Spiritual Warfare: Understanding Demonization
Enoch
Wan
Professor, Western Seminary
Published
in Global Missiology, Spiritual Dynamics, Oct. 2003, www.globalmissiology.net
The
Puzzling Question: Can a Christian be demonized?
Figure 1. Possible Stages and Intensity of the Activities of
the Enemy
The
Personal Question: Can I be one of the Christians being demonized?
The
Practical Question: Can I be free from demonization?
The
life-goal of each Christian is to glorify God. The objectives of the Christian
Life and ministry are to lead a godly life daily, to love and serve God and
others diligently. The enemies of Christians are sin, self (the “flesh” or the
fallen nature), and Satan and his cohorts – evil spirits. Unfortunately, many
Christians are blinded to the fact of spiritual warfare and are deceived by
Satan’s strategy of slighting the reality of his presence and power (or evil
spirits).
Though
there are several dimensions in spiritual warfare, in this two-part series the
scope of discussion will be on demonization: a basic understanding of
demonization (part 1) and a brief instruction on overcoming demonization
(part 2). The question and answer format is employed to make the
presentation simple.
THE PUZZLING QUESTION: CAN A CHRISTIAN BE
DEMONIZED?
Yes,
a Christian can be demonized if we understand “demonization” to be “the process
and state of being influenced, controlled, and eventually being
inhabited/possessed by an evil spirit and demonic force.”
Demonization
of a Christian may vary in degree and duration. Even Jesus was influenced by
the devil and his followers (evil spirits and demonized persons included) in
his temptation, persecution and crucifixion.
There
are different types and stages of demonization as shown in the following table:
Figure 1. Possible Stages And
Intensity 0f The Activities Of The Enemy
Oppression |
Obsession |
Inhabitation |
Possession |
In Christians or non-Christians |
In non-Christians |
||
External |
Internal |
Oppression is the state/process of being tempted spiritually
with a sense of being weighed down physically and psychologically,” as in the
case of a Christian being disturbed or harassed by the devil. Possible symptoms
are: heaviness or obstruction in body and/or mind; depression; discouragement;
dullness; etc.
Obsession is “a persistent disturbing preoccupation with
an often unreasonable and unnatural idea or feeling,” as a result of the
devil’s (or evil spirits’) intrusion into the life of a Christian, impelling
him to (or preoccupying him with) certain ideas, emotions or actions from
without. After his repeated oppression by an evil spirit, King Saul was
obsessed by the thought of killing David because he was filled with jealousy
and consumed by his hatred of David; though he had previously been anointed by
the Spirit and prophesied (1 Sam. 10:1, 9-13).
Inhabitation
is the process of being
temporarily occupied, leading to being inhabited or indwelled by the devil or
evil spirits (Luke
Possession
is “the act or state of
being dominated or possessed by an extra-ordinary force (e.g. passion. impulse, idea) or extraneous personality (the devil or evil
spirits).” Demonic possession by evil spirits occurs among
non-Christians who have not been born again and are subject to the complete
control of Satan in the kingdom of darkness.
Demonic
inhabitation of a Christian is like the illegal occupation of new settlers in
urban centers. Satan has no rightful occupation in the heart of a Christian
whose life belongs to God after regeneration. However, a Christian's willful
disobedience against God and personal persistent sins in his life can give
ground for the devil or evil spirits to act as "squatters" in his
life for a period of time.
For
example, Judas who repeatedly stole money (John 12:6) had first allowed Satan
to enter his heart. This eventually led to his betrayal of Jesus and suicide
(John 13:2, 27). Another example is found In Acts 5:2 of Ananias and Saphira. Similar cases were seen recently in ministers and
evangelists who, being first obsessed with sexual immorality and sinful
practices for a long period, were later driven to moral corruption and
spiritual defeat.
THE
PERSONAL QUESTION: CAN I BE ONE OF THE CHRISTIANS BEING DEMONIZED?
Since
man is a holistic unity with three-dimensional functionality (i.e. one person
with a composite personality of physio-psycho-spiritual
aspects), the following list of possible symptoms (inductively derived from
biblical cases of demonization and personal experience in deliverance ministry)
are of three inter-related categories:
1. Physical
Changes
a. Negative
changes:
Physiological
disorder or physical infirmities. e.g. paralysis and
crippling. Blindness, dumbness, convulsions, foaming at the mouth, falling or
fainting, altered voice and personality, etc.
b. Positive
changes:
Superhuman strength and
power
2. Psychological changes
a. Negative changes:
Fear, restlessness,
depression and defiance, rebellion and volitional weakness, anti-social and
destructive (even suicidal) thinking and attitudes, etc.
b.
Positive changes:
Mediumistic abilities or
extraordinary power and knowledge, e.g. moving objects, fortune telling,
psychic healing, etc.
3. Spiritual changes
a. Personal:
Blasphemous thoughts,
inability to concentrate on Bible reading or Christian exercise, transference,
hatred, and fear of Christ, resistant to spiritual things, unusual reaction to
Christ or His name, ineptness for true knowledge of sin, religious doubt, lack
of peace or joy that is persistent, loss of faith, lack of spiritual growth or
exhibit spiritual decline, inability to pray, spiritually impotent, etc.
b.
Collective changes:
Cause division among Christians, disrupting of
worship services, causing church splits, etc.
THE PRACTICAL QUESTION: CAN I BE FREE FROM DEMONIZATION?
Yes. Christians can be
freed from three types of demonization, i.e. obsession, inhabitation and
possession.
No. Christians can never
be free from oppression as long as we live in this world.
The how of being
freed from demonization will be discussed in the next issue: Part II –
Overcoming Demonization.
In
the spiritual warfare against sin, Satan and self, no Christian is exempt from
the constant and persistent assault of his enemies and none can drop his guard
at any time.
Christians,
beware, be warned, and be watchful!
At the time of writing, Dr. Enoch Wan was
Visiting Professor at
Send
comments to: ewan@westernseminary.edu