CAN A CHRISTIAN BE DEMON POSSESSED?

Demon casting is the new doctrine that is influencing the Charismatic wing of Christianity. And the proponents of this new teaching, are commonly known as ‘Deliverance Ministers’ and they believe, and teach that a Christian can be demon possessed, and therefore need regular deliverances. 

Amazingly, they have managed to persuade a large number of professing Christians, to follow their new teaching. Here’s what, one of the prominent ‘Deliverance Ministers’ says:

“There is no verse in Scripture that says, once you receive salvation, you are automatically delivered.” Isaiah Saldivar

This statement, gives us an insight into the deliverance ministers line of thinking. And according to Saldivar’s interpretation of scripture, salvation does not guarantee a Christian protection from Satan’s power.

It is clear to see that they have built their teaching, on a false premise, which leads to an unbiblical practice of demon casting.

There are many problems with this teaching, and many writers and commentators, have dealt with it, but I’m going to highlight a few of the problems.

SPIRIT VS SOUL

Firstly, the deliverance ministers are teaching their followers that both the Holy Spirit, and demons, can cohabit with each other.

They state that demons can be in the soul, whilst the spirit is unaffected. They believe that the soul is the mind, will, and emotions, and the believer’s spirit, is where the Holy Spirit resides.

Although, some sound Christians, believe in a three parts being, (body, soul and spirit) I believe, like many others, that the correct biblical view of man is, body, and spirit, or soul.

The Bible uses soul, and spirit, interchangeably, and the inspired Word of God, through Paul, shows that the spirit is the seat of thought, and decision making, which is also the function of the soul. Furthermore, he grounds his argument in God, who is Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-12, Matthew 10:28, Luke 1:46-47, Proverbs 16:2, Psalm 16:10, Mark 2:8).

We can conclude, from the biblical data that if man, is a two part being, then there is no separate compartment, such as the soul to inhabit a demon.

The other problem with this strange teaching, is that it is impossible, for demons to cohabit with the Holy Spirit. Because, the attribute of God’s holiness is inconceivable, and the gospels shows how fearful the demons were of God’s Son (Mark 1:24, Mark 5:6-10, Matthew 8:29).

CHRISTIANS AND DEMONS 

Although, these points prove the deliverance ministers fallacy, they often cites, the man with the impure spirit in the Synagogue, as a Christian who is demon possessed. 

Again, it looks like this is what the passage means, but a proper examination of the passage, reveal otherwise. The time of Jesus’ ministry, was a transitional period in the history of redemption, and the people were under the old order or covenant (Matthew 5:17-19).

And the purpose of the gospels, or biographies of Jesus, were to reveal who Jesus is, and for us to believe in Him (John 20:31). We understand that the gospels don’t necessarily have direct commands, but spiritual principles to apply in our lives. In saying this, there are a few commands, in the gospels for the Church today (Matthew 28:19-20)

And in the case, for the man with the impure spirit, who was in a synagogue, this does not imply that he was a Christian. Similarly, those who attend church, are not necessarily Christians, but the question is, have you been born of God? (John 3:7). 

Furthermore, the purpose of this passage, was to show Jesus’ power, and authority, over Satan and his kingdom. Another passage that is often quoted, is the parable, Jesus tells of someone being delivered from a demon, and afterwards, many more demons returned on the person, and makes them worse than before (Matthew 12:43-45).

In their twisted minds, the deliverance ministers use this passage, to perform regular deliverances, on their followers, convinced that they are preventing more demons from coming back on them.  Interestingly, this passage meant the opposite, because Jesus was speaking to unbelievers, and they are the ones who are vulnerable to demon possession (Matthew 12:38-42). 

Jesus’ parable, presses the point on those were delivered from demons, and should therefore, seek salvation, so that they may not be overtaken by more demons (Matthew 12:43-45). On a serious note, this aberrant teaching is deceptive, and has put many people’s faith at risk. The reason, why I say this, is because, this teaching has replaced the biblical teaching of sin, for demons.

Moral, physical, and psychological problems, are now demons. The deliverance ministers, teach their followers that the following are demons that can possess a Christian. They are the demons of addiction, anger, eating disorders, intrusive thoughts, racism, cancer, schizophrenia,  lust, cursing, perverted sexual desires, and the list goes on.

Sadly, these sins, and sicknesses, are now classed as demons, and can oppress people as demons. The implication of this, is that, the sinner, is no longer culpable for their sins, but rather the blame is on being oppressed by a demon. This makes people, abstain from taking responsibility for their sinful actions. 

According to the Bible, and the truth of what Christians have believed throughout church history, those who are saved, still battle with sin, and should know that they have an internal civil war ( 1 John 1:8-10, Romans 7:14-25). 

We fight the battle of sin, and we should wage war against sin, with the help of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13, Genesis 4:7).

The New Testament, or the main teachings of the Apostles, commands us to put on the whole armour of God, and to submit to God, then resist the devil, and he will flee from us (Ephesians 6:10-20, James 4:7-8). These are what stated as biblical practices, and not to practice exorcism.

In light of all this, what should we make of the deliverance ministers? Well, they lack basic understanding of the Scriptures, and they are exploiting many, for their own financial gain.

We should pray for them, so that they may repent, and put away their falsehood, and deception, and turn to Christ for forgiveness (1 John 8-10).

GOOD NEWS 

Prior to a Christian’s salvation, they were under the power of Satan, and vulnerable to the influence, and oppression of Satan (Ephesians 2:1-2). 

But the good news is, Christ has completely destroyed the dark kingdom. “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him”. Colossians 2:15 ESV

It is a completed work and there’s nothing a person can do to be saved, except to believe in Jesus Christ. If the demons still have access to believers, then the work of Jesus was not completed on the cross. Can a Christian be demon possessed? Absolutely not. God has brought us from the kingdom of darkness, and into the kingdom of His Son (Colossians 1:13). 

When a person has union with Christ, the devil cannot takeover their life. Jesus has given his people freedom through his work on the cross, and we need to believe and continue in the gospel of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:6-7, Galatians 5:1).

As the apostle Paul warns us, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ”. Colossians 2:8

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