Which is it?
I’ve wondered for a long time about the connection, or lack thereof, between mental illness and spiritual oppression.
Probably the thing that caused me to question it is that in the New Testament, especially the gospels, there are plenty of times we read about people who are oppressed by demons. Some of the stories are really dramatic.
We don’t find the term mentally ill in the Bible, but there are plenty of other illnesses not mentioned, for the simple fact that they had not yet been discovered (or coined, described, etc.).
Did Jesus only heal those who were demon possessed, and skip the mentally ill? Or did they call everyone who exhibited strange behavior demon possessed, since they couldn’t determine the cause?
And what about now? There have been times I’ve encountered people who would likely be considered mentally ill, but my Spirit Spidey-senses told me that there was definitely more to it than that - spiritually, that is. In fact, I’ve had to learn not to be creeped out or afraid in those situations, because of the authority of the blood of Jesus which covers me.
I know there are times in which the brain chemistry is off, or there are other biological factors at work, for sure. I’m sure there are people who suffer from mental illness. I wonder the relationship between that illness and demonic influence, but that’s a question I’ll probably need to save until I can ask God face-to-face. You know, when it will be the last thing on my mind…
Regardless of the cause, I’m so thankful that the God I serve has the authority over human biology and demonic activity. Neither scare Him in the least.
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