Interview with a Satanic pastor

Did I get your attention? Man, was an adrenaline rush this afternoon. So, I'm working on a Church History project and thought this interview would be a curve ball to the overall understanding of how sometimes persecution pushes people away from the faith. Long story short...it doesn't. Truth is...if you're being persecuted for your Christianity and faith in Christ I really don't think you're going to run to Satan. You're committed and it was a "Warren - that was crazy thought". Makes no sense when I look back at it.

Anyway - I just have to share some of the conversation I had with this guy today. It was actually pretty polite and then got pretty good...haha! To set the stage...I introduced who I was, what I doing, what I'm studying and why I was calling and what I hoped we could both get out of this conversation.

First question was: "So, you believe that in order to be a Christian you must believe in Christ. Correct? I believe in Christ, so I'm a Christian, correct?" Me: Ahhhhhhh, no! I believe in Satan but I reject Satan so I'm not a Satanic worshiper. Correct? Christ doesn't only call us to believe in him but to accept him and FOLLOW Him. It's more than an awareness of WHO HE is but rather being in fellowship, serving and sacrificing your LIFE for Him. Does that makes sense? I know who Satan is and you know who Christ is...correct? SO, it's a decision on who you serve....right? We are picking teams! (to much other detail to share)

Second question: Your God is loving and perfect? How do you explain disease, cancer, death, etc? Me: Oh, yes, my God is completely loving. I don't know if I have the answer but I think it goes back to the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve decided to eat from the tree HE said DON'T EAT FROM. God gave them full reign over everything but said do not eat from that 1 tree or you will die. Satan through deception said to Adam and Eve..."you will not surely die. You will be alive and like God fully aware". (We'll after eating from that tree we are fully aware...fully aware of Sin). As for disease, cancer, etc...this is part of a fallen world but through my own experience with Cancer I can boldly say through Cancer my family felt God's fullness of Love. (It was a challenge to get all this out through interruptions, but that's okay...He heard me). See MY God can use all things for good and while through a disease and hardship...He loved me Fully and brought me closer to Him.

What does Satan do for you? "He gives me freedom to live my life and I want. I have joy to live my life under my terms how I wish without judgement". Me: "Hmm, I live the same way. I live my life as I want. I think we have a disconnection on who we report to I guess. I'm not certain I have a good answer for you...other than being a Christian and following Christ doesn't mean that I'm forbidden to live my life. I choose to live my life in a manner than glorifies HIM".

Last question: Him: "Why are you calling me? It's clear you have your own thoughts and we're not going to see eye to eye". Me: "First, I do appreciate your time. Honestly, I've never met someone that open says they worship Satan and I really wanted to understand why? Is that you don't believe in eternal pain and eternal sadness or is it belief in the power of the moment of short term gratification"?

Ended with him calling me an A--hole and that I'm to naive to understand the broader spectrum of life. Wasn't how I wanted this call to go..but that is okay. I learned a lot and planted a seed.

In Christ,

Warren J