A middle-aged man recently told me of how he had broken a 10 year habit of sexual and drug addiction.  Medication management of his bipolar disorder had reduced his impulsivity but his miraculous change of habit-life he attributed to spiritual deliverance.   He told me of his counseling with a priest and their use of a book on breaking the power of evil influence.

The dramatic nature of his religious and psychiatric conversion compelled me to read the book: Unbound (1).   The author, an interdenominational Christian pastor, presents a practical discussion of an often sensationalized topic.  Rather than terrible stories of torment followed by head twisting images of deliverance, the author suggests that breaking free of evil influence is part of a process of “ever deepening conversion” to which every Christ-follower is called.

I will try to distill his teaching into a few short statements:

1. Repent of specific sin – Recognize that my behavior in a specific area violates God’s will. Commit to change.
2. Confront the lies supporting the sin – As an example, tell yourself: “It is a lie to say that heavy alcohol use hurts no one.”
3. Renounce the spirit underlying the lie – For example, talk to the spirit: In the name of Jesus, spirit of drunkenness, get out of my life.”  This part seems a bit odd to me, but I believe there is a time and place for it.
4. Fill the void –  When one bad habit or pattern of sinful thinking is broken, we must be deliberate about filing the empty habit space with healthier behaviors.  Meditate.  Be a friend.  Exercise.  Work.  Do something creative.
5. Submit to ongoing conversion – Allow God to control more and more of your life.  The process of becoming the man or woman that God wants you to become may take a lifetime.

How much of life’s difficulties we attribute to evil spirits varies from person to person.  C.S. Lewis, respected scholar and author, suggests that there are two errors we can get into when considering the idea of demonic influence:  “One is to disbelieve in their existence.  The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them (2).”  For the spiritually minded person,  the principles outlined above may help in keeping the right balance.

Neal Lazano. Unbound: A practical guide to deliverance.  Grand Rapids Michigan, 2010 .

CS Lewis.  The Screwtape Letters.  New York, Bantam Books, 1982.