Is Beth Moore Possessed? - By Elizabeth Prata

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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Ms. Prata makes another appearance in our blog, again attempting to explain things in the Bible. As usual, her presentation leaves a lot to be desired.

We should note that we do not intend to defend Beth Moore, we are examining the author's assertions.

Lastly, we note that the author can't manage to quote a single Scripture.

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I’ve been wondering this for a while. I have reasons for thinking it, (But no Bible reasons...)

and I mean the question with absolutely no snark, no sarcasm, and no mal-intent. Is Beth Moore possessed? (The author tries to disarm us with summary denials, and immediately speculates about an extremely serious matter. And her first evidence will be Beth Moore's eyes in a picture.)

The question is sincere, but after I explore it briefly, my question also provides an opportunity to have a larger discussion about demons & possession.

So… if-

The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (Matthew 6:22),

Then- what do you see when you see this?

I don’t cherry pick one bad photo to make a case, either. She has looked like this for a long time, years. (That is, her expressive wide open gaze is evidence of a spiritual malady...)

There are many photos you can search where in the search results we see a seemingly half-crazed Beth with what is known as “crazy eyes”. (We are astounded. Based her survey of pictures of Beth Moore, the sampling of which is likely skewed by people hostile to Moore, Ms. Prata runs wild with her suppositions.) 

This question affords a legitimate opportunity (This "legitimate opportunity" is a pejorative picture of someone? Upon what basis should we grant that this is a legitimate opportunity to speculate on someone's spiritual state? What Bible verse suggests this?)

to share concepts and verses regarding spiritual possession and a Christian’s spiritual warfare. Christians shrink from this discussion but it’s important not to. (Christians do not shrink from the possibility of the devil at work in the world. That is a different matter than judging someone's spiritual condition via a picture.)

Reason #1 for my question: Beth Moore is not a Christian. How do I know? (Yes, indeed, how do you know? Perfect doctrine is not a measure of salvation. Weird eyes is not evidence. SOmehow the author is qualified to determine the salvation status of someone based on... what?

We can certainly accept the possibility that Beth Moore might teach errant doctrine. We can also assent to the idea that Beth Moore might rub people the wrong way. We can certainly make determinations about the biblical truth of her statements. What we cannot accept is for people, especially people like Ms. Prata, to speculate on someone's salvation, let alone make a definitive statement.) 

She is a rebel against God. She preaches at pulpits, she preaches a different Jesus, she accepts alleged personal direction from God in voices & whispers, she prophesies (and falsely, too), she refuses correction, she lives a feminist, un-Titus-like lifestyle, and she is unrepentant and unteachable. (1 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 2:20, Galatians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 11:4, Jeremiah 23:21, Proverbs 5:12–13, Titus 2:3-5). (The author does not document a single accusation. Some or all of them might be true, but supplying a list of Bible verses is not an explanation. For Ms. Prata, the accusations themselves are sufficient for her to embark on an ugly journey of inference and misrepresentation.

And it all started with a picture.)

No one can do those and other sins for so long without repenting. No one can do those sins as a teacher and not be disqualified. The Spirit would not allow it. (The Spirit has allowed many things over the ages, like Hitler, Nero, and Nebuchadnezzar. What the Spirit allows is not a matter for Ms. Prata to determine.)

Remember, unsaved people are under satan’s jurisdiction as slaves to sin. (Romans 6:16, 19). They can be entered by him as satan did to Judas or into others by one of his demons.

Secondly and concerningly, Moore wrote in the preface to her book When Godly People do Ungodly Things, a scenario that adds up to possession. She wrote:

“Unbeknownst to me, He’s been writing each chapter on my heart for several years. When the message for this book was complete (in His estimation — not mine!), God compelled me to ink it on paper with a force of the Holy Spirit unparalleled in my experience. He whisked me to the mountains of Wyoming where I entered solitary confinement with Him, and in only a few short weeks, I wrote the last line.”

When someone claims a force entered her and wrote the book without her knowledge or mental consciousness, then forced her to put ink to paper, and then made the editing decision of when the book was finished, sounds like possession. (Ms. Prata colors and parses Moore's plain statements in an effort to support her suppositions. Can a person be inspired to write? Of course. Just as a person can be inspired to speak, to take certain actions, or receive new understanding as they study Scriptures. 

The author summarily denies that the Holy Spirit can speak to the believer. We disagree.)

Or Automatic Writing, which amounts to the same thing.

“Automatic writing, also called psychography, is a claimed psychic ability allowing a person to produce written words without consciously writing. The words purportedly arise from a subconscious, spiritual, or supernatural source“. (Wikipedia)

It is delusion to say she wrote a book via the Holy Spirit. (Undocumented accusation. The author's arrogant ignorance is astounding. 1Co. 2:9-12: 

However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” — [Isaiah 64:4] 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no-one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

The author will have to give us a list of what "God has revealed to us by His Spirit." Apparently it doesn't include writing books.)

