embedded in us, its our free will that makes the plan come out different. I remember a passage in te Book of Revelations that only satan whispers in mans ears, in my opinion the apparitions of holy relics/images does not make sense if it coming from God. Remember also that the anti christ will come in as a false prophet teaching good. I truly believe the anti christ is satan and no one else. I want to hear your opinion.

Thanks and God bless us all!!!

Huh?

Opening our hearts to God is what God wants from us. If you follow the teachings of the New Testament, opening "our hearts to God" is probably best found in Paul and John's teaching of the spirit. Paul "living by the spirit" and John "being born of the spirit." The opening up to God is a renunciation of Satan's influence. There's no room for Satan if one's heart is open to God.

Life is a spiritual pilgramage for a Christian. Religious pilgramages are beautiful experiences.

 

[michel]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to know your opinion about Religious Pilgrimages. In my opinion most of the religious pilgrimages are tricks by satan so that we open our hearts. If we open our hearts to God, it also opens it to satan since God puts us to the test to ensure that the battle in heaven would never happen again. If you are a good person and satan whispers in your ear, you will still do good deeds, if you are bad then you will follow the temptations.

God has given all of us freewill as the second greatest gift (entering God's Kingdom is first), so none of the religious images sending us messages (apparitions on earth) do not make sense. Why would God sway you to do something else. God's plan is already embedded in us, its our free will that makes the plan come out different. I remember a passage in te Book of Revelations that only satan whispers in mans ears, in my opinion the apparitions of holy relics/images does not make sense if it coming from God. Remember also that the anti christ will come in as a false prophet teaching good. I truly believe the anti christ is satan and no one else. I want to hear your opinion.

Thanks and God bless us all!!!

In my opinion most of the religious pilgrimages are tricks by satan so that we open our hearts

Why do you think that ?

 

[Ori]

That made no sense to me, but then again, little does.

 

[SoyLeche]

So, we should stay as far away from God as possible, because that's how Satan gets at us? Correct me if I read that wrong.

 

[GodLovesUs]

I thought of this because there are a lot of hoaxes that I have seen when I was growing up on pilgrimages. I also experienced a spirit that showed me goodness and later told me that this is just the earth and then told me to kill my self in order to kill the satan in me. At this poit in time I questioned the intention of this spirit. I remembered the book of revelation that there would be a spirit that would show the world goodness but it is a trick. Then I saw a story of a evil possessed girl in Germany that went to pilgimages and went to chruch and say the rosary everyday. She also had a clean life and a life that any God fearing person would envious. In the end her last letter was she saw an apparition of the Virgin mother asking here to kill herself to stop the pain. This is why I think if we open our hearts entirely, there is a chance that evil will sneak in to steal our souls from God. I always remembered that God puts us to the test everyday to see our worhtyness in His kingdom, so doesn't it make sense to let the devil do some of the test to make sure we are worthy?

 

[Ori]

I still don't get it.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I thought of this because there are a lot of hoaxes that I have seen when I was growing up on pilgrimages. I also experienced a spirit that showed me goodness and later told me that this is just the earth and then told me to kill my self in order to kill the satan in me. At this poit in time I questioned the intention of this spirit. I remembered the book of revelation that there would be a spirit that would show the world goodness but it is a trick. Then I saw a story of a evil possessed girl in Germany that went to pilgimages and went to chruch and say the rosary everyday. She also had a clean life and a life that any God fearing person would envious. In the end her last letter was she saw an apparition of the Virgin mother asking here to kill herself to stop the pain. This is why I think if we open our hearts entirely, there is a chance that evil will sneak in to steal our souls from God. I always remembered that God puts us to the test everyday to see our worhtyness in His kingdom, so doesn't it make sense to let the devil do some of the test to make sure we are worthy?

If you are a member of a church, I suggest that you have a talk with your pastor or preist about this.

Yes, I agree that if our hearts are just open to anything that "anything" that come in can do so. However, if our hearts are open to God, then we trust in His power to preserve and protect us according to his promises. A pilgramage is an act of devotion to God and by his grace, he has promised to see us through to maturity as we trust in Jesus Christ.

 

[GodLovesUs]

Don't get me wrong, I say open your hearts to God but be aware that satans trickery might still come since God himself puts us to the test of our wothiness. Saying that your heart belongs to God to me is not enough, we need to live our lives as good human beings in its entirity and no one is immune to evil. I have read King Davids Solomon's temptations and even Christ's and they themselves were approach even if they are men of God. Its up to us as individuals to determine what is good and evil. Thanks for your responses.

 

[SoyLeche]

I thought of this because there are a lot of hoaxes that I have seen when I was growing up on pilgrimages. I also experienced a spirit that showed me goodness and later told me that this is just the earth and then told me to kill my self in order to kill the satan in me. At this poit in time I questioned the intention of this spirit. I remembered the book of revelation that there would be a spirit that would show the world goodness but it is a trick. Then I saw a story of a evil possessed girl in Germany that went to pilgimages and went to chruch and say the rosary everyday. She also had a clean life and a life that any God fearing person would envious. In the end her last letter was she saw an apparition of the Virgin mother asking here to kill herself to stop the pain. This is why I think if we open our hearts entirely, there is a chance that evil will sneak in to steal our souls from God. I always remembered that God puts us to the test everyday to see our worhtyness in His kingdom, so doesn't it make sense to let the devil do some of the test to make sure we are worthy?

