This post stands as the third (and planned to be final) installment in a series of posts addressing questions I’ve been recently asked concerning demons and spiritual warfare. 

I struggle with the same sins as others in my family. Could demons cause this? Are there such things as “generational spirits or demons?”
The sinful behavior of one generation has effects on the next generation. This might be due to imitation or even to dispositions that make us vulnerable to the same sorts of temptations, but God holds us accountable for our own sin, not the sin of others. At times, people speak of a “generational curse” and connect it to some sort of demon/spirit that is present from generation to generation. While it is possible the same demon that is at work in one generation carries over to the next, this is not directly discussed in Scripture. In fact, Scripture calls for us to confront the sin we have in our lives and points out that Jesus can conquer (and has conquered) sin; therefore, we can be freed from  repeating the sins of previous generations. Ultimately, we all have a generational curse coming from Adam and Eve in that we are sinful. However, there is also the blessing given of the New and Greater Adam who frees us from the curse and brings the blessing of life eternal, made manifest in the Holy Spirit that fights against the flesh. 

Awful things have been happening to me since I moved to this property. Could it be cursed?
To answer this question, I think we have to look at what is meant by “cursed” and then what we see related to that idea in the Bible. People sometimes speak of “cursed” objects – typically meaning that somehow there is a demonic attachment to the object and the demons are causing harm to people. However, any curses in specific places in Scripture, such as Joshua 6:26, are the result of the judgment of God, not the word of any demonic spirits. In addition, we see demons afflicting particular people in the Bible, but not places or objects. People, not places or objects, are “demonized.” However, we do see a reference to particular demons residing in a particular territory. For instance, Daniel 10 speaks about a “prince of Persia” and a “prince of Greece” that would appear to be demonic spirits (some have noted that the demons in Mark 5:10 did not want to be pushed out of their particular territory). Of course, these references are to geographical areas much larger than a particular house. That said, it is plausible for demonic spirits to be concentrated in particular places, and thus could be found doing much work in a particular place. (Note that this would mean demons, not ghosts of the deceased are there; the deceased do not return to interact on the earth, but spirit beings do interact as we see in the Bible). However, we are not told how to discern or engage the forces in a particular place or are given any examples of people trying to expel demonic beings from particular places – whether a country or a home. Therefore, it seems the wisest course of action is to put on the armor of God, live a life that seeks after God and repels evil (drawing near to God and resisting the devil – see James 4:7-8), ask God to deliver you from the attacks of the evil one, and rebuke demons that may be at work in your life or the lives of others, regardless of where they came from.

I’ve been involved in activities such as martial arts and yoga – could this lead to demonizing?
Sometimes people question participating in martial arts or yoga because of roots in various ideas or mentalities that oppose the Christian faith. That said, many people who practice these things do so primarily for physical health without any regard to origins or spiritual teachings. Even references that may at one point have had a religious connotation in those areas no longer do. (An atheist may say “God bless you” when you sneeze because it is an expression – not because it is a theological statement.) Practically, I have viewed many things through the lens of meat sacrificed to idols that is discussed in 1 Corinthians 8-10. Paul said Christians could eat that meat since they know the idol is not anything, but if one feels like they should not (or those who are still struggling with the idea of idols could be misled), then they should refrain. Similarly, if one is able to do those things without any sort of concerns or a pull to unbiblical ideas, it is probably fine; however, if it is in any way pulling one towards other spirits, one should stop.

Is it okay to see movies that have a demonic storyline?
1 Corinthians 10:23 says “‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up.” While it appears Paul is dealing with a popular saying going around in Corinth, it seems to apply to this issue as well. While it may be lawful and okay to watch these sorts of movies, we may need to consider whether it is helpful to our faith. Is it causing you to consider and think about things that draw you away from God or give you ideas not found in the Bible? At the same time, if you have watched someone (or find themselves unexpectedly watching something), you should not feel immediate guilt that you have done a horrible wrong. It is about wisdom and seeking the things that will lead you closer to Christ.

What does Halloween truly promote and should I engage with it?
The name Halloween is of Christian origin (All Hallows Eve), but many trace the roots of the day to pagan festival and holidays, with Christians celebrating it as a holiday at the same time and maybe even adopting various customs (one can argue whether that means they were seeking to redeem things in the world or whether it was a church assimilating into the world). It is certainly a day in which there is much celebration and promotion of evil and demonic forces. That said, it may also be the only day in a year in which your neighbors ring your doorbell and it is okay for you to stop by their house! Many Christians think they can celebrate various elements of Halloween in a way that is not connected to or promoting evil, and focus on it as a day to engage the community. Once again, it would seem to be an issue of wisdom in terms of what one’s conscience allows for them to do. We should prayerfully consider not just what we can/cannot do (or should/should not do), but look at what is the wisest and best way to use our time and resources.

Have a Question That Wasn’t Answered?
If you have questions that you didn’t not see addressed in this post, I would direct you to check the first and second posts in which I answered other questions. If you don’t see your question in any of these three posts, please send them to me – I’ll either send a reply to you and/or return to the topic in future blog posts.

Questions about the Bible or theology? Email them to Pastor Brian at Theology@WeAreFaith.org. You can also request to receive weekly emails with our blog posts by filling out the information on the right side.