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Monday, August 12, 2024

Charismatics who give names to demons

We have seen some criticism directed towards certain charismatics who give names to demons, for example, Jezebel or python. While we don't necessarily want to condone every such practice, we do see a Scriptural basis for this.

Is there demon possession or oppression still today? We think so. Does it really matter that charismatics assign names or characteristics to them? Maybe it seems silly, but it is clear from Scripture that certain kinds of demonic forces are active in a variety of ways, manifesting in a variety of ways, and dealt with in a variety of ways.

Let's look at some Scripture. 

This was a muting demon:

Mt. 9:32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 

Then there was a blinding demon and muting demon:

Mt. 12:22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 

This particular demon caused seizures:

Mt. 17:15-18 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water..." 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. 

This demon gave unnatural strength, kept the man awake 24-7, and was sadistic:

Mk. 5:2-5 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no-one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No-one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

In fact, this man had so many demons that Jesus actually made them identify themselves:

Mk. 5:9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

So we find that demons can have names and attributes, which means charismatics are not terribly far outside the boundaries. Certainly they have gotten it wrong sometimes, but in any case, there is a biblical basis for naming demons.

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