fcaministers 
Richard Gallagher, a board-certified psychiatrist and a professor of clinical psychiatry at New York Medical College, sees room for both medical and spiritual explanations for bizarre supernatural encounters. In a recent Washington Post article he links his experiences as a medical doctor with the reality of the spiritual world.
Gallagher writes as a scientist as well as a believing Catholic. Read about his experiences and then tell us what you think. Do you agree with his conclusions? Have you encountered similar situations as he has? Read the article and then return to this page to weigh in with your own comments.
Read the article by clicking here.
I agree with the doctor. The spiritual realm and spiritual (demonic) beings are a reality. Jesus dealt with demons/fallen angels in his time. Spirits don’t die nor is their affliction on people effectively dealt with through any physical, mental, or psychological treatment. Medicine and therapy is not the spiritual answer. The presence of evil spirits are attracted to, active in and through various human activities. The Bible clearly speaks about demonic activity, divination, sorcery, and evil worship to say the least. The presence of evil spirits, as well as, the practice of evil is alive and active today as it was in Jesus’s time. Spiritual warfare whether it’s fought over nations or individuals also remains the same today. Yet as we know, to some degree, over time and the advancement of society evil can appear, be defined, and practiced differently by people.
I’ve will share two experiences I had dealing with the demonic activity spirit’s can have on and in people. I will speak briefly and direct to keep this short but factual on my experience with the reality of demonic activity and spiritual warfare.
One was when I was a college student at Christian Life College. I was asked by a woman to accompany her to a correctional facility to minister to the incarcerated. I accepted. When we arrived she was not allowed in because she was wearing shorts so I went in alone. I was given time to sit with a young man. He was not only a member of the Latin Kings gang who had members there, but also a Satan worshiper. Over several visits of counsel, scripture, and prayer: I learned he would cut himself to get the devil to move on his behalf. After some time, the Lord had brought him to a place where he wanted out and he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. During my next visit I learned that the members of the Latin Kings vowed to do him harm for leaving the group. We prayed. The next visit, I learned that the Lord had put those threatening member(s) in solitary confinement. And by the time they would be released from that confinement this young man would have reached his release from that facility to go home.
The second experience was when I was a pastor on staff at Living Hope Church. I volunteered to respond to a woman’s request for a pastor to come and bless her home. The blessing of her home turned into a housecleaning. This home was occupied by a mother and her teenage daughter. When I arrived, we sat and talked. I asked questions and shared Christ and Scripture. In the midst of this I learned that the daughter was deeply involved in witchcraft and satanic worship. As my talk became more focused on Jesus the daughter fell to the floor and her body, arms, and hands began to twist and contort. I also heard noise that sounded like the bones in her back were cracking. I moved over to her and began praying and speaking to her of Jesus Christ and her need for him. I received a struggling faint positive acknowledgment from her and began to scripturally pray Christ’s presence and authority. Her body soon loosened up and she laid there peacefully. I got up and sat with her mother to give understanding, peace, and assurance of Christ’s presence…. When the daughter revived, she got up and we all sat and talked…. I counseled them to break the relationships and avoid any communication with the other witches and satanic worship members she associated with. We walked through the house and I got rid of every item associated to her practice and took them outside to the dumpster – smashed. After praying for them, we walked from room to room praying and setting them aside for the Lord’s glory. I got her involved with our youth group and made connections for her with our youth pastor.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:11-17
“In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Rom. 8:37
I would be very surprised to find that any Bible believing Christian, particularly a Spirit filled Christian, would question the reality of demonic possession, oppression and general influence upon humanity. Neither elect nor fallen angels die, and surely satan has not changed his ways. There are definitely organic brain disorders that result in mental illness. There is also mental illness caused by demonic possession and/or oppression. Then there are combinations. If a person is already biologically predisposed toward mental illness, then satan will target him/her in that area. He seeks to exploit every possible weakness in order to gain access to a person’s mind, and if he can, to their will also. This is not just the case with mental illness. This is his strategy with all mankind.