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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Attracting wrong Friendships and Spiritual Practices	Crystal	Saturday, October 27, 2012
Question: Dear Brother, I am so grateful for this site! As I have followed the prayers you suggested and I feel so much better and see a lot of improvement in my life. Although things have improved, for some reason I attract the wrong friendships. Whereas the majority of my friendships in the past had to end because I became stronger in my methods such as Tarot card reading, Reiki, and more. A few weeks ago, I ended a friendship with a young woman who had a multitude of problems and was into a lot of New Age techniques. Recently I met a woman who is Presbyterian, very nice, talented and just delightful to be around. As we became acquainted, she revealed to me that to keep herself positive and balanced, she has her chakras aligned, does yoga, and reiki. She suggested for some of the health ailments I have to get my chakras aligned, whereas I told her I was not interested in anything related to New Age techniques because they are anti-Christian. Shortly after our encounter, I found myself becoming very irritable, had a headache and also questioning my faith and beliefs. This often happens when I encounter individuals who believe in other Spiritual practices not of God. I would like to develop strong and lasting friendships with others, but I seem to be attracting individuals who are into other religions (Buddhist, Wicca, etc...) or Christians who practice New Age techniques and some who are non-practicing Catholics or just abandoned their faith in general. Is it a possibility that Satan is sending these types of individuals in my life to disrupt my relationship with God? If so, what can I do about this? I love and embrace everyone regardless of their faith, as I do not judge. However it seems like the people I attract want to lead me into their Spiritual practices which I do not want. If you can recommend any prayers or books to read to protect myself and avoid meeting undesirable individuals; as well as any advice on this matter, I would really appreciate it, as I want to continue living righteously in Christ. Thank you, God Bless, Crystal
Question Answered by Dear Crystal: It is possible that the devil is sending you these people in hopes that you will be contaminated by their unchristian beliefs and practices. Even though these people are attracted to you, it is the right thing to do to terminate such friendships even when you later find out something is wrong, like with the Presbyterian woman. St. Paul instruct us to (1 Cor 5:11) "...not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber--not even to eat with such a one." The occult, tarot cards, chakras and all that nonsense is a form of idolatry. We are to shun such people when they claim to be Christian yet practice such evil. All such persons who practice such things need to be avoided, but we are to do more than avoid a Christian who does these things, we are to shun them. St. Paul says we are not even to have dinner with them. The reason you may be getting a headache and such is perhaps a demonic attack, revenge because you will not cooperate and befriend these people. You do need to judge. To not judge is the devil's teaching, not God's. We are never to judge hearts, we are never to judge hypocritically or with double-standard but we are certainly to judge behavior and ideas. To not do so would place you in great jeopardy and the devil would better be able to trick you. You need to judge, to discern who to befriend. I advise reading the essay, Three Secret Strategies. That essay discusses this issue. As for prayers, take a look at our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog. There is a Hedge Prayer for Protection and a Rebuking Particular Spirits prayer for times when a particular evil spirit is attacking and many other prayers that you may find useful. But, the bottomline is that you must judge and discern who to befriend. Christians in sheep's clothing hiding evil underneath such as New Age and Occult practices, must be avoided at all cost for the sake of your soul. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Attracting wrong Friendships and Spiritual Practices

Crystal

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Question:

Dear Brother,

I am so grateful for this site! As I have followed the prayers you suggested and I feel so much better and see a lot of improvement in my life.

Although things have improved, for some reason I attract the wrong friendships. Whereas the majority of my friendships in the past had to end because I became stronger in my methods such as Tarot card reading, Reiki, and more.

A few weeks ago, I ended a friendship with a young woman who had a multitude of problems and was into a lot of New Age techniques. Recently I met a woman who is Presbyterian, very nice, talented and just delightful to be around.

As we became acquainted, she revealed to me that to keep herself positive and balanced, she has her chakras aligned, does yoga, and reiki. She suggested for some of the health ailments I have to get my chakras aligned, whereas I told her I was not interested in anything related to New Age techniques because they are anti-Christian.

Shortly after our encounter, I found myself becoming very irritable, had a headache and also questioning my faith and beliefs. This often happens when I encounter individuals who believe in other Spiritual practices not of God.

I would like to develop strong and lasting friendships with others, but I seem to be attracting individuals who are into other religions (Buddhist, Wicca, etc...) or Christians who practice New Age techniques and some who are non-practicing Catholics or just abandoned their faith in general.

Is it a possibility that Satan is sending these types of individuals in my life to disrupt my relationship with God? If so, what can I do about this?

I love and embrace everyone regardless of their faith, as I do not judge. However it seems like the people I attract want to lead me into their Spiritual practices which I do not want.

If you can recommend any prayers or books to read to protect myself and avoid meeting undesirable individuals; as well as any advice on this matter, I would really appreciate it, as I want to continue living righteously in Christ.

Thank you,
God Bless,
Crystal

Question Answered by

Dear Crystal:

It is possible that the devil is sending you these people in hopes that you will be contaminated by their unchristian beliefs and practices.

Even though these people are attracted to you, it is the right thing to do to terminate such friendships even when you later find out something is wrong, like with the Presbyterian woman.

St. Paul instruct us to (1 Cor 5:11) "...not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber--not even to eat with such a one."

The occult, tarot cards, chakras and all that nonsense is a form of idolatry. We are to shun such people when they claim to be Christian yet practice such evil. All such persons who practice such things need to be avoided, but we are to do more than avoid a Christian who does these things, we are to shun them. St. Paul says we are not even to have dinner with them.

The reason you may be getting a headache and such is perhaps a demonic attack, revenge because you will not cooperate and befriend these people.

You do need to judge. To not judge is the devil's teaching, not God's. We are never to judge hearts, we are never to judge hypocritically or with double-standard but we are certainly to judge behavior and ideas. To not do so would place you in great jeopardy and the devil would better be able to trick you. You need to judge, to discern who to befriend. I advise reading the essay, Three Secret Strategies. That essay discusses this issue.

As for prayers, take a look at our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog. There is a Hedge Prayer for Protection and a Rebuking Particular Spirits prayer for times when a particular evil spirit is attacking and many other prayers that you may find useful.

But, the bottomline is that you must judge and discern who to befriend. Christians in sheep's clothing hiding evil underneath such as New Age and Occult practices, must be avoided at all cost for the sake of your soul.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum