How do you feel about the discourse of mental illness being the result of demonic influence?

Jesus is a better David.

I’m not nearly versed enough on this line of scholarly work to give an extensive defense, but my understanding is that there has been some work done on an intentional linkage between the gibborim-nephilim, Goliath, and the various exorcisms of demoniacs in the Synoptic Gospels. I can’t remember if I first heard this from Michael Heiser, or from others.

I do, though, remember feeling that a linkage like that made the idea of a 2,000 year-long tail on demonic possession, where it would be commonplace today—it seems almost inappropriate. It’s as if, “how to deal with demon possession” is not a theme in the New Testament epistles because the Christ is in an ‘already-not yet’ sense ruling over creation. Something like, David did a minor league version of defeating this kind of supernatural evil, as a type, you know, a forward echo, a shadow, whatever; but the Christ did it thoroughly, where the Apostles in the Book of Acts are just doing ‘cleanup’ that also serves as redemptive-historical authentication.

But whether that’s true or not, I would throw down on this: We are the Christ’s body here on earth, and telling people not to seek hope-and-help from the image-bearers God set in place to rule his creation is, itself, a kind of spiritual wickedness.

/r/Reformed Thread