Demons and Evil Spirits

[borrofburi]

I get these christian newsletter things in my email once in a while. Most of the time they're pretty boring; sometimes they are more interesting and I repost (I mean, they are always encouraging me to share so that these magic emails will convert people...).

I think this one is particularly funny...

Immediately upon coming ashore after taking His disciples on a nail-biting adventure in sailing, Jesus was confronted by two violent demon-possessed men. Although the demons resisted His command, they had to submit to Jesus' authority and leave the men.

Demons,also called evil spirits, or more accurately unclean spirits,exist. And, they are subject to Jesus' authority.

In the New Testament, demon-possession describes a person dominated by an evil/unclean/non-human spirit. The book of Luke especially distinguishes demon-possession from illness, insanity, or handicap. These unclean spirits are personal beings; they express emotion, self-awareness, and recognition. According to Jesus, for some bizarre reason unclean spirits seek rest within living material bodies. While the Bible never explains how people might become possessed, Jesus warns against spiritual emptiness.

Demonic activity is severely limited by the mere presence of the church. Not by any institutional church, but by the body of Christ. Unclean spirits seem to avoid "¦ perhaps are repelled by Christ-followers living humble, repentant lives. Where two or three gather in Christ's name, Jesus is present. And, where Jesus is, unclean spirits stay away. Yet, because the spiritual can't be measured nor solved by technology or medicine, our modern culture cannot acknowledge the demonic.

The Bible doesn't include a systematic demonology. In fact, it provides only fleeting references to unclean spirits. Still, the clear message of the Bible is that unclean spirits exist and are subject to Jesus' authority. He commanded the two men set free from demons to return home and tell how much God has done for them.

"If I drive out demons by the finger of God," claimed Jesus, "then the kingdom of God has come to you." The kingdom of God has come to you! You have much to talk about,

 

[RigelKentaurusA]

... In the New Testament, demon-possession describes a person dominated by an evil/unclean/non-human spirit. The book of Luke especially distinguishes demon-possession from illness, insanity, or handicap...

Huh, I could have swore that distinction was only more recent...

 

[nemesiss]

Demons,also called evil spirits, or more accurately unclean spirits,exist. And, they are subject to Jesus' authority.

so... jesus is the devil?