Search the Community

I am testing the doctrine of whether or not Christians can have demons. I have some questions about this for both sides of the issue. 1.) Question for those who say Christians CANNOT have demons: Why would the apostles cast demons out of people AT ALL if belief of the gospel alone would ALWAYS cause them to be removed immediately for SOLE habitation by the Holy Spirit? Remember, this is POST not PRE Pentecost. This isn't OT stuff or before Christ died on the cross for our sins. As many on both sides assert, it is pointless to try and remove demons from someone who refuses to believe the gospel or even misunderstands it somehow, as the demons will not only return later but also in greater numbers the second time around, making the last state worse than the first. Since this is at least generally true, why would the apostles participate in and even promote such a thing? This would definitely lead to confusion, and God is not supposed to be the author of confusion. Why didn't the apostles simply share the gospel and leave the demons inside the unsaved? It could definitely lead to the idea of Christians being able to have them by doing such a thing rather than sharing the gospel alone. Exorcisms should be considered un-biblical in general then and even a hindrance to delivering the untainted gospel if ONLY the unsaved can have them. 2.) Question for those who say Christians CAN have demons: Jesus said that people who have had demons cast out of them are "empty" vessels right before the demons are able to return. How can a Christian who has the Holy Spirit be "empty" so that a demon might possess them? This argument is often used as an apologetic against those who say Christians can have demons.