Do Most Lutherans have a formal exorcist?

[Athanasias]

I have always been one for the supernatural/preternatural. I find it a good negative evidence for faith in Christ and the devil and the Church. I was doing some research and I know various Christian Churches such as the Catholic Church and others ones do have a formal rite of exorcism and trained exorcist in diocese to deal with demonic possession, oppression, and house infestation. In My hometown we have 2 appointed exorcist and a team of lay people who specialize in demonic activity and deliverance prayer. Its actually a ministry in my Archdiocese and I have referred several people to them for disturbances in homes and other such things who have come to my store seeking help. Our current Pope Francis has heavily promoted the ministry of deliverance and exorcism today in my church and regularly speaks about the reality of the devil in our world in his homilies. So my question is this.

I have heard and seen on youtube that some Lutheran ministers have taken part in informal exorcisms especially in 3rd world countries where demonic influence is ripe. This is a great testimony to the power of Christ in my opinion and God be praised for them. So my question is do Lutherans as a whole have any official rites of exorcism and trained exorcist? Have any official Lutheran documents spoken about its reality?

When I look to the most orthodox or conservative of Lutheran Synods(WELS and LCMS) its admits the reality of this and that some pastors have taken part in deliverance but seems to deny any formal rites or professional exorcist who specialize in it.

for example here is what the WELS says:

"There are accounts of Lutheran missionaries encountering demon-possessed people, and accounts from the Reformation era. It seems that this confrontation takes place especially when the gospel is pushing into new territory.

We do not advocate any special actions or rite or counter-magic to deal with demon possession, but confront it with the Word and prayer."

Found here: | Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

And Here is LCMS:

" The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod certainly believes in the existence of Satan and of demonic beings, and individual LCMS pastors have participated from time to time in rites of exorcism. The LCMS has no "official position" on "demonic possession," however, nor does it subscribe officially to any formal rite of exorcism or have "special clergy assigned to this task."

Found here: Frequently Asked Questions | LCMS Views - The Lutheran Church?Missouri Synod

I was wandering are there any orthodox/conservative Lutheran synods other then the LCMS and WELS that do subscribe to a formal rite or train ministers in the field of exorcism and demonology for each Lutheran Synod/diocese? If not just curious why not?

Thanks.

God bless you.

In Jesus through Mary,

Athanasias

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Athanasias, there are clergy in the LCMS and here in LCC that have had special training. Here is a book published by the official publisher of the LCMS, Concordia which contains a Lutheran rite: I Am Not Afraid: Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare

 

[Tigger45]

Athanasias, there are clergy in the LCMS and here in LCC that have had special training. Here is a book published by the official publisher of the LCMS, Concordia which contains a Lutheran rite: I Am Not Afraid: Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare

Have you had a chance to read this Mark?

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Have you had a chance to read this Mark?

No, I haven't.

 

[Resha Caner]

Athanasias, there are clergy in the LCMS and here in LCC that have had special training. Here is a book published by the official publisher of the LCMS, Concordia which contains a Lutheran rite: I Am Not Afraid: Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare

I was not aware of this book ... though I wish I had known of it a few years back. I had a family member who was dealing with demon oppression (which is different than possession). It got to the point where I was looking for resources to help us, and I learned a few important points that I'll pass along:

1) The rite is really more an end point than a starting point
2) The condition of the person suffering determines how the issue will be approached

Too many who claim to do exorcisms are hucksters who prey upon an expectation that the exorcist is just going to walk into the room, sprinkle some holy water around, tap the person on the head, and all will be well. Instead, there is an element entailing that the person wants to be delivered. If there is behavior involved that encourages oppression/possession, that behavior needs to stop.

Most of all, the surest defense is to cling tightly to the Gospel. Whether the person suffering has faith makes a big difference in how this goes.

When I was looking into this, I found a Catholic facility in Iowa (I forget where now) that worked in delivering people. They made their conditions clear in that faith comes first and deliverance comes after. So, I started working with my family member to prepare them for this facility. The initial objection from this person was a refusal to give up certain behaviors followed by a sudden (and very odd considering how this played out) declaration of atheism.

