"Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." -Mark 16:14-20
The Christian life is difficult because of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Many believers seek an "escape route" from the difficulties of life, which does not reflect the direction of Scripture. Since the mid-to-late 19th century, "Christendom" has been inundated by an emphasis on experiences and so-called supernatural phenomena. The experiences sought after include visions, speaking in tongues, healing, and casting out demons, to name a few. These are all extra-biblical experiences, which fall under the umbrella of an over-emphasis on the spirit world (good and bad). Sadly, this desire for some experience results in countless souls being led into work-based religions and seeking ever-wilder spiritual experiences. This desire to experience something dramatic leads the soul away from the simplicity of salvation by faith in Christ, the simplicity of new life in Christ, and the final authority of the Word of God. Today, one of the most outstanding examples of experiential religion is the numerous deliverance ministries in the world. Deliverance ministries teach everyone can be possessed by a demon (lost or saved), everyone who has issues overcoming sin in his life is dealing with demons inside him, and everyone can have these demons cast out by one of many deliverance ministries. They promise freedom and provide nothing but great bondage (2Pe 2:19). They are a danger to anyone seeking a real relationship with God either in salvation or through spiritual maturity. The following are a few of the dangers to be found in deliverance ministries. Deliverance Ministries Misuse Scripture in a Similar Fashion to the Serpent. We all remember how the serpent deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. He was not afraid to talk about the Word of God. Deliverance ministries appeal to our text as proof of the validity of their teaching. They will also pull out Matthew 10:7-8 as further proof they are following Scripture. "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." -Matthew 10:7-8 No one is correct just because they appeal to Scripture. If the serpent appealed to Scripture and was in the wrong, the same can be true of people today. One of the great problems in "Christendom" is not the total lack of Scripture but the misuse of Scripture. The serpent took the Scripture out of context, and so do deliverance ministries. Matthew 10:1 gives us the immediate context of the deliverance ministry's proof text when it says, " And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." Let's look at the context. Who is speaking? Jesus. To whom is Jesus speaking? The twelve apostles. About what is Jesus speaking to the twelve? A short-term preaching trip. You see, when you consider the context, you find Jesus was not giving church truth by which all churches are to govern themselves, as He did in Matthew 18 (as one example). Jesus gave these instructions to particular people for a particular period. When we recognize the context, we find no grounds for any deliverance ministry to exist today. Deliverance ministries ignore the remaining context of Matthew 10. "Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence." -Matthew 10:9-11 Deliverance ministries want you to read verses 7-8 but do not want you to continue reading the context through verse 11. Could this be due to the fact deliverance ministries ask for offerings and gifts to "continue their work?" Could this be due to the fact leaders of these deliverance ministries refuse to bed down wherever they can find a place? Could this be due to the fact deliverance ministries actively seek large venues for their deliverance meetings? All of these things fly in the face of the context of their proof text and show these ministries to be unscriptural and dangerous to the undiscerning. Finally, deliverance ministries, like the serpent in the garden, glorify the goodness of the individual and blame others for sinful failure. The serpent blamed God for trying to keep Adam and Eve naive and ignorant of "the truth" that would make them "as gods." Deliverance ministries blame demon oppression and possession for keeping people from fulfilling their potential. It is as if man has no responsibility for his sin, but the "devil made him do it." Deliverance ministries are dangerous because they cause the individual to focus on select verses while ignoring the context. Deliverance Ministries Are Not Part of the Great Commission According to Matthew 28:19-20, the Great Commission contains three basic steps. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." -Matthew 28:19-20 Step one: Gospel preaching - evangelism. Step two: Baptism - immersion of believers in water by the authority of a New Testament church. This is done as an identification with Christ and His teaching (doctrine). Step three: Discipleship - teaching with the purpose of spiritual maturity. None of these three steps hint at casting out demons. The Great Commission, as given in Luke, John, and Acts does not hint at casting out demons, either. We will deal with our text a little later in this article. Deliverance ministries are dangerous because they promote something outside the Great Commission. Deliverance Ministries Preach a Different Jesus Deliverance ministries see demons behind every corner and shadow. They call this "spiritual warfare." "Deliverance Ministry is a Christian ministry focused on freeing individuals from demonic oppression, possession, and other spiritual bondages. It is based on the belief that many people may be struggling with spiritual battles that they cannot overcome on their own and require the intervention of others through prayer, intercession, and spiritual guidance.” — https://thewitness.org/what-is-deliverance-ministry/ This quote may seem benign to the undiscerning, but it shows the emphasis on demonic forces that must be removed by the intervention of others. It is interesting to note that, according to this quote, it is other humans who are the key to victory. Jesus is left out of the picture altogether as Someone to be commanded by the prayers, claims, and commands of believers. That is NOT the Jesus of the Bible! Jesus came for a purpose. That purpose is to call sinners to repentance. Sadly, deliverance ministries do not accept this as true. They see Jesus' coming as the means to get demons out of the way so man could be the good person he is. "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." -Luke 5:32 Jesus came for sinners. That means that the problems people face are not demonic. Our problems are sin-based. The apostle Paul made this clear in his epistle to the church in Rome. "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." -Romans 7:14-17 Notice all the personal pronouns used in these verses (I, me). Paul did not blame his issues on demonic activity. Paul blamed himself for sin in his life. That is truth ignored and denied by deliverance ministries. Jesus' promise