Let’s talk about deliverance ministry. I have decided to do a series of articles on this topic. Today will be the first. Hopefully, this will be helpful and edifying to many.
First off, I hate using the phrase “deliverance ministry” because of the ideas that are associated with this phrase. How about we give biblical terminology to what I am describing? In short, “driving out demons”.
“Driving out demons” is a subset of the broad and nuanced category of spiritual warfare. Just like in military warfare, different aspects compose a military engagement. You have intelligence, reconnaissance, infantry, support units, etc that will contribute to the overall mission of the troops that will engage the enemy with lethal force. Likewise, with spiritual warfare. Driving out demons only composes a small aspect of spiritual warfare. Prayer, fasting, preaching the gospel, spiritual discernment, placing on the armor of God, etc are other aspects that contribute to the mission of driving out spirits. Indeed, we get a picture of this in Jesus ministry as Mark writes,
“So he traveled all over Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and driving out demons.” (Mark 1:39)
Although this is obvious with Jesus and the early church, one of the problems in our contemporary churches is most have never fired a shot. In some cases, churches will strip the weapon of “deliverance” out of the hands of the troops. But why?
I have noticed in my experience of driving out demons, this topic makes many uncomfortable. Indeed, many Christians will reject the notion of Christians needing deliverance. Others believe that the topic is only for those who are on the radical fringe of Christianity. If you live in the United States and attend an evangelical church, you will be aware that most churches do not practice driving out demons. The reasons vary from erroneous theology, apathy, unbelief, etc. However, I believe an underlying reason for not practicing driving out demons, is because of church traditions and our cultural perspective.
Here in the United States, we live in a highly scientific, rationalistic culture that explains away supernatural phenomena. Unfortunately, much of our cultural way of thinking has crept into our interpretation of Scripture and daily practices in the church. We unconsciously see things through this grid. Also, in my view, this sheds light on how we compartmentalize supernatural reality. In other words, there are obvious supernatural truths that the Scriptures display; however, due to our compartmentalization of these truths, we will treat these truths as just being “religious dogma”, or to a degree, myths. Practically, what do I mean by this?
Read the following list of supernatural truths that are widely accepted in the Church:
- God became a man.
- Mary the mother of Jesus, conceived Jesus through a supernatural experience through the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus lived a perfect life. Never sinned.
- Jesus died for the sins of the world, taking the punishment of humanity upon Himself
- Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.
- Jesus claimed to be God and claimed to fulfill Scripture.
- Those who place their faith in Jesus, are full of the Holy Spirit.
By viewing this list, if one is orthodox in the Christian faith, these truths are familiar and generally believed. However, is believing that God became a man a more radical idea than believing that demons can be driven out of a person in the name of Jesus? If so, why do we believe the former and discard the latter? Better yet, would the belief of a person being filled with the Spirit of God, be more radical than a person who is oppressed by demons?
If we truly believe that Jesus is God, rose on the third day, has filled us with His Spirit, and given us authority over evil spirits, why don’t many have the same trust and belief about driving out demons? Could it be, we just treat these widely accepted truths as “religious dogma” with no practical value? Or when it comes to driving out demons, it goes outside of our “purview” so we decide to ridicule and scrutinize its reality? Or could it be that those who oppose and scrutinize driving out demons, could be demonized themselves? As Corrie Ten Boom once stated, “The fear of the demons, comes from the demons themselves.”
If we can believe the radical truth that God became a man, and died for our sins, we should also believe He has given us authority over demons (Luke 10:19); therefore, we should be active in driving out demons. In my view, this aspect of warfare is essential to church life. On the contrary, when this aspect is neglected, it is detrimental to the church collectively and individually.
My next article will dive into more details about this aspect of warfare. Stay tuned…
