So, what am I dealing with? Then the verse in Mark how the man was healed by Jesus and in his right mind was interesting. I thought long and hard about this and I came to realize that there were many places in Scripture Jesus healing physical illness and sickness but nowhere does He heal people with mental disabilities and sicknesses. The man "in his right mind" informed me in this closer study that Jesus did indeed cure mental sickness and disabilities right here in Mark 5 (and other places.) So, having said all this I hold until the Lord informs my belief to go in another direction that "demons" and "devils" and "evil spirits" are attitudes in mankind.
Really? You think that the healing of the man (men) in Mark 5 (cf. Matt 8 and Luke 8) was a healing of mental illness? There are several significant problems with such a position.
First, Mark (and Luke) state that the man had an "unclean spirit." Second, he was able to break chains and shackles. Third, he knew who Jesus was--"Son of the Most High God." Fourth, the name of the unclean spirit was "Legion." Why? Because "we are many." They "begged [Jesus] earnestly not to send them out of the country." Rather, "they begged him, saying, 'Send us into the pigs; let us enter them." The result was that they entered the pigs, which then drowned in the sea.
Your position cannot account for any of those facts. First, we know that at least some mental illness is caused by chemical imbalance or traumatic experiences, particularly as a child or even in utero; it's physiological. Other mental illness is a state of mind that can be caused by current experiences. It would not only be strange that a mental illness would be called an "unclean spirit," it would be factually incorrect.
Second, mental illness can make someone violent, but it does not give them superhuman strength so that they can break chains and shackles. Third, mental illness does not give someone supernatural knowledge. We see in Mark 1:34 that Jesus "would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him." Compare that with what the people thought:
Fourth, mental illness being a physiological problem or a state of mind, it simply cannot be the case that it can be cast out, much less into a herd of pigs who then drown in the sea. The healing of mental illness would be no different than physical illness or deformity; it would simply result in a healed person. Jesus didn't cast leprosy or blindness onto pigs.
Beyond just that particular account, there are other problems your position cannot account for.
Mat 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.” (ESV)
Mat 12:22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.
Mat 12:23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”
Mat 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
Mat 12:25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
Mat 12:26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
Mat 12:27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
Mat 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (ESV)
How is it, if demons are actually mental illness, that they have a prince? What is "the prince of" mental illness, and why does it have the name Beelzebul? Why would Jesus then, based on such thoughts, start talking about a "kingdom divided against itself is laid waste? Why would he then talk of Satan's kingdom? Is there a kingdom of mental illness that has as its prince, Beelzebul?
Mat 12:43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.
Mat 12:44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.
Mat 12:45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.” (ESV)
Again, notice that this is an "unclean spirit," so claiming it is mental illness would make that statement factually incorrect. But how is it that Jesus could cast out mental illness, only to have the mental illness wander through "waterless places seeking rest," only to return and enter the person? Why does mental illness need a rest? Not only that, that mental illness brings seven more mental illness even more severe?
Sin doesn't only affect us physically, spiritually, eternally, emotionally, but also mentally.
Do I have all the answers? No, I don't. But I do know the Scripture says the angels that sinned are locked up and not loose on the planet.
And, yet, throughout Jesus's ministry we clearly see spiritual beings, known as demons and unclean spirits, possessing people, even to the point of causing physical issues and giving superhuman strength.
Posting and interacting here with others sharpens me because I am challenged to back up my holding and I do. But the theology of fallen angels in the Gentile Church today is so ingrained, and without biblical support, in their minds that no matter what I say which proves these things about 2 Peter 2:5, or Jude 1:6 doesn't matter to most everyone and that is troubling.
On the contrary, there is full biblical support for demons and their leader, also known as "the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan" (Rev 20:2), as I have shown.
Not to me, but when someone is so ingrained and indoctrinated in a certain belief-system it's difficult for the Holy Spirit to take them from glory to glory and grow them because they won't let go despite Scripture that contradicts their beliefs.
Yes, exactly.