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The House Swept Clean : a Biblically Balanced Pattern for the Diagnosis Concordia Seminary - Saint Louis Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary Other Student Publications Resources for Ministry 1-1-2002 The house swept clean : a biblically balanced pattern for the diagnosis, exorcism, and pastoral care of the victims of demonic possession Darrell Arthur McCulley Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.csl.edu/osp Part of the Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation McCulley, Darrell Arthur, "The house swept clean : a biblically balanced pattern for the diagnosis, exorcism, and pastoral care of the victims of demonic possession" (2002). Other Student Publications. 1. https://scholar.csl.edu/osp/1 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Resources for Ministry at Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary. It has been accepted for inclusion in Other Student Publications by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The House SweptA biblically balanced Clean pattern for the THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE, CHAPTER 10, VV 17-20: The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons diagnosis, exorcism, and pastoral care submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like of the victims of demonic possession lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit (NIV) ©2002 by Darrell Arthur McCulley to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” All rights reserved. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE, CHAPTER 11, VV 24-26: When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, “I will return to the Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing house I left.” When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put House. All rights reserved. in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. (NIV) The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society. Acknowledgments (Assuming that Jesus goes without saying): TABLE OF CONTENTS I’m told it’s amateurish and bad form to thank too many people. So, Preface ..............................................6 characteristically, here goes: Mom, Dad, Grandma . too much to say. I love you. Aunt Lucille, Uncle Doyle, Cousins too numerous to bind into one book. Granny, sorry I’m taking so PART I: THE THEOLOGY OF long to get up there to Heaven with you, but thanks for waiting. My brother Louis EXORCISM AND DEMONOLOGY ......................9 Arredondo. Every time I look at you, I see Him. My best friends Steve and Frank, Swept Clean and Put in Order .............................. 10 Sarah E, and my little brothers Daniel D, Chris T, Mark J, and Joel W. You too, Catholicism’s Shortcomings ............................... 12 Meesh. For an only child, God sure gave me lots of brothers & sisters. Protestantism’s Shortcomings .............................. 14 Emmanuel Lutheran Church (my earthly home in Christ), B’Nai Yeshua Shortcomings of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod .......... 16 Messianic Synagogue, both of Fresno, and Shepherd of the Sierra in Coarsegold, The Theology of Possession ............................... 19 CA; without whose prayers, support, and encouragement I’d be nowhere. Pastor Demonic Affliction and “Supernatural” Healing ............... 20 Barrie & Pat Henke, Linda Bradford, Mat & Eric Y, Evan G, Tyler W & their The Systematic Theology of Demonology and Possession ........ 22 families and all the people at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Edmond, OK. The best year The Definition of “Possession” ............................. 22 of my life. I miss all of you, especially the “Vicar’s Minions.” The Lutheran Understanding .............................. 23 Jon & Christina, Brian I, Cory R, Darin B, Paul B, Chris & Karen, Stewart The Origin of Angels and Demons .......................... 29 & Betsy, Brian & Janelle, Dave & Lynette, JR & Susan, Steve & Sharon, Chris & The Appearance of Angels and Demons ...................... 30 James and their families, and all my other dear friends whom I could spend a The Capabilities of Angels and Demons ..................... 30 lifetime, maybe more, thanking for various things. Jon Michael & Abra, first to Division of Labor Among Spirits ........................... 31 push me to where I needed to be. Chris Halbert & James Zang, without whom I Theology of Angels ...................................... 33 might have finished this before I died. Peter List, there when I needed good advice. Theology of Demons ..................................... 36 Mark & Stef, miss you every day–thanks for the help & encouragement. The The Theology of Satan ................................... 42 Concordia Seminary graduating class of 2001 who helped and encouraged me; I Satan’s Place Now ...................................... 46 can’t hope to do in a lifetime what you do for real people every day. Kevin Jud, The Theology of Humans and Their Proper Place .............. 47 who kept me from hanging myself more times than I can count. Individuality and Corporate Identity Among Spirits ............. 49 Dr. Voelz, for encouraging me to write this book. Dr. Lessing and Dr. The Possibility of Multi-Presence ........................... 51 Weise, for believing that this work needed to be done, and for being very Hauntings and Apparitions ................................ 52 supportive during its writing. Dr. Feuerhahn, Dr. Saleska, Dr. Nielsen, for letting Degrees of Demonic Assault and Types of Possession ........... 54 me hang myself, but never quite fatally. Dr. Paul Schrieber, who told me to carve Summary .............................................. 58 my own niche. (Carving the niche isn’t always easy or fun, but every so often there are moments . .) Dr. Louis Brighton, Son of Encouragement, never afraid to teach PART II: THE DIAGNOSIS OF GENUINE the hard stuff. Rev & Marilyn Rossow, the first prof to treat me like a colleague, CASES OF DEMONIC POSSESSION ....................60 which is even more proof that I could never be your equal. Determining Those at High Risk for Demonic Possession ........ 61 To you-know-who. Ha ha. The Diagnosis of Genuine Cases of Possession ................ 65 And finally, Dave, Willa, Sam, Luke and Tim Bass. Eternity is not enough Symptoms of Demonic Possession .......................... 69 to say thank you. But I’ll sure give it a shot. Observation ............................................ 74 Religious Provocation .................................... 75 The Interview .......................................... 77 Making The Final Decision ................................ 78 Pre-Exorcism Counseling ................................. 80 4 PART III: EXORCISMS AND LITURGIES ................83 PREFACE Types of Exorcism ....................................... 84 The Use of Consecrata (Sanctified Objects) ................... 86 Preface Items & Equipment Needed for an Exorcism ................... 92 This was a difficult project to undertake for a number of reasons. First of Layman’s Prayer for Intervention ...........................95 all, for various reasons it became expeditious to self-publish, and that is a bit of a Why Use a Liturgy? ...................................... 96 nightmare. Second, there is little in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to which it may be compared. Thus, any doctrinal comparison to pre-existing teachings PART IV: PASTORAL CARE .........................100 might be problematic in some places. Third, my biggest fear is that this work would be seen as an accusation or an indictment of the LC–MS. It is not intended as such. Involvement of Family, Friends, and Congregation .............101 Any hyperbolic moments herein are not to point a finger of blame, but to call for Law and Gospel ........................................ 102 discussion. Fourth and most importantly, this is a subject that makes people Post-Exorcism Considerations .............................105 uncomfortable. Summary .............................................107 In this book there are a lot of strange things. I myself greeted some of them with skepticism and incredulity when I first heard them. In fact, there are CONCLUSION .....................................109 even a few things in here (particularly in the use of consecrated objects) which I set out specifically to debunk. My theory was that these things are mere superstition. APPENDICES ......................................113 But as has been said, “a ‘theory’ is a nice little idea ganged up on by a brutal bunch of facts.” In some cases, that’s what happened. As an orthodox Protestant The Exorcism Liturgies ..................................113 Confessional Lutheran, there was a lot in here that assaulted my sensibilities. Reference Lists ......................................... 127 Unfortunately, it turns out that there are things I just didn’t know. I hate it when
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