back:: |
|
HAUNTED?
Recognized and Remove Evil From Your Life |
|
|
Evil
is for real. (Ephesians 6:12) The supernatural world is as real as the real
world that surround us, and both interplay and intersect with each other's
in various ways. We need to accept the possibility that some events in our
lives can be caused by the work of the enemy. |
In saying that, however, we warn people against
going to the extreme of blaming all the bad things happening to their lives
as coming from the devil. This is preposterous. We glorify the devil if
we do this. He doesn't have that much power! |
|
Traditional
Catholic teaching says that we have three enemies: The World, The Flesh,
and the Devil. Evil can therefore be caused not only by spirits, but also
by the sinful structures of society (the world) and by our own sinful human
nature (the flesh). |
It
is important that we recognize this. If we keep on blaming the devil for
everything, we abdicate our personal responsibility. The truth is that many
of the bad things happening to our lives are caused by our personal sin.
Prayers for deliverance or "casting out evil spirits" is very good, but
many times, what is most needed is repentance. |
This
in fact is most important weapon of spiritual warfare-not exorcism or deliverance.
Repentance and sanctity are out greatest spiritual weapons! When we think
of evil, we automatically think of devils, demons, evil spirits, and whatever
we watch in horror movies. But the deadlier evil is the ordinary sins
we commit! With the demons, devils, and evil spirits, at least we're
afraid to touch them. But we're not afraid to touch a Playboy magazine,
a bribe of one hundred thousand pesos, or listen to juicy gossip against
our neighbor. But those things are evil as well. |
KERYGMA
wishes to help people who feel that their lives are haunted, oppressed,
bothered, pestered by evil influences. Many times, the don't know why this
is happening to them. |
If
you feel that there is an evil influence that is haunting or oppressing
your life, ask the following questions: |
|
1. IS THERE A SIN IN MY LIFE? |
|
|
Sin
opens up your life to evil more than anything else in the world. We
reap what we sow in our lives (Matthew 7:17). Pride breeds conflicts
and broken relationships. Lust, pre-marital sex, and adultery destroy
our future, our marriages and families. Greed produces discontent
and wars. After all, when God gave us the Ten Commandments, He didn't
give them just because He was a big killjoy! God gave them to us out
of His love, because He doesn't want us to suffer the terrible consequences
of sin. |
|
We
recommend that you go through an examination of conscience. Speak
with a spiritual director-a saintly priest or nun-to assist you. Ask
for the Holy Spirit to convict you of any sin that you are committing. |
|
|
2. IS THERE HATRED AND RESENTMENT IN
MY HEART |
|
|
Scripture
is very clear: God will not forgive us if we don't know how to forgive
others (Matthew 6:15). And if God cannot forgive us, how can His other
blessing flow as well? |
|
When
we hold on to our anger towards someone, we actually punish ourselves
much more that the person we hate. |
|
If
this is true in your case, we recommend that you go to prayer and
seek for the grace of forgiveness. Ask others to pray for you, and
release the resentment from your heart. |
|
|
3. AM I INHERITING THE SINS OF MY FATHERS? |
|
|
If
an obvious sin, such as adultery, has been present in our families,
even spanning across many generations (Exodus 20:5), you may need
to break the bondage through a prayer of deliverance. First of all,
deepen your relationship with the Lord-and invite your family closer
to Jesus. This is the most important step. Second, repent of the sin
that is present in your family. Cast it out and break the bondage
in the name of Jesus. |
|
Seek
for priests or lay leaders who are familiar with the prayers of healing
the family tree. |
|
|
4. HAS A WITCH INFLICTED A CURSE ON
ME? |
|
|
Don't
laugh. This is no longer very common in urban areas like Manila, but
we find it quite familiar in the provinces. Especially in far-flung
barrios, we have experiences of people falling ill, only to discover
that a mangkukulam inflicted a curse on them. |
|
The
spiritual solution to this spiritual problem is simple: bring the
person into a personal relationship with Jesus, covering him with
the presence and blood of Christ. Go to the Sacraments and receive
the grace that only Sacraments can give. And finally, with the help
of the prayers of other people, cast out the evil spirit that is inflicting
harm on the person. It works, every time. Because God is greater than
the enemy. |
|
|
5. DID I DABBLE WITH THE OCCULT AND
OTHER UNORTHODOX PRACTICES? |
|
|
Occult
practices abound today and we may have opened up our lives in any
way to the devil. Check whether your parents or relatives dabbled
in them as well. Satan worship, witchcraft, all sorts of anting-anting
(amulets), mangkukulam. We do not believe either in feng
shui, sastrology and horoscope, etc. because we trust God to care
for us. We should be very careful with espiritistas (mediums)
and faith healers. We strongly recommend that if you are to seek for
healing from God, why not do it where Jesus is present in both Body
and Spirit-in the Eucharist? Seek also healing in the Catholic Charismatic
prayer meetings where prayers for healing are done-or through Marian
devotions as approved by the Catholic Church. |
|
We
also recommend that homes or places where occult activities were done
in the past to be blessed and exorcism prayers be done. Have faith
that God is greater than the enemy. History will attest that many
ancient churches were built upon ancient pagan temples. God overcomes
evil! |
|
|
ON
QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES |
|
In
KERYGMA, we take the conservative side, the more orthodox position of the
Church. As an example, we do not even recommend pranic healing or the enneagram,
though we are aware that many priests and nuns teach these methods. We ask
you to study carefully the pros and cons of the issue before you jump into
them. Our position with these practices has always been simple: "If in doubt,
don't." We'd rather stick to the more common path of healing and sanctity
traditionally taught by the Catholic Church: the Holy Mass, Confession,
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary and
the Communion of Saints, Exorcism prayers, Deliverance prayers, Spiritual
Direction, spiritual counseling, etc. We'd rather not reinvent the wheel. |
|
Centering
prayer has been under attack by some leaders who feel that it is simply
a Christianized version of Transcendental Meditation ( TM )-a Hindu form
of prayer. But centering prayer takes many forms, and those forms that draw
nearer to TM, we discourage. But we subscribe to those forms that draw nearer
to "contemplation" as defined by St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the
Cross. Again, our conservatism shows up here. |
|
A few Charismatic
leaders have also practiced the "cleansing" of homes from Buddha statues,
jars with dragons, etc., because the may have a connection to evil spirits. |
|
What is our stand?
