reckoned with
What is demon possession? Can a Christian be
demon possessed?
By ROLAND CHIA
DEMON POSSESSION is a
phenomenon that is increasingly dismissed not only by secular
psychiatrists and psychologists but also by some Christian counsellors.
The reasons for this are the influence of the scientific worldview,
and the anti-supernaturalism that has subtly clouded the thinking
of some Christians.
The Gospels, however, contain numerous accounts of the phenomenon.
The Christian who takes the Bible seriously cannot deny that it
witnesses to the fact that Satan and his demonic hordes are realities
to be reckoned with. Theologians and pastors throughout the history
of the Church have testified to the reality of demon possession.
The Church has traditionally defined three levels of demonic influence:
temptation, oppression and possession. Temptation is the term
used to describe the influence that could lead the person to sin.
Oppression describes a stronger demonic influence and is often
the result of deliberate sin that is repeatedly committed over
a period of time. Although this condition can result in psychical
disturbances, it must be distinguished from possession.
When oppression is due to deliberate sin, repentance, confession,
together with pastoral support and counselling are needed to enable
the person to recover. Sometimes persons who experience severe
oppression may think that they are possessed by demons. It takes
an experienced counsellor with the gift of spiritual discernment
to distinguish between severe oppression and possession.
In his book entitled, Demons in the World Today, Merrill Unger
defines demonic possession as "a condition in which one or
more evil spirits or demons inhabit the body of the human being
and can take complete control of their victim at will". The
condition of the afflicted person can vary very significantly,
from changes in personality and behaviour to violent fits similar
to those associated with epilepsy and hysteria.
Exorcists have also noted that persons afflicted by this condition
sometimes display inexplicable abilities, like superior knowledge
or the ability to speak a language that he or she has not learnt.
Psychiatrists often call this condition the "possession syndrome".
What are the causes of demon possession? Theologians and counsellors
maintain that a person may be demon possessed if he or she persists
in flagrant sin and acts of depravity and evil. Another cause
of possession that is consistently highlighted in the literature
is involvement in the occult.
For example, in his book, Occult Bondage and Deliverance, German
theologian and counsellor Kurt Koch writes: "In my forty
years of Christian work, and as a result of having counselled
something in the region of 20,000 individual people, I have personally
come across thousands of cases in which it was the contact with
occultism that was the root cause of the problem, and the oppression
that was the direct result of this contact."
Christian writers have different views regarding whether Christians
can be possessed by demons. Mark I. Bubeck, C. Fred Dickason,
Kurt Koch and Merill Unger have given examples of Christians who
have been diagnosed as suffering from demon possession or "demonisation".
Popular writers from the charismatic movement like Charles Kraft,
John Wimber, C. Peter Wagner and Derek Prince are also in support
of this view.
There are, however, writers like Steve Carter who maintain that
it is impossible for believers to be possessed by demons. The
Assemblies of God (AOG) also teach that born-again believers cannot
be afflicted by demons in this way.
Those who insist that Christians can be possessed by demons often
argue from experience. People like John Wimber and Derek Prince,
for example, would maintain that they have encountered and ministered
to numerous Christians who are demonised. Merrill Unger, whose
demonology is otherwise solidly based on the Bible, has also argued
from experience with respect to the demonisation of Christians.
In 1969, Unger argued in his book Biblical Demonology that believers
could not be demon possessed. Since the publication of that book,
however, he received many letters from missionaries that provided
anecdotal evidences of Christians who are demon possessed, and
this had caused him to change his mind. In Demons in the World
Today (seventh printing, 1986), Unger concedes that "the
claims of these missionaries are valid".
Demon possession is an extreme form of demonic attack
on the individual and is therefore very rare. Theologians and
Christian exorcists generally are agreed that the committed Christian
who faithfully seeks to honour and serve God will not be subjected
to demon possession. The Christian is a child of God, who has
been brought out of darkness of sin and death into the light of
God's salvation. He or she is filled with the Spirit of God, and
his or her body is therefore the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Although the Christian continues to struggle with temptation and
sin, the Christian who walks in obedience and who has the desire
to serve God could not be possessed by a demon. In this sense,
the official teaching of the AOG churches on this is sound.
But theologians and Christian counsellors who minister to the
demonised also warn that believers who persist in flagrant sin
like sexual promiscuity and those who are involved in the occult
may open the door to more aggressive demonic activities in their
lives. There are numerous documented cases of people who professed
to be Christians and yet are subjected to the demonic activity
that could result in possession. It is not enough to be a Christian
in name only. The person who claims to have faith in Christ must
continually be obedient to his Word and yielded to the Spirit
of God.
Dr Roland Chia is Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Lecturer
in Historical and Systematic Theology at Trinity Theological College.
He worships at the Fairfield Preaching Point in Woodlands.
QUOTE:
'Although the Christian continues to struggle with temptation and sin, the Christian who walks in obedience and who has the desire to serve God could not be possessed by a demon.'