We are not to judge anyone's salvation, & that is not what is going on here. We are instructed to test the spirits. We are instructed in scripture to beware of false prophets. Yes we are to check their fruits, but since we do not know the results of their actions because they are not consistently in our community, we cannot judge much of their fruit. Therefore we have to discern whether they are false prophets by other biblical methods.
Every preacher should be tested, "lest even the elect be decieved." Therefore, when a preacher objects to being put to the biblical test, he is suspect immediately. Any real Christian preacher should tell us that we are to discern every preacher.
Being slain in the spirit, such as what Benny Hinn does to the congregation, is not biblical. Jesus Christ did not do this in His ministry. Not even once. When someone bent down /bowed to HIm, he told them every time to stand up. No one was slain in the Spirit in Christ's ministry, so it was not commonplace. Yet it is commonplace in HInn's ministry. Thus, he has added to scripture, & his ministry goes beyond Jesus' ministry. This is not biblical.
AS for Mr. Larson, he sees demon oppression the same as demon possession. People who are oppressed by demons do not need to be exorcised, but that is my view & hardly no one agrees with me. But I havnt done much biblical research on this, but I have not yet found anyone who is oppressed to be delivered from demons in the Bible. They were all possessed. But if someone else has done more research & please enlighten me. SO I reserve judgment on Larson being biblical at this point.
Demon oppression is when someone is constantly tempted by demons, outside the body. Possession is the demon dwelling within the person, requiring an exorcism.
I have seen demon possessed people. It is very noticeable. ON Larson's show I saw a boy being delivered with Larson using the boy's father as his assistant. The father didnt know his son was possessed or oppressed-Larson avoided the term altogether. I can assure everyone that if the boy was possessed, his father would have noticed.
So I have seen 2 tv shows of him exorcising demons. Neither people look possessed , because I have seen possession. My only conclusion is that it is the power of suggestion. He teaches a class that if you have ever been abused or neglected or abandoned, you probably have a demon in you. (notice- oppression or possession is not mentioned.) If people believe this, I suppose it helps them to have an exorcism, but I don't at this point see BIblical evidence for Jesus exorcising someone who was oppressed.
