My Apologies...

There are essays in the works. Sorry I have been negligent as of late in posting.

Is Abortion Always Wrong?

Quick Aside: Alright, so no one responded to the whole Halloween thing. This leads me to believe that Halloween is a worthless "holiday" that just gives people an excuse to dress provocatively and get hammered. Sounds good to me. Besides the whole dress up thing always annoyed me.

Well, hopefully the theological quagmire posed by the title of this piece has gotten your attention. At least it might be a quagmire - depends doesn't it. You might think that there is no debate to be had. I am working on an essay that gives my opinion, but based on the people that I know humor me by frequenting this sight, I am curious as to how you all would answer this question. Is abortion always wrong? And why do you hold this view? Perhaps this might generate a bit more discussion than dinosaurs.

As always anything goes. This is a difficult issue, and one that (I would argue) Christians need to be more versed on.

Halloween Shmalloween!

Let's call it Neewollah. I like it. It's catchy. Too bad I didn't come up with it myself.

So, I'm sorry (especially to Joe) but here's the problem I am running into. I am having a very difficult time finding reliable sources that have investigated the true history of All Hallow's Eve. Most all agree that it orginated with the Druids, but the nature of the practices associated with this old "priestly order" has been difficult to nail down.

Thus, I am inclined to abandon the post debating whether or not Christians should partake in Halloweeny festivities. You like that... "Halloweeny". So, I am appealing to the masses. What do the folks want? Should I blindly stagger forward in my pursuit of the truth regarding this unusual "holy day"? Or should I forget about it and move on to other efforts? Majority rules. My life is in your hands. Just don't get to thinking that this is kind of like a reality show or I will find someone who lives close to you and pay them to beat you with the skinny part of a fishing rod.

So What About the Dinosaurs?

As a kid I was beyond fascinated with the "great lizards" of the ancient past. Any documentary, book, or toy I could get my hands on that had anything at all to do with dinosaurs was a must have for my collection. Especially interesting to me as I got older was the question of where the dinosaurs fit into our biblical understanding of history? I have never been able to reconcile this understanding, but a series of articles put out by Answers in Genesis, an evangelical apologetics organization, has given me some insight. The main article is entitled Dinosaurs and the Bible and I would love to get some feedback on what you all think.

We talked a little bit about this in my Old Testament class discussion on Job, but in addition to the dinosaur issue, please give me your beliefs concerning creation. Are you a person who believes in a young earth, old earth, evolutionist, intelligent design, etc? Just shoot me your convictions, all I ask is that you have reasoning for your beliefs. Anything goes.

A Critical Review of "The Exorcism of Emily Rose"

One of my favorite movies is The Usual Suspects, and in that movie Kevin Spacey’s character, Verbal Kint, delivers one of my favorite lines in all of cinema. He says, “The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” Now, in the context of this quote Verbal is speaking of the mysterious killer that continuously eludes the authorities, but I wonder if this line could be applied to another context? A context that doesn’t exist in movies. A context that is as real as night is dark.

In November of 1995, Newsweek ran a cover story by Kenneth Woodward entitled, “Do We Need Satan?” In his article Woodward recorded that 31% of non-evangelical Protestants say that the Devil does not exist. Similarly, he found that only 26% of Roman Catholics believe that they have been tempted by Satan. I know. I know. Statistics are statistics, and what do they really mean? Well, to be honest, I don’t know exactly what these stats are saying, but I’ll tell you this: If the Devil doesn’t exist, it is much easier to question the existence of God, and it seems that there is a large amount of people in this country that do not believe in either.

I mention this as a backdrop to the focus of this present work. Whether we like it or not movies play a huge role in directing how our society thinks. The sacred halls of learning for most Americans are found in popular culture, so when a movie like this one hits the big screen and Blockbuster shelves, I believe it is important to have an understanding of its cultural impact.

That being said the purpose of this essay is not to provide for an apologetic in defense of Satan’s existence. And I do not intend to chase the rabbit’s trail of arguing as to whether or not true demonization still happens today. Rather, for now, I would like to give a critical review of the recent film, The Exorcism of Emily Rose. In addition to giving a brief synopsis of the story, I hope to evaluate the validity of the demonization portrayed in the film as well as the exorcism rituals used from a conservative evangelical Protestant perspective. By doing so it is my goal to assess how society may or may not benefit from this piece of art.

The film is based on the true life events of a young German woman by the name of Anneliese Michel who claimed to be demonized by six demons from 1968 until her death in 1976. However, the cinematic story does deviate significantly from the historical events. In the film, Emily Rose (Anneliese), a devout Catholic teenager believes that she has come under demonic attack during her freshman year of college, and as a result is taken through a horrific series of events that eventually lead to her death. While the demonization of Emily is brutal and frightening, this movie is more of a courtroom drama than a horror film.

