QUESTION RECEIVED:
Question: In my church we practice casting out demons . Is
this wrong?
MY ANSWER:
The standard answer is –yes-cast out demons. They make horrible pets.
Clearly demons and the devil are real by witness of the New
Testament.
The New Testament gives account of demons being cast out by
Jesus and His followers.
Today some Christians feel that this time of demon possession
is past.
Demon possession and the casting out of demons in today’s
church in America is not talked about outside of Pentecostal or Charismatic
churches.
Here are three views of demon possession and casting out
demons (exorcism)..
1)
Some Christians will say demon possession and
casting out of demons was from a prior dispensation that has ceased (cessationistt
theology) .
2)
Demon possession happens all the time and demons
need to be cast by church members on a regular basis. (The extreme actions of some churches make
some Christians concerned about abuse of this practice.)
3)
Yes there are cases today of demon possession. We need an accurate biblical response
Demons were thrown out under the power
of Christ and not under the persons authority in the New Testament.
I have no experience or witness in my life of
this happening.
I would hate to participate in a
side-show made up by scoundrels to draw a crowd and dishonor Christ.
I would hate also not to aid a
person in an act of biblically based Christian service.
Read these New Testament verses that
are some of many that describe taking on evil on earth.
Jesus describes the occurrence of
demon activity in humans.
Matthew 12:43-45 ESV
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a
person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then
it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it
finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it
seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and
the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with
this evil generation.”
James the half-brother of Jesus instructs
us how to make the devil flee from us.
James 4:7 ESV
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist
the devil, and he will flee from you.
Paul tells us spiritual warfare is
real and to prepare for it.
Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the
strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic
powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore,
having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of
righteousness, ...
Paul says we have an evil advisory on
this planet.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary
the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Jesus equipped his followers to take
authority over demon activity.
Luke 10:17 ESV
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying,
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
Paul did cast out demons after the
resurrection.
Acts 16:16-18 ESV
As we were going to the place of prayer, we
were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners
much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men
are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”
And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed,
turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to
come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
One day Christ will cast the devil
and his angels into the lake of fire.
Revelation 12:7-9 ESV
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his
angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,
but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And
the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil
and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and
his angels were thrown down with him.
Do you have authority to cast out
demons?
Acts 19:13-16 ESV
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists
undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits,
saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish
high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them,
“Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was
the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so
that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Readers -your thoughts?
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