is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the heart of every born-again believer. Deliverance ministries allow for a believer to have the Holy Spirit and still be demon-possessed! Demon possession of a believer was NOT taught in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit left Saul. Only then was he troubled by an evil spirit (1Sa 16:14). Another interesting point about Saul's condition is the evil spirit never possessed him. The evil spirit "troubled" Saul. The word "troubled" means "to terrify," or "make afraid." Demon possession is not necessary to produce terror or fear. Demon possession of a believer is NOT taught in the New Testament. First, the Holy Ghost transforms each believer in Christ (Tit 3:5). Second, the Holy Ghost seals each one who has placed his faith in Christ (Eph 1:13). Third, the Holy Ghost produces a child of God from each one who has placed his faith in Christ (Eph 1:5). Fourth, the Holy Ghost makes a difference between himself and the devil (1Jn 4:4). These truths do not teach the possibility of demon possession, but quite the opposite. All of this shows deliverance ministries preach a different Jesus than does the Bible. That makes them exceedingly dangerous! Deliverance Ministries Ignore Fulfilled Prophecy No deliverance ministry admits they are unscriptural and useless. They all claim to be of vital importance for believers today. “Third, deliverance ministry is crucial in helping believers experience freedom, healing, and spiritual growth. The bondage caused by demonic activity can prevent believers from experiencing the abundant life that Christ promised.” — https://thewitness.org/what-is-deliverance-ministry/ Deliverance ministries refuse to acknowledge the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jesus (Mar 16:16-17, 20). I believe Jesus was speaking of the "signs of an apostle." These are the same signs Paul mentioned in his second epistle to the church at Corinth. "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." -2Co 12:12 As we study the Scripture, we can see each of these signs fulfilled by one or more of the apostles. Limiting our focus to the apostle Paul, we learn that he cast out demons (Act 16:16-18), spoke in tongues (1Co 14:18), took up serpents (Act 28:3-5), and healed the sick (Act 28:8). Since this prophecy has been fulfilled, we should not be looking for further fulfillment. Instead, we should rejoice that Jesus' prophecy has been fulfilled. It gives us one more proof He is the Son of God and God the Son, as He said. However, when deliverance ministries ignore the fulfillment of this prophecy and demand further fulfilment, they place themselves into a dangerous position of calling Jesus a liar. No believer in Jesus wants to be part of anything that would call Jesus a liar! Deliverance Ministries Ignore the Scriptural Steps to Victory Deliverance ministries have one prescription - cast out the demons that hold you down! The Scripture does not give this same prescription. There IS spiritual warfare for every believer. Paul spoke openly about this spiritual warfare in his epistle to the church at Ephesus. "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." -Ephesians 6:11-12 Believers have a promise of the ability to overcome the wiles of the devil. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." -Ephesians 6:13 Believers have the armour necessary to overcome the wiles of the devil. "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" -Ephesians 6:14-17 Note that the tools necessary to overcome the devil do not include casting out demons or healing (physical or spiritual). Victory is possible for the believer who will obey the Scripture by putting on the whole armour of God. God even gives the tactics necessary to provide victory: submission to God (Jas 4:7) and faith in God (1Jn 5:4). Deliverance ministries promise instant victory without the battle. Their promise ignores basic Bible principles, which require time and effort on the part of the individual. Many people are drawn to their promises because they don't want to put in the time or effort necessary to produce real victory in Christ. That makes every deliverance ministry a danger to the believer! Deliverance Ministries Divide the Sheep from the Goats. This divisiveness of deliverance ministries may be looked at as a blessing rather than a danger. There is, however, a danger for the undiscerning believer who watches nice people caught up with deliverance ministries leave New Testament churches for a "church" emphasizing deliverance. We must recognize the teaching of Scripture regarding those who leave the Lord's churches over doctrinal issues. "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." -1Jn 2:19 When someone holding the doctrine of the deliverance ministries attends and joins a New Testament church, they destroy the unity Christ expects. "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." -2Co 13:11 Unity in a New Testament church is always based on Bible doctrine. Multiple doctrinal positions within a New Testament church are condemned. "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" -Eph 4:13 "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine," -1Ti 1:13 What are we, as believers in Christ and members of a New Testament church, to do when confronted with someone who holds the doctrine of deliverance ministries? The Bible gives a three-step answer to this question. The first step to dealing with those holding the doctrine of deliverance ministries is to understand Bible doctrine. If we understand Bible doctrine, we are less likely to be duped by the false teaching of deliverance ministries. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" -Eph 4:14 The second step to dealing with those holding the doctrine of deliverance ministries is to develop the ability to identify false doctrine. "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." -Rom 16:17 The third step to dealing with those holding the doctrine of deliverance ministries is to reject their friendship. "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." -2Jn 10-11 The apostle Paul went even further regarding purveyors of false doctrine. "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." -Gal 1:8 While these deliverance ministries claim to preach Jesus, they distract from Jesus and the message of the Gospel. We must realize the dangers of holding to these false doctrines. We, as believers in Jesus and members of a New Testament church, must stick with the Word of God as our sole authority and reject the dangers of these deliverance ministries.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
About Jerry JacksonJerry has been writing for many years now. He has written tracts for several churches, as well as his ministries in Papua New Guinea and in Canada. He has had the opportunity to have many of his articles published in several Independent Baptist periodicals over the years. His main goals are to teach truth and lift up the Saviour. Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
|