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Spiritual Warfare and the Occult

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Spiritual Warfare and the Occult et al.: Spiritual Warfare and the Occult Published by Digital Commons @ Andrews University, 2015 1 Journal of Adventist Mission Studies, Vol. 11 [2015], No. 2, Art. 17 The views and opinions expressed in these articles are solely those of the original authors and do not necessarily represent those of Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. All authors assume full responsibility for the accuracy of all facts and quotations. JAMS Journal of Adventist Mission Studies Vol. 11, No. 2, Fall 2015 ISSN: 1553-9881 Editor: Bruce L. Bauer Associate Editors: Cristian Dumitrescu, Wagner Kuhn, Lester Merklin Managing Editor: Andrew Tompkins Regional Editors: Kleber Gonçalves, Stefan Höschele, Sung Ik Kim, Barry Oliver, Kelvin Onongha, Jim Park, Olaotse Gabasiane Editorial address: JAMS, Dept. of World Mission, Berrien Springs, MI 49104-1565 Website address: www.jamsjournal.com Phone: 269.471.6505 Fax: 269.471.6202 Editorial e-mail: [email protected] Cover and Layout: Amy Rhodes Cover Photos: ©Cora Reed/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM, ©Photosani/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM JAMS is a peer reviewed journal, published in May and November by the International Fellowship of Adventist Mission Studies, Berrien Springs, MI 49104-1500 Copyright © 2005-2015 International Fellowship of Adventist Mission Studies i https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jams/vol11/iss2/17 2 et al.: Spiritual Warfare and the Occult CONTENTS Editorial iv Bruce L. Bauer Memoriam for Gottfried Oosterwal v–xii Practice of Magic and Occultism in the Old Testament: Presuppositions, Responses, and God’s Attitude 1 Jiří Moskala Demon Possession and Exorcism in the New Testament 17 Robert M. Johnston A Historical Survey of Healing and Exorcism 25 Cristian Dumitrescu Mental Illness and Demonization 45 L. Ann Hamel Social Dynamics and Occultic Practices 78 Boubakar Sanou Ellen White on Confrontation with Evil Spiritual Powers 95 Marc Coleman Animism, the Occult, and Mission 105 Gorden R. Doss A Biblical and Theological Foundation for a Seventh-day Adventist Practical Approach to Deliverance Ministry 115 Michée B. Badé Should Dialoguing with Demons Be Used as an Approach to Setting People Free from Evil Spirits? 139 Bruce L. Bauer Power Encounters: A Biblical and Missiological Foundation for Understanding Demonization and Exorcism from an Adventist Perspective 147 Abner Dizon and Maila Dizon ii Published by Digital Commons @ Andrews University, 2015 3 Journal of Adventist Mission Studies, Vol. 11 [2015], No. 2, Art. 17 Lessons from the Demoniac of Mark 5: The Storm on the Lake 161 Conrad Vine End-time Demonic Activities in the Book of Revelation 169 Ranko Stefanovic Fit for Purpose? The General Conference Secretariat and Seventh-day Adventist Mission in Historical Perspective 183 D. J. B. Trim The Development of Seventh-day Adventist Theology within an Asian Context 195 Michael W. Campbell iii https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jams/vol11/iss2/17 4 et al.: Spiritual Warfare and the Occult Copyright 2014© Editorial Within Adventist circles the topic of demonization and spiritual war- fare are rarely discussed. As I have taught mission topics I have often had doctoral students who have never had even one lecture on how to deal with the demonic. This is true in the West but also true in Africa and Asia where witchcraft and the occult are thought to be much more prevalent. However, in reality, demonization and the occult are equally present in all areas of the world, and especially in the West with its growing secularism and rejection of biblical Christianity. In response to this void in Adventist education and theological train- ing the Department of World Mission and the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University convened a conference on Spiritual Warfare and the Occult in Scripture, History, and Contemporary Society from September 24-26, 2015. This issue of JAMS contains most of the presentations from that conference. The conference had a good mix of biblical, historical, and practical presentations on the occult and spiritual warfare. The two articles by Cristian Dumitrescu and Ann Hamel detailing how the church related to demonization and the occult throughout its history adds important elements in attempting to understand the why and how of where the Adventist Church is at present as it relates to this important topic. Three articles deal with practical aspects of helping people find free- dom in Jesus. Michée Badé’s article offers many helpful suggestions to those struggling to know what to do when confronted with demoniza- tion, while Bruce Bauer’s article points out possible dangers in dialoguing with demons as part of the process of setting people