Possession

As Fall moves over, makes way for Winter and all its inconsistencies, I sit with a hot cup of heaven and contemplate a very human tendency to 'explain' away that which we do not understand.

I have heard, read, and politely gone silent when hearing demonic possession heaved onto a table of guts and refuse, of regret and confusion, of fear and wild-eyed fervor and consequently gestured to with a grandly eloquent Vanna-White-showing of hands.

See? See?

As though all ills and ill-will sit patiently waiting to be explained away by the possession of demonic entities.

Murder? Possession...

Schizoprenia? Possession...

(truth, not satire here my friends; explained back in my regular church going days as possession).

Out of body experiences? Possession...

(complete dissociative separation as protection)

Narcissism and all its torments? Possession...

All meant to assuage fear for matters misunderstood.

All meant to sidestep accountability, responsibility and a glaring lack of knowledge.

I mean, no offense my church friends, but read a book...attend a seminar.

What did we call it back in the day? Secular, yes thats it. Something to be avoided at all costs.

I heard it from the horses mouth so to speak as one pastor spoke with disdain, with contempt for self-help books, for counselling, for seeking therapy; who needs all that secular influence?

Never mind that each and every pastor is in the unique position of shepherd, of doing just that; counselling their members.

Only they counsel, they advise and impart misplaced wisdom with absolutely NO formal education or training, and worse, much much worse, no understanding of events that will always trigger trauma responses.

Instead, trauma is perpetuated, added to, placed upon as words spew from mouths with zero comprehension.

Recently, a social experiment was performed by a young woman.

Conducted by calling 100 churches (withint the US) with heartfelt emotion and a baby wailing in the background, asking for assistance. Nothing major, just formula for her baby.

In a landslide embarassment, 90% of the churches turned her away. Stating their programs were for members only among other things.

Recently, a homeless woman sleeping in her car in the parking lot of a church had a notice placed on her windshield, stating she would be towed if she didn't move.

What did she do?

She trusted in their goodness...

I mean, Jesus lives in the church does He not?

I mean, Jesus lives within the people inhabiting the church, does He not?

She was silently filmed by a female pastor and told in no uncertain terms by a secretary that she was not welcome and must leave immediately or the police would be called.

Shall we state this was demonic?

Shall we state, as one gentleman did in response to my story, that perhaps the church people who answered the phone were 'discerning.'

Discerning what exactly? That the church is under attack? That christians are being persecuted for His name sake by asking for Similac, or a place to park?

Or more accurately that we failed and immediately turn to gaslighting, to projecting the fault on the one calling, or a homeless woman in real time asking just to be able to stay in their parking lot.

Dear God, truly...Dear God in Heaven.

We have failed you...we have forgotten our precepts.

Jesus isn't hanging out in churches, He's out on the street standing beside those who cannot help themselves, shooting up to blot out pain and torment.

He's sitting with that woman in her car, shivering as winter hits and wondering where her next meal is coming from, or a warm place to stay.

He's hanging with youth lost in inner cities, seeking acceptance and compassion.

He's crying with the child who has been exploited, used and discarded.

Hebrews 13:16: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Luke 6:30: “Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.”

Dear friends, let's leave demonic possession where it belongs, with those who actually experience that particular type of hell.

Instead, let's place responsibility and accountability where it belongs...with each one who turns away from those in need, denying them help, denying them compassion and grace.

With each one who raises a hand, a fist...with each one who torments and tortures explicitly for his/her own pleasure.

God inhabits His people...and mandates some pretty strong ethical and moral statutes.

It's not complicated...it's simple.

Love as He loved, give as He gave.