THE CHRISTIAN AND THE DEMONIC: Why So Much Disagreement and Misunderstanding?

Memorial Drive 8/18/19 SPIRITUAL WARFARE: The Christian and the Demonic Various Texts TWO PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS … • Spiritual Warfare Is About Our Battle on Three Fronts Ephesians 6:12 Rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, spiritual forces of wickedness Ephesians 2:2-3a Three “fronts” in our spiritual battle: World, flesh, and devil • Godly and Scholarly Men and Women Disagree … WHY IS THERE SO MUCH DISAGREEMENT AND CONFUSION? • A Lack of Clear Instruction Lack of theological training in this area has followed pastors into their pulpits Some make EVERY problem a DEMONIC problem We tend to gravitate toward either negligible concern or absurd over-reaction. • A Misunderstanding Over Biblical Terminology Matthew 8:16 and Mathew 8:28 - “demon-POSSESSED” Problem: “possession” implies ownership Problem: The Greek word we often translate “possession” does NOT include the idea of “ownership” but rather speaks of “being vexed, oppressed, or harassed by a demon Joint-OWNERSHIP of a believer by the Holy Spirit AND a wicked spirit is an impossibility! • Holding to a Two-Tiered View of Demonic-Influence “Possession” (Inside/Indwelling – Non-Christian Only – Able to exercise control at will) Demonic Influence “Oppression” (Attack from outside – Christian – Able only to influence via “fiery arrows”) Where does this “two-tier” approach take us? Carolyn’s Story … Available Options Within the Two-Tier Understanding of the Demonic … • Tell her that she’s not really saved therefore … ◦ She needs to hear and respond to the gospel message and be “saved” • Tell her that the problem isn’t demonic in nature and therefore that … ◦ She simply needs to be more “faithful” in the Christian disciplines (Read your Bible more, or more sincerely. Pray more, or more sincerely (i.e. “Try harder!”) ◦ That her “problem” must be medical and her only hope is through medical care with a physician ◦ That her “problem” might be psychological, and since pastoral and “Christian” counseling has been of no help, she needs to seek professional help with another counselor or psychologist ◦ That, in truth, the “problem” is “in her head” Satan’s first desire … Keep UNBELIEVERS blinded to the gospel – 2 Cor. 4:4 Satan’s second desire … Steal, kill, and destroy - John 10:10 A “spiritual attack” continuum … Examples “fiery arrows”/ temptation ------- “sifting like wheat” -------- harassing spirit -------- ??? Ephesians 6:16 Luke 22:31 2 Cor. 12:7 • Scripture Simply Doesn’t Definitively Answer the Question I believe that the conclusion that “the Christian can’t really have a serious problem with the demonic” comes from how we view IMPLICATIONS we DRAW from Scripture rather than any DECLARATION of Scripture to the contrary. I John 4:4 Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world … Implication? I Jn 5:18 (Christ) keeps him and the evil one does not touch him … Implication? • A Faulty (and Perhaps Unbiblical) Syllogism Premise 1: Every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Premise 2: The Holy Spirit wouldn’t/couldn’t indwell an individual where a demonic spirit is either in residence or is exercising significant influence. Conclusion: A Christian can’t be INDWELT by a wicked spirit or SIGNIFICANTLY under the influence of a demonic spirit. So where do we go from here? What are we going to do when we come into a situation where one that we sincerely believe is a born-again Christian and yet, we see significant indicators that their problem is demonic? DOES Scripture give us SOME help? Next Week: What Does Scripture Say?