After working through that over several years, a strong faith blossomed in this person, the behavior changed, and the oppression faded away. Not that everything is perfect, but as it turned out we never did the rite.

Not that I am saying it shouldn't be done, but rather it took a very different mindset than what I had going into the process.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I agree, It often becomes more about the performer than what is actually performed.

 

[Athanasias]

Athanasias, there are clergy in the LCMS and here in LCC that have had special training. Here is a book published by the official publisher of the LCMS, Concordia which contains a Lutheran rite: I Am Not Afraid: Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare

Thank you Mark! Excellent! I will look into this. God bless you! I am excited to read it!

 

[Athanasias]

I was not aware of this book ... though I wish I had known of it a few years back. I had a family member who was dealing with demon oppression (which is different than possession). It got to the point where I was looking for resources to help us, and I learned a few important points that I'll pass along:

1) The rite is really more an end point than a starting point
2) The condition of the person suffering determines how the issue will be approached

Too many who claim to do exorcisms are hucksters who prey upon an expectation that the exorcist is just going to walk into the room, sprinkle some holy water around, tap the person on the head, and all will be well. Instead, there is an element entailing that the person wants to be delivered. If there is behavior involved that encourages oppression/possession, that behavior needs to stop.

Most of all, the surest defense is to cling tightly to the Gospel. Whether the person suffering has faith makes a big difference in how this goes.

When I was looking into this, I found a Catholic facility in Iowa (I forget where now) that worked in delivering people. They made their conditions clear in that faith comes first and deliverance comes after. So, I started working with my family member to prepare them for this facility. The initial objection from this person was a refusal to give up certain behaviors followed by a sudden (and very odd considering how this played out) declaration of atheism.

After working through that over several years, a strong faith blossomed in this person, the behavior changed, and the oppression faded away. Not that everything is perfect, but as it turned out we never did the rite.

Not that I am saying it shouldn't be done, but rather it took a very different mindset than what I had going into the process.

Well Said. I could not agree more. The willingness of the person and personal growth in faith is key to resolution to all of this. In the Catholic Church the exorcist I know have talked about that and how growth in holiness and love with the Lord and obedience to him will be key. Many Catholic exorcist for this reason have said the sacrament of confession and the Eucharist are the greatest anti-dotes to Satan and more powerful then mere exorcisms.

That being said I wander if the Lutherans in general have any type of formal (rite/para liturgical ritual)in dealing with this. I know some non-Catholic Churches do and some do not.

Thanks again for all your guys input on this. God bless you both.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Well Said. I could not agree more. The willingness of the person and personal growth in faith is key to resolution to all of this. In the Catholic Church the exorcist I know have talked about that and how growth in holiness and love with the Lord and obedience to him will be key. Many Catholic exorcist for this reason have said the sacrament of confession and the Eucharist are the greatest anti-dotes to Satan and more powerful then mere exorcisms.

That being said I wander if the Lutherans in general have any type of formal (rite/para liturgical ritual)in dealing with this. I know some non-Catholic Churches do and some do not.

Thanks again for all your guys input on this. God bless you both.

Whether they use the exorcism rite or if they just have it for reference, I have never asked (Lutherans, because of the doctrine of Adiaphora are quite the collectors of all things liturgical) but I have seen copies of "Rituale Romanum" on various Pastors book shelves. Unlike most protestants, we tend not to reject all things Roman (remember,our Common Service is a setting of the Mass based on the pre-Trent Mass).

 

[Athanasias]

Whether they use the exorcism rite or if they just have it for reference, I have never asked (Lutherans, because of the doctrine of Adiaphora are quite the collectors of all things liturgical) but I have seen copies of "Rituale Romanum" on various Pastors book shelves. Unlike most protestants, we tend not to reject all things Roman (remember,our Common Service is a setting of the Mass based on the pre-Trent Mass).

that is awesome

 

[LizaMarie]

I'll have to check out that book- I am not afraid.
There was a Lutheran Minister (German) Kurt E. Koch (b. 1913) who wrote several books on the occult and demon possession and occult bondage and deliverance.

