Can Born Again Christians Be Demon Possessed?
On the subject of exorcism and deliverance in the Church in Africa, many believers have grappled with the question, can believers, can Christians really born again, be demon possessed? This has come to be a very important and urgent question that demands urgent attention, and honest, and earnest answers. Can believers really be possessed? What does the Bible really say?
In Africa today, in most of the churches, especially in the charismatic movement, we have a firm belief that believers can be demon possessed which has justified the ministry of deliverance to the extent that now almost everything in church has become about deliverance and demons; chasing, and casting, and battling with the spiritual powers of darkness no matter where you look.
What does the Bible say?
But what does the Bible really say? In fact, when you look at the Bible, while we find the ministry of deliverance there- Jesus and the apostles casting out demons from possessed people, we do not find anywhere in the bible where it teaches that believers can be possessed. On the contrary, what you find in the Scriptures is that believers are above and beyond the influence or dominion of powers of darkness including demons. For instance, in 2nd Corinthians 5:17 we are told that the believers are under new management, they are no longer enslaved to Satan and his vices. The Apostle Paul says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the old has passed away, behold the new has come.” That believers are no longer under the lordship, rulership, and leadership of Satan. On the contrary, they now belong to Jesus their saviour and Lord.
Christ has triumphed over demons.
In Colossians 2:15, we are told that Christ has triumphed over demons and powers of darkness which is why believers should not be afraid of demonic possession. It says that, “He disarmed rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him.” And when he did that. certainly, he was triumphing on behalf of believers. But we also noticed from scripture, that the scriptures tell us that as believers, greater is he that is in us than the one that is in the world- meaning Satan and his powers of darkness. In 1 John 4:4, we read, “Little children you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than the one that is in the world.” You probably are also aware about John 8:36, which says that, “So if the son of God, that if the son sets you free, you are free indeed.” And what does that mean? That in Christ Jesus we have been set free from the dominion and the power of darkness. And therefore, demons have no hold over people who now belong to Jesus as their personal saviour and Lord.
What effect do demons have on a believer?
Now, is there a sense in which believers might be affected, or attacked, or oppressed by demons? Yes, we find biblical evidence that believers can be externally attacked or oppressed by powers of darkness without necessarily affecting them or possessing them. In Matthew 4:4, the first encounter we point to is the temptation of Jesus. We see Jesus being harassed by Satan himself but he’s certainly not possessing him. In the book of Job, we read about Job’s trials, and temptations, and his sufferings. This is a case of demonic oppression but certainly not one of opposition. The Apostle Paul himself talks about a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan who was sent to humble him down so that he would not be proud because of the revelations he was receiving. A case of demonic oppression and attack rather than one of possession.
Biblical response to issues of demonic possession.
Now I have heard of many people who speak of subjective experience, who claim they have seen believers who have been possessed of demons and indeed have been delivered. And based on that subjective experience, they conclude that believers can be demon possessed. When faced with a scenario like that, how do we respond? We must be reminded that the testimony and evidence of scripture, is of greater importance than our subjective experiences. That we must look to the Bible which provides objective truth and evidence and must test our personal experiences, and perceptions, and bring them under the searchlight of scripture.
We should also remember, that not everybody who calls himself a believer, a Christian actually is one. Is it possible that some of those people you have seen who are possessed by demons who claim to be Christian when actually they are not? In other words, they are still not under the Lordship of Jesus. And that’s why they experience those demonic attacks and possessions. Remember what the scriptures say, in Matthew 7, that not everyone who says Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of God. The evidence of scripture is that believers have overcome Satan and all his powers, they are under new management, they have been set free once for all. They enjoy victory that Christ has bought for them by his death and resurrection. They may suffer, they may be attacked, they may undergo trials and temptations brought about by demonic forces, but they are certainly not under the express possession and dominion of powers of darkness.
