are Deliverance teachings Biblical?
Q. I know theres a lot of false teaching and nonsense we redeemed run into while online and irl. I run into people in "Christian" groups on fb, [a mixed bag of people] who arent saved, are idolators, new, are misled believers, those those who fell into false churches, and are false converts in them - (besides cult folk who snuck into them).
What false group or teaching is this idea of generational trauma & generational curses? I hear some talking about spirits of this and that to rebuke, --- and dont quite know how to respond to educate [them, & to prevent others there falling into that false belief].
They arent testing the spirits to see if what theyre hearing is true (either from whispers of demons or false teachings in their "church"). And they very well might be children of Satan subtly going about deceiving people who go to church, so they've no plans to "test" such spirits [biblically].
From what I read [in Scripture] it is simply people choosing sinning and yet theyre acting like something outside of them is the culprit.
Sorry but that isnt how Christianity works... if your sinner parents did xyz, and you got saved - you do abc now cuz of the new nature and the Holy Spirit teaching you via Scripture. Straight fact. And if YOU(1) go sin or follow sin path a while, it isnt a demonic spirit making you do things (etc) - you did it. But you can be and will be brought back to the righteous path by 1. Realizing or 2. a believers counsel - both which leads to: going to God & repenting, reading Scripture, getting godly counsel at church to walk right.
Any help and education on the above Q is greatly appreciated. I need a way to biblically speak about this [as I run into it a lot].
Thx.
A: These false teachings come from deliverance ministry groups and charismatics. Here is what you need to know:
It's subtle doctrines of demons. Instead of making themselves accountable for their sins they blame it on a demon. Instead of calling it a sin of anger they call it a anger demon or anger spirit or something equally nonsense. Scripture is clear, people sin because theyre drawn away by their own lusts. And we can reject temptation both of our desires & when tempted by Satan -and the devil will flee. When we kill and conquer any sin it no longer has temptation for us thus we have total victory over it. These deliverance folk are not trying to kill their sins but blame it on other things and think it mahically gets rebuked away. It's not biblical.
Blaming parents or generational sin cycles
The biblical reality is sin. Sin warps everything it touches and dramatically impacts every human being. This reality means that even children with incredible parents will go their own way in rebellion in spite of incredibly positive examples. This reality also means that people will engage in certain primarily because they are sinners, and not because of any outside influence, no matter how important. The Bible understands that the sinful behavior of people can be powerfully impacted by outside sources of temptation, but always lays the blame for sin in the heart of the sinner (Jas 1:14-15).
Another biblical reality of greater significance than parental involvement is grace. The Bible teaches that where sin increases, grace abounds all the more (Rom 5:20). Grace means that there is power from Christ to be holy in spite of tempting influences and sinful proclivities. Grace means that even the most broken homes are not inextricably determined to lead to more brokenness and sin.
Some are well meaning (but false teachers) in trying to help fix the problems, may have a glancing appreciation of the biblical importance on the matter, yet take this biblical teaching and move farther than the Bible allows... AND miss the more profound biblical teaching about the sin of man, and the grace of God.
The Bible teaches that it is Jesus, and the power he makes available through his gospel that is the crucial reality in allowing people to change (2 Pet 1:3-4). It is Jesus’ power to change that works in the Word and through the biblical processes so that sin is defeated in the life of the believer. At the end of the day all evangelicals must believe that no change is possible that ultimately honors God without him.
- Heath Lambert, truths from Oil and Water
There is NOTHING to FEAR if you are in CHRIST. These misguided or decieved or deciever folk fear Satan more than God.
The Scriptures are clear. If saved... God moved you from the realm of darkness, killed your sin nature, and gave you a right mind, and righteous nature. Now you can go and sin no more.
"If any man be in Christ he is a NEW CREATION old things are PASSED AWAY behold all things are become NEW."
"For the Lord has not given you a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a SOUND MIND."
Clarity on fear. "Not fearing" and "having nothing To fear" are 2 diff things! God said don't fear; men and situations or Satan. But do Fear God rightly. But note the "why" dont fear ....God is in control so theres nothing to fear šÆ. So..."Trust Him". No matter what you go through here, trust Him. "He will work all things out"...has a good outcome and plan which will cause men "to praise and glorify Him". He works all things out "for His will". "His plans will be accomplished". He will lead us through it, whatever it is. Even if it is persecution or death.
If your family was/is sinning... YOU go the righteous path and dont follow their sin examples. You go live rightly according to Scripture. Its a very simple & easy concept! Jesus said of those who follow Him "Go and sin no more". Other people arent the problem. Other situations arent the problem. The past isnt the problem.
As a believer...Your obedience and not sinning is the problem. Go the way of righteousness. Simple. The devil didnt make you do it either. You choose to sin. Conquer your sins - stop making excuses for them. So stop. Become more and more like Christ.
Too many people who go to "churches" have fallen into false teachings by charlatans, even into cults. The "churches" that are teaching these nonsense things to have you living in fear, are false places, and put trust in rituals and rebukings instead of God & His indwelling ppwer to conquer sin. Theyre teaching subtle doctrines of demons. Flee them and go find a solid bible focused church if you are in one.
To help those in and under these false teachings...
Additionally you can:
1. Lovingly lead them to "Examine Yourself" to see if they are really saved.
*Most who hold those beliefs- had fallen for a false gospel. >also offer them this free pdf book on that topic.
2. Help them grow in holiness and righteousness by providing helpful biblical self counseling, (which will help them in their sanctification walk, to kill and conquer sin).
If they claim to be Christian and desire to follow Jesus, Scripture & truth, they will look into these things, and flee false churches and ministries. *If they ask, guide them on how to search for & find a biblical church.
Bless them by sharing the truth with them - even if they reject it. Ultimately they'll be accountable to God for embracing lies, esp if they die in their sins; in such cases, theyll also be accountable for making others "twice the sons of Hell that they themselves are" as Scripture warns. If they are saved, reject truth and percisist embracing lies - they'll answer to God for causing other believers to sin.
If you run into them in real life, Scripture says not to fellowship with them dust your feet off.
Regardless of the outcome, of your attempts with deliverance followers, you brought the truth and were a faithful servant & messenger of Christ. That is all you can do.
Pray š for them either way.
God bless
But those who seek it are going to find it.
Footnotes:
(1) James 1:14-15 "But each person is tempted when he is lured away by his own desires and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."
1 John 2:16-17
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
If you are born again by God you can rest in Him. You dont need to be blown around by every wind and doctrine floating out there. You can trust and rely on Him to care for and guide you.
1 Peter 5:7:
"casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."
Isaiah 26:3:
“You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.”
