Virginia Biblical Demonology Research Society

Individualism or individualistic thought forms are diametrically opposed to animistic perspectives.  Westerners believe they can chart their respective destinies while animists believe they are living in an interconnected world. Animists are intimately familiar with the spirit world.  It can be seen, however, individualism is a misplaced concept not only in Western thinking but in Western churches as well. Our Western framework of thinking has and continues to emphasize the individual, but proves to be inadequate in teaching the finer truths of the Bible. Dr. Rheenen shares the following at a missions’ conference in 2003:

"Western Christianity stresses very strongly the autonomy and dignity of the individual.  The individual is considered more important than the group.  At an early age children learn to distinguish between my things and your things.  As adults, they differentiate my rights and your rights.  Independent nuclear families mirror the culture as a whole: Each nuclear family does its own thing independent of the control of the extended family.  Elective democracy stands as the cultural ideal: that is, each individual has an equal voice in government regardless of his understanding of the issues involved.  Praise and honor are given to the individual who achieves above his peers; certificates of achievement decorating the walls testify to his success. Team sports are individualized with detailed statistics kept on each player. Individualism is based on the belief that a person has within himself the power to succeed.  He needs not other powers or spirits, magic or wizardry to direct his life.  His success or failure depends on his own individual achievement.  Western individualism has undermined biblical Christianity.  Our rights are more important than God's sovereignty and his wishes. If he succeeds, it is due to his human capabilities If he fails, it is due to his inadequacies.  An individual must make his way without reliance on social or spiritual resources.  Our Western thinking has and does emphasize the individual.   Although Western individualism has positively impacted the church throughout the world, it is inadequate in teaching many of the finer truths of the Bible.  [7]

It has been established that the Western mind is antithetical to the mind of Christ, and, as such, underscoring pieces of its legacy to Western Christianity is warranted.

A. INDIVIDUALISM.  Western individualism has undermined biblical Christianity. Western Christianity stresses very strongly the autonomy and dignity of the individual.  The individual is considered more important than the whole.  Though Dr. Rheenen’s discourse is more than adequate, it is imperative to add that this false importance is clearly manifested by man’s desire for a “quick fix” from the bondage of sin in lieu of the Biblical mandate of repentance.[8]  Individualism is clearly narcissistic to the core. Narssacism is the underpinning of the Western mindset that has negatively affected both Church and society. Contemporary deliverance is a form of anthropocentrism in that is found neither in the context of Biblical deliverance nor within the Biblical concept of corporate solidarity. Dismissing the Holy Writ in favor of meeting individual needs, suppositions and shifting blame bears the mark of Lucifer’s most primal sin – dethroning God in favor of self.

B.  RATIONALIZATION. An innate part of the Western mindset is rationalization. In either psychology or logic, rationalization is the process of constructing a logical justification or whitewashing for a belief or act arrived at by inventing plausible explanations unrelated to any true cause.  This systematic organization entails the ascription of causes that superficially seem reasonable but are, in fact, less creditable or agreeable causes.  This is a defense mechanism in which unacceptable behaviors or beliefs are explained in a rational manner, but avoids the true explanation or cause. In the case of contemporary deliverance, rational for its support is a belief system ascribed to experience and feelings, narcissistically placing oneself up and over the complete work of Christ and shifting personal responsibility for sin.  When a manifestation of the flesh (sin) has taken place in the life of an advocate who refuses to accept it, he or she will make up a “logical” reason (demon possession) as to why it happened.  The target of rationalization is something they have done.  Similarly, a great number of deliverance workers employ the “alloplastic defense” that refers to the propensity of attributing one’s failures or mistakes to an external cause.[9]  These individuals are unable to accurately gage their environment, developing paranoid ideation and failing the reality test.[10] 

The roots of rationalization go back to the fall. Immediately after the fall, man learned how to rationalize. When God confronted Adam, he blamed Eve, and, in return, Eve blamed the serpent. God refused to accept this evasion and leveled judgment on them! We learn how to use our reason to lie, to protect ourselves, to escape responsibility, and to deceive. Our reason is not driven and controlled all the time by what is good and holy. There are three shifts in our culture's way of thinking about humanity and the effects are disastrous:

(1). FROM HUMAN NATURE TO SELF. The language of "self" is a 20^th century creation - that unique place within self where our personal history, knowledge, ethnicity, abilities and gender all come together uniquely. Each individual is unlike anyone else. This change in language is different in that it takes Christian faith from a moral context to a psychological context.

