I wrote the following in reply to a post about sin, spiritual warfare and Pilgrims Progress, a work i now reject as heresy.
But i disagreed strongly with the author of the post as I do with John Bunyan
Here it is
I have been a christian now for 40 years and have never experienced Satan.All those filthy thoughts that filled my head when i was trying to pray were ME. And all those things that went bump in the night were my superstition
As I acknowledge this and realize i would rather fantasize lustfully (nuff said) than pray, well I repented of it. No demons involved.
and as prayer is a conversation not a monologue prayer has been no problem when the Being Who answers me back in one on one conversation is wise wonderful and above all, HOLY.
As I am in fact protected by the power of God, some thing those who obsess about being afflicted by Satan will deny, even to my face, I have not encountered Satan.
And why?
And why?
Firstly i doubt any of us could last more than 5 seconds in the presence of the Usurper. And secondly, and most importantly, God will not allow any of us the excuse that "The Devil made me do it." and the Bible says we are tempted by our own lust. no demons required
Let none of us think that we are so mature in Christ as to be qualified to go out and battle real demons. There are cranks who will battle the imaginary, and as an ex charismatic i know that type well. But we are mewling and puking babes not fit for real spiritual warfare. let us look at our fruit and see this is so .
Also, to overdo the seriousness of sin - yes it can be overdone, is to make obedience a huge and terrifying ordeal. this is to forsake Christ for the Law, something i did.
As for Pilgrim's Progress, someone wrote that puritans were inveterate self dramatizers, That book is full of it. it is also riddled with Pelagian heresy, endless invocations to willpower. This is the very essence of the sin of legalism
and the cruellest thing in the book is the dictum, the bitter must come before the sweet,
so I forsook the sweet with which Christ introduced Himself to me and lived in bitterness for nearly 40 years.
legalism is the MOST dangerous of all the heresies for it masquerades as the holiest and most perfect obedience. But it is in fact backsliding if not outright apostasy
and it destroys people, either through smug self satisfaction or, for those with consciences, utter despair
