Derailed by Demon-Talk
March 2, 2022.
We live in a rational-based part of the world. Accordingly, things that are too spiritual make most people uncomfortable. Many in the West have unwittingly embraced the Richard Dawkins mantra that all spiritual beliefs are primitive myths that have been made up to explain the unexplainable, but civilization has now outgrown the need for such things. Unfortunately, even Christian leaders have been neutralized by versions of exclusive rationalism, and found it increasingly difficult to talk about things that are too holy or too evil, especially the demonic.
#JesusStories: There is a wonderful move toward Christlike discipleship occurring in this day, in which the developing disciples learn to replicate the actual behaviors of Jesus when he was on earth. This is a refreshing change from having students memorize hoards of bible verses and calling it disciple-making. However, there is one problem with engaging in Jesus’ actual Gospel behaviors – casting out demons. We can easily embrace Jesus’ preaching approaches, his evangelistic mannerisms, and even engaging in his healing prayers. But when it comes to casting out demons, we secretly wish those stories weren’t even in the Gospels. But they are in the Gospels, and in great supply. Whether it is the story about the naked man in the cemetery (Mk. 5), or the young boy who tended to throw himself into the fire (Mt 17), or the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter (Mk. 7), or the other 25 mentions of demons in the Gospels, Jesus was thickly involved in confronting demonic activity. However, the idea of casting out demons makes us queasy; it conjures up images of little green creatures lurking just beyond the periphery of our sight; we don’t want to do it and we don’t want to talk about it. Even though classic theology teaches there are three influences occurring upon the earth: The Carnal, The Holy, and The Evil, most would prefer to ignore the latter and instead focus on the holy interventions of God into the carnal world of man.
Would you be surprised to learn that the idea of ‘demonic possession’ and ‘demonic oppression’ does not occur in the New Testament? In the original texts, only the terms demonized or demonization are used. Possession and oppression are constructs of the latter Catholic Church to quantify the levels of evil at work in ones life. This has huge implications for us. If the people in Bible days were not actually demon-possessed, then Jesus wasn’t doing exorcisms, at least not they are so often portrayed. Rather, he was discerning the influence of evil in someones life, and confronting it in prayer and spiritual authority. I propose that we have been derailed by demon-casting-talk, when Jesus was in the business of confronting the evil influence that was ruining peoples lives. Now I realize that Jesus dealt with extraordinary cases like the incident with the swine; the evil emanating from that confrontation was so great that the pigs preferred to drown then hang around that stuff. Smart pigs. While it is doubtful any of us will experience evil on that level, we will experience evil trying to rise up in us, and in the lives of others. Anytime we are tempted to pick up a $100 laying on someones desk when they are not looking, we know evil is at work; anytime we hear someone lying to cast others in a bad light, we know evil is at work; anytime we see a drug addict stumbling along the sidewalk, we know evil is at work; anytime we see a crime wave roll into our city, we know evil is at work. The presence of evil is not a mystery to us, but we are quite under-practiced at confronting it like our Master did. Do not let the demon-talk derail you in this holy pursuit. As a man or woman of God, stand up in your calling to confront evil whenever you see it ruining lives. Resist the evil one, and he will flee (James 4:7). If we will show up, evil will back up. And in doing so, we will be responding in the same ways now that Jesus did during those 28 encounters listed in the Gospels.
#DinnerChurchQuotes: The Church must see itself as participating in Gods victory over evil. (Darrell Guder)
#PracticalStuff: How is evil ruining people’s lives in your neighborhood? That is a great question for your leadership team to discuss and quantify. Would you then consider writing a corporate prayer to confront that evil? And then pray it? And then make a strategy to pray it often? Where and when? In these way you can participate in the war against the evil that is uprising in your town.
Blessings & Boldness,
Verlon
Dr. Verlon and Melodee Fosner have led a multi-site Assemblies of God Dinner Church in Seattle, Washington since 1999 (www.CommunityDinners.com). In this decade when more churches in the U.S. are declining than thriving, and when ninety-six churches a week are closing, Verlon and Melodee sensed that a different way of doing church was needed for their 100-year old Seattle congregation. It soon became obvious that they were not the only ones in need of a different path. They joined the FX team in 2016 and founded the Dinner Church Collective. And then in 2019 founded the Dinner Church School of Leadership. There is a lot to be gained when church leaders begin to see open doors in the American landscape that they had previously overlooked. Therein lies the journey for those who will forge a new future for the American Church.
Categories: Uncategorized
03.2.22
By: Angel Porubsky
The idea of focusing on the evil influence in our lives is a great point. We have victory over evil and must learn to walk in it and recognize the threats to it. I often wonder if the tendency we (the church) have for treating everything as possession and/or oppression is so we have less accountability for walking in the light of His truth and example of his ways personally?