(2). FROM CHARACTER TO PERSONALITIES. Basically, virtue is replaced with values. Values are an expression of personal preferences. The change in language is most revealing.  The language of character is replaced by the language of personalities, e.g., reputation, creative, magnificent over that of citizenship, work, duty and moral integrity.
(3). FROM GUILT TO SHAMELESSNESS.  Guilt lines up our actions morally before God whereas shame is a sense of embarrassment of self before others. The message of today's literature is to get over one's guilt and shame. The ultimate liberation, however, is to become shameless.

With this in mind, it becomes obvious that the Western mind is far removed from the actual workings of the spirit realm. Given this radical shift in thinking beginning with the Enlightenment and the reality of the occult explosion in which we live, contemporary deliverance workers must vacate their preoccupation with the demonic, and immerse themselves in the study of the imputation, universality and characteristics of the sin nature.  Satan is behind the Western mindset or worldview, influencing the way we think…thinking the way he wants us to think.

C. NARRSISISTIC WORLDVIEW. Behavioral science views narcissism exclusively through the lens of humanism and confines the same to the individual whereas Scripture treats narcissism as a spiritual problem that extends to collective agencies, history and agendas. A common dominator exists: a realization and acknowledgment of the destructive nature and isolating properties of narcissism, its resistance to authority, and its abnormal placement of self. Narcissism is grounded in a spiritual reality operating within the higher spirit realm whose laws of existence extend far beyond the reaches of humanistic influence or remedy. 

Self-centerness was Lucifer’s most primal sin…dethroning the Creator in favor of self. The five “I will’s” of Lucifer reveals much in terms of what characterizes narcissism: (1) an unsubmitted will, (2) convinced of being better than others, (3) resistance to acknowledging depths of sinfulness, (4) an extraordinary willfulness, (5) no room for compromise in the relational sense, (6) no respect for another’s office, position or estate, and (7) oneself as sole possessor of absolutes. In opposition to God's blueprint for his angels and creation, any system, way or life apart from God's is a diabolical substitute that leads to destruction.

The love and servitude demanded by the "Creator - Creature" relationship, when perverted, realistically hinders maximally autonomous "self-fulfillment." One's paradigm obscures the landscape and inevitably ends in social isolation. The essential evil of full autonomy resides in not only the conflict but that also of the break from community.[11]

III.  THEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS. In the previous section, our affections were identified as those attitudes and dispositions that are designed for the expressed purpose of human independence from God.  These affections give us a clear picture of the totality of the world system:  (1) the lust of the flesh, (2) the lust of the eyes, and (3) the pride of life.  The central idea of the world’s approach to life, writes Ice, “is selfishness, summarized in three words: passion, greed, and pride.”[12] 

TOTALITY OF THE WORLD SYSTEM

 According to James, “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:15).  Some translations use the term demonic in place of devilish.  All three characteristics, writes Ice, “originated with Satan in his fall, passed down to Adam and Eve, and are daily the most imitated philosophy of life on the globe today.”[13]  This philosophy provides a rational for sin.  Sin was not confined to Adam thus providing ground upon which corporate solidarity of humankind is a reality.

A.  CORPORATE SOLIDARITY. Contrasting individualism, corporate solidarity is a bazaar concept to the Western mind. Man possesses a nature that is universally shared with all men - a sin nature. We can deduct that this universal sin must have a universal cause. Thiessen asks, "If then all men are sinners, how shall we account for this situation? Such a universal effect must have a universal cause. The Scriptures teach that the sin of Adam and Eve constituted all their posterity sinners (Rom. 5:19), "through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners"), i.e., the sin of Adam was imputed, reckoned, or charged to every member of the race. It is because of Adam's sin that we come into the world with a depraved nature and under God's condemnation (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:3)."[14]

The self, for many, has become the absolute center of values and preoccupation.  This particular narcissistic abnormality is a form of idolatry.  Individualism breeds a sense of entitlement and expectations of favorable treatment thus an attitude that “traditional doctrines do not apply to me” ultimately bringing about the shifting of blame for one’s sin. 

The theological base from which contemporary deliverance ministers operate is woefully deficient.  Only a thorough and systematic study of the Holy Writ, assisted by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, can guide men into truth thus warranting, here, a brief examination of anthropological and hartimological matters.