Is that like saying "Stop opening your mouth to breath because you might swallow a fly"?

 

[Green Gaia]

I'll join the others and say, "Huh?"

 

[dawny0826]

Don't get me wrong, I say open your hearts to God but be aware that satans trickery might still come since God himself puts us to the test of our wothiness. Saying that your heart belongs to God to me is not enough, we need to live our lives as good human beings in its entirity and no one is immune to evil. I have read King Davids Solomon's temptations and even Christ's and they themselves were approach even if they are men of God. Its up to us as individuals to determine what is good and evil. Thanks for your responses.

Satan always has tricks up his sleeves...

The closer you get to God...the more he's going to try to place a wedge between you and God. But YOU can do all things with Christ. And when you have Christ...Satan has already been defeated...you just need to remind him of that every once in a while. The Bible says that when we speak the name of Jesus Christ and confess Christ...Satan trembles. Why? Because he KNOWS he's been defeated. You're a Child of God...he has no power over you. The only control that Satan has over you, is the control that you GIVE him....he can't get into your head. He knows how to work you...by observing your actions...and listening to what you say.

When I'm unsure...when I feel like Satan's trying to get a grip on my mind or my heart...I'll state out loud "In the Name of Jesus Christ, Satan, get behind me." And he does...he HAS to. If I'm struggling, spiritually...I'll start to sing praise or read Scripture out loud. He can tempt...he can place obstacles in front of you...he can whisper lies into your ear but wherever you are...whatever you're doing...God's got it covered if your faith is in Him.

When you stay focused on God and stay in the Word...the Holy Spirit will guide you. You'll be given the heads up, so to speak, when trouble is brewing and further, through faith, you'll KNOW how to handle these situations when they arise.

 

[James the Persian]

I thought of this because there are a lot of hoaxes that I have seen when I was growing up on pilgrimages. I also experienced a spirit that showed me goodness and later told me that this is just the earth and then told me to kill my self in order to kill the satan in me. At this poit in time I questioned the intention of this spirit. I remembered the book of revelation that there would be a spirit that would show the world goodness but it is a trick. Then I saw a story of a evil possessed girl in Germany that went to pilgimages and went to chruch and say the rosary everyday. She also had a clean life and a life that any God fearing person would envious. In the end her last letter was she saw an apparition of the Virgin mother asking here to kill herself to stop the pain. This is why I think if we open our hearts entirely, there is a chance that evil will sneak in to steal our souls from God. I always remembered that God puts us to the test everyday to see our worhtyness in His kingdom, so doesn't it make sense to let the devil do some of the test to make sure we are worthy?

Well, we have a term for this, it's called spiritual deception, which the Russians refer to as prelest. I don't see that it has anything to do with pilgrimages as such, though. The problem is a lack of spiritual discernment, not testing the spirits to see if they are of God. If you search out miracles and apparitions and the like then you may well find them but they aren't necessarily of God. Satan himself appears as an angel of light. I don't doubt that some people might encounter such things whilst on pilgrimages, but to blame the pilgrimage for them seems nonsensical.

The Desert Fathers spoke a lot of such spiritual deception (and many of their writings can be found in the Philokalia) and the basic advice we are given is that it is better to be cautious and reject such miracles when they are indeed from God than to accept them without knowing their origin. This, perhaps, is why the Orthodox do not have so many accepted appearances of the Theotokos and the saints (though we do have some) as, say, the Roman Catholics do. I don't know many RCs who are aware of what the Fathers wrote on this subject and know almost no Orthodox who are not.

James

 

[GodLovesUs]

Thanks James, that is exactly what I meant. In the Holy Bible itself it said that there will be no more miracles until the return of Christ and as you said always question the spirit as it was mentioned in the book of revelation. Most people automatically accepts the miracle is a holy religious spirit appears and that is where I seem to have an issue. Again thanks for your comments.

 

[SoyLeche]

Thanks James, that is exactly what I meant. In the Holy Bible itself it said that there will be no more miracles until the return of Christ and as you said always question the spirit as it was mentioned in the book of revelation. Most people automatically accepts the miracle is a holy religious spirit appears and that is where I seem to have an issue. Again thanks for your comments.

Where does it say that again?

 

[GodLovesUs]

In the Holy Bible the Book of Revelations or The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

[michel]

In the Holy Bible the Book of Revelations or The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

GodLovesUs,

I really would go to your priest, and ask him about this.......although I am not entirely sure it is a theological 'block' of yours.

Have you been lied to a lot in the past ?.......anything that might explain why you are so distrusting ?

 

[SoyLeche]

In the Holy Bible the Book of Revelations or The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Verse?