The making of the Muslim left
The Guardian Unlimited has a pretty interesting editorial about how Muslim extremism has hijacked their religion. I disagree with Islam, but the guy bring put a lot good points of how radicals can pervert a good thing.
Once I wake up and get some time to fully absorb the article I’ll give my analyse.
Catholic Church Puts Limbo In Limbo
This is a great stride in the right direction. The closet time the bible ever refers to anything like limbo is “Abraham’s Bosom” and “Paradise”. Both of which are places that the righteous go. Both are good places. The bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit should always prevail over doctrine written of men.
From Digg: “The Roman Catholic Church has effectively ditched the concept of limbo, the place where centuries of tradition and teaching held that those who die without baptism went for all eternity. Hey, do you think their earthly decision to *mod this one up* frees the zillions who were previously condemned?”
Was Cho Seung-Hui Possessed?
A recent Fox News article explored this idea. Cho Seung-Hui was definitely a disturbed individual we form violence and a video camera to be his ultimate means of escape, but was he possessed by a demonic spirit? Lets look at few cases of demonic possession in the bible.
King Saul
The first king of Israel, Saul (1 Samuel 16, 18 & 19), started out as good king. Over time Saul began to do evil in the Lord’s eyes. When that happened the Lord brought up a young man of his choosing to replace. When young David was selected the Lord removed His spirit from Saul. In doing so the Lord also removed his wisdom to lead and protection from demonic possession.
The evil spirit that did posses Saul was a growing spirit. It didn’t turn Saul in horible man over night. Rather it torn away at his soul peice by peice. The only thing that could bring him relief was the songs played from Davids harp, God inspired and empowered songs.
This possession came about because Saul only did the things of God, he didn’t believe the things of God. Saul was not brought by the priests but was selected as ‘the best candidate’ to be king. Without fully believing and living the things of God, we are open to a full on spiritual attack whenever God lifts his hand of protection.
2 Possessed in Gergesenes
In Matthew 8:28-34 Jesus set foot on the shore and two men came running at him and screaming, ‘What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?’ After say that they were cast out into a group of pigs. By my estimation the number of the demons in each of the mean was at least 15, enough for at least one demon to possess each individual in the herd of swine.
The individual demons seem to work in a group think manner. They organized enough to force the men into spout false accusations at Christ. The demons also seemed to need a host to attach to. Perhaps if the didn’t return to Lucifer with the scent of death upon them, save they would have to suffer a worse rebuke then admitting they were cast out by their our zeal to chastise the Son of Man.
Fortuneteller of Philippi
In Acts 16:16-24 we read of an unmarried women who is possessed of at least one demonic spirit. Her owner had found and used her abilities to tell others of their past and their provable future for his own gain. When the apostle Paul came across her, Paul felt pity. So prayed prayed in the name of the Lord Jesus and the evil spirits came out of her.
The young woman, now devoid of her previous powers, was useless to her owner. This angered the man and he had Paul beaten to within an inch of his life and thrown into prison. So we now know that possession can give an individual power and abilities.
So was Cho Seung-Hui possessed by an evil spirit?
My gut feeling is that he wasn’t possessed by an evil spirit. Anytime someone is possessed they continue in a downward leaving them eventually incompacitated and unable to perform organized activities. Saul’s stwerdship of Israel was recked. The two possed seemed only able to accuse people. Finally the woman who was possessed with the gift divination could profit herself.
Cho was in complete control of his facilities. He was able to make and mail a video tape between shooting. He know what he was doing. Cho had the fore cite to plan how he was to kill people. His perception though may have been strongly influenced by a demonic spirit, he still knew what he wanted to do.
Prevent Demonic Possession
There is no way to prevent an attack. However you can shield yourself by know what that bible has to say about salvation and demonic attacks. I recommend this audio message on salvation by Paul Washer and that you read Psalm 32, David’s psalm of repentance.