 

[Kalevalatar]

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has never had an office of an exorcist or a formal rite. The Great Commission institutes the pastoral office of preaching the Word and administering the Sacraments, but no office for exorcism of demons.

As you noted, it is particularly prelevant in the major African Lutheran churches, for example in our partner church the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, where our pastors also work. Our understanding is that Satan and demons are more common where paganism and neopaganism still thrive. In a country like Finland where the baptised are in overwhelming majority, demons can't thrive.

The Finnish Catholic Church employs one professional exorcist. I remember reading that a Lutheran family had to turn to him for help, but whether that is just urban legend, I don't know.

I agree, It often becomes more about the performer than what is actually performed.

Exactly. Our pastors who have worked in Tanzania don't object to the act of exorcism itself and would try to help if help indeed was needed, but to the fact that it's done as part of the weekly Mass instead of in private, at worst to unwitting victims who haven't asked for help, on account that they merely looked strange, too silent or something.

 

[SalusaSecundus]

No, he usually cruises around in flip flops and a hawaiian shirt. It's like he is going to a summer bbq or something.

 

[Systematiker]

I imagine many wouldn't have a problem with using various rites from within Christendom, if modified for doctrine. I have a small number of them myself, in an Evernote notebook for access (not that I've needed any, thanks be to God!); there is a basic model that can be seen in Luther's exorcisms prior to Baptism, and there is evidence that he performed exorcisms on individuals in a similar manner. I actually just had a conversation about this the other day in Bible study group, so of course there are a range of opinions.

 

[Tetzel]

I have a difficult time imagining a Lutheran exorcism as a ritual of its own. In Luthers baptism formula there was an exorcism consisting of blowing in the ear three times and saying something along the lines of "Fahr auss du unreyner Gaist", so there is an exorcism there. But when I read things such as the Table Talks it seems that exorcism as a ritual is not the prefered way of dealing with demons. For example from the Table Talk

DXCVII.
The people who in popedom are possessed of the devil, get not rid of him by such arts, words, or gestures as their charmers use; the devil suffers not himself to be driven out with mere phrases, as: “Come out, thou unclean spirit,” for these charmers mean it not earnestly. The power of God must effect it.
The devil may be driven out, either by the prayers of the whole church, when all Christians join their supplications together in a prayer so powerful, that it pierces the clouds, - or the person that would drive out the wicked enemy by himself, must be of highly enlightened mind, and of strong and steadfast courage, certain of his cause; as Elijah, Elisha, Peter, Paul, etc.

Note the similarity to the baptism rite.

Or another.

DCXXV.
We cannot expel demons with certain ceremonies and words, as Jesus Christ, the prophets, and the apostles did. All we can do is, in the name of Jesus Christ, to pray the Lord God, of his infinite mercy, to deliver the possessed persons. And if our prayer is offered up in full faith, we are assured by Christ himself (St John xvi.23) that it will be efficacious, and overcome all the devil’s resistance. I might mention many instances of this. But we cannot of ourselves expel the evil spirits, nor must we even attempt it.

I'm not saying that there couldn't be exorcism rituals, but I'm doubtful until I see some examples of them being done.

 

[Sean611]

I've read of Lutheran pastors participating in exorcisms. In fact, the case of Roland Doe, the inspiration for the book and film "The Exorcist," started with the observance and help of an LCMS priest. The priest later referred the boy's parents to a Roman Catholic priest for exorcism.

I also remember reading of an exorcism that took place in the 1920s and a Lutheran priest participated and assisted a Roman Catholic priest with the exorcism. I did a quick search for the story and couldn't find it, if I run across it again I will post it here.

 

[FireDragon76]

The apartment I am in never felt right. When I first moved here, there was a really creepy feeling here. Maybe a previous attendant was into occult practices. Where I live Santeiria is not rare. The feeling more or less went away after I started regularly praying daily office once a day for several weeks. I also put up a cross or crucifix in every room.

Yesterday I had a horrible time sleeping, I sprinkled holy water on my bed and prayed, and I went straight to sleep afterwards, it was amazing.

I've been much more spiritually focused in the past month, maybe I am just more aware of these things, and maybe it will just take time to settle in to taking my faith seriously? For a while I was downright angry and confused.