Last week, The Daily Mail reported that the Roman Catholic diocese in Milan, Italy, set up an exorcist hotline to cope with the growing demand for assistance in dealing with potential cases of demonic possession. People calling the hotline can schedule a visit from one of a team of twelve priests on call to deal with emergency exorcisms. The task force leader, Monsignor Mascheroni, said that the most important role of the diocese’s team was “listening and consolation,” adding that instances of “real diabolical phenomena” were rare. Further, Monsignor Mascheroni said that psychiatric disorders were more likely to be to blame for truly unusual behavior than demon possession.
Particularly for many Christians in the United States and in the West, we often think that the entire question of demon possession is merely a strange phenomenon that, at best, could have been valid in Bible times, or, at least, was the “myth” that sought to explain certain phenomenon in the ancient world and other less enlightened ages. Today, some Christians, if we think about the topic at all, consider the concept of demon possession to be superseded by our more advanced knowledge of psychology and psychiatry. But is it really? After all, when was the last sermon you heard that dealt with demon possession, or even satan? And if you heard a missionary speak at your church about exorcisms, wouldn’t many of us feel uncomfortable? It has been many years since a compilation of demon experiences has been published. The last one I know about, Demon Experiences in Many Lands, was published in 1960, but is now in the public domain and available here:
http://baptistbiblebelievers.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6de69dYYLTQ%3d&tabid=360&mid=1167
But if these things are in fact going on today, and not merely in the Milan area, then should not the Church be aware of them? And a shocking question for our modern ears to hear: Could there be some instances that might seem to be mental health problems or addictions that can be better relieved by prayer than by modern medicine or psychotherapy?
Here is an incident from Palestine that some of my readers have heard before, but it might merit another thoughtful look:
And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.” Mark 5:1-13.
It is an intriguing question for modern Christians, don’t you think? Does a Christian really have the option to say that evil only comes from an imbalance of chemicals in the brain? But I would be cautious about dismissing the existence of intelligent supernatural evil in the 21st century. After all, Jesus believed in a real devil and fought against him, and continues to do the same in our world as well.
I would attest to the fact that demons not only exist, but are expelled by the name and blood of Jesus Christ. I serve a three point parish, and have seen demonic activity first hand, as well as the deliverances from them. I have also found tow things that might be of interest. First, there are demons attached to sexual sins and pornography which often have to be dealt with if the person caught up in them desires to be completely free. Secondly, it seems odd but I have found people in this area who actually would rather live with the demons than be free. This is instructive, because I find that like sin itself, there is no way out except through repentance, confession, renouncing evil, and putting complete faith in the Savior. There is no sense trying to deliver anyone who desires to stay in bondage, just as there is no sense speaking the words of absolution over one who intends to keep on in his or her sins.
I find it interesting that the translation chosen for Mark 5 is the KJ, because all the modern versions have shied away from translating “proskuneo” as “worship.” This is very meaningful because it reveals that even in a worst case scenario — being inhabited by a legion of demons — the will may still turn to God in worship. The term “demon possession” is unfortunate and actually unscriptural. In the Greek there are basically two constructions: “daimonizomai” which might best be translated “demonized” and a simple verb form “exonta daimon” — “having a demon.” In other words the human possesses the demon, not the other way around. Demons primarily work through deception, convincing the man or woman that the demon’s will is their real desire. But this leads to increasing bondage and misery, rather than the freedom and pleasure initially promised. The Gadarene demoniac, who cut himself with stones and wailed through the night was beginning to recognize his true state when Jesus came to him. His worship was a true recognition of Jesus’ holiness combined with a revulsion for the character of the demonic personalities who had become his all too familiar companions.
I am slightly confused and would like some clarification.
The 1 John 4:2 says that “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God”
But the unclean spirit in Mark does acknowledges Jesus: “What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? “
@Gian:
The two passages are not true contradictions because they are couched in two very different contexts. The Markan passage has a demon who recognizes its Lord – mere intellection producing fear; the Johannine passage is discussing teachers who do not confess the Incarnation, i.e. heretics who deny the Faith. The former case is a devil exposed to the Light; the latter is deception exposed to the Light.