It is sad that I can say the following without any real backlash: it goes without saying that Christianity in this part of the world is extremely shallow. Who will really argue with that? Everywhere I’ve been, Bible College, Seminary, all kinds of churches from different countries, it is a given that Western forms of Christianity are on the outs because it is so weak. I know non-Christians agree to this, it is the fact that so many Christians do that blows me away. Many agree to this and do relatively nothing different. Then there are those who do actually do something, but forgot to read Matthew 7 about doing things in Christ’s name but being rejected in the judgment because He won’t know them, meaning that somehow Christ was left out of what they were doing. They become more socially active, they sing at “worship services” more emotionally, they talk about God more, they go to church regularly and so on. Yet they ignore Christ, and there still is a general consensus, where I’ve been, who I’ve talked to, what I’m reading, that we are weak beyond measure.
So, I’ve thrown my fit, now what. Well, I just felt the need to try to at least destroy one area of shallowness in an effort to help my readers along the way to becoming more of the solution than the problem of Western Christianity. Since this topic is largely mis-taught, and since I’ve been dealing with them this morning, I’ve decided to do a little ditty on demons. Please note that I chose to write about Christ and His Kingdom before this (For more information on current problems in Western Christianity dealing with Christ, see “Jesus Christ is God” on the Basmati House Review). The lack of understanding surrounding those topics results in the lack of this one, and the former are far more essential for deep faith.
What does the Bible say? That question has increasingly become a good one, not because the Bible has gained in value, but because no one knows how valuable it is anymore. When I say no one, I mean few Christians really know or want to know what the Bible has to say on any given topic in any amount of definitive detail.
Demons are real: Scripture assumes the reality of demons
- Jesus affirms their existence and establishes the fact that He has authority over them by casting them out.
Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. [Matthew 12:22-29]
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” [...] Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. [Matthew 15:22, 28]
- Jesus expects His followers to have faith to deal with demons.
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [Matthew 17:14-20]
The rest of the New Testament references demons more than a hundred times including the times they are called angels and spirits. A few noteworthy passages include the following:
- Demons know who Jesus is.
“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” [Mark 1:24]
- They know their eventual doom.
“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” [Matthew 8:29]
- They are monotheistic.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. [James 2:19]
- They develop and promote doctrines/teachings contrary to the Bible (you should read it to know the difference).
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. [1 Timothy 4:1-2]
- They have superhuman strength.
When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. [Mark 5:2-5]
- Whether or not a person can effectively deal with all demons depends on their relationship with Christ. (In this case, these Jews did not really believe Jesus was God, and were just using His name as a tool. This can even be done by false Christians who believe Jesus is God but do not have a relationship with Him, e.i. Matthew 7:21-23).
Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. (One day) the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. [Acts 19:13-17]
The Old Testament refers to demons in relation to idol worship, such as in Deuteronomy 32:17 and Psalm 106:37. Note that these passages deal with Israel, God’s own people. Behind ever idol, that is everything worshiped other than the one true God, there is demonic activity.
Other notable attributes include that Satan is the prince of demon’s, Matt. 12:24 (wouldn’t want to leave him out); they oppose God’s plans (Dan. 10:10-14), but can be used by Him for His purposes, Judg. 9:23, 1 Sam. 16:14, 1 Kings 22:22, 2 Cor. 12:7. They promote idolatry, OT references, 1 Cor. 10:20. They promote a worthless version of a savior and a salvation by works and not God’s grace, 1 Tim. 3:16-4:3, 1 John 4:1-4. They afflict, pervert and posses people, just read the NT.
For some information regarding my own experiences in this area, refer to “Christian Warfare” in “Crossing KCU.”
It is no wonder Christianity is weak in its affluent Western form, we worshiping demons at every turn with our wealth which we idolize, our knowledge which we depend on, and our pride. By using West here it has more of a cultural meaning than a geographic one. Even in India, I saw some affluent Christians totally out of touch with the Gospel, not willing to give up their place of privilege for the sake of thousands of unreached people groups, some who don’t have Bibles in their language. There are some Christians who don’t even believe in demons, or at least that we have anything to do with them. I don’t even know what to say anymore. Just give me the person who prays and you can take the one who votes. Give me the person sold on reading scripture and you take the social activist. Give me the person willing to die for the Gospel message and you take the Bible College graduate. Give me those who see the Kingdom of God as existing within the kingdoms of man and by extension Satan’s kingdom, who will fast and pray, failing all the time, but concerned only for God’s glory, and you take the Republican Party. Give me those wanting to show Christ to the illegal aliens regardless of what the government is doing, who want to show Christ to the abortionists and those pro-choice regardless of government policy. Give me those who believe in life before conception (Jer. 1:5), and you take the biology expert. I want those who know they’re in a war, who live like they’re in a battle, who know they will die without Christ, who know they’re already dead in Christ, who could sell everything they had if called to, go anywhere on earth, die any kind of death because they love their Bibles, their Church and especially their Leader Jesus Christ.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. [Ephesians 6:10-20]
