Posted on 11/17/2010 10:49:20 AM PST by wmfights
Evangelicals do not need a rite of exorcism, because to adopt such an invention would be to surrender the high ground of the Gospel. We are engaged in spiritual warfare every minute of every day, whether we recognize it or not. There is nothing the demons fear or hate more than evangelism and missions, where the Gospel pushes back with supernatural power against their possessions, rendering them impotent and powerless. Every time a believer shares the Gospel and declares the name of Jesus, the demons and the Devil lose their power.
There are times that K scares the devil out of me. Does that count?
Because evangelicals don't have "rites." They have the authority of the priesthood of the believer.
That must be why there are something like 23000 different brands of Evangelical Protestantism.
Some brands believe they are saved regardless of their sins, others that believe they have no free will, and so on.
Here's the common denominator: they all believe like crazy, and they do it on their own authority.
Which is very different than the ministerial Priesthood of the ordained.
“That must be why there are something like 23000 different brands of Evangelical Protestantism. “
True, but there is a wide variety in Roman Catholicism, too.
You have the gay group, whose name escapes me, and the Latin Rite, Catholics Pro-Choice, and you could cite the various Jesuits/Franciscans/etc., all the different orders. You may say they are all under one authority (the Pope or the Holy See); but Protestants would say the same, they are under the authority of Jesus and the Bible.
Of course liberal Protestants, those who deny Christ, would not claim to be under the authority of anything. Then again, neither would liberal Catholics.
I was just reading here on FR five minutes ago about ecclias in - Holland? - groups of Roman Catholics doing their own thing because of a priest shortage.
I will grant you any number of arguments against Protestantism... but the doctrine of the priesthood of the believer goes back to the Nicene Creed and the first ecumenical council.
Absolutely.
You have the gay group, whose name escapes me, and the Latin Rite, Catholics Pro-Choice, and you could cite the various Jesuits/Franciscans/etc., all the different orders. You may say they are all under one authority (the Pope or the Holy See); but Protestants would say the same, they are under the authority of Jesus and the Bible.
Not exactly- the gay and pro-choice groups are dissident at the minimal, to the point of de facto schismatic in some cases. Jesuits/Franciscans and all the other religious orders have different charisms or missions, but they all believe in the same faith.
So what.
Jesus Christ will sort out who are His.
Too many gods about.
Thanks for the ping.
Derek Prince was tops in such matters.
Derek Prince was tops in such matters.
Unger is good.
John Bevere also.
How can prayers that repeatedly invoke the name of Jesus Christ "surrender the high ground of the Gospel"?
Furthermore, there is absolutely no New Testament evidence that a believer in Christ can be possessed by demons.
Any Catholic exorcist will tell you that it's exceedingly rare -- almost unheard of -- for a believing, practicing Catholic in a state of grace to be possessed. (And for that matter, that would probably go for Christians of other confessions as well.)
On the other hand, the easiest, fastest, most efficacious way to become possessed is to start dabbling in the occult, or becoming personally involved with people who are involved in the occult.
People who get involved in these generally do so with the knowledge they have crossed a line clearly established and understood. So I rather think the religions who "Borrow" Christian verbage and entice people into false religions by doing so are far more dangerous than an obvious occult.
Occults don't mask who they are...you know going in. But false religions who paint Christianity over their true agendas do far more damage to an individual. Their deceptions at creating a false front fall into line with the father of deceptions and how he works. Hidden rites or various steps to Godhood or enlightenment place an individual on a ladder to a counterfeit and imposter Godhead..no matter the title otherwise given. Generally and in time Spiritual encounters are encouraged and sought after...via testimonies of others who lay claim to such. People then follow thru and do encounter aperations and entities of the Spirit world fully believing these are of God when in fact the opposite is true.
Again and in time people's faith is then based on these experiences... and more and more are required to maintain their faith until they have fallen from grace. The road back is long and trying...some never do come back, rather are bound tightly for years and years. For this the testimony they might have otherwise had is lost forever.....oftentimes psycological issues develope as well.
My point is whenever people "believe" they are seeing the "unseen" spiritual world they had better look carefully at the road they are on and take heed....they leave themsleves open for demonic influence in every way.
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