If she is right that it was the Holy Spirit (it wasn’t) then what He wrote is scripture. (This is a preposterous claim. We discuss this here. There is no indication in the Bible anywhere that revelation must be added to the Bible.)

(Even the Bible writers weren’t forced, but He used their mind and personality to inspire the writing, not force it). 

(1Co. 9:16-17 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.

Ac. 20:22 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.

Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

The author continually makes claims without offering any evidence. The fact that anyone would consider her a Bible teacher disturbs us.)

So I personally think that between her long rebellion, increasingly frenetic demeanor, and the presence of the force that compelled her to do things, it is likely that Moore is possessed. (That is, she offers her supposition based on thin evidence in a matter that she has no personal knowledge about.)

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Can a Christian be possessed?

No. Plainly, no. Christians are sealed with the guarantee of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. A demon can’t enter what is sealed and protected by God. If a demon entered a believer where the Holy Spirit dwells, would the Spirit cede His authority to a demon and allow the demon to direct that person into sin? No. (Another series of undocumented statements. We generally think the author is correct here, but that is beside the point. The author presents herself as a teacher, but does no teaching.)

A Christian can certainly be tempted externally by the invisible influence of a demon, but not possessed bodily. GotQuestions explains, “Demon possession involves a demon having complete control over the thoughts and/or actions of a person. (Luke 4:33-35).” (Remember Beth Moore’s experience of being overtaken in thought so that a force could write a book through her). GotQ explains that James 4:7 says for believers to resist the devil, it doesn’t instruct us to cast him out. Ephesians 6:10-18 never gives instructions for the believer in his spiritual warfare to cast out a demon. (This is an important assertion, based on a single passage not discussing demon possession. Since the author is reluctant to quote the passage:

Ep. 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Clearly we are to do battle according to the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, including praying in the Spirit. Is the author suggesting we do this battle but never win?

Lets review the Bible testimony regarding casting out demons:

Mt. 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

We note of course Jesus' condemnation, but implicit in this is that there will be those who do the will of His father and cast out demons. Jesus is not condemning the casting out of demons, he is condemning those who do not do his will.

Mk. 9:38-39 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said.

Though a disputed passage, it nevertheless harmonizes with the Bible's teaching elsewhere:

Mk. 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons...

Not just the apostles or Jesus drove out demons:

Lk. 10:17-20 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”  18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

We don’t look for satan or one of his minions under every rock. We have been released from bondage and we look to Christ. But we don’t ignore or underemphasize the real danger to the unbeliever for him to be possessed by an evil spirit or the beleiver (sic) to be harassed. (Apparently we don't cast them out, but rather speculate on the person's salvation and write articles claiming they are demon-possessed.)

Paul was harassed by a demon for years. (um, no. Let's quote the passage. 2Co. 12:7-10:

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

"Messenger" is 

ἄγγελος, ου, ὁ (aggelos), a messenger, angel... Certain of the angels have proved faithless to the trust committed to them by God, and have given themselves up to sin, Jude 1:6; 2 Peter 2:4 (Enoch c. vi. etc., cf. Genesis 6:2), and now obey the devil, Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:7, cf. 1 Corinthians 6:3 (yet on this last passage cf. Meyer; he and others maintain that ἄγγελοι without an epithet or limitation never in the N. T. signifies other than good angels). Hence, ἄγγελος Σατᾶν is tropically used in 2 Corinthians 12:7 to denote a grievous bodily malady sent by Satan.

The text doesn't say who specifically gave this messenger, but the purpose was to keep Paul from being conceited. We can conclude that God was involved in some manner to achieve a righteous result. the messenger brought the affliction, so it wasn't a demon afflicting Paul, it was a physical malady. 

"Flesh" is σάρξ, σαρκός, ἡ (sarx), flesh, body, human nature, materiality; kindred. Paul did not refer to a demonic presence, he was talking about about a physical problem inflicted by a demon.

In addition, Paul notes his weakness as a result of this affliction. Again, Paul focuses not on the "messenger of Satan," but rather that he had an affliction specifically brought via God's purpose. And he boasts in this weakness. Clearly Paul is not boasting about a demon inflicting something upon him.)

He thrice asked the Lord to take it away. We know from the Bible that false teachers have entered into the church in order to pollute the doctrines of God and draw believers away. (Galatians 2:4). It stands to reason some of those spies and false teachers are not only under the influence of satan but possessed by one of his demons.

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Ms. Prata brings nothing to the table to edify the reader. She's using the occasion to simply attack another person with inferences and accusations, offering not a single Scripture in the process. This is shameful.