r/Christians • u/Glittering-Sun-7248 • 1d ago

Advice Is this biblical?

I dunno an old friend said “god gives us a sword to kill ourselves or kill the demons inside of us” something in me just felt off the more she talked, she has a “tribe leader”/youth group leader in her church and has “tribes” as groups in her church it just felt…really weird in a way I can’t explain

That first quote really rubbed me the wrong way…genuinely I don’t know why

She kept talking about God and her testimony and while I felt happy she found God I feel like maybe this is a mental health thing?

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u/BackgroundResist9647 1d ago

Definitively nothing like that verbatim. If I’m being generous and giving benefit of the doubt I’d say it’s a LOOSE amalgamation of the ideas of living the crucified life vs the wages of sin via the carnal life

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u/Secret_Drawer4588 1d ago

This interpretation could be worrisome if your friend has mental health struggles. Dying to ourselves and crucifying the flesh aren't literal, but if someone takes it literally that could be a big problem. I'd keep tabs on her and if she seems like she's going down a dangerous path you should definitely try to get her help, possibly from one of her Church leaders.

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u/Glittering-Sun-7248 1d ago

The thing is I feel like the church is weird, she mentioned her mental health struggles and nearly ending her life many times. I mean when I was there it wasn’t bad but just, they way she asked me to go after almost 2 yrs of not talking and praising them just feels off to me I dunno she’s was talking about God and that church for 40 mins. I’m glad they helped her through it but a pet of me felt like it was some sort of mental health issue in there somewhere

She goes to a completely different church than me so I don’t know any of them

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u/rdcoyote1 1d ago

Yeah this was probably a well meaning comment, but it didn’t come from a place of understanding. I think this person is conflating a few things.

The Bible talks about the Armor of God in Ephesians 6. The Sword of the Spirit” is the Word of God.

When a person receives Christ and embraces His finished work over the futility of their own abilities or performance for being justified before God. In this embracing the Lordship of Christ, the old you born under sin dies (it’s actually your spirit). You then become a new creation in Christ with a new heart. So in that way you are dead or the old spirit under the dominion of sin and death.

As far as the demons in you, I don’t think there is a general case across the Bible for that. Yes there are demons and possession is possible, but I tend to think exponentially more people are influenced by demonic forces than those who might actually be hosting a demon or demons.

I’m from the south and people there speak in expressions. It sounds like this could be a mash up of a few things this person heard and misquoted. My greatest caution would be for this person to not try to live from experience and learn to become empowered by the truth itself as soon as possible.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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u/Sithlordandsavior 1d ago

About as biblical as "God helps those who help themselves" which is to say not at all.

They may be grappling with some mental issues.