Recently, I was asked to lead the lesson in my church’s small group. The lesson originated from a recent sermon from our Pastor relating to not allowing the “accuser” (Satan) to influence and manipulate us as Christians. I perhaps went a bit overboard in the lesson preparation, and I am sure I could see a few stifled yawns. It is incumbent upon me to apologise for my contribution to deforestation caused by the workbook I handed out.
Just as the lesson ended, I was asked a very valid question, which I was excited to answer. I had previously engaged with this topic in my studies, so my mind went, “Finally, I can put my studies to use.” The question was: can a reborn Christian be possessed or have a demon dwell inside them? I was quite sure the rest of the group shared a similar theology to mine, so I confidently answered no, a reborn Christian who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit cannot simultaneously be indwelt by a demon.
Surprisingly (to me at least), there were positions contrary to mine amongst the small group. I will never think I know everything, in fact, I made it clear how it feels like you will never, no matter how much you study or read your bible, know everything, so I was curious to hear this alternate position. We are taught that “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17) and discourse is one purpose of fellowship, so an alternative opinion of yes, a demon can indwell inside a Christian, needs to be heard and examined. The evidence for this inhabitation was an anecdotal experience from one of the group members, and my curious mind went into overdrive.
I left that evening knowing that, oh boy, here comes another blog. I, however, believe in two things when writing these blogs: Scriptural foundation and scholarly sources. So out came the textbooks, my seminary learning material, the academic research sites and of course my Bible. So, brace yourself for another doozy.
The first textbook I opened was my trusty Wayne Grudem “Systematic Theology” volume, weighing in at twenty kilograms (certainly feels like it weighs twenty kilograms). I was immediately drawn to this quote:
“If the person being ministered to is not a Christian, it is important that he or she be urged to come to Christ as Saviour immediately after the demon is cast out so that the Holy Spirit will reside in the person and protect him or her from future attacks”.
Clearly, non-believers can have demons residing in them, but Grudem is succinctly referring to the Holy Spirit as a protective measure against future attacks on the converted.”
If you noticed, I have tried to avoid using the term “possession,” realising that terminology in this debate is important yet slightly complex. The question I am attempting to answer depends heavily on how one defines terms like “possession” and “demonisation” and whether one holds theological principles over experiential reports. The difference between “possession” and “demonisation” is a central point of debate, often hinging on whether the terms imply ownership or merely the degree of influence and control. Those who advocate for the use of the word demonisation contend that the word simply means to be demon-acted-upon or the degree of the demon’s presence. Some scholars I read felt that the term demonized is a theological invention used to justify deliverance ministries for believers. Others feel it is more accurate in its portrayal of the varying degrees of demonic influence and inhabitation. Those who prefer the term possession argue that historical usage and its consistent use in the Greek lexicons as “to be possessed by a demon” rationalise its use. Both camps get their preferred word from the Greek daimonizomai (δαιμονίζομαι) but disagree on the nuances.
Another term we will come upon often in this subject is “oppression.” Being oppressed by a demon would predominantly refer to an external assault or influence as opposed to internal residence, or demonisation. This I can wholeheartedly get behind. I am subject to this on regular occasions. Oppression we can define as an attack from the outside that targets a person’s mind, body or circumstance. What it does not refer to is any indwelling of evil or cohabitation with the Holy Spirit. Here we find demons “coming upon” rather than “entering into.”
So, what demonic oppression does the Christian experience? Temptation, accusations, deception, shame, condemnation and harassment. Everything in the notes I was given to prepare the lesson. We read in 2 Corinthians 12:7 of the Apostle Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” as a “messenger of Satan” (flesh being an external covering and not internal). Flesh itself refers to man’s sinful nature and natural desires. Demons love this; flesh (sinful desires) are our weak points. Satan wants to lead you away from Christ. Oppression also involves mental persuasion and deceptive thinking, sometimes creating an illusion of “inhabitancy.”
Because oppression is an external attack, the prescribed Biblical response is one our Pastor has spent weeks hammering into our minds: the full armour of God (Ephesians 6). But because what we are asking is: is the inhabitation of demons possible in Christians, we shall not get into the defence mechanisms of how to prevent the enemy’s attack in this blog. We must, however, keep in mind that spiritual attacks are very real.
Now that we have done the semantic housekeeping, let us get to the crux. Discourse should not be one-sided, so I will try being as objective as possible to both arguments for and against (I said try).
Let us start with evidence for demon inhabitation in Christians, as it is the scantest (remember I said try). Many believers who believe in the internal presence of demons will base their position on experiential evidence and biblical examples such as Job 1:6-12, which posits that the “sons of God” (a term for heavenly beings or angels) came to present themselves before the Lord, and “Satan also came among them”. God and Satan then converse regarding the faithfulness of Job.
Another similar scripture used in the pro camp is Zechariah 31:2, where God defends Joshua against the accusations of Satan.
Most theologians interpret these encounters not as Satan freely dwelling in heaven, but as him being summoned before God’s throne to answer for his actions. Because God is sovereign, Satan has no independent authority and requires God’s explicit permission to test, accuse or afflict these individuals.
