Some Angels Lie

Abstract

According to the Bible, demons are real. They are described in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Moreover, the people in these biblical accounts had no trouble believing in the existence of fallen angels intent on opposing God and harming human beings. The historical record includes details of numerous exorcism practices dating back thousands of years. While many of these practices are doctrinally problematic, they share the underlying conviction that demons are a harmful and often unwelcome force affecting the lives of human beings. Unfortunately, the modern church—particularly in more developed parts of the world like the United States—is not always in touch with its history and its role in ministering to demonized individuals. A cottage industry claiming to free demoniacs from demonic oppression has attempted to fill this void, but what it offers frequently bears little resemblance to anything taught in Scripture. The church must accept what the Bible says about demons as the truth, understand what the Bible says about the nature of demons, and practice what the Bible teaches about driving out demons in order to successfully uphold its sacred responsibilities. Only then can modern Christians effectively mitigate demonic adversity and avoid the subtle snares inherent to unbiblical exorcism advice.

• Bible--Evidences, authority, etc.
• Devil--Biblical teaching
• Demonology--Biblical teaching
• Exorcism in the Bible

David Timmons