An Interview with Jim Osman on the Modern-Day Deliverance Ministry
The matters of deliverance ministry and spiritual warfare are big topics that not many, but thankfully a growing number of people, are addressing. In this discussion, Jim Osman shares insights from his book, Truth or Territory: A Biblical Approach to Spiritual Warfare. True biblical spiritual warfare is a battle over truth, not a struggle for territory.
The Background of Truth or Territory
Jim Osman published that book in 2015 as a fundraiser for our new church building. It originated as a series of articles in our church newsletter, where he addressed various questions that he was receiving on topics related to spiritual warfare. People were asking things like:
- What are generational curses?
- What is a “hedge of thorns”?
- Do we have the authority to bind Satan?
- Should we be rebuking the devil?
- What are “territorial spirits”?
Having once subscribed to a territorial view of spiritual warfare, Jim became familiar with both the theology behind these questions and the practices they reflected. However, he came to realize that many modern practices aren’t supported by the proof texts frequently cited by so-called spiritual warfare “experts”.
Concerns with Modern Deliverance Ministry
The deliverance ministry movement undermines believers’ confidence in both the Word of God and the sufficiency of Christ’s work on their behalf. It shifts our focus away from the perfect redemption we have in Christ and emphasizes a perceived need for further deliverance. Additionally, it teaches that sins described in Scripture as the “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21) are actually caused by indwelling demons, which misdiagnoses the root of our sin.
The solution to indwelling sin is the mortification of the flesh, not a power encounter with demons. Christians are being misled to believe that a few quick deliverance sessions will grant them victory over sin, but this is the wrong remedy!
The Teachings of "Demon Slayers"
Deliverance teachers, or “Demon Slayers” as they often call themselves, believe that Christians can be demonized. While they don’t teach that a Christian can be “possessed”, they do believe a Christian can be controlled or even dominated by a demon. They claim that every Christian needs deliverance, and that it should be a routine part of a believer’s life. Similar to changing the oil in a car, they advocate for a regular “deliverance” maintenance program to flush out any demonic spirits that may have entered a person’s life and body.
Furthermore, they claim that ongoing private revelation is essential for effective deliverance. They rely on a “word of knowledge” or even the testimony of demons for guidance because Scripture does not provide detailed instructions on how to perform exorcisms.
Comparing Biblical Warfare and Modern Deliverance
Based on the interview, we can summarize the differences between the biblical approach and the modern deliverance movement as follows:
| Feature | Modern Deliverance Ministry | Biblical Approach (Jim Osman) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Struggle for territory and power encounters | A battle over truth |
| View of Sin | Caused by indwelling demons | Works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) |
| Remedy for Sin | Deliverance sessions and "maintenance" | Mortification of the flesh |
| Source of Guidance | Private revelation and words of knowledge | The Word of God and sufficiency of Christ |
| Generational Issues | Generational curses and demonic inheritance | Focus on the perfect redemption in Christ |
Speaking Out and Engaging Others
This is a challenging issue because the deliverance ministry is rapidly growing in popularity, and many are being drawn in by the excitement and subsequently misled by its promises. The best way to engage with people on this topic is by asking them to defend their claims. Ask them to show where Scripture instructs us to cast out demons in Christians (i.e. the reason for deliverance in the Church Body). Any believer engaging in this discussion should have at least a basic understanding of what Scripture says about demon possession and exorcisms.