The Pope Blesses Exorcists. Is That Biblical? The Vatican City reports that Pope Francis has formally recognized the International Association of Exorcists, giving its blessing to a group of 250 priests in 30 countries who claim to save the possessed from Satan. The associations practice of exorcism is now recognized under canon law, the Vaticans LOsservatore Romano newspaper reported Thursday. It said that Pope Francis often insists on the need to fight Satan and demons, and was captured in dramatic images last year placing his hands on the head of a boy in a wheelchair who appeared to slump at his touch -- an act of prayer exorcists claim was intended to free the victim from the devil. Reportedly, the first association of exorcists was founded by Father Gabriele Amorth, the Holy Sees chief exorcist for almost 30 years, who has described intense sessions with possessed people who scream, blaspheme and spit shards of glass. He set up an Italian exorcists association in 1991, after which he began organizing meetings with devil fighters from other countries, leading to the establishment of the international group. Francesco Bamonte, the head of the association, told LOsservatore that the recognition was a cause for joy for the whole Church, saying that exorcism is a form of charity that benefits those who suffer. We must remember, first of all, that God’s Word is our only reliable source of truth about Satan and demons. Deuteronomy 29:29, a verse all Believers should memorize and hold as a rule of thumb while searching for biblical truth, states that “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Likewise, 2 Timothy chapter three, verses sixteen and seventeen declare that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” In other words, if one examines a statement and it cannot be verified by Scripture, then it must be deemed false and discarded. First, as a curious theologian, I must ask, can Believers be demon possessed? What does God’s Word, the cornerstone of truth, say? Can demons possess, inhabit, or indwell a true believer? There are those of today’s spiritual warfare movement fueled by the charismatic worldview of heightened emotions, who say yes. But their claim is based on subjective experience, not on God’s Word. The Bible makes it clear that such claims have no biblical basis. First, there is no clear illustration in the Bible where a demon ever inhabited a true believer. Second, Scripture is absent of any warnings in the New Testament of the possibility of demon possession of Believers. Third, other than the apostles, do we see anyone rebuking, binding, or casting demons out of a true Believer – this was a unique apostolic gift. Fourth, the epistles never instruct believers to cast out demons, whether from a believer or unbeliever. And fifth, Christ and the apostles were the only ones who cast out demons, and in every instance the demon-possessed people were unbelievers. The teaching of Scripture is that demons can never indwell a true believer. 2 Corinthians chapter six, verses fourteen through sixteen teach that the indwelling Holy Spirit could never cohabit with demons: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a Believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they will be My people….’” Likewise, Colossians chapter one, verse thirteen states that God “delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” Salvation brings true deliverance and protection from Satan. In Romans 8:37, Paul says we overwhelmingly conquer through Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:57, he says God gives us the victory. In 2 Corinthians 2:14, he says God always leads us in triumph. In 1 John 2:13, John says we have overcome the evil one. And, in 4:4, he says the indwelling Holy Spirit is greater than Satan. How could anyone affirm those glorious truths, yet believe demons can indwell genuine believers? Secondly, I must inquire, what value is exorcism if it does not lead to saving faith in Christ through the preaching of the word? Most who are sick with cancer of various forms desire to live. The paradox is that one day death will overcome that person in one form or another. But if the life lived is not for Christ, then what value does it have, even if it overcomes cancer for many years – they are still living a life under condemnation. Likewise, if a person who is demon possessed is exorcised and that demon is removed, but the individual does not repent and come to Christ in salvation through faith, then he is still possessed by the father of this world, Satan. His possession may only be less obvious. That is works-salvation and is no salvation at all. I find it tragic that not one statement by Catholic officials referred to the giving of the gospel message of Christ to any of the persons described. Do they believe that exorcism has saving power in and of itself, exclusive of the word of God? Nothing could be further from the truth! And tragically person after person is given a false presumption that once exorcised, they have a relationship with God. In the gospel of Luke, chapter seventeen, beginning with verse eleven, Jesus encounters ten lepers saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Jesus tells them to go the priests, and as they turn to go Jesus heals all ten. But only one returns to kneel at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks and praising God. Jesus says to this foreigner, a Samaritan, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” The nine may have been physically cleaned, but the one seeking Christ was made spiritually whole by faith. Nine were sealed in their sin, one was released from the bondage of sin and sealed in their faith by the Holy Spirit. Nine were doomed to hell, one was declared righteous whose name was written in the Lamb’s book of life. So what value is there in exorcism? The short answer is none. First, it is unbiblical, and second, the only real and lasting value is to be true to the word of God for “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 01:33:59 +0000
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