December 29th, 2007
Vatican creates more exorcists to tackle demons
» Posted in Christian discernment at 10:14 am
The Vatican is correct that people are being exposed to demons through media, rock music and the Internet. Don’t forget drugs. Having said that, what is the best way to protect people from demons? To have an exorcist remove demons from those who are lost or to save people so that they will not be possessed by demons at all? Seems to me the Catholic Church needs to focus on salvation because the vast majority of Catholics do not have a clue about how Christ saves those who trust in Him.
Vatican to create more exorcists to tackle ‘evil’ - Telegraph:
“The Vatican is concerned that young people are being exposed to the influence of Satanism through the media, rock music and the Internet”
POST SUMMARY
Date posted: Saturday, December 29th, 2007 10:14 am | Under category: Christian discernment
RSS 2.0 | Comment | Trackback
Date posted: Saturday, December 29th, 2007 10:14 am | Under category: Christian discernment
RSS 2.0 | Comment | Trackback
>” the vast majority of Catholics do not have a clue about how Christ saves those who trust in Him.”
Actually the vast majority of Catholics do have a clue that they are saved by God’s grace alone. It says so in the Bible, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Church has been teaching that salvation is by grace for thousands of years. What Catholics are clueless about is your personal interpretation of that doctrine as found in scripture. Two different things entirely.
>”Having said that, what is the best way to protect people from demons?”
I would argue that, since the Bible says Jesus cast demons out of people who were lost, removing demons from those who are lost is the better answer. I don’t find any warranties in scripture that a saved person can never be possessed by a demon. In fact, I find in the book of Job, God allowing Satan to have his way with Job, someone saved under the first covenant by having faith in God.
Actually, the best way is to protect people is to remove the demons from the house. You seem to have assumed that all demons and exorcisms involve possession of the human body when the reality is much different. (Note that Job was not possessed.) The most common exorcisms involve houses, usually rentals with high turnover. I’m currently helping a Jewish friend and his Christian roommates resolve one such situation.
Most non-Catholic ministers seem to have little experience with demons and how to go about using the authority over demons that Jesus gave to the Apostles and their successors. Fortunately, The ancient rites of exorcism have not been lost. The Catholic Church has stood firm and held to the traditions which were taught by the Apostles, either by word of mouth or by letter. (2 Thess. 2:15)
God bless…
I never mentioned anything about Catholics believing that people are saved by God’s grace alone so don’t know why you even brought that up. I said the vast majority of Catholics do not have a clue about how Christ saves those who trust in Him. Apples and Oranges!
Obviously the Church teaches that we are saved by God’s grace. Knowing that however does not make anyone saved.
I was raised and educated a Catholic and also have their catechism so I think I know what Catholics believe.
First, I would be correct even if I were just talking about devout Catholics. However, the vast majority of Catholics do not even practice the essential teachings of their church and are not even saved according to their own doctrine.
Second, knowing that people are saved through God’s grace saves no one. You must actually trust in His Son for your salvation not just have knowledge of Grace. The Grace of God is for those who hear and believe it is not for those who do not believe.
Third, what Catholics call salvation by grace is not what biblical Christians call grace for salvation. Catholics just make grace a God given right to start the salvation process in themselves which requires them to do good works and follow church directives. This Grace of Catholics is not the free gift of Salvation for all who believe in His righteousness to save.
Catholics can only believe they will be saved if they are living as good Catholics and they can’t even be sure that they will remain in the state of grace. They have to work on maintaining that state until they die in order to be saved.
God gave grace to all to come to Jesus to be saved but one is saved when they believe in His righteousness to pay for their sins. If Catholics or anyone else thinks they can be saved through their own righteousness actions or because they trust in their church to save them they will not be saved.
Christians living in the flesh can be influenced by demonic forces but true Christians certainly cannot be possessed be demons. Christians are living temples of the Holy Spirit. Since 90 percent of those who identify with Christianity are not true Christians it is obvious why you think that Christians can be possessed.
You talk about Job but their is not a hint in Job that he was possessed or influenced by demons. Job was a righteous man. God said so.
If there are demons they look for bodies to possess because that is what disembodied spirits do. How in the world can you determine if manifestations of a demon are connected with a house or the people who live in the house? Take the people totally out of the picture and it is something like saying does a tree make sound when it falls in the forest if there is no one to hear it. If it is not sensed it might as well not exist.
Perhaps people who live in rentals with high turnovers are more prone to be possessed by demons or they would have a more stable home life.
Pagan cultures know the practice of exorcism. The Jews knew it as well. However, Christians do not need to know how to cast out devils with pagan witchcraft. They can cast out devils in Jesus name with the authority that Jesus gave them. No ritual necessary. You mentioned the apostles but they cast demons out in Jesus name and there was no ceremony implied. The only example of failure was a deaf spirit that Jesus said had to be cast out through prayer. No holy water rituals and canned prayers qualify. Unless perhaps you are are attempting to cast demons out by religious witchcraft much like some Catholics, Pentecostals and pagan witchdoctors do today.