So You Have a Haunted House

The initial question is, why does demonic influence manifest in the home of Christians? Within much of contemporary Christianity, there's a startling level of biblical illiteracy regarding matters of spiritual warfare and demonic influence. Entire ministries are built on the idea that Christian homes can be haunted by the demonic. This illiteracy extends to those in leadership positions, teaching a doctrine that's inconsistent with the biblical example. Biblical illiteracy has consequences for the discernment and maturity of those subjected to its teaching.

I'm reminded of a personal realisation many years ago: I was a young Christian and embraced Christian doctrine I scarcely understood, and what knowledge I did possess was largely inherited rather than discovered through my own study. For many within the Body of Christ, spiritual growth often remains confined to this limited doctrinal framework, specifically to one denominational interpretation. In this environment, biblical opinion is selectively curated and rarely challenged.

The gathered assembly of believers should not serve as a theological campsite but as a training ground—a forum where God’s Word becomes the arbiter in the contesting of ideas. A church that fails to foster critical thinking fosters spiritual immaturity. The Apostle Paul’s rebuke in Hebrews 5:12 remains startlingly relevant: “Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.” To remain ignorant is not a biblically faithful response to God’s call toward spiritual maturity.

We see this lack of clarity about demonic possession, “haunted” houses, or the fearsome notion that demons are hiding under our beds. These phrases are tossed about, but the biblical account of possession and/or influence is far removed from today's interpretation. If we truly hold Scripture as the plumbline of truth and authority, then where is possession or influence of a demonic spirit ever attributed to anything other than living beings?

The claims of demonic possession or influence should never be treated lightly. Accusations of spiritual strongholds—whether in individuals, towns, or homes—must be approached with theological clarity and biblical evidence. Exaggerations nested in heightened emotion or subjective impressions often distort the truth and do more harm than good. We must always remember that while Satan’s influence has been granted to the fallen world (1 John 5:19), there's a categorical distinction between his influence on a fallen world and his influence on the "Body of Christ." Temptation and possession are not the same, and non-believers are in Hell already. If we fail to recognise these distinctions, we risk allowing speculative assertions to speak more loudly than the Word of God.

In truth, every person lives in proximity to evil and, as such, is subject to temptation via their own sinful proclivities. Our flaws—be they in temperament, gifts, or strengths— are susceptible to temptation by demonic forces. Even Peter, one of Christ’s closest disciples, was rebuked by Jesus with the stern words, “Get behind me, Satan” (Matt. 16:23). Peter was not demon-possessed; rather, his human reasoning had become the temporary mouthpiece of satanic influence. This illustrates a critical biblical point: demonic influence can manifest through thought and speech, yet this is categorically distinct from possession.

Scripture asserts that Satan has been granted a degree of authority in the lower earthly regions for a season (Luke 4:6, Rev. 12:12). Yet this authority is not absolute. Those who are in Christ, justified, sealed, and covered by the blood of Christ, are beyond Satan’s reach. Therefore, it's troubling when the Church, in its zeal, knowingly ascribes to Satan a higher degree of influence than he's biblically accorded.

Many well-meaning believers fall into the trap of attributing demonic strongholds to geographic regions or physical dwellings, as though the battle for souls hinged on casting out spirits from buildings and cities. While there is some biblical precedent for territorial spirits (Daniel 10:13), the emphasis is on those within the territory, not the territory itself. The focus here is not on possession of the physical because Satan has the authority to be there; it's personal. A stronghold is not found in a house and therefore able to be cast out, it's in the heart of those subjected to the influence of a spirit in the first place.

When Christians begin to believe that God’s redemptive work cannot proceed unless demonic entities are first removed from physical spaces, they unknowingly concede to a dualistic worldview that diminishes God's sovereign authority. Scripture is clear: God is not locked in a cosmic stalemate, waiting for human efforts to tip the scale. His victory is already secured in Christ (Col. 2:15), and his sovereignty is unchallenged.

Strongholds, according to the apostolic narrative (2 Cor. 10:4-5), are not demonic entities inhabiting homes or landscapes, but arguments, pretensions, and thoughts that set themselves against the knowledge of God. The vessel of these strongholds is people, living beings with minds and wills capable of resisting or yielding to temptation or divine truth. Thus, while demonic influence is real, it always seeks expression through human agency, not inanimate structures.

To overstate the ability of demons and understate the authority of Christ is to create theological tension and imbalance. The Christian home is not immune to spiritual presence, nor is a Church, but neither is it the battleground itself. Demonic hauntings, as depicted by those who dwell in it as a perceived ministry or call to exorcise, are not supported by scripture. Rather, Satan's mission is to influence the heart of the believer, and that's where the war is waged—and won—by the Spirit of God.

Finally, I repeat what I said in the beginning: if anyone thinks otherwise about Satan's authority, show me from the scriptures where possession or influence by a demonic spirit is attributed to anything other than living beings?