What Should Christians Believe about the True Extent of Authentic Demonic Activity?

[Scripture More Accurately]

Scripture plainly records instances of authentic demonic activity in the world. What should Christians therefore believe about the true extent of authentic demonic activity in world history and in our day?

 

[John of Japan]

There are factors not mentioned in the survey: geographical location, situations, culture, etc.

Of these, perhaps culture is most important in modern times. If a tribal culture believes in demons, there will be incidents of possession. For example, in one of my books chronicling a tribal Bible translation effort, the American translator did not believe in demons, but the tribal culture had such a belief. One day the tribal leaders, who were Christian, asked her to come along on an effort to cast out demons. They succeeded, and she became thoroughly convinced that demons were real and did possess humans.

Once in Japan, a young man was pointed out to me as being demon possessed. Japanese Buddhism and Shinto do not usually follow that path, though there are Japanese cults that do so, but he had been playing a role playing game, and decided he wanted the demon in the game to possess him, which it did. He could not be reached at that time, but was remanded to a mental illness facility.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

There are factors not mentioned in the survey: geographical location, situations, culture, etc.

Of these, perhaps culture is most important in modern times. If a tribal culture believes in demons, there will be incidents of possession. For example, in one of my books chronicling a tribal Bible translation effort, the American translator did not believe in demons, but the tribal culture had such a belief. One day the tribal leaders, who were Christian, asked her to come along on an effort to cast out demons. They succeeded, and she became thoroughly convinced that demons were real and did possess humans.

Once in Japan, a young man was pointed out to me as being demon possessed. Japanese Buddhism and Shinto do not usually follow that path, though there are Japanese cults that do so, but he had been playing a role playing game, and decided he wanted the demon in the game to possess him, which it did. He could not be reached at that time, but was remanded to a mental illness facility.

These other factors are certainly relevant.

The accounts that you share are sobering. Thanks for that information. Unfortunately, I have encountered Christians both here on BB and elsewhere who are very skeptical about and dismissive of the notion that much authentic demonic activity takes place at all in our day. They also believe that it has been "relatively rare" throughout human history except for a few periods of intense activity.

I find these beliefs to be completely void of any biblical support and dangerously misguided.

 

[John of Japan]

These other factors are certainly relevant.

The accounts that you share are sobering. Thanks for that information. Unfortunately, I have encountered Christians both here on BB and elsewhere who are very skeptical about and dismissive of the notion that much authentic demonic activity takes place at all in our day. They also believe that it has been "relatively rare" throughout human history except for a few periods of intense activity.

I find these beliefs to be completely void of any biblical support and dangerously misguided.

I agree completely. And, as the USA becomes more and more pagan, we will see more demonic activity.

Having said that, here's a thought. The world's population now is much, much greater than it was in Bible times, therefore the ratio of Satan's forces to the world population is now quite unequal. This means that Satan must pick and choose more than in Bible times when, where, and to whom demon possession happens.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

I agree completely. And, as the USA becomes more and more pagan, we will see more demonic activity.

Having said that, here's a thought. The world's population now is much, much greater than it was in Bible times, therefore the ratio of Satan's forces to the world population is now quite unequal. This means that Satan must pick and choose more than in Bible times when, where, and to whom demon possession happens.

I can see your point in regard to demon possession, but we need to keep in mind that demon possession is only one aspect of authentic demonic activity. Scripture shows that one lying spirit was able to work in hundreds of false prophets (2 Chron. 18:5-23) to be a lying spirit in their mouths! We simply do not have any way to know the true destructive capabilities of Satan and all his demons as they work together to oppose God and destroy humans.

 

[JonC]

Of these, perhaps culture is most important in modern times. If a tribal culture believes in demons, there will be incidents of possession. For example, in one of my books chronicling a tribal Bible translation effort, the American translator did not believe in demons, but the tribal culture had such a belief. One day the tribal leaders, who were Christian, asked her to come along on an effort to cast out demons. They succeeded, and she became thoroughly convinced that demons were real and did possess humans.

A similar thing happened to one of my theology professors in Haiti. He was asked to attend as they confronted a possessed man, left believing that demon possession was real. He said he was asked to help a second day and declined (he felt he could offer no help as, while he believed it was a real demon possession, it was too foreign to his experience).

I believe it challenged his presuppositions. I am pretty sure if we encountered Linda Blair's character, head all spinning backwards, floating to the ceiling, we would find a non-spiritial cause. That is simply the environment in which we live.

I view demonic activity as more subtle, and perhaps that is because of our culture.

 

[John of Japan]

A similar thing happened to one of my theology professors in Haiti. He was asked to attend as they confronted a possessed man, left believing that demon possession was real. He said he was asked to help a second day and declined (he felt he could offer no help as, while he believed it was a real demon possession, it was too foreign to his experience).

I believe it challenged his presuppositions. I am pretty sure if we encountered Linda Blair's character, head all spinning backwards, floating to the ceiling, we would find a non-spiritial cause. That is simply the environment in which we live.

I view demonic activity as more subtle, and perhaps that is because of our culture.

Good post. And of course, our presuppositions must be based on Scripture. There is so much about demons in Scripture it is hard to see how anyone could deny demon possession.

 

[John of Japan]

I can see your point in regard to demon possession, but we need to keep in mind that demon possession is only one aspect of authentic demonic activity. Scripture shows that one lying spirit was able to work in hundreds of false prophets (2 Chron. 18:5-23) to be a lying spirit in their mouths! We simply do not have any way to know the true destructive capabilities of Satan and all his demons as they work together to oppose God and destroy humans.

Good point. And as a missionary in an idolatrous culture, I had to learn that idolatry is really the worship of demons, something I never thought of before seeing idolatry in action.

 

[rockytopva]

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. - Acts 5

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Good point. And as a missionary in an idolatrous culture, I had to learn that idolatry is really the worship of demons, something I never thought of before seeing idolatry in action.

Scripture explicitly says that idolatry is the worship of demons and warns us about having fellowship with demons:

1 Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Such fellowship with demons has pervaded the world for several thousand years and shows that authentic demonic activity in world history has been anything but rare.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. - Acts 5

This passage is very sobering because it does not give us any indication that Ananias knew anything about what Satan had done to his heart and directed him to do. Nor does it indicate to us that Satan actually possessed Ananias to bring about what Ananias did.

Demon possession is not at all necessary for Satan to accomplish his infernal purposes in human lives.

 

[Foxmeister]

Interesting topic. Many Christians seem to believe demonic possession no longer occurs. I disagree with them.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Interesting topic. Many Christians seem to believe demonic possession no longer occurs. I disagree with them.

I find it unfathomable how believers could think that Satan and his demons are hardly active at all in our day.