Sometimes, a devil paranoia is stirred up in people if we aren't careful-and
this isn't good. Suddenly, they see a demon behind every odd-looking jar
and décor that comes from Thailand or Singapore or China or Africa. But
devil-paranoia doesn't glorify God but glorifies the devil. In 1 Corinthians
8, St. Paul didn't have devil paranoia when he addressed the problem of
Christians eating the food offered to idols. He allowed them to eat it!
But he cautioned that some Christians may have "weak faith" and so many
not be able to eat it-nor should we do so in front of them as we may causes
them to stumble. |
|
We ask you to pray
and check your belief and search your heart. Do you keep these Buddha statues
as a good luck charm? Then discard them because your trust in God's love
will make all good luck charm unnecessary. But if they are there in the
same way that Vatican museum in Rome collects the many gifts that countries
have given the Church-as an artistic collection and nothing more-then search
your heart. Are you bothered by their presence in your home? If not, then
praise the Lord-you believe in God reigns over everything in your home.
If bothered by them, then do something about it. Either you bless them with
holy water, invite a priest to exorcise these objects, or simply discard
them. Borrowing the words of St. Paul, do you have a "strong faith" or "weak
faith" in the matter? |
|
What follows next
are stories of people who testify to how God delivered them from the "evil"
that has haunted them. |
|
|
|
We need to be warned
about certain "games" and what others may call "harmless recreation" as
spiritually dangerous. According to Dr. Neil Anderson from his book, THE
SEDUCTION OF OUR CHILDREN, here are a few things we should avoid for our
own safety: |
|
Astrals Projection |
|
Supposedly an out-of-body experience, but it's simply a mind
trip. In reality, we only separate once from our body, and that is in our
death. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) Any other "soul trip" can be merely deception
of the enemy. |
|
Fortune Telling |
|
We are never consult people who claim to know the future through
divination-through tarot cards, crystal balls, palm reading etc. Leviticus
19:31; 20:6; and 20:27 tells us not to consult mediums or spiritists. Rather,
we should trust God for our future! |
|
Astrology |
|
We are not influenced by the order of the celestial bodies
during the time we were born! But alas, more people pathetic, because horoscope
is based on chance, but the Bible is God's Word for our lives-and eternity. |
|
Dungeons and Dragons |
|
This is a habit-forming fantasy game of death and the underworld.
According to a survey, 43% of the students who have played this game reported
impulsive thoughts to kill as opposed to only 16% percent among students
who haven't played the game. |
|
Crystal and Pyramids |
|
Among shaman groups, natural crystals are power objects. Crystal
and pyramids are associated with the New Age movement and should be avoided. |
|
Ouija boards |
|
Tell your children are isn't like Monopoly or any other board
game. It can usher them to the harmful world evil spirits. If the game works,
then the players have tapped into the demonic. |
|
Automatic writing |
|
This is a practiced by spiritual mediums who enter into a
trance and then write down her impressions. |
|
Spirit guides |
|
Dr. Neil Anderson and many Christian leaders believe that
they are nothing more than demons in disguise. New Age groups encourage
people to have one through imagery, and though they may seem to be "helpful"
at first, they wreck havoc in your life. |
|
Heavy metal music |
|
Dea Lucas, a high priestess in the church of Satan in Van
Nuys, California claims that heavy metal is a prime recruiting tool for
their church. She says, "Heavy metal groups are influencing the kids to
come to Satan! The groups are into Satanism even though they may deny it.
Just by listening to the lyrics, being a satanist myself, I can read between
lines." |
|
Video Games with Occultic Influence |
|
Though not bad by themselves, some games draw the curiosity
of kids into the New Age and the occult world: Hero's Quest, Phantasie,
Wizard Crown, The Secret of the Silver blade, Dragon, Castlevania, Altered
Beast. Better yet, screen the games that your children are playing with. |
|
source:
KERYGMA catholic magazine |
|
|
|
back:: |
|