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SAINTnic the DweLLeR's avatar

Hey Kevin! Love this discussion. I've been interested in tackling this subject for a while and it's always 'put in the back burner' hmm I wonder why lol. More Christians needs to know this. Thanks for the discussion.

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Kevin E Beasley's avatar

It has been a game-changer for our local work, Nick! Good to see you here!!

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Benton Ward's avatar

This was really good! Thanks for sharing! It gives me a lot more clarity for some things I’ve been processing through in my own experience with this. I grew up seeing demonic influence and deliverance ministry done the wrong way all the time and it’s caused me to really shy away from it but since I stepped into counseling I’ve seen the need for deliverance more and more and have had to wrestle with this reality and how to deal with it!

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Kevin E Beasley's avatar

Benton! I get that. So many times with this issue people live in the extremes! Hyper or Anti. Jared brings a great balance perspective. It has been a breath of fresh air!

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Tara Lee's avatar

This one is probably the best yet as far as addressing mixed beliefs among believers. As far as people saying you can’t be possessed… I know once you experience certain things spiritually it will rock your old cessationist theology. We got the book and it should be here today. I’m excited 😊

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Kevin E Beasley's avatar

It was a good one, Tara! And I thought Jared did a great job with bringing very complex principles down to help us understand! Thanks for commenting.

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From the BOX BUNGALOW's avatar

Great info! You do know, right, that believers may have their thoughts oppressed by a demon, but a true believer cannot be possessed by a demon. We have the Holy Spirit in us.

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Kevin E Beasley's avatar

That's right! We discuss that in the episode. Demons do not have access to the most innner place if the spirit for humans if they have the Spirit residing in them.

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Evan K's avatar

Hey Kevin - I really appreciated the episode, I’ve also been listening to the exorcist files podcast and it’s pretty fascinating but also has a lot of good and interesting theology. I’ve appreciated Roman Catholic insight into spiritual warfare.

The most frustrating part about listening is the consistent and constant refrain that the apostolic succession and unity of the Catholic Church (which I disagree with because of the numerous accretions departing from actual apostolic orthodoxy) makes their rites more effective.

I am curious what a Protestant response would be to that claim?

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Kevin E Beasley's avatar

So sorry I missed this, Evan. We’ll, form a Protestant perspective Jesus ushered in the idea of His followers and the Kingdom of God being a kingdom of priests and that there is no regard to status and institutional rank among the followers of Jesus. 1 Peter 2:9. And that the power and effectiveness is not an institutional lineage, but the power is in the NAME of Christ.

Tell me what you think.

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Evan K's avatar

Thanks Kevin! Sorry if I ramble, I actually stopped listening to the podcast (mainly I think the Fr. hosting it must of learned that Protestants were listening, but he started making a point of repeating a lot of Catholic claims about the one true church with higher frequency).

Interestingly they had an interview with a Catholic non-clergy assistant, who had a longer history in the ministry and some of the things he said nominally contradicted the host, namely, he made the point that there was a long time period where the Catholic Church had moved away from performing the exorcism rights as well as even training exorcists and that Pentecostals were the main group continuing deliverance ministry (the Fr. Had kind of insinuated that it was an ancient tradition in Catholicism without ceasing, not explicitly so he wasn’t being dishonest)

Either way I don’t think most Catholic claims stand up historically (and a lot don’t biblically). They did have an interview with a Protestant who’s dad had a lifetime of deliverance experience that was really interesting though. The reason I asked originally (but didn’t make clear in my first question) is because it was interesting to hear the conviction they have relating Mariology and Saint veneration to exorcism

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Kevin E Beasley's avatar

These are all very interesting, Evan. Thanks for sharing them. What is your personal stance on the work of the Holy Spirit among non-catholic clergy or even non-clergy lady? I think that’s a good starting point on the role and function of the Holy Spirit and who he’s accessible to That gets back to my comment about the priesthood of believers or followers of Jesus.

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Evan K's avatar

I think Catholic doctrine is great for clergy but awful for laity and overemphasizes the role of priests in a way that’s anti-biblical. So I would say the Holy Spirit dwells in all who repent and believe. I don’t really think there’s a unique acess for clergy at all.

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Kevin E Beasley's avatar

So, I'm gathering you were raised Catholic and are exploring other perspectives. Is that right?

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Evan K's avatar

No total misunderstanding haha, my bad, raised Protestant still Protestant, definitely not Catholic - my interest is more that I’ve been basically been Protestant my whole life but had almost 0 exposure to Deliverance/Exorcism ministries, the Catholic podcast was the deepest treatment I’ve heard on the subject so I was just interested in a comparison from the Protestant perspective

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