Why the church rejects deliverance ministry

Casting out demons, or deliverance, was a key aspect of Jesus Christ's ministry and an important part of the early church. Yale University Historian Ramsay MacMullen argues that the explosive growth of Christianity in the first three centuries was not due to teaching or sermons, but rather because of the demonstratable demonstrations of power and especially casting out demons. So, why do many churches today refrain from casting out demons?

Here is a quote from Dr. Arlin Epperson who is a deliverance scholar that reveals the shocking reality of how few churches actually engage in deliverance ministry. He estimates that 95% of churches in America do not understand the need for deliverance ministry. Of the 5% that do only about 1% are willing to engage in it. In this blog, I will discuss some of the primary reasons, from my viewpoint, why churches do not engage in deliverance ministry or casting out demons.

The main issue is a theological misunderstanding and insufficient training in deliverance ministry. Many well-meaning pastors, teachers, and leaders have been educated in Bible colleges and seminaries with the belief that Christians do not need deliverance. Consequently, since it is deemed unnecessary, they are not instructed in the practice of casting out demons. The basic belief is that once someone has put faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit resides in them, and the Holy Spirit and a demonic spirit cannot coexist within a person. They often cite scriptures out of context, such as 2 Corinthians 6:14, "what fellowship has light with darkness?" which refers to the relationships between believers and non-believers, not the presence of demons within Christians. The New Testament does not explicitly teach whether Christians can or cannot have a demon; it simply records instances of people, regardless of their faith, being delivered from demons. Therefore, if the New Testament does not make such a distinction, neither should we. Asserting that Christians don't need deliverance is purely conjecture.

Another commonly held belief and saying among Christians is that "Christians cannot be possessed by demons but can only be oppressed by them." While this idea is attractive, it ultimately comes down to a matter of semantics.The Greek word for "oppressed" is katadunasteuomenous, which signifies being under power, experiencing harsh control, or being tyrannized. The Greek word translated as "demon possessed" is daimonizomai, which means to have a demon, be under the power or influence of a demon, or to be "demonized." The term demon possession often conjures up Hollywood movie scenes of individuals being owned or completely controlled by demons. However, Christians are owned by Jesus (they are His possession). They have been purchased by His blood and belong to Him, not to demons. The bottom line is if a person is indeed dealing with a demon, the only solution is to drive the demon out whether you want to refer to it as possession or oppression.

According to 1 Thessalonians 5:23, a person consist of three parts: spirit, soul, and body. When someone is saved or born again, they receive forgiveness for their sins, and their spirit is renewed (as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17). However, their soul and body are not instantly transformed and needs to undergo a process of sanctification. Can Christians struggle with addictions to drugs, alcohol, or pornography? Is it possible for them to have a mental illness, emotional and mental torment, be suicidal, or have physical sickness? Is it conceivable that these issues may have a connection to demonic spirits with individuals being under the oppression, influence, or control by them? Those experienced in deliverance ministry know that these problems are many times the result of demons influencing or exerting control in these areas of a persons life. I have been involved in deliverance ministry for over 15 years and I have only cast out demons from people who have put their faith in Jesus but they are still under the power or influence of demons. So the proper question is not "Can a Christian be demon possessed?" but rather, "Can a Christian have a demon or be under the power and influence of demons and need deliverance?"

The second primary reason churches avoid teaching and practicing deliverance is that it can be bad for business. In Mark 1, Jesus entered the synagogue and publicly cast out demons, astonishing the people with His display of power as demons spoke through a man, convulsed him, and departed right before their eyes. Jesus focused on teaching about the kingdom of God, His main message, and demonstrated authority over demons to show that the message is not just words but also power. The supernatural was demonstrated publicly to create faith in who Jesus was. If Jesus cast out demons publicly to demonstrate the power of God, why aren't we doing the same? The church should be educating people about demons and the necessity for deliverance and witnessing demons being expelled in church, but it might be perceived as frightening and offensive to modern seeker-sensitive Christians. To cite Dr Epperson once again, he has seen cases in which 50% of the congregation leave when pastors and churches begin ministering in spiritual gifts, deliverance, and inner healing. This shows the reality of what can happen when churches start to move in power and especially deliverance which puts them at great risk of losing many congregants. If a church operates like a business, actions that alienate or drive away attendees are not wise business practices because when people leave, they take their money with them.

Consider this: Did Jesus sacrifice himself on the cross just to establish the church as a business? Is the purpose of the church to make money, or is it designed to lead people to salvation, healing, and deliverance? In essence, deliverance ministry can pose financial risks and potentially impact the church's reputation in a negative manner which could be a threat to them. However, the deliverance ministry should be seen as a threat to demons, not to the church.

To conclude, the church is simply "Jesus in the earth" and we are to be a full representation of who He is in all aspects. Jesus is the deliverer and if the church does not embrace and practice deliverance ministry we simply cannot claim to fully represent Jesus. The world has no answer to demons and the sad reality is many people who desperately need deliverance will stay bound in addictions, mental and emotional torment, suicide, and spiritual captivity if the church doesn't embrace deliverance ministry and cast out demons.

Pastor Rafe Ronning

If you are in need of deliverance, please attend our Friday night service at 6:30pm or reach out to us on the website to set up a prayer ministry appointment. www.truthandfreedomchurch.com

Truth & Freedom Church

3300 University Ave SE

Mpls, MN 55414