Demonology: Part Nine (new demonology refuted)

New Demonology Refuted
The New Demonology Movement is so focused on personal experience and feelings rather than the absolute authority of the Word of God. In order to use the Word of God to support their doctrine they must bend the scriptures and take things out of context. It is important that we do not just study their doctrine but we must refute it based upon the Scriptures.
There is no biblical basis for believing that a genuine Christian can be under the degree of demonic control indicated by the word daimonizomai. “The language of demons “entering in,” “going out,” or being “cast out” is consistently employed in regard to demonized persons (Matt. 8:16, 32; 9:33; 12:22-24; Mark 1:34; 5:8, 13). The New Testament seems to use this word only in a narrow sense of demon possession. Other forms of influence cannot therefore be properly called “demon possession” or demonization. The term “demonized” refers to the invasion of a victim’s body by a demon (or demons) in which demon exercises living and sovereign control over the victim, which the victim cannot successfully resist. The elements of indwelling and the inability to resist the demon’s will are what make demonization distinct from lesser forms of demonic influence (Konya 21-22).”
○ To be “in” Christ is to be “out of” the evil one
-1 John 4:4 declares, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
-John Calvin writes: “The apostle reminds us that we become strong, not by our own power, but by that of God. He hence concludes that we can no more be conquered than God Himself, who has armed us with His power to the end of the world.”
Since a Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9-11; 1Cor 3:16; 6:19) it would seem unlikely that the Holy Spirit would allow a demon to indwell the same person He is indwelling. First Corinthians 6:19 makes it clear that the Holy Spirit establishes a permanent, intimate relationship with every believer. The body of a Christian is the Holy Spirit’s temple. Other passages also describe the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of Christians (John 3:3-7; Romans 8:5-11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 6:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; Titus 3:4-7).
In the Scriptures it is clear that sin is a result of our sin nature. We do not struggle with sin because of an “outside” force it is because of our nature. The only way to overcome sin is by asking God to help us and restore us. Scriptures clearly state in James 1:13-14 that our heart and desires are the reason for our sin. It is our own hearts desire that leads us into temptation (Mark 7:21-22).
You will notice that in all the New Testament passages dealing with spiritual warfare, we are never told to cast a demon out of a believer (Ephesians 6:10-18). We are told to resist the devil (1Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7), not to cast him out. Apostles were given the authority ad ability through Christ (Mark 3:15; Luke 9:2,3). We are not given the same authority that Christ gave the Apostles.
Another aspect of this movement is the practice of rehearsed prayers. They believe that if these certain specific prayers are declared one would be freed from bondage. It is interesting that there isn’t an example of rehearsed prayer, with the exception of the passage in Matthew 6:9-13. If the prayer from Anderson’s book is so powerful why is it not declared by Christ for us to pray. Again this movement denies the sole authority of the Word of God. We can’t make up practices that are not supported by the Word of God.
There is also no biblical evidence to support territorial demons. During Christ’s ministry on earth, he cast out demons and healed people from demon possession but there is no evidence that he released the bondage of geographical demons. In Anderson’s The Bondage Breaker, he gives an example of a believer trying to share the gospel and no one was responding. He then came to the conclusion that the territory was under demonic influence. He prayed a rehearsed prayer that the area would be released from bondage and after the prayer many people came to know Christ. Ephesians 6 or the Great Commission would be a passage that would deal with territorial demons when sharing the Gospel but nothing is mentioned. Conclusions and practices can not be made fact without the sola Scriptures backing it up. Nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ. If God draws someone to himself nothing will stop it. God is greater then the one of this world.
Like previously stated arguments generational demons is another concept that takes personal sin and puts it on the responsibility of someone else. There is no biblical evidence that supports such an idea. We are not responsible for our ancestor’s unconfessed sins. We can see that a demon or disease is not a result of our past generations sin. John 9 gives that account of the blind man; the Pharisees were blaming the sins of the man’s parents for the cause of his ailments. Jesus quickly refuted them by saying this man is sick to bring the will and glory of God about.
Doctrines can not be formed and built off of personal experience. Churches today are more focused on meeting the needs of the people then staying true to the Word of God. A wise man once said if you find a pastor who shepherds the flock and teaches the absolute Word of God he should be treasured and protected. Everything must go back to scriptures, the New Demonology Movement is using experiences and feelings for doctrine and that is why it is clearly unbiblical.