Out of interest, how many people here believe in the possibility of being possessed by demons?
If you do:
- What makes it different from natural mental illness (especially schizophrenia and multiple personality syndrome)?
- Does being possesed mean the victim is not responsible for any crimes they committed?
- Why is demonic possession so rare?
If you don't - why not?
Thanks.
Schizophrenia can be caused by demon possession (Mark 5:15).
Mark 5:15 right mind, sophroneo; To be of sound mind, sane, self-controlled, serious, moderate, sober-minded, restrained, disciplined, able to reason.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
The Bible calls for discernment, discerning the manifestations of demons and natural causes. This is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 1:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
The demoniac is held responsible for any deeds committed under demonic influence except in special cases. When a demon enters a man, that demon has the permission from God and is not responsible and can enter a person.
Many people tell you go to an exorcist, but I can assure you, an exorcist cannot cast out any demon without God's permission. It is God who allows a demon to enter a person and it is God who casts out the demon. It is not for an exorcist to decide. To cast out a demon, this is only possible by the power of God.
Demonic possession is not rare. Manifestations of demonic deception is prevalent worldwide. Demons are deceiving spirits and are always deceiving. The belief in ghosts is a religion devised by demons.
To say that ghosts are the spirits of the deceased is to say that there is no Scriptural afterlife, no Resurrection, and Christianity is a lie (Matthew 22:32; 1 Corinthians 15:13-18; 2 Corinthians 5:8).
The Scriptures make it clear that ghosts were superstition of the ancient world during the time of Jesus, and that they were not perceived as a reality.
Matthew 14:26
Mark 6:49
Luke 24:39-43 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.
Note after Jesus appears to His disciples and is taken up into heaven, references to ghosts cease. That is because His disciples were now convinced of the Resurrection.
Demons, however, were perceived as a reality by the Jews, Christians, and Jesus Himself. In fact, Jesus used His authority over demons as a sign that He had brought the coming of the kingdom of God (Matthew 12:28).