Could Saul have had an inhabiting demon? We read of God sending an evil spirit to torment Saul. Is this not a demon inhabitation? It could be, but we read that God “allowed” the evil spirit to torment Saul only after the Spirit of God departed from Saul (1 Sam 16:14). We know that in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was not a permanent indwelling. The Holy Spirit only became a permanent indwelling in the New Testament. We are also not told specifically that the demon was residing inside of Saul.
Another argument is that demons reside in a person’s soul and not within their spirit, where the Holy Spirit dwells. There is, however, no ontological distinction between soul and spirit in scripture. These terms are used interchangeably throughout the bible.
However, the most significant evidence given from proponents of demonic occupation is observed experiences in deliverance ministries. Many cite thousands of cases where Christians manifested demonic presence, spoke in different voices and reported release or relief only after the demons were cast out. I honestly believe that the person involved and those watching would be convinced that what they have seen was an “exorcism,” but my perspective is that although it seems like a” casting out”, it would more than likely be a “repelling away.”
Casting demons out of a believer is where my path diverges. The most poignant scripture I feel adequately explains my position is Matthew 12:43-45 (Luke 11:24–26).
“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.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it 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. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Clearly, we see the house (man) was empty, devoid of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit had been there, every time the demon knocked on the door of the house the Holy Spirit would answer. Since God the Holy Spirit is stronger than any demon, evil spirit or Satan himself, none would be able to enter. It is simple: God is greater than Satan, or any demon and God protects His children.
Charles Spurgeon, in one of his famous sermons, said: “ He is a strong man with a vengeance, Oh, Christian! It is well for you that there is a stronger one than he: the might of Satan would crush you to your ruin if it were not that the almightiness of Christ comes in to the rescue”.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple”.
We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit as God’s temple. Would God allow a demon to co-inhabit His temple?
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13)
We know that in this text, the Holy Spirit is the believer’s “seal”. God’s people are sealed. The Spirit of God comes to indwell and take up residence in the believer. Our temple is already occupied. There is no room for a demon to move in as long as God fills that space.
We cannot look at this subject without looking into the concept of salvation. Salvation involves a replacement of our citizenship in the kingdom of darkness with citizenship in the kingdom of God.
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).
Being a child of God and being demon-inhabited are mutually exclusive concepts.
We, as reborn Christians, are born of God:
“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them” (1 John 5:18).
John notes here that a result of regeneration (being born again) is protection from Satan himself. Though there may be attacks from Satan, John reassures his readers that “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4 NIV), and this greater power of the Holy Spirit within us keeps us safe from ultimate spiritual harm by the evil one.
R.C Sproul, a great theologian, puts it this way: “The Christian is always faced with this question: Can I be demon possessed? I do not believe so. I believe that people can be demon possessed, but I do not think this is possible for a Christian because God the Holy Spirit resides in the regenerate person, and scripture tells us, ‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor 3:17).
Our map to spiritual living and spiritual warfare is the Epistles. Nowhere do we find believers being warned to protect themselves from demon inhabitation; we do, however, find numerous instructions on how to resist the devil’s influence.
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
I find it hard to believe, as do numerous theologians that the Apostle Paul, with his myriad instructions on Spiritual warfare would not at least have given us instructions on how to protect a believer from demon inhabitation or how to exorcise demons from believers if demon inhabitation in reborn Christians were possible.
Finally, we arrive back at the starting point. If you are reborn, you are transformed, and you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and if you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, you have yourself an almighty protector who will guard your “house” and protect you from any attempts at a demonic housebreaking. They might try to get in, but they will be thwarted by a divine security system. The Holy Spirit is the advocate that Jesus promised would be with us forever and who will live with us and in us.
The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:17)
So, for a final clarification on my position in this debate, I do not believe a demon can coinhabit a reborn Christian, I however do believe that we need to protect ourselves from demonic oppression and influence, and that way is through Christ centred living, obedience to God, the belt of truth, the breast plate of righteousness, shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit and:
“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Eph 6:18).
Let me finish off this blog with a quote from Psalm 5:4, which expresses God’s absolute holiness, that he cannot tolerate wickedness, and that evil cannot dwell in his presence.
“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.”
Sources
Wayne Grudem “Systematic Theology: An Introduction to biblical doctrine”
Roger Bufford, George Fox University “Demonic influence and the Christian”
Bent Grimsley and Elliot Miller, Christian Research Institute “Can a Christian be demonized.”
Steven Carter “Demon Possession and the Christian”.
Robert Dean Jr “Demon Possession and the Christian”.
R.C Sproul Ligonier Ministries.
Charles Spurgeon “Spurgeon Sermons”
South Africa Theological Seminary THE 2123 “The Doctrine of Salvation”.
South African Theological Seminary THE1123 “The Holy Spirit”.
Kenneth Barker “NIV Study Bible”
William MacDonald and Arthur Farstad “Believers Bible Commentary”
Gregory Brown “Can Christians be Demonized or Possessed”.
