“The devil made me do it!” so the saying goes. But how applicable is this to Christians? Can Christians really be demon possessed?
The increased public awareness of satanic activities has sparked a renewed interest on the issue of demonic beings and their power over Christians. Today, there exist scores of so-called “deliverance” ministries which seek to “exorcise” or cast demons out of born-again believers. Such ministries are built upon the false premise that Christians can be “demonized” or “demonically possessed.” In fact, in many cases you are instructed to bring along a “barf bag” so that you can vomit up your demons — such demons as “cancer,” or “lust.” Obviously, one of the great dangers in this is that it leads you to believe that you have solved a problem in your life, which in truth, you’ve never really dealt with at all.
Now, there can be no doubt that the Bible affirms the reality of demonic beings. In fact, passages like Mark 5 and Acts 16 amply demonstrate that demons are capable of taking complete control over the will of an individual. But does the Bible teach that Christians are also vulnerable to actual demonic possession?
Scripture tells us that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. Though they have already been defeated by Christ’s death and resurrection, Satan and his minions do continue to wage war against the saints. (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Pet. 5:8-9).
However, 1 Corinthians 6 declares that the body of the Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, John 14 makes it clear that believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. To conclude, therefore, that Christians can be demonized is to admit that demons can inhabit the very temple of God Almighty. Satan and his demons can bug you, harass you, and even dominate your desires and influence your conduct, actions and habits, but they cannot possess you.
Yes, we must realize that our warfare is not against flesh and blood but, rather, against principalities and powers of darkness (Eph 6:12). That is precisely why we are told to put on the full armor of God. (Eph 6:11; Jas. 4:7). However, we can say with confidence that victory has already been won and no Christian can be “demon-possessed.”
The increased public awareness of satanic activities has sparked a renewed interest on the issue of demonic beings and their power over Christians. Today, there exist scores of so-called “deliverance” ministries which seek to “exorcise” or cast demons out of born-again believers. Such ministries are built upon the false premise that Christians can be “demonized” or “demonically possessed.” In fact, in many cases you are instructed to bring along a “barf bag” so that you can vomit up your demons — such demons as “cancer,” or “lust.” Obviously, one of the great dangers in this is that it leads you to believe that you have solved a problem in your life, which in truth, you’ve never really dealt with at all.
Now, there can be no doubt that the Bible affirms the reality of demonic beings. In fact, passages like Mark 5 and Acts 16 amply demonstrate that demons are capable of taking complete control over the will of an individual. But does the Bible teach that Christians are also vulnerable to actual demonic possession?
Scripture tells us that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. Though they have already been defeated by Christ’s death and resurrection, Satan and his minions do continue to wage war against the saints. (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Pet. 5:8-9).
However, 1 Corinthians 6 declares that the body of the Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, John 14 makes it clear that believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. To conclude, therefore, that Christians can be demonized is to admit that demons can inhabit the very temple of God Almighty. Satan and his demons can bug you, harass you, and even dominate your desires and influence your conduct, actions and habits, but they cannot possess you.
Yes, we must realize that our warfare is not against flesh and blood but, rather, against principalities and powers of darkness (Eph 6:12). That is precisely why we are told to put on the full armor of God. (Eph 6:11; Jas. 4:7). However, we can say with confidence that victory has already been won and no Christian can be “demon-possessed.”
As God’s Word triumphantly proclaims, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
