On non-catholic religion's efficacy?

[fakename]

Some say that there can be protestant exorcists but I doubt it, since exorcists are probably priests that have received their abilities from a bishop and ultimately from God. W/o the hierarchy I don’t think one can claim any spiritual efficacy -like the ability to perform exorcisms which, again requires special, Catholic, training and special prayers from the Church.

Agree?

 

[franny50]

That is so erroneous!There have been protestants and born again christians who have performed exorcisms.Any one who is dedicated to the service of our Lord,and has a deep abiding faith in the power and grace of God can defeat the devil! Faith and belief are the operative words.

 

[stevekehl]

Jesus revealed the secret to driving out evil spirits in the Gospel of Mark. While Jesus was away his disciples tried and failed to drive a demon out of a boy.
Mar 9:25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
Notice that Jesus did no praying when driving out the demon. He meant his disciples needed to build a stronger relationship with God.
The devil and his angels can’t stand up to the power that is in the name of Jesus, but that power comes from the faith built up by developing a relationship with God.
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

[fakename]

Well I figure, since the Apostles could cast out demons, and the Catholic Church has Apostolic Succession, and sin no Protestants have the latter, then no Protestant can exorcise demons.

 

[GraceDK]

Some say that there can be protestant exorcists but I doubt it, since exorcists are probably priests that have received their abilities from a bishop and ultimately from God. W/o the hierarchy I don’t think one can claim any spiritual efficacy -like the ability to perform exorcisms which, again requires special, Catholic, training and special prayers from the Church.

Agree?

No. The Bible says: These signs shall follow *those who believe *, in the name of Jesus, they shall cast out demons… they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall become healed.

The Bible does not say these gifts are for apostles or priests only.

The Church teaches that hierarchal gifts and charismatic gifts are not the same.
Its the faith in the name of Jesus and in what He has done for us on the cross (he carried our sins, sorrows and illnesses up on the cross) which is the important point.

remember when the disciples came to Jesus and said: We saw a man healing people in your name. Shall we go and hinder him. Jesus answered: No do not hinder him, for who is not against me is with me.

The Protestants are with Jesus. its their belief in Him which makes Him able to work in their lives in grand ways… Do not seek to hinder the Holy Spirit.

 

[stevekehl]

Well I figure, since the Apostles could cast out demons, and the Catholic Church has Apostolic Succession, and sin no Protestants have the latter, then no Protestant can exorcise demons.

The point I was making was that Jesus didn’t say only apostles could cast out demons, but that an established relationship with God, strengthened by prayer was needed to cast them out. Don’t forget that Jesus sent out seventy disciples in the tenth chapter of Luke, also empowered to heal the sick, not all of them were apostles.