As the movie begins, Emily is already deceased, and her story is told through flashbacks as witnesses for the defense and prosecution testify during the trial. The defendant is Father Richard Moore, played by Tom Wilkinson. He is charged with negligent homicide, as the state holds him responsible for Emily’s failure to receive the medical attention she needed to live. Of course Father Moore saw Emily’s circumstance as a direct result of spiritual warfare, and is thus portrayed by the prosecution as a lunatic. Moore’s lawyer, Erin Bruner, played by Laura Linney, adds an interesting twist as she is a self-proclaimed Agnostic that doubts the existence of demonic forces, but one that genuinely empathizes with the conviction and passion of Father Moore. In the end she is left to question her own beliefs in light of this new life experience.

Scott Derrickson, a graduate of Biola University, an evangelical Christian university in La Mirada, CA, beautifully directs the film with obvious yet fantastic contrasts of dark and light scenes. The actors as well are to be commended for their performances, with Jennifer Carpenter deserving exceptionally high praise for her frighteningly realistic job of portraying Emily Rose’s demonic state. This is not a spinning head, make-up driven possession. Carpenter’s depiction is believable and yet horrific in every aspect. To the specifics of the possession the paper now turns.

In Scripture there are a few obvious signs so that one can recognize demonic influence, but experiences play a major role in understanding demonization. For example, it is clear from Scripture that demons may try to harm those they inhabit and those around them (Mk 5:2-5, 9:17-22; Lk 13:11-16; Mt 17:14-18). They may also exhibit knowledge of hidden things such as the case with the slave girl in Acts 16:16. Furthermore, demons tend to exhibit an intense aversion to holy things such as Jesus’ name, the reading of Scripture, or a godly presence (Mk 1:23-24). It is also possible that demoniacs display superhuman strength or a radical change in personality (Mk 5:1-15).

While not included in Scripture, glossalalia is another characteristic of demonic oppression. This is a situation where the oppressed person speaks in a language unknown to them. For instance some well known Wycliffe missionaries near the Himalayas have given the account of their two year old child loudly singing in the middle of the night in a grown man’s voice in a primitive dialect. After casting the demon out through prayer and fasting, they later learned that the house they were living in once belonged to a spiritist shaman. There are many more stories that I could tell that lend credibility to this and other extra-biblical phenomena, but the point is that while the Bible does list a number of signs, experience has played a significant role in aiding God’s people in recognizing demonic oppression.

So, how does Emily’s oppression match up to what we know about demonization? In the film Emily’s demonic attacks match our Biblical understanding with an astonishing degree of accuracy. The demons inside of her force her body into convulsions, prohibit her from eating, throw her through windows, and are greatly disturbed when holiness is around. In one scene Emily runs to a church and attempts to grab a cross from the altar. The demons as a result force her body back from the cross in an extremely distorted position leaving her sobbing on the floor. By far the most intense scene in the movie, though, is the exorcism itself. Derrickson did an extraordinary job of recreating an exorcism based on Biblical accounts. So, what should be done during an exorcism? Here is what I have learned in my studies at Dallas Seminary.

While there are some good resources out there by credible individuals from a conservative evangelical background [see: Fred Dickason’s Demon Possession and the Christian (Mood, 1987) and Mark Bubeck’s The Rise of Fallen Angels: Victory Over the Adversary Through Spiritual Renewal (Moody, 1995)], set steps or formulas are not necessary in casting out a demon. Jesus’ commands were simple and authoritative. Through our Lord the victory over Satan and his minions has been decided; however, the power of Satan is real, and this is not a situation one should enter into casually. These steps serve as a useful guideline in approaching the situation:

1. Pray to our Lord to prepare your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your actions.
2. Find Christian friends with whom to pray and possibly fast with. Exorcisms should not be conducted alone. The community of believers is powerful.
3. Speak directly and authoritatively to the demon(s). Demand through the power of Christ that they not hurt the person they are afflicting or anyone present.
4. Command the spirit or spirits to speak truthfully by the name and power of Jesus.
5. Ask the demons their names by the authority of Christ so as to confront them directly.
6. Do not become curious. Demons have extraordinary powers and would love to get you distracted from helping the person to serve your own curiosity.
7. Cite Scripture that tells of Satan’s defeat. Remind them of their fate and get them to acknowledge the victory of Christ at the cross.
8. Command them in the name of the Lord Jesus to flee to the place God has appointed to them.
9. Once the demonic influence is gone help the person to put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

For whatever reason, it has been the experience of my professors and classmates that exorcisms are battles that do not happen quickly. Our Lord said the word and demons fled, but experience tells us that we must work harder at it. It is important not to give up.

