Posted on 01/31/2015 3:50:39 PM PST by NYer
I’ve read many term papers in my day. Most of them are no more than a patchwork of quotes. That’s because college students are smart enough to know that they really can’t say much on their own authority–to make their case, they have to lean on the authority of others more learned than themselves.
That’s exactly how the scribes and Pharisee’s taught in Jesus’ day. “Rabbi Abraham says this. . . Rabbi Gamaliel says that . . .
So when a new young rabbi appears in Capernaum, this is what people expect. They are in for a surprise: he quotes no one else except God’s Word. That’s because there is no one more learned than He. In fact, he happens to be God’s Word made flesh.
But he doesn’t just speak to the humble townspeople this way. When he encounters superhuman forces that strike fear into the hearts of men, he is unruffled. There are no incantations; he does not plead. Rather than Jesus being afraid of them, the demons are afraid of him. Upon seeing Him, they shriek. He calmly commands,“shut up and get out.” A moment later all is still. A former victim is now a free man and bystanders marvel. Word easily travels fast–little Capernaum happens to be right on a caravan route from Syria to the region of Galilee and beyond.
But isn’t all this talk of demons just a relic of the mythological worldview of pre-scientific people? After all, these primitive folks don’t know about mental illness, chemical imbalance, viruses, and bacteria. Surely they just explained as supernatural what they could not understand.
That sounds very sophisticated, but it’s dead wrong. First of all, demons are not supernatural at all. Super-natural means above and beyond nature or creation–in other words, uncreated and transcendent. Only God qualifies for this label.
St. Thomas called the realm of angels and demons “preternatural” since it escapes the sensory knowledge that we can have of the rest of creation. We human beings were created by God as enfleshed spirits. But divine revelation tells us that God also created pure spiritual beings with the same freedom we have. Those who have chosen to use that freedom to serve God we call “angels” or messengers. Those who used their freedom to defy God are called demons. Pride and envy lead them to hate not only God, but also us who are made in God’s image and likeness.
So people in Jesus day had good cause to fear demons–they are hostile and powerful. Plus, their intelligence is superior to ours–note that the demon in the story, unlike the humans, instantly recognized who Jesus was.
OK, the ancients may have attributed too much to demonic influence, but moderns tend to make the opposite error. The existence of the angelic and demonic realm is part of the ordinary teaching of the Church’s Magisterium, reaffirmed clearly by Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI. In fact when we say in the Creed that we believe in the Creator of heaven and earth, “of all things visible and invisible,” the invisible things refer precisely to this world.
So why is it important to believe that such creatures exist? Because the first rule of warfare is to know your enemy. Paul tells us clearly in Ephesians 6:12 “Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers . . . the evil spirits.”
Only God has power over this world. Jesus, in commanding the demons as he later in the Gospel commands the wind and the waves, does only what God can do. Once we are joined to Christ, the enemy has no more authority or power over us. Unless, of course, we give it to him through sin. If we cling to the Lord and listen to him, we have nothing to worry about. If not, we have lots to worry about.
I'm not sure it's right to say that all demons in possession cases are there by invitation
— I think the implication of that would be rather terrifying considering the numerous times the bible records Jesus/possession/children.
Also, though not exactly/explicitly related, when Jesus was asked about the man blind from birth (Who sinned, this man or his parents?
) the answer was Neither.
(John 9:1-5)
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Think about all the times that someone addicted to any substance want to quit, says they will quits, quits, and then falls off the wagon again and again.
The demon is always there.
I'm not sure it's wise to equate addiction with demonic influence.
While it's certainly possible that one impacts the other, this sort of thinking completely dismisses the fallen nature of the flesh.
And let's be honest, even without demons pushing towards something, we are perfectly capable of sending ourselves to our doom:
(James 1:12-16)
Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved.
How refreshing! A RF thread I can agree completely with. Thank you.
Matthew 12:43-45
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
And to the second: A lot of things are "GOD's will" that never seem to come to fruition.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Which NATURALLY; is the same as EJECTING HIS CHURCH!
Those who reject deliberately the means of salvation are also rarely pardoned.
(See above...)
Yep!
It’s early yet! ;^)
What are YOU doing up so early?
It’s 3 AM in Indiana. (Give or take a hundred years)
Has the promised snow gotten to you yet?
About an inch here so far.
The weather dudes like to use I-70 as a dividing line between a little and a LOT!
I’m a few miles north of it.
“one must believe in demons”
Not the right rationale. If one believes that man must have an all-inclusive excuse for whatever they’ve done that the ought not have done, then one must believe in demons.
What are YOU doing up so early?....It’s 3 AM in Indiana.
Have’t been to bed yet....for a couple months I’ve been burning the midnight plus oil...and quite use to working at night now. I like the quietness of the night, less distractions since I live in town. So very good for research and study.....Go to bed when I’m ready and get 5 or more hours sleep, which is sufficient for me.
Nope...not expected til after 9:00 am or thereafter before noon.... Initially it was expected here about 4:00am but I see they've moved that out. However we've got 99% cloud cover now . Even so I never know what we might get as the Jet Stream wobbles thru here.
It’s quite enough to believe IN Jesus...HE can handle any of the demons....they cannot act apart from His permission.
I do think there are some people who are attracted to evil....things such as getting involved with the paranormal and various other dark circles such as that..... It’s a dangerous thing to dance on the edge of darkness and believe you are exempt from being grabbed into it. I have seen that happen to individuals and they never come away from it unscathed.
They make a decision to entertain this stuff and then wonder why their belief systems get messed up.
We may be saved for eternity, but that doesn't discount our falling prey to the temptations of Evil and doing sinful acts (acts which God promised would no longer be counted against us).
The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.....
Because it is the TRUTH, and Satan cannot stand or fight against the Truth.
The Pentecostal movement as a whole seems to be rife with experience junkies.
Always looking for the next spiritual high.
....”Think about all the times that someone addicted to any substance want to quit, says they will quits, quits, and then falls off the wagon again and again”....
It is still a choice each time they take it up again. Their Body” is addicted...that’s why it’s called ‘substance’ abuse. Nothing to do with a demon.
....”experience junkies”....
There’s really a lot of truth to that statement. Experiences and feelings can come and go like the wind...but they are under our control, they just choose not to control them
Those who seek them, (and they do seek them), the enemy of mens souls will not disappointment for they are not seeking God, rather the experience or the feeling.
Sadly like drug houses, too many churches today have become “experience junkies” domain....they congregate together and bring in others who also seek these.
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