Demon Possession

Demon Possession
“When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.  
“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 
Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.  
The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 
He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.  
Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.  
Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.” 
Matthew 8:28-34

The topic of demon possession is near and dear to this writers heart.
I do not deny it happens but sadly too many Christians think it happens far too often.
They see what is really mental illness as demon possession and that is a dangerous thing.
I live with Bipolar Affective Disorder (Manic Depression). It after twenty odd years and it seems like dozens of trial and error drug cocktails, talk therapy and group therapy sessions is under control for the most part.
I still have my bad days, days when I can’t function but for the most part most people don’t know I have it.
I’m very open about my illness I even speak as a volunteer with the Canadian Mental Health Association in the Niagara Region to raise awareness and dispel the stigma that accompanies mental illness.
Over the years however I’ve found that it is in Church where I have had the most negative experiences. One man even telling me that mental illness was demon possession and that I needed the pastor to pray for me.
Sadly in some church circles they find a demon under every bush.
I found the following article on the web site of Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF.ORG.UK ). It’s by a writer called Nick Land and titled Psychiatry and Christianity - Poles apart? It reads,
“Demonic possession. ‘There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased with both errors’.[1] Our current culture well reflects this quote with a scientific denial of the supernatural, contrasting with an increasing preoccupation with the occult. Our churches too often fall into one or other of these extremes, either denying the role of the demonic or becoming preoccupied with it and ascribing to Satan phenomena that have much more ‘natural’ medical or theological explanations.
When we look at Jesus’ healing ministry, we see that sometimes he heals, sometimes he forgives and sometimes he exorcises. This leaves us asking how much mental illness is caused by direct demonic influence? It is clearly very distressing if your church reacts to your biological mental illness with attempts at exorcism. As Christian doctors we have a role in advising our churches when an individual with frightening symptoms is actually showing a typical psychiatric illness. For example, the severely depressed Christian may believe God is dead or fight against recurrent blasphemous thoughts - but their sadness and distress at these phenomena is clue enough that they have an illness, not a demon.
I firmly believe that typical psychotic illness is not caused by demonic possession. Evidence for this includes firstly the increased correlation between psychotic illness and physical brain changes demonstrated on structural and functional scanning. Secondly the response of psychotic illness to treatment - unless you believe that chlorpromazine stuns demons! Thirdly is the experience of many involved in healing and deliverance ministry who recognise that schizophrenia responds extremely badly to attempts at deliverance and who increasingly ensure that they have mental health professionals as part of their team to ensure that individuals brought to them do not have typical psychiatric illness.
Discussing this with a Christian consultant colleague, we had each seen only one case in fifteen years of psychiatric practice that we felt might be directly caused by demonic possession. Interestingly the British Journal of Psychiatry did carry a case report of possible demonic possession in September 1994.”
So a word of caution to those Christians that think all mental illness is demon possession.
Consult a qualified councilor or doctor.
Prayer helps but it is essential that we do not dismiss mental illness as demon possession.
Mental illness can be treated and can be and treated successfully.
Think about it.