Giving Up The Demons

In every church, on any given Sunday, sits a person hiding a secret demon that one day will come out. 

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Four years and two days ago, I was sitting on this stool, looking into this camera, when the unimaginable happened. That day the fog had been so thick that morning we almost had to hold church inside.

Up until that point, the only thing making any real news was a virus that was spreading quickly through China. But in the middle of my sermon, a text message popped up on my iPad that would shift the conversation, at least in our household. 

It was from my friend Eric. All it said was RIP Kobe.  Because of the heavy fog, the helicopter he was in crashed just a few miles from where I was sitting on this stool talking to that camera.

This is not open for debate, but Kobe Bryant was and remains the greatest basketball player of all time; astonishing players and fans alike. More than just pure talent, Kobe was disciplined and focused on mastering his craft. He worked through pain and overcame his challenges, because that’s what you do when you do what you love.
 
In the same way, Jesus dominated his field with authority. He too amazed and astonished people. And like Kobe, Jesus approached his opponents seriously and respectfully. But more importantly, he did what he did because of love. We see this today, in our reading from Mark 1:21-28.

...They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!”  And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.  They were all amazed, .... Mark 1:21-28

Here's the thing. Jesus commands attention everywhere he goes. Not with the way he handled a basketball, but by the way Jesus taught with great authority. The way he interpreted scripture apparently was nothing these people had ever heard before.
 
Like Kobe on the hardwood, when Jesus spoke all eyes were on him. Including this man with an unclean spirit. Mark doesn’t tell us exactly what Jesus  said, but whatever it was caused this evil spirit came forward, and reveal who Jesus truly is - “The Holy One of God.”
 
In hindsight, and especially during epiphany, this isn’t surprising. But it was a shocking thing to call someone, especially in that particular place. So too was the way Jesus responded. He confronted this man’s demons with power and authority.
 
He tells the evil spirit to “Be silent,” and then commands it to “come out of him!” And it obeyed. Whatever it was that possessed this man submitted immediately. And again, the people were floored by what they witnessed.
 
These days one doesn’t have to go far to see someone do something amazing. Just YouTube “Kobe highlights” to see what I mean. But outside of a horror movie, I have never witnessed anyone do anything like Jesus did here.
 
 While we often perceive demon possession as nothing more than the colorful imagination of Hollywood, it should not surprise to learn that in every church, on any given Sunday, sits a person hiding a secret demon that one day will come out. 

 
When we lived in Michigan, I went into a local restaurant to pick up my lunch. A group of men I knew saw me and joked how they would have invited me to sit with them, but “unfortunately there wasn’t room at the table” even though there clearly was.
 
Half jokingly, I invited them to church on Sunday, reminding them  there is always room at God’s table. While this garnered some laughter from a few bystanders, it also caught the attention of a young man in his early 20’s, who was watching me with an inquisitive look on his face. Embracing the spirit of hospitality, I extended the invitation to him as well, which was received with a head nod, and half-hearted smile.
 
While walking to my car I heard a voice call out to me. Thinking it was the young man, I stopped and turned around only to discover it was someone much bigger and a lot less friendlier. This guy was a great big ape of a man with scars and tattoos all over his body. He had no problem exercising his physical presence to intimidate me.
 
Now, back then, I’d wear a clerical collar to let people know that I am a non-threatening kind of guy. But in this case it did just the opposite. It only seemed to fuel this man’s rage. Given the look in his eyes and the rage in his fists, one might say this guy was possessed with an evil spirit. One that clearly didn’t like me.
 
From the depth of this guy’s soul came a dark, menacing voice that shouted, “Who do you think you are, holy man?  Who the ‘f’ said you could invite my kid to church?”
 
Trying to hold my composure I told him, “I was just doing what God called me to do - to love everyone just as God has always loved me.” This clearly was not the answer the angry man wanted because after a few more colorful words he blurted, “You’re a liar because I’m unlovable.”
 
In that moment I realized this victimizer was a victim to his own demons. I don’t know what possessed him to confess this to me, or what possessed me to put myself in danger of a beating, but I quickly assured him that God actually did loved him, no matter what. I told him there was nothing he could do to stop God from pursuing him and loving him. Not even hurting me.
 
Taking a cue from Jesus, I stood up to this man’s demon holding on to the power and authority of God’s love, and watched all the pain that had built up inside this man just melt away.
 
I would come discover his demon was the church. Something horrible had happened that caused him to hate God and everyone associated with religion.

That bitter demon had grown and festered in other places in his life. It had ruined every relationship he’d been in, and his reputation as well.
 
Here’s the thing I’ve come to discover. We all have our demons.  For some it’s addiction to alcohol or drugs. For other’s it’s anger, jealousy, or insecurity. Some might seem harmless, but we know what one person’s zealous pride is capable of doing.
 
These are real powers that take real possession over our lives. They blind us and keep us from being who God desires us to be. These demons will continue to run and ruin your life, to attack and cripple you, until you let them go. 

As it’s often said in 12-step groups, “Change only happens when the pain of holding on is greater than the fear of letting go.” 
 
What makes this difficult, as I have found in my own struggles, is that our demons will do anything to hold on to the power we give them. But this story reminds us that Jesus holds all power and all authority over all things.

Your deepest fears, your darkest secrets, don’t even come close to the power of God’s redemptive love given to us through Christ. 
 
Thus Jesus invites us to let them go. Let God to take care of them for us. Like a wise meme once said, “Give God your weakness and God will give you his strength.” 
 
What is that strength? The unconditional and steadfast Love of God. You see, That is the foundation of Jesus’ power and authority. When Jesus removed the unclean spirit, the people in the pews saw more than raw physical power; they witnessed the healing and restorative strength of God’s love.
 
Jesus always stood on a foundation of love; showing compassion to all who came to him. It was the way he loved, especially the unlovable, that still amazes people today.

With all power, and all authority, Jesus embraced the fullness of God’s love. And nothing, not even death, could stop it from winning out in the end.
 
Thus, love is the foundation of Anamesa. And why every week we make love the centerpiece of every message and every conversation. Jesus enters every space loving God. Because of that love, he’s able to see and heal this man with a compassionate heart.
 
In the same way, when we cry out to the Holy One of God, we too are met with love. Through Jesus, God hears our cries;  meets our demons; and with all power and authority delivers us from our anguish.

The sooner we give ourselves and our demons over to God’s love, the sooner our true selves can begin to thrive.
 
Which is why I invite you to take an honest look at the things in your life that are controlling you. Take inventory of all the junk that’s stopping you from truly loving God, loving others and serving both.
 
Name them. Write them down. And give them over to the merciful grace of God’s redeeming love. Then be prepare to be amazed at how it will transform you.
 

Works Cited
Adapted from All Power. All Authority. January 28, 2018.
Special thanks to Ismael Ruizz-Millan. Christian Century. Dec. 28, 2017. (accessed 01 25, 2018).