It's either God or Satan

"You are a Satanist! you have never been Pentecostal! otherwise there is no way you would run mad to such levels."

If I was given a dollar for every time I have heard this phrase and its many variations  I'd be a millionnaire! It's funny but atheists that have never been theists nor had enough interest to delve deeply into what it is that Christians believe, seem to not get the reason why Christians make silly nonsensical statements like the one made above. In this post I will explain the why by utilizing the scriptures and trying to expose the mentality of the theists as a result of what the scriptures have to say on this matter. 

Anyone who knows anything about atheism will know that we don't believe in God, gods, angels, demons, heaven, hell, or even Satan. So making such a statement demonstrates two things: the Christians ignorance about atheism and their deep indoctrination due to their religious zeal. But there is a reasonable explanation for why theists call us Satan worshipers and often threaten us with the fires of hell. 

This applies to all concepts of gods! 

 

"Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'The potter has no hands'? Isaiah 45:9

 

But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?" Romans 9:20

The cardinal rule of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is that God's word is absolute, and that you as his servant have no right nor business to question it. In other words Yahweh does as he pleases and he has no obligation because of who he is to give an explanation to anyone for his actions. Taking this into consideration all of those arguments atheists and agnostics make about the many murders and atrocities that have been attributed to God in the Bible are from the believers perspective invalid. That is also why the argument from evil has no basis in Christian theology or apologetics since theists believe that you basically don't question God. 

 

 

The ten commandments

Note that the first four commandments have absolutely nothing to do with how to live but rather with how one should worship only Yahweh. The very purpose of mans existence on this earth is to worship God. Worshiping God and being forever thankful for your existence is the supreme purpose of every man, woman, and child on earth. 

15See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. Deuteronomy 30:15-16 

19This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live Deuteronomy 30:19 

According to the scriptures this was Moses addressing the ancient Hebrews before they crossed the Jordan into the so called land of their inheritance. The choice back then was to serve the Lord and choose life or to disobey God and choose death. This has not changed for the Christians either and these are the terms of both the old covenant and the so called new covenant in Christ. 

16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18 

As you can see in the above citation the rules have not changed. The only change is that you must now acknowledge Christ as the redeemer of mankind. As stated in the O.T. citations you are given a choice between life and death which is the same as condemnation. From the beginning God begins by laying down the law in the form of commandments which require that you love and worship only him and ends with the the threat of what disobedience to him entails. Basically God says worship me or die! Quite simply put without all of the theological flourishes and platitudes about how much he loves us.

22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22-23

Even in Christianity the choice is life or death. Choose to worship and submit to the will of the creator and live or disobey God and die in your rebellion for the opposite of submission is rebellion. It is interesting in the verse cited above that the term "slaves" of God is used. Christians you are not in a father son relationship with God your are in a master slave/servant relationship. He is the potter and you are the clay. In other words, you are also his property just like an earthly master owned his slaves that he purchased with his money, Christ has purchased you with his blood. 

22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22

11But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12

...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22

The literal translation of the Greek for Satan is adversary or the adversary here is the entry on Satan in Strong's Concordance:

Original Word: Σατανᾶς, ᾶ, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Satanas
Phonetic Spelling: (sat-an-as')
Short Definition: an adversary, Satan
Definition: an adversary, Satan.

The word adversay can also be defined as an enemy and thus taking this definition literally all those that do not submit to the will of God are by default his enemies and thus followers of Satan. So in a sense as nonbelievers we are Satanists although we don't believe that Satan as the personification of evil exists. At least this is how the theistic mind sees it. 

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

Adultery usually refers to a married man or woman as being unfaithful to their partner. But in this sense we are considered adulterers because we are unfaithful to God in that we prefer the real world over fantastical delusions. So there you have it! This is why Christians often call us Satanist or followers of Satan. In their minds there are only two choices you serve God or you serve his adversary Satan. 

Note: All biblical citations are taken from the New International Version of the scriptures 

The definition of Satan is taken from Strong's Concordance.