Language:
Welcome Guest Login or Signup » LOGOUT

Go Back   LDS Mormon Forums > Gospel Boards > Scripture Study Forum
You are not logged into the site. Please login or signup.

Notices

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 08-10-2008, 06:47 PM
Tamrajh's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: United States -
Posts: 604
Thanks: 60
Thanked 108 Times in 74 Posts
Laughs: 5
Laughs at 8 Times in 7 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Tamrajh
Default New Testament Questions - Devils Cast Out

I've recently begun reading the New Testament for the first time and although I'm finding it quite interesting, I'm also confused by something. There are numerous references to Christ casting out evil spirits from people and even one where the evil spirits took over a herd or gathering of swine (pigs) who then went and drowned themselves.
I have numerous questions about this.
I thought we were protected from this type of thing happening because of the enmity between Satan and us so the only way this could happen was if we invited Satan into our bodies. Have I missed something here?
If it happened so often back then, can't it still be happening now? We dismiss the thought of possessions now and think people are just "crazy" but what if it really is a possession just the same as it was when Jesus walked the earth. Shouldn't there be something done the same as Christ did when he was here to help these people in a religious sense?
Thanks in advance for clearing this up for me. Even though I'm finding the New Testament very interesting, I'm really getting hung up on this possession part because it's very different from how we view things now.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Tamrajh For This Useful Post:
Maya (09-22-2008)
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 08-10-2008, 07:24 PM
MorningStar's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Age: 34
Posts: 3,432
Thanks: 301
Thanked 652 Times in 387 Posts
Laughs: 12
Laughs at 91 Times in 37 Posts
Default

Very interesting question! I've wondered the same thing - which problems today could actually be possession? Not that I have a good answer for you, but I'm looking forward to reading what other people have to say.
__________________
Wickedness never was happiness.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 08-10-2008, 07:44 PM
prisonchaplain's Avatar
Senior Moderator
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United States -
Age: 45
Posts: 7,514
Thanks: 803
Thanked 2,080 Times in 1,001 Posts
Laughs: 77
Laughs at 323 Times in 124 Posts
Default

Christians cannot be demon possessed since we are filled with the Holy spirit. However, those who are not so protected might invite such into their lives through participation in witchcraft, seances, fortune telling, ouija boards, etc.
__________________
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." -- Lord Acton
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to prisonchaplain For This Useful Post:
Islander (08-13-2008), Maya (09-22-2008), tree (08-21-2008)
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 08-10-2008, 10:15 PM
Tamrajh's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: United States -
Posts: 604
Thanks: 60
Thanked 108 Times in 74 Posts
Laughs: 5
Laughs at 8 Times in 7 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Tamrajh
Default

But even Christians who have turned their backs on their religion and dabbled in seances, ouiji boards, and the like could be possessed?
Why don't we hear of the evil spirits being forced out and exorcisms like Christ did?
__________________
"Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." Paul, Ephesians 6:24
May we all have grace.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 08-10-2008, 10:23 PM
FunkyTown's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,779
Thanks: 294
Thanked 957 Times in 518 Posts
Laughs: 57
Laughs at 550 Times in 248 Posts
Default

I have heard of exorcisms taking place. Not the head spinning, "Send me a younr priest and an old priest!" one, but yes. I have heard of them. Ask at church. I bet some Elders have a story or two.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 08-10-2008, 10:37 PM
BenRaines's Avatar
Head Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: United States -
Posts: 5,222
Thanks: 66
Thanked 1,421 Times in 782 Posts
Laughs: 15
Laughs at 550 Times in 258 Posts
Default

Possession is something that must be allowed by humans. It may be due to the manner that we live our life. Continual sin, etc. I believe PC's definition of Christian is someone who truly lives their belief and not someone who just professes one.

You may recall as you read of the Lord casting the demons out of the man possessed that the demon spirits communicated with the Lord, they recognized him for who he was and what was about to happen. They requested, in order to possess a body, to be cast in to swine, the most unclean animal in the Hebrew faith and then the swine when possessed were made mad and ran in to the sea to drown themselves.

What we can learn from this is that spirits can possess bodies if allowed and that spirits will do anything to have a body.

Ben Raines
__________________
"If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties." Sir Francis Bacon
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to BenRaines For This Useful Post:
Maya (09-22-2008), Tamrajh (08-11-2008), tree (08-21-2008)
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 08-11-2008, 12:15 AM
Tamrajh's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: United States -
Posts: 604
Thanks: 60
Thanked 108 Times in 74 Posts
Laughs: 5
Laughs at 8 Times in 7 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Tamrajh
Default

So do you think that curious kids, when they're playing around and don't think it's real, could invite Satan into their bodies or is there some kind of protection over them because they're too young and innocent to be able to do stuff like that.
I remember when I was younger I attended a sleep over and we turned around the picture of Christ and then invited Satan to come let us know if he was real (because we thought all this religion stuff was a bunch of crap). I've often wondered about that and, knowing we couldn't have been the only girls to have done that, I wonder what happens when kids delve into it even more deeply by playing with ouiji boards or doing some satanic worship.
__________________
"Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." Paul, Ephesians 6:24
May we all have grace.
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 08-11-2008, 12:16 AM
Tamrajh's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: United States -
Posts: 604
Thanks: 60
Thanked 108 Times in 74 Posts
Laughs: 5
Laughs at 8 Times in 7 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Tamrajh
Default

Oh, and yes, he did visit us.
__________________
"Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." Paul, Ephesians 6:24
May we all have grace.
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 08-11-2008, 01:05 AM
BenRaines's Avatar
Head Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: United States -
Posts: 5,222
Thanks: 66
Thanked 1,421 Times in 782 Posts
Laughs: 15
Laughs at 550 Times in 258 Posts
Default

I believe it is only after a pattern of unrighteous living. Always remember that we, as human beings, have power of Satan and his minions. It is us who allows them to enter and or to stay. Once under their power it is hard, but not impossible, to turn it around.

Ben Raines
__________________
"If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties." Sir Francis Bacon
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 08-11-2008, 02:04 AM
MorningStar's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Age: 34
Posts: 3,432
Thanks: 301
Thanked 652 Times in 387 Posts
Laughs: 12
Laughs at 91 Times in 37 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tamrajh View Post
Oh, and yes, he did visit us.
AAAAAAGH!!!! That's scary.
__________________
Wickedness never was happiness.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


New Posts


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.1.0



TERMS & CONDITIONS | HELP | CONTACT US | INVITE | RSS FEEDS | ABOUT US | GET INVOLVED | ARCHIVE
*** LDS Mormon Community ***
More Good Foundation. All rights reserved.

Header art used by permission of Mark Mabry and Reflections of Christ.

LDS.Net is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon Church or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the More Good Foundation. For the official Church websites, please visit LDS.org and Mormon.org.