Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Modern Pope Gets Old School on the Devil
Washington Post ^ | May 10, 2014 | Anthony Fiaola

Posted on 05/11/2014 10:35:21 AM PDT by GreyFriar

VATICAN CITY — A darling of liberal Catholics and an advocate of inclusion and forgiveness, Pope Francis is hardly known for fire and brimstone. Yet, in his words and deeds, the new pope is locked in an epic battle with the oldest enemy of God and creation: The Devil. After his little more than a year atop the Throne of St. Peter, Francis’s teachings on Satan are already regarded as the most old school of any pope since at least Paul VI, whose papacy in the 1960s and 1970s fully embraced the notion of hellish forces plotting to deliver mankind unto damnation.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: General Discusssion; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: devil; exorcism; pope
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last
This is a topic for all Christians to read and consider regarding the Devil/Satan and the need for exorcisms. I was surprised at the even handedness of the author.
1 posted on 05/11/2014 10:35:21 AM PDT by GreyFriar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: GreyFriar; zot; NYer; Salvation; markomalley; SeekAndFind; tired&retired

Ping for all Christians, Protestant & Catholic, to read.


2 posted on 05/11/2014 10:37:42 AM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GreyFriar

“....the notion of hellish forces plotting to deliver mankind unto damnation.”

.
Think of what is happening at Harvard.


3 posted on 05/11/2014 10:46:58 AM PDT by 353FMG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: GreyFriar

Since the Pope is so gung ho on ‘wealth re distribution’, social justice, and other obvious liberal statements, then maybe he is the one with the problem that needs exorcism. Even men of the cloth are not immune from demonic influences. Some of his latest statements come on the heels of an Obama meeting...a Manipulative President.

Just remember the devil knows the Bible as well as we do.

And I will not respond to a Catholic rant, no one is infallible except for Jesus. There are many wonderful Priests out there, and I like Pope Francis however?? I can’t put my finger on it, but he seems to be placating someone.

I am sick and tired of liberals, and Churches (and I am a Christian, who is very Bible familiar) who sees a lot of manipulation with God’s word...even the President and his Minions have used it to their purposes, twisting the meanings.

Yes, exorcism is real and some people need it, but if it isn’t followed up with reading Scripture and keeping oneself close to God, then the person is susceptible “to have seven worse demons come to possess the house(body), when it is swept and garnished.” Luke 11: 19-26


4 posted on 05/11/2014 10:53:35 AM PDT by Kackikat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GreyFriar

Reading some of the comments at the end are enough to make your eyes bleed..........


5 posted on 05/11/2014 11:01:28 AM PDT by Viking2002
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Given the number of times I see people railing about the Pope being socialist and thus non-Christian, I feel the need to point out that the Bible does not mandate capitalism as an economic system. It may be the best, and far better than socialism, but it is not an article of faith.

We don't go to heaven because we are political conservatives while the liberals go to hell. All who believe that Jesus is Lord, both conservative and liberal, are redeemed. To say otherwise is to preach another gospel than the one St Paul preached.

6 posted on 05/11/2014 11:04:56 AM PDT by The Grammarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: GreyFriar
Did he say .....
7 posted on 05/11/2014 11:10:29 AM PDT by mikrofon (+ Catholic BUMP +)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002

yes it is.


8 posted on 05/11/2014 11:48:27 AM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: GreyFriar

Per the article:

Last year, for instance, Francis laid hands on a man in a wheelchair who claimed to be possessed by demons, in what many saw as an impromptu act of cleansing. A few months later, he praised a group long viewed by some as the crazy uncles of the Roman Catholic Church — the International Association of Exorcists — for “helping people who suffer and are in need of liberation.”

It’s about time as much of the power of Satan is his ability to move around and act without being identified. This stuff is real.


9 posted on 05/11/2014 11:58:53 AM PDT by tired&retired
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kackikat

“Yes, exorcism is real and some people need it, but if it isn’t followed up with reading Scripture and keeping oneself close to God, then the person is susceptible “to have seven worse demons come to possess the house(body), when it is swept and garnished.” Luke 11: 19-26”

Here is the sacripture:

24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”

It’s not about reading scripture, although that helps. As Jesus said as He healed people... “Go and sin no more.”

It’s about not creating another wound that will allow the evil spirit to re-enter.

I have found evil and misguided spirits many layers thick, embedded in each other, each unaware of those within itself. They are all afraid of Love as they feel it will burn them up. Love is the answer.


10 posted on 05/11/2014 12:05:13 PM PDT by tired&retired
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: GreyFriar

Per the article:

“Unlike in the movies, he said, the process of driving demons out typically takes multiple sessions over many years.”

This is only true when man thinks they are doing the exorcism rather than realizing that it is done by allowing the Holy spirit to work through us. I’ve been tossed around and wounded, but only sufficiently to diminish my ego so I was no longer full of myself and to create the room in my soul for the Holy Spirit to enter. When we are full of ourselves we have no room for God.