In the film Father Moore hit on nearly every one of these aspects when approaching the exorcism, but where he fell short was in his failure to command the demons not to harm Emily or anyone present. Otherwise he was authoritative in his speaking, and most importantly he spoke by the power and with the name of Jesus Christ. The authority of Christ forced the demons inside of Emily to submit to Father Moore’s requests. It was immensely uplifting to hear my Savior’s name used in one of the powerful fashions it was meant for, rather than in immature and vulgar cursing.

In my opinion this film serves as a good example of the possible oppression associated with a demonic influence and how to handle the situation. Derrickson apparently did his homework, and that is refreshing in a world gone mad with gimmicks. The Exorcism of Emily Rose shows, albeit in dramatic fashion, how a true demonic attack can be manifested, and provides a fairly accurate exorcism based on Biblical principles.

So what do we do with it? First and foremost, it must be understood that our old adversary, the Devil, typically is much more subtle than an overt demonic possession like the one portrayed in this motion picture. A dramatic depiction of demonization makes for a great movie, but perhaps – pardon the pun – the Devil is in the details. A quick search of everyday life may reveal more regarding fleshly decisions polluted by sin than blatant demonic influence. Think of the Garden of Eden. Did Satan enter into Eve’s body and force her to eat of the forbidden fruit before shoving it into her partner’s mouth? Absolutely not! The Serpent tricked Adam and Eve through craftiness and subtly. Sin entered into the world through conscious decisions which were influenced by Satan, not through unconscious actions controlled by Satan. However, our society does need to be soberly aware of the power which God has allotted to Satan for a season. We must be educated and unafraid. We must be cautious, yet never curious.

And finally, society can benefit from this piece of artwork if questions regarding God and His existence are posed at the completion of a viewing. Albeit in a very faint fashion, the movie does point toward God, but it falls extremely short of taking advantage of directing the audience toward any concrete answers concerning God and His power.

In conclusion, this paper has given a brief description of the plot of the movie, analyzed the possession, and examined the exorcism from a Biblical standpoint. But I must submit that I am not totally for certain as to what usefulness this movie may have. Through my studies I have become interested in understanding the demonic, especially since I am a counselor in training, and this movie has - if nothing else - given me an accurate glimpse into a circumstance I have never witnessed. But as for its overall usefulness, all I can say is that it is important for a soldier to know his enemies.

By watching this movie and processing it through my theological grid, I feel that I have a better understanding of at least one of the enemies that the Bible claims can do me harm (the world being the second, and myself being the third). Perhaps it could serve others in the same way. In closing, I’ll leave you with a quote from D. L. Moody, for he said it best concerning this topic when he said, “The reason many Christians fail their whole lives is this: they underestimate the power of the enemy. We have a terrible enemy with whom we must fight. Don’t let Satan fool us, or else we will be dead! This is a war. Nearly everything that surrounds us will take us away from God. We don’t leap from Egypt to the throne of God in one jump. There is a desert, a journey, and enemies in the land.”

Up and Coming...

Just in case anyone happens upon my site, I am currently working on a critical review of the film "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." The critique will not only look at the film from a theologically sound standpoint, but it will also include some general research concerning the biblical practice of exorcism.

And as a secondary work on that subject, your humble theologian is also working on an essay concerning the "holiday" of Halloween.

Stay tuned and feel free to give me your own personal opinions/beliefs regarding these subjects before I publish my work.

A Divine Illustration

I love animals, so when my wife and I got married she knew it was only a matter of time before I had her talked into a pet of some sort. Four months after saying "I do," we made a trip down to the local animal shelter to pick out the next addition to our family. And that weekend our feline companion, Lambeau, came to live with us in our Austin apartment. He was only a few weeks old, cute as could be, and easily loved. Drawn to the smell of my wife's hair, we would often times wake up with his cute little face dreaming away on our pillows.

But Lambeau was not the perfect little kitten. He had extremely sharp claws (on enormous paws), and an insatiable urge to bite the hands that caressed his fur. After many attempts with a water bottle, newspaper, tap on the nose, etc, little Lambeau gave no indication that he would ever grow out of this phase. Two years later... he still bites the hand that feeds him. Only now he is full grown and weighs twenty pounds. Apparently, Lambeau is nearly a full blood Maine Coon. These cats grow to be incredibly large, have a playful disposition, and live long healthy lives. My wife is real excited that he is probably going to be with us for the next fifteen years!

Allow me to try and educate you on the habits of this cat. In the morning when we wake up, Lambeau is right at our feet, chirping away and loving on our legs. He follows us throughout the morning wherever we go and lays at our feet. This is the cat that I love. However, pretty soon Lambeau's disposition changes from a lovable purr to a ticked off howl as he begins to get demanding. So, I try to play with him... not interested. So, I give him some food. He eats a few bites and then comes right back to my feet demanding something else and biting my leg as I move to remind me of his presence. So, I try to pet him. Now my hand is scratched from those little knives in his mouth. At this point my wife is ready to kill him, and I am trying to keep him alive as he nips at the feet that protect his little pea sized brain.

