You Have a Place at Grace - 6/22/2025

“What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” Luke 8:28

It’s a question I’ve heard more than once: “can Christians be demon possessed?” After a trip to Madagascar during my seminary days, this question was posed by a friend of mine via email to a group of pastors and the responses differed between the American and Malagasy pastors in fellowship with the LC-MS. The American pastor said “no,” the Malagasy, “yes.” I found this interesting. During my short stint in Madagascar, it was evident exorcisms and demonic possession were serious and common things, whereas in the states, not so much.

Did backgrounds and environments shape theological responses to the question? Perhaps. For the baptized believer having the Holy Spirit it’s impossible simultaneously to be possessed by the demons as we live in the realm of Christ Who has conquered sin, death, and the devil. And no faithful Lutheran pastor can deny the fruits of Baptism, the power of God’s Name, and the life of faith making one in the Body of the living Christ.  If this possession results in the demons ruling, then this answer stands. You’re in Christ, possessed by Him, not the devil and his legions. However, none of this negates the evil attacks Christians face by the devil and his demons which can be furious. The baptized believer battles what Paul says are principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph.6:12). In these battles many lines get blurred. Temptations are powerful, sin hurts, and more than once even a fervent saint can sense the pangs of hell as they struggle and fall in vice while still crying for help. I propose this was the understanding of the Malagasy pastors to the question—the “possession” of the demons are those furious attacks when they seize the Christian Who survives by the Spirit of God in Christ.

It's interesting in the Gospel lesson today (Luke 8:26-39) the man with demons meets Jesus (8:27). He then cries and falls down, which can be postures of worship. Why did the man go to Jesus instead of fleeing? And verse 28: is this the demon speaking or could it still be the man? There’re some subtle hints he was seeking help while in the battle for his very life. Certainly, after the exorcism, his faith shines as he begs to be with Jesus. He didn’t just take a miracle and run. He wanted to be with the Lord and carries out Jesus’ command to “tell what great things God has done for you.”

Wherever we fall on some of these questions, we know enough to have peace when evil strikes. Ultimately, this text teaches us about the Victor over the enemies, Jesus Who comes to save sinners. The exorcism here, though great, was a precursor to what was coming, when Jesus would ascend to the cross and the ruler of this world would at last be “cast out” (John 12:31).

-By Rev. Ryan J. Ogrodowicz, “You Have a Place at Grace,” June 22nd 2025

Grace Lutheran Church - Brenham, Texas

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod