Did the devil make you do it or did you?
 |
| Gustave Doré, Depiction of Satan, the antagonist of John Milton's Paradise Lost c. 1866 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
For example, some Christians believe there is particular demon that causes a particular sins. There is, they say, a demon of alcohol, a demon of depression, a demon of tobacco, and so on. Others believe the rise across the world in the last few years, for demanding the sin of homosexual marriage an affront to God, is driven by demonic forces worldwide or combined with human sin? Is this a correct way of looking at the rise of a obvious sin? The level of arrogance, the quickness to call everybody a bigot who disagrees with the homosexual agenda is it possible a direct challenge against God by Satan using sinful humans? Or is it the culmination of sin?
Others say we can recognize the departure of a demon from a human soul by a manifest sign that is linked to the particular point of bondage. A sigh, for example, indicates the departure of the demon of tobacco. Since the tobacco demon enters with the inhalation of smoke, he leaves with an audible exhale. Likewise, vomiting may be the sign of departure of the demon of alcohol. There are demons for every conceivable sin.
The problem is that nowhere in Scripture is there the slightest hint of demonic diagnosis. Do these teachings cross the line into the sphere of magic and result in serious harm to believers who are duped by them? Sadly, too much concern with Satan and demons may mean that we focus less of our attention on Christ. Were the demon possessed pigs that jumped off the cliff in Jesus day, responsible for homosexual and youth suicides?
The Scriptures indicate that Satan can oppress us, assault us, tempt us, slander us, and accuse us. The question is how are these defined? What method was used by Satan in 1550 is not likely to be used today. But a Christian who is indwelled by the Holy Spirit cannot be possessed by a demon. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17). If a person indwelled by the Holy Spirit can at the same time be sovereignly controlled by an evil spirit, then our redemption is meaningless.
All this emphasis on Satan and demons tends to distract us from another very real menace, our own sin. Yes, there is a Devil. There are real demons. But there is also the reality of sin. Satan may be our accomplice in our ongoing sin, but we cannot pass the blame and responsibility for our sin to a controlling demon. We do not have to be possessed by a demon to get drunk. But we can be inticed by friends the culture the media to drink ourselves into oblivion. There is enough abiding wickedness in us to do it all by ourselves. We can never say, "The Devil made me do it." We can say that we are tempted, incited, or seduced by Satan, but not that we (Christians) are controlled or coerced by him.
There are two serious problems with the view that (all) our sins are the result of controlling demons. The first is that we yield to the temptation to take no personal responsibility for our sin. How can we be responsible if in fact we are not able to resist? Second, we are lured into thinking that we are powerless without the aid of the deliverance minister. We are encouraged to think that we are not really guilty and that we are actually helpless without a minister with special powers of deliverance. This negates the entire biblical concept of sanctification. It is surely unbiblical to teach that we cannot lead lives pleasing to God unless some so-called expert on deliverance comes to our side. Therefore, I say with all urgency that believers must turn away from those who teach such things.
The problem is that nowhere in Scripture is there the slightest hint of demonic diagnosis. Do these teachings cross the line into the sphere of magic and result in serious harm to believers who are duped by them? Sadly, too much concern with Satan and demons may mean that we focus less of our attention on Christ. Were the demon possessed pigs that jumped off the cliff in Jesus day, responsible for homosexual and youth suicides?
The Scriptures indicate that Satan can oppress us, assault us, tempt us, slander us, and accuse us. The question is how are these defined? What method was used by Satan in 1550 is not likely to be used today. But a Christian who is indwelled by the Holy Spirit cannot be possessed by a demon. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17). If a person indwelled by the Holy Spirit can at the same time be sovereignly controlled by an evil spirit, then our redemption is meaningless.
All this emphasis on Satan and demons tends to distract us from another very real menace, our own sin. Yes, there is a Devil. There are real demons. But there is also the reality of sin. Satan may be our accomplice in our ongoing sin, but we cannot pass the blame and responsibility for our sin to a controlling demon. We do not have to be possessed by a demon to get drunk. But we can be inticed by friends the culture the media to drink ourselves into oblivion. There is enough abiding wickedness in us to do it all by ourselves. We can never say, "The Devil made me do it." We can say that we are tempted, incited, or seduced by Satan, but not that we (Christians) are controlled or coerced by him.
There are two serious problems with the view that (all) our sins are the result of controlling demons. The first is that we yield to the temptation to take no personal responsibility for our sin. How can we be responsible if in fact we are not able to resist? Second, we are lured into thinking that we are powerless without the aid of the deliverance minister. We are encouraged to think that we are not really guilty and that we are actually helpless without a minister with special powers of deliverance. This negates the entire biblical concept of sanctification. It is surely unbiblical to teach that we cannot lead lives pleasing to God unless some so-called expert on deliverance comes to our side. Therefore, I say with all urgency that believers must turn away from those who teach such things.
