TITLE: The World Verses the Kingdom By Steve Kozak 07/27/06 |
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People are killing other people every day, others are on trial. Some go to jail, either on deals made by the attorneys, still others are acquitted based on mental defect and are often times sent to a mental corrections facility because “we the people” deem them incompetent to stand trial and therefore are not responsible for their actions. While I understand the governmental, judicial and economic aspects of a decision like that (jail overcrowding, taxpayer dollars, etc), looking through the lens of a Christian mind I can not help but wonder; is that yet another victory for Satan in the present evil age?
Individualism, a sexual revolution reminiscent of pagan culture (without the gods), loss of human freedom and debate of basic morality for the quest of political correctness and governmental righteousness, and vastly increasing knowledge of human behavior faced with the danger of misusing that information are all signs that this age is filled with evil and the influence of the wicked one. The question to what degree that influence holds stills remains elusive. Satan’s grip on human life is ever present and powerful. The belief in the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ is equivalent to the elimination of the bondage of sin not action of sin itself. I think all people can be influenced by demons; believers seem to posses the tools for a necessary defense, whereas unbelievers may not.
A Believer’s Defense
Profession of faith in Christ and the redemption from sin is the armor that Paul tells believers to “put on” “…so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11 NIV). Paul goes on to cite the elements of the armor as truth righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and the Word of God as the needed ammunition to battle the many schemes and plots of Satan. Believers seek eternal life with our creator, that search begins with a new birth and freedom from sin and demonic influence and the hold it has on the believer’s life. There are several aspects that result from a new birth in Christ, freeing believers from demonic influence and behaviors. The desires of sin diminish, total submission to God and righteousness, realization and confession of sin, being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit are all elements of a relationship with God. A relationship that calls believers to stand firm in faith on the front lines of battle in hopes of their own souls as well as the souls of others.
Armed with faith and the Word of God, believers are faced each day with a world that tells others not to force their morals on them, and that truth is relative. This is a world ruled by Satan, one of present comfort and pleasantries, not of eternal desires. The present age people are faced with; struggles with pornography, adultery, violence, jealousy, and the pursuit of material wealth, is one that is driven by the desires of Satan. I believe that God has put it in the souls of humankind to search for a “meaning to life” via a higher divine being, unfortunately, often times it is not God. For the Christian, however, it seems reasonable to assert that when one is filled with the Holy Spirit and possesses the knowledge of God, that is the Word of God, there leaves no room for demons to take control. Believers have a will power that is governed by God, or a fine tuned conscience, that when the wicked one attempts such a task, he eventually fails.
The Open Door
Satan’s temptation of Eve in the garden opened the door for sin to affect free will (Genesis 3:1-6 NIV). Instead of a life focused on God, man has a life of other ideas and thoughts. Minor bouts of depression, anxiety, doubt, or anger can occur in anyone and affect behavior. Elijah, after witnessing a massive miracle at the hand of God became severely depressed, even suicidal. “[Elijah]…prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life, I am no better than my ancestors’” (1 Kings 19:4b NIV). The same is true for Jonah; the Lord was asking him to witness to the city of Nineveh, part of the Assyrian empire, one that made constant war with Israel. “But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry” (Jonah 4:1 NIV). Chapter four in the Book of Jonah is a great example of God’s grace to all nations and Jonah’s great displeasure in that fact. So much so, that Jonah would rather the Lord take his life than do what God has asked him to do. “Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live” (Jonah 4:3 NIV). It is not unusual for even godly men and women to act ungodly from time to time on a temporary basis. However it is a relationship with the Lord that makes a quick entrance of repentance and then obedience, therefore making believers less susceptible to the schemes of Satan and his demons.
What about the people that have been clinically diagnosed with a mental disorder? What can be said of those individuals that are violent as a result of a mental condition? There are many instances of characteristics of demonic influence recorded in the Gospels that parallel symptoms of mental disorders. Multiple personalities, supernatural knowledge or strength, violent behavior, and involvement in occult practices all have been defined as symptoms of mental disorders, many of which are treatable with therapy and medication. It remains a question, and will remain so on a case by case basis, of whether theses people are influenced by the power of Satan or possesses a psychological abnormality that affects behavior. Perhaps, even the psychological abnormality is an affect of demon possession. Demonic influence and mental disorders are distinctly different phenomena with various overlapping symptoms, therefore creating great difficulty in diagnosis. What seems to define an individual’s involvement in the demonic is the will to involve oneself with occult like practices and rituals.
Participation in tarot card readings, horoscopes, Ouija boards, astrology, fortune tellers and soothsayers make a person susceptible to influences of the demonic. Satan uses cleaver deception on individuals to look to anything other that God for answers and meaning to life. Most occult practices advertise answers of future events, supernatural knowledge not meant for the human mind until God has deemed it necessary to know. Such a search for supernatural knowledge is idolatry, and in contact with Satan. While these occult practices may help explain the motives behind the behaviors of some severe mental disorders in people, I do not believe demonic influence is limited to this particular sphere.
Effect of “Normal” Behavior
The influence of Satan does not end, however, with disorders of the mind. Many other subtle clues exist as well; activities consistent with the present evil age at hand. These are actions and morals not consistent with biblical teaching. Additive patterns of behavior, such as alcohol, drugs, gambling, and sexual addictions, consume and dictate patterns of behavior. These activities preoccupy lives, destroying relationships with loved ones, jobs, and overall well being, often causing poverty, which leads to criminal behavior. It is well known that the first step in the healing process of Alcoholics Anonymous and other support groups; is acceptance of the problem. This can also be termed as repentance, the first step in the life of a follower of Christ, to admit one’s sinful nature.
Power, position, wealth, and fame are indicative of behavior that paints American culture with evidence of demonic influence. Such desires of a world ruled by Satan are pursuits Jesus speaks against throughout the Gospels. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19 NIV). Jesus repeatedly tells his disciples and many times the Pharisees, the importance of a proper mindset, one focused on God, not the world and its desires. Satan is attempting the exact opposite in each life. Attempts to collect worldly treasures, rather seeking the kingdom of God, only gives Satan the opportunity to influence lives away from God.
Conclusion
Whether mental illness can signify demonic influence, a simple yet seemly harmless reading of the daily horoscopes, or extremely involved satanic worship. Each instance needs to be considered on its own merit and qualifications of demonic possession. However significant its merit is determined each instance is a distraction from a life that believers were called to live and life that unbelievers need to discover. In a world full of temptations, and distractions from God, it is of the utmost importance to be conscience of that fact and trust God with faith in Jesus Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit to fend off any attempt the wicked one may make on our lives.
For Further Study:
Koch, Kurt. Occult Bondage and Deliverance. Kregel Publications, 1972.
Ingram, Chip. The Invisible War. Baker, 2005.
God at War: The Bible and Spiritual Conflict. Intervarsity Press, 1997.
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