free. Abner and Maila Dizon add additional principles in their article for those seeking to better understand how to deal with demonization. This issue of JAMS also has an excellent article by David Trim on the shifting roles and purpose of the Secretariat Department in the General Conference. It is especially interesting to note the emphasis on mission during the Daniels and Spicer era of leadership and then the change in subsequent years to an emphasis on record keeping and secretarial duties. It is also heartening to see the recent renewed emphasis on mission com- ing from that department at the General Conference under the leadership of G. T. Ng. Bruce Bauer, editor iv Published by Digital Commons @ Andrews University, 2015 5 Journal of Adventist Mission Studies, Vol. 11 [2015], No. 2, Art. 17 In Memoriam Gottfried Oosterwal v https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jams/vol11/iss2/17 6 et al.: Spiritual Warfare and the Occult Gottfried Oosterwal was born on Feb 8, 1930 in Rotterdam, the Neth- erlands. He was the third child to Hillebrand and Margarethe Oosterwal. His older siblings were Hilda and Siegfried. At a very young age he lost his older brother, Siegfried and became the big brother to his subsequent siblings, Siegfried and Elfriede. Gottfried often shared his memories of desperately wanting a new bi- cycle for his 8th birthday, but instead got a little brother (Siegfried). Not only did he get a baby brother instead of the bicycle he wanted, but he also had to share his bed with this new addition to the family in a tiny walk up flat on the Westerbeekstraat in Rotterdam. Gottfried and Siegfried’s bond as brothers grew tight through the years and to his death their affection for each other was very strong. He enjoyed music very much and was quick to join in song, always singing at the top of his lungs. In particular he liked to play the piano and started giving lessons to other children in the neighborhood as a teenager. Gottfried enjoyed a mean game of stickball at the intersection of the city streets in front of his home. Home base was the entrance to the corner store. As a youth, he was recognized by the curls of bright red hair, spar- kling blue eyes, and an infectious laugh. As he aged his bright red hair faded, but the sparkle in his blue eyes and his sense of humor were a con- stant to the end. Even with slurred speech from his stroke last Thursday he was joking with the doctor and teasing his nurse. Gottfried was a proud Dutchman. He was 10 years old when the Nazi’s invaded his homeland. He would beam with pride when he told stories how the Dutch marines defended the main bridge in Rotterdam for five days from the German paratroopers. Relinquishing the bridge only when the tanks rolled in and every one of them was shot. The war was difficult on Gottfried. He had scars on the back of his legs sustained when a train he was riding in with his father was bombed and they narrowly escaped the attack. As he and his father ran from the attack, shrapnel from the explosion lodged in the back of Gottfried’s legs. He was scarred emotionally from his father being taken away from the family and interned in a German labor camp. As the food ran out in Rotterdam, his mother arranged for him to be sent away to live on a farm in the German countryside. Knowing Gottfried, you can imagine he quickly realized he did not have an affinity for manual labor. Gottfried studied at Cambridge and obtained his PhD at the University of Utrecht. In 1957 he married Emilie Tilstra who was his wife for 41 years. In 1960 Gottfried and Emilie were blessed with a beautiful baby girl they named Waronne. In 1961, he and Emilie along with their 6 month old baby travelled months on a freighter to begin their missionary work in Papua New Guinea. In 1962 they welcomed their first baby boy to the jungles of New Guinea and named him Dantar for one of the native guides who accompanied Gottfried into the New Guinea bush. For 5 years, Gottfried vi Published by Digital Commons @ Andrews University, 2015 7 Journal of Adventist Mission Studies, Vol. 11 [2015], No. 2, Art. 17 travelled into the interiors of the island jungles, sharing the word of God and studying the customs of the tribes for the Dutch government. Tom Davis later wrote a book, The Island of Forgotten Men, which recounted many stories of nearly being eaten by cannibals, being stranded in a crocodile infested river when his dugout canoe capsized, and many other adventures. Gottfried retained many wonderful memories of his time there and wrote his doctoral thesis, “People of the Tor” in which he recounted his work there. He told his children that Oosterwal, or some version thereof, became a popular name in New Guinea in the mid-60s. In 1963, Gottfried and Millie were transferred to Philippine Union Col- lege in Calooga City where he taught and served as the Dean of Students for 5 years.
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