03.3.22
By: Nathan Shipley
Preach sir!! The sad thing is that witches and warlocks exsist. Demons are real and evil is increasing as the Last days are upon us. We must preach the Gospels in its context. Jesus cast out devils taught his follwers how to do so. Now we have the information and the Holy Ghost power to do so!
03.3.22
By: Kristina
Having a strong Spiritual Gifting of Discernment, I can tell you that there is a lot of evil running amack in all areas, including the church. I have had to learn, very quickly, that there is a godly way of handling this and a very wrong, human way of handling it. Pray is the key to it all.
03.3.22
By: Julie
As soon as I became aware of the real demonic powers happening around me it helped me stop blaming people and calling out the true enemy. It powerfully helped me love others better. Not acknowledging it creates an illusion that flesh and blood is our enemy which Jesus instructed us is not the case. If we are aware, we can call it out and it will flee. I agree most are uncomfortable with this, it Is one of the biggest illusions society accepts to be more comfortable.
03.3.22
By: Brad Andres
The possession / oppression construct to quantify evil is a new realization for me. When we read of Jesus casting out demons, and indeed the disciples too, it seems to me to bring to mind all the individual cases where there was direct discussion with the demon and a immediate confrontation. And of course, the disciples failed attempt at casting out a demon overshadows this. However, I suppose it could be plausible that deliverance, freedom, salvation from demonization could have included scenarios of a less immediate nature, where one prayed and left an individual without immediate realization, however, as time passed, the freedom came through the Spirit of God just the same, and one experiences newfound freedom and life in Christ.
03.3.22
By: Anthony Johnson
It’s amazing to me just how often things are influenced demonically but we can’t/won’t recognize it. We have to be willing to understand that things are far more spiritual than we are typically comfortable with, yet also grasp that these aren’t “possessions” to remove but influences to curb. Evil is far more than what we typically credit it to be and it’s not always found outside of us, but often inside of us as well.
03.4.22
By: Chuck Oblom
Interesting article. Obviously forces of evil are very real; that is the only way to explain the ongoing and powerful presence of evil in this world. It is also logical to assume that if an an all powerful God exists who created the world and established the guidelines for a healthy purposeful life that there is another powerful force that seeks to oppose his work. In our western world we live in a two-tiered approach to the universe, God (if we believe he exists) and human beings and there is no room for spirits, angels or demons. This has been called the law of the excluded middle. The biblical worldview is three-tiered–God, spiritual forces and beings, and our visible physical world.
Certainly we are called to confront evil and the only real to do that is through the power of prayer and the hand of God. But to assume that there is no demonic possession/oppression I believe is to minimize the biblical worldview. During seminary at the Christian and Missionary Alliance school I had a course entitled “The Theology of Power Encounter” looking extensively at this issue biblically. And in a few limited cases have been a part of and seen people delivered from demonic possession/oppression as however you want to term it. However you look at this issue, it is, as Verlon writes, important to confront evil, not in our own power but through the power and efficacy of Jesus Christ.
03.4.22
By: Marion Sortore
Growing up in a progressive church in the North East, I had never been exposed to – or had conversations about living evil. It wasn’t until mission trips to the Dominican Republic and meeting with pastors there and from Cuba that I began to understand demonic evil. Most recently I was fighting for my life in the ER and cried out to God – only to see a black void. That void shocked and terrified me and the thought entered my mind that “God isn’t real – there is only a void”. That thought could have made me give up if I hadn’t known that at our most vulnerable living evil will take advantage of us! I pushed back knowing that Jesus was more present and living in my life and I wouldn’t rent out any space in my mind to the evil one and his minions. Through the power and grace of Jesus I am on the road to recovery.
Still – how to introduce or have the conversations with those who go to church on Sunday because it is what they do…
03.8.22
By: David Dalton
I love the question, “How is evil ruining people’s lives in your neighborhood?” This takes it from a theological discussion to a practical one, one that we can immediately begin to address in prayer and in deed. It is sometimes easy to ignore or rationalize the influence of evil in the world around us. It is also easy to wring our hands in concern over it or to spiritualize it. It is much more helpful prayerfully address it. This is what we are called to do if are to do the works of Christ.
03.11.22
By: David A. Brakke
I like the question presented in the conclusion, “How is evil ruining people’s lives in your neighborhood?” For my city the answer is methamphetamines. I am encouraged by this blog to begin praying about this issue and addressing the evil behind this addiction head on.
04.6.22
By: Jeremy Veninga
The enemy almost always comes disguised as the scriptures put it an “angel of light”. He doesn’t like to be found out as we can see in some of the stories he likes to stay as long as he can. That’s why I believe discernment like Jesus demonstrated is important so we can see through the enemies tactics and recognize him for what he truly does, kills, steals and destroys.
04.30.22
By: daryl miller
I would love to get a hold of a book on how Jesus handled the demonic. I’ve heard extremes. now I just want to hear how the master dealt with them!