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Post by jaybee on Jul 23, 2015 9:29:06 GMT -8
Some churches say that Satan can only counterfeit truth, so whatever Satan "has," there is truth to be found somewhere in it.
However, the Bible says that Satan is a liar.
I don't know about you, but I can tell a lie with no truth to be found in it whatsoever.
To look for the truth behind a lie is to look for something that may not exist.
In fact, John 8:44 tells us there is NO truth in Satan, not even a degree to be explored and discovered.
It is error when people think they can look to unbiblical practices to discover the "truth" behind them.
Such an idea or strategy contradicts the Bible.
-This short consideration is born out of refuting Bethel's idea that all the works of Satan must have a truth in it/behind it which Christians are to explore, find, and take back into the church - especially from the New Age movement.
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Post by Josh on Jul 27, 2015 11:43:24 GMT -8
Jay, I often agree with you but I guess this week we can finally have some disagreements While I think the statement "Satan can only counterfeit truth" is ultimately non-sensical I think it is true that most of Satan's best lies contain large amounts of truth. This began in the garden, where he spoke half-truths to Adam and Eve. And I think we can see this in our own lives, as some of his most compelling snares attempt to pit two truths against each other. Because of this, I think John 8:44 means that because satan always adds a lie to any truth he chooses to manipulate, ultimately NO TRUTH in found in him. This, of course, makes things he's touched extremely dangerous. However, I don't think it's completely unprofitable to study his parsing of the truth and lies. I think that when Paul said "for we are not unaware of his devices" (2 Cor. 2:11), he was indicating that he was both aware of satan's lies and how they worked strategically. This would involve investigating them- in other religions, philosophies, cultures, etc.. Furthermore, whatever we find anywhere that is excellent, true, praiseworthy, etc.. is God's truth, not satans. The "riches of the nations" (Isaiah 60:5, 61:6) are the church's inheritance, and I take that to mean that whatever good we find in the world can be cleansed of attendant lies and reclaimed for the kingdom... carefully. You and I share the perspective that these New Age influences perspectives of Bethel are in error, but I just don't think this is the way to argue it. I think simply demonstrating why each claim is invalid is the best approach.
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