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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Personality disorder or demon possesion? | Mark 5:15 | jlhetrick | 211891 | ||
bandaid- The question is a valid one and proper, in my opinion, for this forum (though it potentially can take a course that is inappropriate). Being that my profession is related to the topic I have questions about this myself, and yes, the Scriptures have some significant points to make regarding this. Welcome to the Forum! The first thing I would like to point out is that the bible speaks of both demon possession and demon oppression. Without getting off topic, my basic understanding is that possession speaks to a indwelling and oppression speaks of a torment or negative influencing, not necessarily a indwelling. With that said, the Scriptures give examples of both and in both cases there can be physical ailments (we would qualify as medical problems) including muteness, epilepsy, blindness, etc. Furthermore, in many cases there seems to be a definite altering of personality as well. The Scriptures don’t use the term “personality disorder” (it wasn’t coined yet) but it does describe personality changes related to demon possession, and oppression as well as reverse changes after the healing. In the example found beginning in Matthew 17:14 the son has apparently been diagnoses by a physician (though we don’t know that for sure) and been given a very specific medical diagnosis (at least by his father). We do not know if the symptoms were in fact from a medical problem or the demonic activity but the passage apparently says two different things were accomplished by the Lord. The demon came out AND the boy was healed instantly. Was Christ accomplishing two works, casting out the demon and healing the boy of a medical condition? Not sure… it may be that the demon coming out and the boy being healed was the same thing (the language experts might help there). With this basic stuff in mind let’s go one or two steps further. Luke was a physician yet we don’t find him denouncing medical treatment after his believing. I don’t find anywhere in Scripture where seeking medical attention for physical symptoms is prohibited or even discouraged; though prayer and trusting God’s will in the matter is to be foremost and there is the function of the church as well. Lots more can be said but in the interest of time and space I will offer my conclusion in short. If one has serious symptoms of an illness why not seek medical attention? However, doing that without prayer and seeking God’s will is trusting in something other than God or at least ignoring the fact that He has authority over it all, including the results of treatment. I have found that many patients are uncomfortable with psychiatric diagnosis. I sometimes deal with this by pointing out that we are not so much treating the diagnosis as we are the symptoms. In other words, the cause may be this or it may be that. We all need healing from sin through the grace of God; this comes through faith in Jesus Christ. At times, our bodies will become sick; we may benefit from medical treatment. We should always encourage others to seek God through faith and prayer. We should never discourage them from seeking medical attention if they are ill. Hope this helps, Jeff |
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2 | Personality disorder or demon possesion? | Mark 5:15 | DocTrinsograce | 211895 | ||
PS Where in Scripture do we find demonic "oppression?" I find the word possession used frequently in demonic context, but only once do I find the word oppression relative to the Devil's activity (Acts 10:38). Even in that passage, oppression -- in the actual sense of the original word -- might easily apply to the activity of demons in their mistreatment of those they had possessed. I have to admit that I have not really spent a lot of time on demonology. However, I have heard the distinction of possession and oppression taught. Nevertheless, now that I look for it in the Word, I'm not finding that definitive teaching. | ||||||
3 | Personality disorder or demon possesion? | Mark 5:15 | skccab | 211896 | ||
Hiya Doc, Wouldn't the distinction kind of go back to your previous post? A "Christian" couldn't possibly be possessed by the devil and they certainly don't want to think in terms of sin or that it's because of a mental disorder so they call it oppression by the devil. (That's just my 2cents worth of the difference between the two, possession and oppression, but it doesn't seem biblical to me either.) Shalom Cheri |
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