Can certain objects be possessed by demonic forces? Do I as
a Christian have to be careful of such objects? Can ‘cursed
objects’ cause me spiritual problems? What about ‘cursed
objects’ I don’t even know about in my home or work? Should I
search my home for objects that might be causing me spiritual
problems?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
Much of contemporary Christianity believes that certain objects
or people are very ‘linked’ to the demonic realm in some way.
According to this belief, contact with these people or objects
(even casual or unknowing) can invite disaster into your life.
They will become a ‘curse’ to you. If you involve yourself with
these people or these objects, you are inviting demonic activity
into your life.
BIBLICAL BASIS?
Contrary to contemporary thought, there are very few references
to ‘cursed objects’ in the Bible.
Probably the most well-known incident of ‘cursed items’ is in the
story of Achan in Joshua 6-7. The Israelites were dealing with
their first conquest of the Promised Land, Jericho, heading for
Ai next. A single Israelite (Achan) disobeyed God’s command to
not take anything from Jericho as plunder (6:17-19; 7:1, 11-12,
20-21). Achan had lusted after Jericho’s wealth, even though
God said it was ‘accursed,’ and not to touch it: the money
and valuable vessels were to go into the Lord’s treasury, and
everything else was to be destroyed. Achan brought a cursing on
Israel (7:12), but that cursing came from God. Was this stuff
in Jericho ‘accursed’ before God said it was, or only because
God said it was? Was it accursed because it had all been used
in some pagan religious worship? If so, why would God let the
Israelites have all the plunder from subsequent conquests?
God was asking for the first-fruits of their invasion of the
Promised Land, and Achan’s greed brought God’s curse on himself,
his family, and all Israel.
Before this incident with Achan, in Deuteronomy 7:23-26, the
wandering Israelites are given instructions for when they were
to finally conquer the Promised Land. "O Israelites," He says,
"when you start conquering the land, don’t take any of their
idols into your house, or lust after the gold or silver of
the idols, because you will become cursed like the idols,"
(paraphrase). God is the One mentioned in counting those
things cursed.
In Deuteronomy 13:12-18, the Israelites are given instructions
for when they were to settle the Promised Land. If a city in
the new nation at some point turned their backs on God, the
rest of Israel was to destroy that city, and not take any of
that city’s stuff – it was accursed (by Who? God!).
* In Deuteronomy 7, would they be cursed because the land and
everything in it was cursed for destruction? Thus, like
Joshua 6-7, the curse on the Israelite would be from
disobedience?
* Would the Israelites be coming into their new homeland and
taking these idols as ‘good luck charms’ or in honor to
these gods?
- They would be cursed there because they were believing
these false gods, and would be wandering away from the
one true God.
* They were liking it and wanting the things they saw in the
Promised Land, but why?
- For religious purposes?
- For artistic qualities (though they weren’t supposed to
be like the Canaanite world)?
- For financial gain, trusting in their own abilities
rather than God’s promises to provide?
Whatever the case, it seems like it is God that is bringing about
the cursing and blessing, not some demonic, mysterious object.
OTHER REFERENCES TO A CURSING:
In Deuteronomy 28:15, 20, God warns of a progressively severe
cursing on the Israelite nation for disobedience (also, a
progressively abundant blessing on the nation for obedience).
At times in the Old Testament, God talks about ‘having given up’
Israel unto this curse for their disobedience. Note, however,
that it is God doing the cursing, and God giving up to this
curse.
Numbers 22-24: Balak hires Balaam to bring a curse on the
wandering nation of Israel. Balaam wasn’t able to curse whom
God had not cursed (23:8). Instead of cursing, all Balaam was
able to do was bless Israel
God is the One bringing effectual curses and blessings to those
who curse or bless Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel, etc. "I will
bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you," He
promised to Abraham and his offspring.
In the New Testament, Paul talks to the Corinthians about eating
meat sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1). He tells
them not to do it, but not because if they do, demons will enter
and control them. The reason he gives is so that they wouldn’t
offend another’s conscience. Paul isn’t worried about the
‘incredible controlling power’ of demons here, but the offended
conscience of another. He even says that it’s not that big of
a deal to eat this meat that has been devoted to false deities
if they didn’t know where it was from. This perspective is
very different than that espoused by some in contemporary
Christianity.
THE CHRISTIAN DOES NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ‘CURSED OBJECTS’!
* Christ’s encounters with the demonic realm in the Gospels
were not to show how powerful the demons were, but to show
how powerless they were. Still they are powerless except as
permitted by God. Satan doesn’t have random power that God
can’t control.
CAN WE OPEN OURSELVES UP TO DEMONIC HARASSMENT THROUGH CERTAIN
THINGS WE HAVE?
* YES...do we have these things ‘just in case’ God’s power
doesn’t work? For good luck? For protection? For blessing?
* YES...do we ‘lend credence’ to the enemy by believing certain
things have good or bad power? Do we give him opportunity
or a foothold by believing his lies?
* Are we putting something else as MORE IMPORTANT or MORE TO
BE BELIEVED than God?
* ‘Giving the enemy a foothold or opportunity’ through belief
is different than ‘guaranteed demonic infestation and
control.’
I think we Christians believe in ‘cursed objects’ because we
don’t want to believe that our choices and our sins are the cause
of some of the bad stuff in our lives. That’s blame-shifting,
and it’s what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden in not
admitting their sin. We also don’t want to believe the clear
New Testament teaching that believers are going to go through
fiery trial; not everything is ‘peaches and cream’ for us, even
though we’re on God’s side now.
Copyright (c) 2005, Christian Darland
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