Can Christians become demon-possessed?
No. Let's begin by defining demon possession. This phenomenon involves:
"A demon residing in a person, exerting direct control and influence over that person, with certain derangement of mind and/or body. Demon possession is to be distinguished from demon influence or demon activity in a relation to a person. The wok of the
Demon in the latter is from the outside; in demon possession It is from within."*
Now, according to the definition given above, a Christian cannot be possessed by a demon since he is perpetually indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). I like he way Walter martin once put it. He said that when the devil knocks on the door of the Christian’s heart, the Holy Spirit opens it and says, “Get lost!”
Interestingly, there is not single instance in Scripture of a Christian being said to be demon-possessed. For sure, there are examples of Christians being
afflicted by the devil – but not
possessed by the devil.
Christians have been delivered from Satan’s domain. As Colossians 1:13 puts it, Christ “ha rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Furthermore, we must remember that “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). This statement would not make much sense if Christians could be possessed by the devil.
Having said this, however, we must acknowledge that even though a Christian cannot be possessed, he can nevertheless be oppressed or influenced by demonic powers (see Job 1-2). But the oppression or influence is
external to the Christian, not internal. The demons seek to work
from out-side the Christian to hinder him; they do not work
from within him.
*Charles C. Ryrie, citied in Paul Enns,
The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago: Moody Press, 1989), p.298.
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A Comparision between someone possessed and someone who is schizophrenic?
Reaction towards Christianity:
Possessed: Aversion
Schizophrenic: Devout acceptance
(Demons want nothing to do with Christ. Conversely, people with neurobiological disorder are often devoutly religious.)
Conversations with others:
Possessed: Rational
Schizophrenic: Disconnected; may jump between topics
(In New Testament accounts involving demons, the demons spoke in a rational manner. Untreated people with schizophrenia will often speak in nonsense and jump rapidly between unrelated topics.)
Knowledge:
Possessed: Beyond that obtained by normal learning
Schizophrenic: Obtained by normal learning
(Demons in the New Testament would speak through people to convey knowledge that otherwise could not have been known to the possessed individuals. Those with NBD have no such ability to know facts which they have not acquired by normal learning.)
Effects on other people
Possessed: Paranormal effects: poltergeist, levitation, mental telepathy, etc.
Schizophrenic: None
(There is an aspect to demon activity that is just plain spooky (ex.: poltergeists, levitation's, trances, telepathy). These have an impact on others in the room not just the possessed. With schizophrenia, the effect of the disorder is only on the disordered, not others.)
Admit to being possessed?
Possessed: No voluntary admission
Schizophrenic: Admission possible
(Authors who have clinical experience both with demon possession and mental illness, believe those who claim to be possessed are very likely not possessed. Demons wish to be secretive and do not voluntarily claim to be present.)
Cured or alleviated by:
Possessed: Prayer
Schizophrenic: Therapy, medication
(If prayer solves the problem, then it was probably not schizophrenia. If medicine helps alleviate the problem, it was not demon possession.)
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Just saw the movie "The Exorcism of Emily Rose". What is your take on that?
Check out the sister site, entitled
"Claims of the Supernatural"