1.  FLESH/SIN NATURE.  Sin originated in the angelic realm by the action of one angel . . . on earth, sin originated in one man's free act. The Scripture teaches that through one sin of one man sin came into the world, with all its universal consequences (Rom. 5:12-19; I Cor. 15:21,22). The test of obedience consisted in the prohibition to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The immediate consequence of Adam's sin altered his relation to God, altered his nature, adversely affected his body and altered the environment. There is a universality of sin to which the Scriptures attest (I Kings 8:46; Pro. 20:9; Luke 11:13; Rom. 3:10,12; Rom. 3:19; Gal. 3:22; I John 1:8). Peculiar to this universal sinfulness is not so much stated as to its acts, but rather is the inclusion of a sinful nature (Luke 6:43-45; Matt. 12:34; Eph. 2:3). The sin that originated in Adam has been transmitted to the entire human race by way of imputation.  

Whereas Adam became a sinner by an act of disobedience, the rest of humanity are sinners by birth as Adam is head of the human race. The Apostle Paul explains the effects of Adam's sin in the following manner: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Rom. 5:12). The context in which Paul writes is that death is spread to all men because all men have sinned. In that context, Paul is not referring to the acts of sin which are committed on a daily basis. Paul further writes, in a comparison of Adam and Christ, "For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come" (Rom. 5:13-14). To be sure, Paul then says, "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Rom. 5:18-19).

Paul says that through the trespass of one man "many were made sinners." The Greek katestathesan is an aorist indicative. The aorist indicative verb hemarton in the historical narrative indicates a completed past action. Here Paul is saying that something happened and was completed in the past, namely, that "all men sinned." But it was not true that all men had actually committed sinful actions at the time that Paul was writing, because some had not even been born yet, and many others had died in infancy before committing any conscious acts of sin. So Paul must be meaning that when Adam sinned, God considered it true that all men sinned in Adam.[15] 

2.  FLESH AT WAR AGAINST THE SPIRIT. Thus far, it has been established that Adam's nature was drastically altered as a consequence of his sin. This altered nature is imputed upon the entire human race by virtue of physical birth. This nature not only is at enmity with both God and things that are good, it is constantly at war with the "new man" received at the moment of regeneration. Salvation does not eradicate the Adamic nature in this life.

A distinction needs to be made relative to personal sin, and this may be understood by the two aspects of personal sin: sin against God and that sin which is against law. A sin against God's person may be indicated by such terms as selfhood, defilement and godlessness. Those sins against God's moral government are expressed in terms such as lawlessness, rebellion, and transgression.

As an element of man's immaterial part, one's conscience sits in judgement of all things moral, but yet does not execute its judgements. All of mankind possesses this conscience which is indicative of God's holy nature. Conscience is a feature of the moral law, and normally proclaims that which God requires. The Apostle John declares that, "sin is the transgression of the law" (I John 3:4). Given the context of personal sin comprising both of sin against God and of sin which is against law, the passage that John wrote can only be understood when a distinction between the sins of regenerate men and unregenerate men is kept in mind.[16]  

This being understood, the phrase "Sin is the transgression of the law," is in harmony with the most distinctive characteristic of sin - lawlessness. The Apostle Paul states that "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him." Therefore, we conclude that on the ground of saving grace that those who abide in Christ, lawless sinning is excluded. The regenerate is righteous according to his eternal standing in Christ.

The fallen nature of the regenerate remains although his position of righteousness is declared by his spiritual birth. Adam's state of sin exists because of the action of the will. The action of the will that produces sin can be either of an commission or a commission. This sin nature continually incites sin, and, therefore, a constant state of sin exists. This constant state of sin can only be relieved by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As sin is an action of the will, no clearer picture can be presented than that painted by Christ when he says, "That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:20-23).

The regenerate is given a new nature when that individual is saved. The presence of two opposing natures in one individual poses conflict as evidenced by Gal. 5:17, "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other." Although the regenerate man's flesh is not removed, victory is gained over the flesh by the power of the indwelling Spirit.

The term "old man" is found three times in the New Testament. Dr. Chaffer states that the use of this term is used once in connection to the present position of the "old man" through the death of Christ (Rom. 6:6), and the use of the other two (Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:9-10) speaks of the fact that the "old man" has been put off forever.[17] The use of the term in the latter two passages is the basis of an appeal for a holy manner of life.

Paul writes in Romans 6:6, "Knowing this, that our old man is [was] crucified with him." Paul is speaking of a cocrucifixion with Christ that had taken place at the time when Christ was crucified. The federal headship of the first Adam transferred to the Last Adam in the believer's life. In appeal to a manner of holy living given the "old man" is already crucified with Christ, Paul writes, "That ye [did] put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that yet [did] put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:22-24).

