Recently, I became interested in horror films, especially those concerning demons and paranormal activity. It started in 2023 when my mom had me watch Julius Avery’s The Pope’s Exorcist. While I enjoyed the movie, my initial thoughts were that this movie is just Hollywood’s understanding of exorcisms and the demonic. Surely there are no real cases of people climbing walls, and possessions matching the artistic representations Hollywood uses in the movies. However, as I thought about what the Bible says about possessions and exorcisms, I realized movie depictions of demonic possession are more accurate to Scripture than I first assumed.
Thankfully, Christians are equipped with ways to handle possessions, the demonic, Satan, and spiritual warfare.
Christians, especially Protestants, have become numb to the reality that possessions still occur today. The demonic has become a genre of horror and entertainment instead of the spiritual warfare Christians are engaged in every day. Realizing that my knowledge and preparation to deal with the paranormal was limited, I began a deep dive into what the Bible says concerning false gods, demons, and how Christians are supposed to handle such matters. Ultimately, what I came up with was that people can be and are still possessed today. Thankfully, Christians are equipped with ways to handle possessions, the demonic, Satan, and spiritual warfare.
While my mom enjoys the occasional horror movie, she is not a fan of my research into the demonic. My mom believes these movies and my research are bringing demons into our house. However, my argument is that even though I enjoy paranormal horror movies and shows, I am not participating in these practices. I understand the reality of spiritual warfare, demons, possessions, the occult, and Satan. I am doing my research using the Bible and not the internet or movies. I analyze movies, TV shows, books, and podcasts using a biblical framework. I do not pursue these things out of mere curiosity, as we are commanded to not seek such things out, but I enjoy studying them and I am prepared for the day that something comes my way (Luke 10:20; Eph. 6:10-18; 1 Peter 5:8).
In these movies and shows, Hollywood wants us to believe that levitating children and possessed dolls, like Annabelle depicted in The Conjuring movies, are exaggerated nonfiction. After all, how does a mirror create so much chaos in a home where teens are choking on glass they never swallowed and grandparents mysteriously and inexplicably die? We are meant to believe these are merely ghost stories, but there are fascinating reports in the Bible of men with supernatural strength, children who can tell the future, and gods requiring children to be sacrificed. Hollywood’s depiction of demons, Satan, and false gods are actually accurate instead of exaggerated.
The goal of these demons is to destroy humanity because of our connection to God through Jesus and through our creation in God’s image.
In Mark 5:1-20, Jesus comes face to face with a possessed man who had been ostracized by the city. The Bible tells us this man had incredible strength, “And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces.” The only way this man could have such strength is from the demon possessing him. The demon causes this man to do things he would never do. However, when it comes to this demon-possessed man, the Bible does not depict Jesus flashing a cross at the demons or sprinkling them with holy water. Instead, the Bible tells us that Jesus commanded the unclean spirits to come out of the man. The demons obeyed, actually pleading with Jesus to allow them to possess some swine. This is because of Christ’s authority as the Son of God over everything (Matt. 28:18; 1 John 4:4).
A modern case similar to this is the Amityville horror, where a young man gruesomely murdered his family. This man was not deemed a cold-blooded killer or a psychopath, but rather demonically possessed. Since the case began, there has been public speculation and ridicule surrounding the Amityville house. The Lutz family, later owners of the Amityville house, reported paranormal activity which brought in investigators and ghost hunters. However, these claims have been ridiculed and refuted by the public, often citing the financial hardship the Lutz family faced during that time. While the legitimacy of the case is often debated, it did not stop The Conjuring franchise from creating a movie regarding this case, and Ed and Lorraine Warren’s involvement with the case and the house. Whether or not this man was possessed, it should not surprise us that demons want to harm humans.
Leviticus 20 documents laws written concerning the punishment for child sacrifice. In this passage, a false god named Molech is introduced. Molech was worshipped by heating a statue until it was glowing red. Once the metal reached this burning state, a live child was placed on the outstretched hands of Molech while drums played, drowning out the screams of the child. It is important to note that these false gods are actually demons in disguise (Deut. 32:17; 2 Cor. 11:14-15). The goal of these demons is to destroy humanity because of our connection to God through Jesus and through our creation in God’s image. One way that demons do this is by leading us astray and killing us (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8-9).
There were not any special prayers, holy water, or pictures and symbols of Christ—merely power from the Holy Spirit and the name of Jesus.
Even knowing this, we do not need to fear the demons. We have power over the demons through Christ. We can follow Paul’s example demonstrated in Acts 16. While in Macedonia serving the people and sharing the Gospel, Paul and Silas find themselves being followed by a “slave girl who had a spirit of divination” (Acts 16:16-17). While following the men, this girl would announce, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17). This girl did this everywhere Paul and Silas went, causing a stir. Paul finally got so irritated that he “turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her’” (Acts 16:18). The demon obeyed and exited the girl instantly.
The phrase Paul used was not some special ritualistic prayer. He used the truth and the power of Christ. For those of us who have given our lives to Christ, we share in this same power, thanks to the Holy Spirit living in us (Matt. 10:1; Mark 16:17; Luke 10:19; Acts 1:8; Rom. 8:9-11). Those of us who are not in Christ lack this power to cast out demons.
Later in Acts, Paul arrives in Ephesus. God uses Paul to complete wondrous miracles. The Jewish exorcists noticed Paul’s abilities and power and took some notes. These exorcists attempted to rebuke unclean spirits saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims” (Acts 19:13). But the demon did not fear the men or leave, rather the demon said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15). Then the demon chased the exorcists out, wounding them.
This happened because Jesus is not a special charm used to ward off spirits: He is the Son of God. “You believe that God is one, you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder” (James 2:19). A difference between Christians and demons consists in the nature of their belief in Christ as the Messiah. The demons know who Jesus is, but they will never accept Him or love Him as the Son of God. Yet, even they must still obey the King. There were not any special prayers, holy water, or pictures and symbols of Christ—merely power from the Holy Spirit and the name of Jesus which everything is subject to.
Demons are accurately depicted by certain Hollywood films, but we as Christians do not need to fear what the demons can and cannot do, or worry about whether they’re coming into our homes through the TV. The goal of Hollywood creating these movies is to create fear. When we analyze these movies using the Bible, we are reminded of the ancient rebellion we have been warned about. God gives us instructions and examples throughout the Bible for what to do when we come across demons.
It is important to understand that there is nothing wrong with enjoying The Pope’s Exorcist or The Conjuring franchise, as long as we’re conscious of our role in spiritual warfare. We do not watch as victims who should fear demons, but as victors who stand in the very true and real power of Jesus Christ because everything is subject to Him.
