In a doctoral class I’m taking through Biola on spiritual warfare taught by Dr. Thomas Sappington, this week’s readings and discussion focused on the controversial issue of if Christians can be demonized. The word “demonized” is used, as opposed to “possessed” because it is closer to the actual Greek word used in the New Testament to describe demonic activity and influence in a person’s life. Here was my reply to that question:

Can believers be demonized? This is a huge, controversial topic that I will not do justice to in this brief posting. I want to make clear that I am on the front end of exploring these issues, so take my words as the “words of Eric” and not “the word of the Lord.”

Most Christians would agree that evil forces attack believers externally. Jesus was “afflicted” or struggled against evil forces (Matt.4:1-10). There are numerous biblical accounts and passages that indicate demonic forces exert external influence on the follower of God. This point is not highly debated. But can a follower of God be indwelt, controlled and possessed from within by demonic forces?

Definitions of terminology are critically important, as Sappington notes (n.d. ch.6). Two key terms are “demonized” (a deliverance practitioner’s word that is difficult for secular people to understand, as Sappington shares) vs. “possessed” (which has connotation of controlled against their will). Arnold clarifies that if by possession one means “owned and controlled,” he (and I agree) stands strongly stating that “a Christian cannot be owned and controlled by a demon.” (1997, 79).

For unbelievers, location of demons seems to be less of an issue, since there is much Scripture that indicates that before we come to Christ, we belong to the enemy. (2 Cor.4:4, Eph.2:2, et al)

There is much diversity in how demonic activity is expressed, whether in a believer or unbeliever. Sappington notes, “the Synoptic accounts themselves demonstrate that there is no single, fixed set of conditions that are associated with demonic influence.” (n.d. chapter 6, pg 26)

In some sense, it is difficult to be certain if Jesus cast demons out of “Christians,” because we must wonder if there were any “Christians” yet at this time, since any followers of God at the time of Jesus’ ministry were under the Old Covenant. It does seem that the accounts of Jesus casting demons out of people involved those who were not yet in relationship with him, but came to know him afterward. (cf. Four explicit deliverances in Synoptics, Mary Magdalene, etc.)

For NT Christians, we are owned, indwelt and belong to God (Rom.6; 2 Cor.6:14-16; Gal.2:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19). Can Christ, the Holy Spirit and a demonic influence all co-exist inside of a believer? Certainly it is possible for Christ, the Holy Spirit and evil forces such as sin and influences from the world to co-exist in a believer, since the Bible is replete with challenges for the believer to rid him/herself from these evils (Rom.6:12, Eph.4:27) (Arnold, 1997). Sin does not belong in the believer, just as demons do not belong in the believer, yet things that do not belong can still be allowed if the believer chooses to allow them. (cf. Study notes, 04 The Christian and Demonization, pg.21)

Arnold makes a strong case for the belief that Christians can be inhabited and controlled by demons. Yet I must be clear that it does not appear that he believes Christians can be controlled against their will. He says that evil influences “can dominate and they can control. They will take as much governing power as we will allow them to take.” (1997, 91)

In this way, I would clarify that a believer can be attacked, influenced and overcome by evil forces if the believer will allow it, but not if they fight against the evil forces. I was not persuaded by Arnold’s argument that Ephesian Christians were demon possessed and exorcised of demons, since the textual evidence does not seem conclusive. Other passages he uses to support his argument which refer to the enemy “taking captive” followers of God seem rather to be focused on challenging believers to fight against these influences. Yes, I absolutely believe sin, the world, our fleshly desires, and demonic forces can enslave us if we will allow them. One of the crucial implications of spiritual warfare is that we must submit to God and resist Satan, as we are challenged to do in James 4:7, which is a clarion call to every believer engaged in the battle.

A few passages I find intriguing related with these demonization matters are as follows:

Jesus challenge to Peter that Satan get behind him (Mark 8:33) seems to indicate that Peter at this point was strongly influenced by Satan.

In Acts 5:3, Ananias was presumably acquainted with the teachings of Christianity, but we are not sure if he was a true Christian. Yet Peter says that Satan filled his heart leading him to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back some of the money. Clearly he and his wife were churchgoers whom Satan led into sin.

Paul was afflicted with a “messenger of Satan” who would not leave him (2 Cor.12:7-8). This passage is difficult to build a theology on, for it is quite open to interpretation. Yet clearly there was a battle and Paul was not freed from this “messenger of Satan,” despite all his efforts.

Dr. Sappington’s study notes suggest that location of the spirits is not the issue (whether in the believer or external to the believer), but rather breaking free from their “substantial negative influence,” wherever they may reside. (p.21-22) This should be the focus of our ministry and discussion, offering freedom in Christ to the one who is under attack by delivering them from evil forces. I believe this is an excellent point that will bring more unity than the divisiveness the body of Christ has experienced over the location of the spirits.

There are many other implications these views make upon a person’s life and ministry, which Arnold elaborates on in pp.115-129. I would conclude by stating three areas of encouragement for every believer:

1. Ground yourself in the truths of Scripture against the lies of the enemy.
2. Fight fervently together with other believers against all evil in whatever form it may be present.
3. Draw near to and trust completely in the power and protection of the Lord through the shed blood of Christ. By the grace of God, the battle has been won in Christ, and as we walk with Him that victory will be realized in our lives.

References:

Arnold, C.E. (1997). Three Crucial Questions about Spiritual Warfare. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Sappington, T. (n.d.). Unpublished manuscript. CSICS, Biola University, La Mirada, CA.

Sappington, T. (n.d.) Study Notes, “The Christian and Demonization.”