Paul also writes, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col. 3:9-10). It becomes obvious that the "old man" remains an active force even though, positionally, it has been put off forever.[18] The Christian's experimental victory over it is realized only in the reliance upon the indwelling Holy Spirit.

God’s Word provides a clear picture of sin that is in no way associated with doctrines held by contemporary deliverance advocates.  Scripture also provides the assurance that sin is but a temporary part of the universe as God is infinitely holy, and to whatever purpose sin serves in His plan, He will bring it to an end.

B.  SOCIAL DIMENSION OF EVIL.  While deliverance workers ascribe to and emphasize unscriptural notions as to what demonic entities are tirelessly working to achieve (Christian possession), Scripture presents an entirely different picture.  While it is true that demonic entities influence and oppress Christians (externally), it seems that the greatest part of their efforts is directed toward dominion and control in relation to society.  Fallen angels are managing the affairs of this world…a collective evil that is ingrained within the rhythm of life.   Satan’s kingdom, this world’s system, is dedicated to the destruction of humankind and to bringing the world under his dominion by undermining faith in God, twisting values, and promoting false ideologies.

 This work of perversion is accomplished by infiltrating institutions, government administrations, educational systems and religious bodies or organizations.  “The key point is that Satan and his hordes conceal themselves in the structures of the world and human life, making the world and humankind instruments and bearers of their power.  In that sense the cosmos is indeed possessed, so that energy and structures meant for good, meant to serve God, are turned against him and his purposes.”[19]  This subversion is accomplished by substitution of money, power, pleasure, science, politics, art, religious idols and false doctrines. 

One has only to look at recent history in observation of dark forces at work within governments and like structures.  The ideologies that energized world leaders culminated in atrocities led by men such as Hitler, Stalin and more recently, Saddam Hussein. Genocidal crimes are a hallmark of such evil.  “Although Satan is not omnipresent or omniscient, he is a master networker who works through a vast organization of spirit beings who apparently communicated with each other and work in some sense cooperatively to undermine humanity’s encounter with the kingdom of God in every way they can.  Towards this end, evil spirits attempt to gain influence over government leaders, legal systems, educational systems, and religious movements.  Admittedly, Scripture is not entirely lucid as to how these spirits are organized or how they operate, but there is enough Scriptural warrant to make some conclusions regarding this.”[20]

According to Paul, dominion and control appear to be the primary objectives of these demon “gods” of which he calls “principalities, “powers”, “thrones”, and “dominions.”  “The acquisition of power and influence over human beings and their societies seems to be their obsession.  This dominating nature may be revealed in their very names.  For example, the meaning of Molech, god of the Ammonites, is “ruler.” He managed to get such control over the people of Ammon that they offered their firstborn children to him as sacrifices by fire.  Chemosh, the national god of Moab, possibly means “subdurer,” perhaps a reflection of the degree of dominion he had obtained over this people, as well as of the successes he gave Moab  in wars against their enemies.”[21]

Schlier states of these fallen beings: “Principalities do not  merely possess power; they are power.....pure power....capacity, dominion in person....the  principalities exercise their being by taking possession of the world as a whole and of individual  men, the elements, political and social institutions, historical conditions and circumstances, spiritual and religious trends.”[22]   Larkin “These “Principalities” are ruled by ‘Princes,” who control certain nations of our earth, as in the days of Daniel the Prophet, when a heavenly messenger was sent to Daniel, but was hindered ‘three weeks’ from reaching him by the ‘Prince of the Kingdom of Persia,’ Satan’s ruling Prince of Persia  until Michael the Archangel came to his rescue (Dan. 10:10-14).[23]  

Hendrik Berkhof refers to Paul’s teaching in Romans in concurrence with the idea that these principalities and powers seek a totalitarian form of control or government: “Paul observes  that life is ruled by a series of Powers.  He speaks of time (present and future) of life and death; of politics and philosophy; of public opinion and Jewish law; of pious traditions and the fateful course of the stars.  Apart from Christ man is at the mercy of these powers.”[24] 

IV. ANTIDOTE FOR CHRISTIAN SIN.  Controlling the flesh is accomplished by learning the Word of God and letting it transform our lives.  David said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:11). Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” (Col. 3:16a). Jesus prayed to the Father “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).   We are to allow Christ to dwell richly within us and to renew our minds.  It is the Holy Spirit who leads us through the Word of God and through learning the Word and letting it transform us is to walk by the Spirit.  To be sure, Paul wrote, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).  When we do fall into sin, John assures us that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:19).  By walking in the Spirit, we no longer produce fruits of the flesh but rather that of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Endnotes