UN/Broken - Day 15

Was demon possession in Scripture just mental health issues?  If it was demons, are demons the root of all mental health issues?  

Crosswalk family, I will be honest: this was a tough week for me (Paddy) to write and reflect on.  I’m not sure how I got the privilege to write on it.  I’m not an expert in the matter, and when I reached out to folks who were way more educated than I am, they all pointed me in different directions, some of which were helpful, others not so much.  I do have some thoughts on the matter that I’ll do my best to share this week, though I’m sure six days isn’t enough to discuss all that is needed.  However, I’ll try to point you in the right direction.

To begin, I think it’s important to state that I believe there are demons in our world.  These demons are fallen angels tricked by the devil into believing that the God of the universe isn’t a good fair or just God.  Like the devil, these fallen angels were cast to this earth, and their job is to take as many of God’s creations down with them.

As we’re told in Revelation, “Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.” Revelation 12:7-9 NLT

What are they after?  Like Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy.  My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” The demons seek to steal, kill, and destroy anything that reflects the image of their enemy.  “Anything” includes you and me, created in the image of God. (Genesis 1: 27)

There have been some interesting studies in the last couple of decades on how people in the Western world view the devil and demons.  In 2008, a study discovered that only 59% of Americans believe in Satan as an actual being.  In another study, Christian researcher George Barna stated that 40% of Americans believe Satan is not a living being but only a symbol of evil.  

But if you’re anything like me, talking about the devil and demons can sometimes give you the heebie-jeebies (yes, that’s an actual term defined in the Oxford Dictionary as a state of nervous fear or anxiety).  C.S. Lewis once said that the devil doesn’t care if you fail to believe he exists or if you’re so scared of him that you hide in the corner.  Either way, he’s got you.

So yes, I believe that demons are real, and therefore, I believe in demon possession.  However, because of Jesus, I don’t think we have to be afraid (more on that next week).  And because we live in such a developed world, I believe that demons are often more subtle than not in the Western world.  I think demons can plague a person’s mental health, using tools like anxiety and depression to rob you of faith in God and living in the present moment (or worse, rob you of the will to live at all).  I believe demons can also cause a cascading of events that seem to rob you of life like a broken relationship, financial disasters, job worries, abuse, comparisons, etc.  I often say that the devil and his demons don’t care what you’re focused on as long as it’s not Jesus.

So, I do believe in demons and demon possession.  But I do not believe that all mental health concerns have at their root demons or are a sign of demon possession, nor do I think that all demon possession displays itself in mental health.  I believe that when you give your life to Christ, you are filled with the Holy Spirit and cannot be possessed by demons, but they can still attack you.  

Thankfully, and as a steady reminder for the week, the devil and his demons can not touch the power of God.  They can’t even stand when the name of Jesus is mentioned.  But understanding demons and mental health is essential as we journey through this series on mental health and faith.  So I hope you’ll go on this journey with us, as you may discover courage and a sense of freedom you never knew was possible.

Remember, “at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…” (Philippians 2: 10, NLT). Jesus is more significant, Jesus is more powerful, and though the devil may try to fight, his fate has been sealed.  So, each day, may we be reminded to claim His victory over the powers of darkness.

JOURNAL:

• Check your presuppositions first. Do you think demon possession is real?  If so, do you think mental health and demon possession are related?  Explain.
• What are some ways the devil and his demons might seek to steal, kill, and destroy in our world today?
• What verses or ideas do you cling to that remind you that God is ultimately in control and that Jesus has claimed ultimate victory and has authority over evil?