11 posted on 05/11/2014 12:09:17 PM PDT by tired&retired
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tired&retired

I paraphrased the part that was the reply, and gave a place to find the whole scripture in context, I know what it says.

AS for ‘go and sin no more’, true, but that is not what it means by ‘the demons come to possess the house” Why? because it is swept (cleaned out), so the demon takes seven more, Why?...NOTHING HAS BEEN ADDED TO THAT EMPTY VESSEL THAT WOULD REPEL THE DEMONS...the Scriptures are a LIVING WORD, and what did Jesus give the DEVIL when he came to him during the forty day fast? “the WORD of God”. A person who has been excorcised must replace that empty part of their being with God’s word. And when used with prayer and praise this creates a protective barrier that will keep out those ‘demons removed and the seven worse’ who want to possess the person.

The reason people fail is they try to do things on their own, and if they used the ‘read the word of God and keep Jesus presence close’ it would be the protective barrier against that ‘sin’. Read Psalms 91....and Ephesians Ch 6.

Christians should never allow a REV, Minister, Priest to be their source of God’s Word. Jesus is a PERSONAL SAVIOR...that means we are to know the Bible ourselves, to readit, meditate on it, and quote it to the devil.


12 posted on 05/11/2014 12:29:46 PM PDT by Kackikat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Kackikat

Very much agree with you...


13 posted on 05/11/2014 12:32:02 PM PDT by tired&retired
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: tired&retired; zot

T&R,

You posted from the article: “Unlike in the movies, he said, the process of driving demons out typically takes multiple sessions over many years.”

And Commented: This is only true when man thinks they are doing the exorcism rather than realizing that it is done by allowing the Holy spirit to work through us.

From experience, I have seen a couple of cases where the removal of demons took several sessions over a prolonged period of time. And these were done only through the man who knew that he was only a connection to Jesus and his angels, whom were the only ones to do the work.

And one item in the RC exorcism is in trying to rid the person of the demon and sending the demon back into Satan’s realm, instead of pulling it out and up to heaven to be cleansed and offer salvation.


14 posted on 05/11/2014 12:34:04 PM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: GreyFriar
And one item in the RC exorcism is in trying to rid the person of the demon and sending the demon back into Satan’s realm, instead of pulling it out and up to heaven to be cleansed and offer salvation.

Huh? Demons can never repent, because they do not live in time.

15 posted on 05/11/2014 12:58:03 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: GreyFriar

Thanks for posting this article. It is better than I expected from the Washington Post. And thanks for the ping, and your comments in the thread. Much appreciated.


16 posted on 05/11/2014 1:04:47 PM PDT by zot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: GreyFriar; Tax-chick; GregB; Berlin_Freeper; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; ...
“ ‘But Father, how old-fashioned you are to speak about the Devil in the 21st century,’ ” Francis, quoting those who have noted his frequent mentions of the Devil, said last month while presiding over Mass at the Vatican’s chapel in St. Martha’s House. He warned those gathered on that chilly morning to be vigilant and not be fooled by the hidden face of Satan in the modern world. “Look out because the Devil is present,” he said.

Ping!

17 posted on 05/11/2014 1:17:22 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tired&retired

Thanks.


18 posted on 05/11/2014 1:45:30 PM PDT by Kackikat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: The Grammarian
Given the number of times I see people railing about the Pope being socialist and thus non-Christian, I feel the need to point out that the Bible does not mandate capitalism as an economic system. It may be the best, and far better than socialism, but it is not an article of faith.

We don't go to heaven because we are political conservatives while the liberals go to hell. All who believe that Jesus is Lord, both conservative and liberal, are redeemed. To say otherwise is to preach another gospel than the one St Paul preached.

Excellent post!

19 posted on 05/11/2014 2:14:38 PM PDT by tjd1454
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: GreyFriar

“One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe—a mighty evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death and disease, and sin. The difference is that Christianity thinks this Dark Power was created by God, and was good when he was created, and went wrong. Christianity agrees with Dualism that this universe is at war. But it does not think this is a war between independent powers. It thinks it is a civil war, a rebellion, and that we are living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel.

“Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening-in to the secret wireless from our friends: that is why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us from going. He does it by playing on our conceit and laziness and intellectual snobbery. I know someone will ask me, ‘Do you really mean, at this time of day, to re-introduce our old friend the devil—hoofs and horns and all?’ Well, what the time of day has to do with it I do not know. And I am not particular about the hoofs and horns. But in other respects my answer is ‘Yes, I do.’ I do not claim to know anything about his personal appearance. If anybody really wants to know him better I would say to that person, ‘Don’t worry. If you really want to, you will. Whether you’ll like it when you do is another question.’”

—C. S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity”


20 posted on 05/11/2014 4:06:41 PM PDT by RichInOC (...your newest purveyor of wit, laughter and the Popish creed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson