Would you enter a Hindu temple as part of sight seeing?

[Knowingtruth]

 

Say if you joined a tour to India and as part of intinary to visit Jai Mehal of Agra, one of the great ten wonders of the world. A Hindu temple known for its monumental architecture and grand beauty. The tour guide leads the way and you would :

 

a. I flew half way from the world and it's a waste not to take pictures. I'm going in because as long as I'm not there to worship and know my heart and faith belong to God, there is no problem with it.

 

b. I'm going in because I know this "building " is just an empty shell for people worshiping nothing but thin air so I'm at peace with it.

 

c. I'm staying inside my bus and no one is going to make me set foot on cursed ground because any kinds of worshiping that is not to "Yahweh" is to Satan. 

 

d. Others.

 

The topic of this thread interests me because I was a Hindu before accepting Jesus Christ in USA in 1977. I have already published a book "Why I Am a Believer in Jesus"(A story of a Hindu Devanga Brahmin) that is available with amazon.com

 

Pertaining to the thread subject, a person with strong faith in Jesus Christ can go anywhere he pleases as long as it gives him an opportunity to witness his faith in Jesus. Evangelical works demand that. Only thing is that one should not get his faith shaken by such a visit. He also should not get involved with their ritual of worship. That was the tactic Paul used with Gentiles.

 

I have visited Taj Mahal twice after becoming a believer once alone and later with my wife. We continue to visit Hindu temples, not for worshipping but for studying the architecture that are many centuries old.

 

Higher levels of Hinduism do not accept such worships as a part of spiritual understanding.

[Micheal Westin]

 

 

I am the OP and I would like to make a humble comment here for those that are not so spiritually aware that spiritual warfare is real and is an ongoing battle in which we can't see or hear.

Whenever a temple is used to worship anything but our one True God, demons are summoned in that dwelling place and particularly reside in idols. So you may ask me it is not scriptural or "how would you know?"

Before I became a Christian, I have sought monks and priests of the Eastern religion that claimed to have the power to channel in spiritual entities that could foretell and manipulate the future. I have personally witnessed these people using demonic power to one's own gain. Furthermore, many of these vessels possessed by demons went with me to visit certain temples to make offerings and prayers. I remembered one particular woman ( My ex sister- in -law ) who was Thai, on many occasions would tell me which idol to worship and which not to because the real idol with power she could see their eyes glowing in red ! She would know which temple is so called blessed or so called mediocre. Thus I learned there are ranks in the demonic hierarchy but that is a different story. She could detect and connect with all kinds of eerie principalities of the air inside these premises because she is possessed. The spirits in her and the spirits in the temple connects. It's a family reunion of satan's minions. Demonic infested nests where they receive worships and offerings. Isn't this what Satan desire ? To be worshipped as God ? 

A short introduction:

My ex- sister- in- law takes great pride that there are 3 Buddhist gods living inside her. They communicate telepathically and offer advices to people who wish to seek consultation. Every time a spirit is summoned she would go into a trance, composure changed, voice and dialect altered. I remembered the first time I seek consultation from these entities, they would ask me a question before I ask them anything.

They would ask :"do you believe in us (me) ? 

Just as if you would want to follow Christ you would have to announce that you believe in Jesus and want to invite him in as your lord.

Do you see the counterfeit similarity? ?

So IMHO, many religious temples are housing demonic entities. I can say this with confidence because I once had a close relation with the enemy, literally. I would not go walk on these "cursed grounds" because I based on the scripture on you cannot have two masters, either you love the other or despise the other. " Setting foot would mean my acknowledgement of them and a defilement of my temple. that being the Holy Spirit. 

I thank Jesus for forgiving my past sins and accepted me into his life and mine to His. I thank Him for breaking my chain of ties with the enemy and to be forever His in both spirit and flesh. I thank the Lord I am blessed having the privileged to bear witness in His name, Amen.

 

I'm only glad that God has led people such as the apostle Paul to walk into the enemies camp, as seen in many instances in the book of Acts, and minister the truth, even  blinding sorcerers if need be, using even the altars of unknown god's to present the gospel to those who kneel before false gods, certainly you must be called of God to be in this kind of ministry, but all Christians should know that Jesus has given us victory over all works of darkness and we should not be afraid

[The_Patriot21]

I just got one question-you say that these temples summon demons, and you make a argument for it, but not a scriptural one-can you bring forth a scriptural argument?

 

And assuming your right, well, what do we have to be afraid of? scripture does say that if God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31) and that if we resist the devil he will flee from us (James 4:7) So what do we have to fear?

[layhoma]

I just got one question-you say that these temples summon demons, and you make a argument for it, but not a scriptural one-can you bring forth a scriptural argument?

 

And assuming your right, well, what do we have to be afraid of? scripture does say that if God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31) and that if we resist the devil he will flee from us (James 4:7) So what do we have to fear?

 

Hello Brother,

 

I can't exactly make a scriptural argument, but some do come to mind that may raise some alerts:

 

their grapes are not like our grapes. Their grapes come from the the vineyards of sodom and the fields of gomorrah. 

Read deuteronomy 32 - deuteronomy 33

It says that what they worship is false (the false grapes) and what we worship is real. 

