The Exorcist's Bestiary

The first time I met someone who had lots of experiences with spiritual gifts, I was amazed and afraid. I feared that if I got too close to them, I might set off some sensor in the spiritual realm and get yelled at for every sin I had ever committed in great detail.

But this never happened for two reasons: (1) My perspective of God as a hardened, angry deity that wanted to lash out at me for my sin was completely wrong, and (2) God doesn’t usually tell other people your business in great detail. While I’ve heard stories where he has done this, I have generally found that it is not his way or his preference. When someone is especially hard-headed, he may need to take a more aggressive prophetic approach to get through to them, but he much rather prefers people to open up about their lives themselves and find healing. As Aslan says so delicately: “Child, I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own.”

That’s why our deliverance process is all about God speaking to the participant and the participant choosing what they’re willing to disclose to us. We can hardly move forward if they don’t want to talk about whatever the Spirit is putting on their heart.

Supernaturalists don’t just see, hear, and know everything. Even Jesus had to ask people questions as he exorcised them. Humans weren’t designed with glass foreheads so we can see what everyone’s thinking. And if you ever wanted a glimpse at how messed up that would be, the sci-fi movie Chaos Walking is worth a watch.