So, what is God teaching me through this daily circus of a routine? For one I get a minute glimpse into how God must feel as I go about my day. Sure in the morning I am right at His feet in worship with a fabulous disposition about the opportunities of the day ahead, and yet before lunch I think not of the blessings and provision He showers upon me. At times I am even "biting the hand that feeds me" as I allow my anger or fear to control my attitude over our current financial situation. Forgetting that I have a lunch in the fridge and a roof over my head (not to mention that I am at Dallas Theological Seminary getting the best training in the world) I have the audacity to ask God what He was thinking when He allowed our car to break down to the point where we could no longer fix it. I ask Him, How in the world are we ever going to pay for this training?" as I look at our bank statement. And yet He has provided every single day of my 25 years on this earth.

Just like Lambeau does to me, every day I give God a reason to send a well positioned lightening bolt my way, but He doesn't. Just as Lambeau begs for food or comfort and then walks away when it is given, I too turn my back daily on what God has in store for me - but He still sends blessings my way. I cannot comprehend the patience it must take to deal with me on a daily basis, when I can barely deal with a cat that I am away from for the majority of each day.

My wife jokes and says that Lambeau has been sent by the Lord to punish us for being immature and consuming Christians, but even if that were the case, I welcome His divine illustration because it reminds me how I need to continually be aware of my relationship to my Maker.

"Are you alive?"

Let me tell you a story...

One night a man decided to venture down to a local coffee bar in Manchester, England, to reach out to the youth that frequented the establishment. A clean cut preacher and former Royal Marine, this man was not the stereotypical coffee bar regular. Coming up on the bar he could read the sign posted above the dark doorway. "The Cat's Whisker," it read, and it was a dreary little dive with hardly enough light to guide one's foot. Indeed upon entering the man nearly tripped over a young chap who was intertwined with his girlfriend on the floor.

Without much of a thought, the man immediately asked the young lad, "Are you alive?" With a rather startled expression on his face the boy turned to the gal he was entangled with, and repeated the odd stranger's question to her.

"He wants to know if I'm alive?" he said to the girl. "Well, are you?" she replied back in a dumbfounded manner. Turning back now to the strange inquisitor, who clearly was not a part of this cultural scene, he blurted out, "Of course I'm alive!"

Without hesitation the man prodded further, "Why are you alive?" Equally as stunned by the second question, the young man sat up with an incredibly puzzled look on his face.

"Must I have a reason?" he asked the newcomer.

Gradually the cultural outsider pointed out various inanimate objects throughout the room and asked the young lad if each had a reason for existence. Unable to locate a single object in the room that did not serve some purpose, the man again turned to the fellow, who had by now found his way to a chair, and asked, "Do you consider yourself of greater importance than these inanimate objects?"

Heartily, the young man replied, "Of course, I am a person."

"And yet you say that you do not have a reason for existing," the man replied. Silence...(At this point the conversation of the young lad and the stranger held the attention of the entire bar.)

After a short silence the young man stated, "I am alive because I was born and have not yet died."

"Did you have any control over your birth, though?" the stranger pondered.

"I suppose not," replied the lad, "in fact I guess you could say that I was an accident."

Continuing, the stranger stated, "And do you plan on having any say in how you die?"

"No, I can't say that I will. More than likely it will be an accident as well," answered the young fellow.

"So what I hear you saying is that you believe you were created by accident, and simply live your life until it accidentally ends?" the stranger clarified.

"Yeah, I guess so," finished the boy.

Turning now to the entire scene, the stranger stated, "Well, I don't believe that is the case," and he began to tell all of the youths present in the coffee bar the Good News of Jesus Christ, how it explained their existence, and how it gave them purpose. After he had finished and answered any and every question the young people had, the young man whom he had originally struck up a conversation with abruptly stood up and looked the stranger square in the eye.

"I don't think that you believe a single word of what you just spoke of!" he said to the man.

Taken aback the stranger inquired, "Why not?"

"Because what you just told us, if true, would be the greatest story of all time with more importance to our lives than anything else in the history of the universe. And if that truly were the case, you would have been down here long ago to tell us." With that the young man turned and walked out of The Cat's Whisker.

The stranger, as he says, has never recovered. This is a true story told to me straight from the mouth of the man who lived it. His name is Stuart Briscoe, and he and his wife Jill have made more of an impact on me in the few hours I heard them speak than they could ever imagine.

Lord, let me not keep your story all to myself. Help me to find "The Cat's Whisker" in my life, and give me the courage to run - not walk to it - for the glory of Your kingdom. Father, I pray for this blog, that it may be a fruitful forum where You are honored and where Your Spirit guides the writing, the discussions, and the questions. As tough issues and topics are discussed, help us to follow the writing of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, "...brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, [and] be patient with everyone."

Amen