Can a Christian have a demon?

[Aussie Pete]

Question: There are numerous passages in Scripture that refer to a person's heart, soul, spirit, and/or mind. Are these four things the same? - Wheat Ridge Lutheran Church, Wheat Ridge, Colorado

Answer:

There are two ideas of thought on this question: dichotomy and trichotomy. Dichotomists say that man consists of body and soul/spirit, while trichotomists say that man is made up of three separate entities: body, soul and spirit. It seems the difference lies in the definition of the immaterial part of a person, whether there is any difference between the soul and spirit.

Man first appears in the Bible in Genesis 1:26 where God contemplates the creation of man, after which God forms man from the dust of the ground and breathes the “breath of life” into him. Only two aspects of man are described there, the physical body and the breath, there is no reference to a third part of man. Later in Ecclesiastes 12:7 Solomon says “the dust will return to the earth as it was and the spirit to God who gave it”. Here also only two parts of man are described, body and spirit.

Later in the New Testament Jesus says in John 10:28, talking to His disciples, “fear not those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus was talking about eternity and it seems if there was another part that might be eternally destroyed by God, Jesus would have mentioned it. Some people believe the body, soul and spirit are three parts because of the way in which they interpret Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, where he prays that the sanctification of the Thessalonians be whole, which includes the material part (body) and the immaterial part (whether it is called body or soul). Complete sanctification is the central issue. This is similar to 1 Thessalonians 3:13 where Paul prays for the purity of their hearts. The heart controls the life of a person, the mind, the intellect and the emotions of a person; all these should be holy.

Jesus said in Matthew 22:37 when talking to the lawyer, to “love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind”. These verses seem to me to emphasize the wholeness of a person. If division was the focus, then we could derive five or even six parts in man: body, soul, spirit, mind, strength, heart. I don’t believe Jesus was dissecting the man but rather teaching us that our love for God must flow out of every part of our being, all of our parts, what ever we call them."

If spirit, soul and body were not separate parts of our being, they would not be stated as separate. They work together, of course, but they are different in function. The body is not the soul and the soul is not the spirit. Hebrews tells us that the spirit and soul need to be divided. Time and space prevent me from getting too deep into this subject. If you are interested, read "The Spiritual Man" by Watchman Nee.

 

[Saint Steven]

If spirit, soul and body were not separate parts of our being, they would not be stated as separate. They work together, of course, but they are different in function. The body is not the soul and the soul is not the spirit. Hebrews tells us that the spirit and soul need to be divided. Time and space prevent me from getting too deep into this subject. If you are interested, read "The Spiritual Man" by Watchman Nee.

Interesting that the three parts (spirit, soul and body) are so important, that when we leave our physical body behind we receive a spiritual body. So, three parts, even in the afterlife.

 

[RDKirk]

If spirit, soul and body were not separate parts of our being, they would not be stated as separate. They work together, of course, but they are different in function. The body is not the soul and the soul is not the spirit. Hebrews tells us that the spirit and soul need to be divided. Time and space prevent me from getting too deep into this subject. If you are interested, read "The Spiritual Man" by Watchman Nee.

The Hebrews reference may be deliberate hyperbole, saying that the Spirit is so sharp that He can divide the indivisible...not that He ever does so.

It's not possible to prove a such distinct difference in scripture between spirit and soul to assert that existence persists if they are divided. If they can't be divided with the persistence of existence, it's a moot point.

And Paul also speaks extensively of "mind" as a distinct human component.

 

[bèlla]

It’s possible to convince yourself of anything if you believe it strongly. Satan gets a lot of credit for human frailty. He exploits our weaknesses but isn’t always the cause.

Most demonic vexation is the result of sin not testing. And it feels differently. The spirit emboldens when tested. But sin fosters dullness and we’re desensitized.

You strike your enemy where he’s vulnerable and from within. Falling away is the goal. Doubt and sin are tools to bring you to that point.

Truth is the best defense. When you close your eyes he wins. That’s a problem unchallenged, a prayer unspoken, a remedy that never occurs.

Sometimes you have to play offense against yourself. Most approaches are too other centered. Prayer keeps a lot at bay and sharpens discernment.