I believe in prayer. Absolutely! I even believe in rebuking demons. Truly! But there's a time and a place for it. In the middle of the hallway in a psych unit is not one of them. Well-intentioned, of course, but totally inappropriate.
When are Christian leaders and teachers going to explain to their followers proper behavior? Things like doing things in proper order (like knowing the person before deciding all of their problems are demonic) and in the proper place (in a quiet place without an audience). Perhaps ensuring that the people putting what they're being taught into practice actually have good motives.
One of the lessons I learned when I was busy doing deliverance ministry was that I often operated more out of a need to feel in control of something than for the well-being of another person. Not all the time. And there was always an underlying concern for the other person. But, after watching a totally inappropriate situation this week, I had an "aha!" moment and realized it was all about feeling powerless and trying to find some power. If you can just command demons to leave a sick person, then you have power. When your loved one is making bad decisions and ends up with some physically based mental health issues, you want to make them better right away. YOU want to be the one to help them heal. So you grab your God-gun and start shooting. Unfortunately it often just makes things worse.
It's time that Christians stop to think and pray before going off half-cocked and afraid.
Friday, July 10, 2009
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