When I was in seminary, I had a professor who was prone to seeing the influence of Satan in (too) many places. He regularly regaled us with accounts of exorcism — including one that was allegedly controlling his wife’s failing eyesight. While there was some measure of interest and entertainment in his tales, I wondered about the legitimacy not only of his accounts but whether exorcism was even a tool that needed to be in a pastor’s tool belt. Is casting out demons a responsibility for believers today?
Here are a couple of my thoughts on the topic:
Demon possession refers to a demon residing within a person and exerting control over that person’s mind and body — even to the extent of strange and “supernatural” activity (e.g., Mk. 5:1-5). That demons existed prior to the time of Christ and the apostles is clear (e.g., Dt. 32:17; Ps. 106:37) — and that they existed in Christ’s day (Mk. 5) and even now and in the future will continue their evil influence (e.g., Rev. 16:14). [As an aside, it is clear that demon possession is something that cannot be experienced by believers, as 1 Jn. 2:14; 4:4 suggests. A believer cannot be inhabited by both light and dark, 1 Pt. 2:9. A believer cannot be under that authority of two masters, Mt. 6:24; 1 Cor. 6:15ff.]
It is clear that Christ on several occasions cast demons out of individuals (Mt. 4:24; 8:16, 28ff; 9:32ff; 12:22ff; 15:22; 17:18; Lk. 4:33ff; 9:42; 13:32). Additionally, both the 12 (Mt. 10:5-8) and the 70 (Lk. 10:17) cast out demons. (The twelve were commanded to do so, though it seems clear that it was a one-time command and not one that continued throughout their ministry; the 70 were not directly commanded to cast out demons — it happened, apparently, as a by-product of the rest of their ministry). Matthew also notes that there was potential for others also cast out demons (7:22).
However, nowhere does the NT contain a clear and general command for believers to continue casting out demons after the apostolic age (after the ministry of the 12 apostles ceased). Some will point to Mk. 16:17 as that passage, but it is quite clear that Mk. 16:9-20 is not part of the original autographs but was added later by a non-Biblical writer. It would be unwise to take marching orders from that section.
The New Testament does, however, offer direction for how believers are now to deal with demons. Our primary battle with demons is not physical (e.g., casting them out), but spiritual — waging a battle against the false ideologies and theologies propagated by Satan and his minions (2 Cor. 10:4-5). Our battle is not to cast them out of people, but to instruct people with the truth of God’s Word, which is why we are also instructed to put on the entire armor of God (Eph. 6:10-18). And the primary weapons are defensive — we are to resist (v. 13; cf. also Js. 4:7), we are to stand firm (vv. 13b, 14; cf. also 1 Pt. 5:9), we are to stand on the gospel (v. 15), we are to have faith (v. 16), and we are to wield the Word of God as a sword (v. 18).
The primary weapon of the believer is the Word of God, and since only unbelievers can be demon possessed, the greatest tool the counselor has is the gospel as it is contained in this Word. The gospel of Christ is powerful to refute any influence of Satan (e.g., Rom. 1:16-17; 1 Cor. 1:18-32), the defeated foe of Christ (Col. 2:15). Demon-possessed people don’t need an exorcism; they need the gospel and evangelizing!
As a final comment, it is worth noting that believers should take great care in this area — too many venture into activities like casting out demons forgetting that even the archangel of God, Michael, refused to make a pronouncement against a demon (Jude 9). If the angel who is likely the greatest among the angels (Michael is the only one named as an archangel) refuses to cast out demons, then believers also ought to take great caution, and instead implement the resources that God has given us against demons — evangelism and the gospel, instruction in the Word of God, resistance to and firmness against Satan.
Words of Grace 