Thank you for directing me to Bryan's study.
The study was very good, but a lot of what he got into had nothing to do with my church. It has no steeple, it has no columns, etc. It's a basic building. It almost looks like a ranch house. However, when he mentioned the "do this, do that, or you're not faithful" stuff, my wife and I couldn't help but chuckle. It sounded mighty familiar.
You have no idea how many wild and crazy things I've heard from my church buildings over the years I've been in there. Here are some examples...
"If you're distracted while listening to the pastor's sermon, the devil's harassing you".
On another occasion, someone said how when they see their children fight a bit in the morning before going to church, it means the devil is working his way in them and the family.
As for reading scripture, one time they said how the devil is right in front of you when you're in your room in the morning, so if you read a portion of scripture out loud, the devil will flee from you.
And on other occasions, they say how if you have fear, anxiety of doing things, or sin like throwing a tandrum, it was the devil right there tempting you to do so.
I could go and on and with other examples, but as you can see, either these church building leaders say this stuff so that they can get control, or they(along with most of the pews) just have no idea how the devil operates.
This is just one of those "be angry and sin not..." moments for me, let's see what the scriptures have to say about this...
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Hmmm...doesn't mention anything about the devil tempting anyone, does it?
John_12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Joh_14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 1John_3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Hmmm...pretty obvious Satan is NOT omnipresent nor omnipotent.
As for kids fighting before church in the morning? Maybe it's b/c they didn't get good sleep the night before? Maybe it was something they ate the night before(ie-candy bars or sodas)? Or maybe it was their flesh warning against the Spirit, which Paul prophecized in Galatians and Romans?
And as for reading scripture out loud to get the devil to flee from you? So are they saying the devil is right there in front of you every hour of the day and you have to keep doing this to get him to flee from you? Isn't this a LACK of faith?
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Hebrews 2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he 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;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Yeah, talk about some wild and crazy things they would say, while not having much of a conscience it seems - and speaking of which, my previous pastor spent a lot of time doing activities OUTSIDE of the church like palling around with Roman Catholic priests, Habitat for Humanity(which is NOT a Christian organization), politicians, and rich people - ultimately, he's the one that's doing Satan's bidding by yoking with unbelievers.
Thieves, robbers, and hypocrites indeed!
And ultimately, THIS(as you all know) is how the devil operates, which you NEVER hear in these church buildings!
2Cor 11:12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 2Cor 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.