It also makes mention of the poison of cobras

 

The Bible sometimes don't go into details over everything mentioned. For example, all his disciples could cast out demons in the name of Jesus. Except for this one case and Jesus told them this one requires fasting. Did not elaborate more and it seems what is written is only the tip of an iceberg IMHO. There was a section teaching us how to equip ourselves in spiritual warfare but how to practically engage the enemy head on with those gears supplied and equipped is again not elaborated IMHO.

 

So is the Bible incomplete? An astounding NO! Some of us are given gifts and each one of us plays a different part in the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit will make our given gift(s) mature over time and we may discover things that are not mentioned in the scriptures but are definitely from God. Suffice to say some of us are given a gift of discernment and that is why there are one or two comments in here felt their spirits were in unease when they enter a pagan temple. 

 

If you have read books and hear testimony from people who have been delivered from possession of demons, the process of casting out is much more complicated, unlike Hollywood movies. Yes we have been given authority and of victory over death but how many of us really know how to exercise such authority? A friend of mine once succeeded in casting away an apparition manifested in front of her face just by saying the name "Jesus". Other times a demon possessed person may take hours in a tug-of war with a group of Christians praying, laying of hands and rebuking in the name of Jesus just for the spirit inside to reveal its name! Without knowing the name of the demon it becomes hard to cast it out. I will not get into too much detail because most likely many of you are becoming more skeptical of my thinking. It's really not my thinking but my experience. Suffice to leave it at that. Not many are into Healing and deliverance ministry.

 

 

Yes I totally agreed and believed in Romans 8:31 & James 4:7. Here is my angle. But only when we are totally aligned with God. Since none of us could keep the 10 commandments, that's why Jesus is our only way to God, by His blood. We need his cleansing every day. Sometimes there are areas of our hearts left unchecked. That said, anytime we sin, we open a door to spiritual attacks and most of the time without even knowing. Here comes the tricky part of resisting the devil.

 

Demons come in many names. Spirit of Hatred, Spirit of Lust, Spirit of Dissension, Spirit of Debauchery, Spirit of Anger.....the list goes on and on. So let's say a person (even Christians) gave in to the lust of the eyes by watching pornography, he/she may have made a crack that invited an evil spirit (eg. Named Lust) into his/her life. I don't believe it's a possession but rather the person given a right for an oppression by evil spirits. You dig deeper into the forums you will see many Bibles abiding and God fearing Christians who are held bondage and chained by compulsive behaviors that are sinful in the eyes of the Almighty and yet, they seek ways to make right but to little avail. Should we be fearful ? No, but neither should we downplay the power of the enemy.

 

That said, back to your question. What are we Christians are afraid of ? Sure our spirit is secure and nothing could snatch us away from God's gift of salvation. It is written. But our walks could very well be impeded by our weakness. Many of us face harassments from the enemy because we couldn't possibly live a perfect life in this imperfect flesh and in this imperfect world. 

We can't afford to let our guards down. Once we became Christians we are on top of Satan's hit list. I know a bro in Christ who is in constant attacks because he is in high gear in bringing unsaved souls to Christ in the front line. He had to put up with constant harassment from the enemy. Some are supernatural that I do not want to discuss in here. Sorry I can't offer further concrete evidence and please just take it as mere "sharing" from someone who has been "there" and "done" that.   

Edited August 15, 2013 by layhoma

[Diatheosis]

Probably best first to ask God if He's with me on that one. If shown green light, I'd go and bring Jesus in the house. For even the evil spirits are subjects to us in His name. Not to boost, but that Hindu-thingie with its vedic swamp is definitely in need of their real Savior.

[Fez]

I have been in casino's a few times. They worship a god as well...

 

I don't feel any different for the visits.....

 

Act 17:23  For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 

Act 17:24  The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 

Act 17:25  nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 

[nebula]

 

I have been in casino's a few times. They worship a god as well...

 

I don't feel any different for the visits.....

 

I had to walk through a casino recently.

 

I felt different. The feeling was disgust.

[Willa]

I am uncomfortable even when I see the laughing budah in a chinese restraunt. But since I don't know if the food was first offered to the idol, and i don't ask, I go ahead and eat there. Most restraunts probably keep them as decor, I should hope. If they don't please don't tell me because I really don't want to know. I am not afraid or superstitious. It just grieves me that people worship these things.

A man in our church takes people on self guided tours of the temple in Salt Lake. He shows the people the satanic symbols on the walls and in the drawers of the rooms that do not allow admittance, and explains what is done there and why the religion is not Christian but is wicked. But when he is recognized he is kicked off the premisis and threatened with arrest. He goes every year to witness to Mormons on their days of pilgrimage. He has won many mormans to the Lord and it is they who have explained to him the rituals and symbolism.

I doubt if I would schedual a tour of places that are temples of false gods. We are to abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thess. 5;22 NASV It is just something I am not excited about doing. Cultural anthropology is very interesting, but I don't care to witness the casting of evil spells or other "black magic."or deeds of darkness. I am not afraid because I have proven that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Still I do not go looking for evil. But I am not called to be an evangelist. I am called to make disciples.

[Willa]

A casino? I was sad that people were so consumed by greed or the challange of beating the odds. But all the smoke in the place caused a severe asthma attack and burned my eyes. We went there looking for a place to eat but had to leave.

[Guest man]

 

I have been in casino's a few times. They worship a god as well...

 

I don't feel any different for the visits.....

 

 

I've worked in a few casinos as a Blackjack dealer.

 

The stories I could tell..........