ISSUE 1

seizures

contents

all work still in progress

page 4 letters68101214

Flat 11EalingUK

Dear ‘Answers in Genesis’

I understand, through the bible,

that my epilepsy is

possibly demonic and that it is

caused by a foul, unclean

spirit. Obviously the bible is 1

00% correct. Why has my

neurologist never told me that t

his is the possible reason

that I have seizures? He has tol

d me that it is simply a

scar on my left temporal lobe. S

hould I request that I

only want to be seen by a Chris

tian Neurologist? Did God

design epilepsy as a form of pun

ishment? Or does Satan

cause these seizures? If the lat

ter, does this mean that

God has limitations on his heali

ng skills?

Your site is very helpful though

and it makes me feel that

medication is possibly not as po

werful as prayer. Should

I slowly reduce my drugs and go

along to my Christian

friends’ local healing sessions?

They have convinced me

that healing works. Although the

y seem reluctant to commit

to any detailed summaries of how

it works. Your site does

seem to have the backing of quit

e a lot of intelligent

members of the scientific world.

They can prove quite co

nv.... [cut short here – word li

mit]

MR DJ

letters

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Hi DJ, thank you for contacting Answers in Genesis. First let me advise that we have a medical disclaimer statement which I will include below, and following, I will answer your questions.

Many mental illnesses are the result of chemical, physical or physiological conditions, are mild and can be effectively treated with medications, surgery or even diet. Scripture does make a clear distinction between mental illness and demonic possession. Look at the following passages that speak of mental issues that are not from outside “influence”. Luke 12:29 And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.

1 Cor. 14:23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

Medical disclaiMer

This information is intended for general education purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. The information should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice from your doctor or other healthcare professional. If you have specific questions about any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment, you should

consult your doctor or other healthcare provider.

PTO>>>>

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1 Cor. 14:23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

Acts 12:15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”

Acts 26:24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

2 Cor. 5:13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

2 Thess. 2:2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

2 Tim. 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. There are some aspects of mental illness, however that probably are better explained as demonic possession. When we look at Scripture we almost always see a self-destructive pattern, either in (apparent) self-mutilation, or (apparent) self-inflicted trauma, or (apparent) self-inflicted isolation. We also typically see extreme strength, violence and some sort of physical deformity that is erased by the removal of the demonic possession. Some passages for consideration, with underlined emphasis mine: Matt. 8:28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.

Matt. 9:32-33 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!”

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PTO>>>>

Matt. 12:22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.

Matt. 17:14-18 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. “So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me. “And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

Mark 5:2-5,8,15 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. 8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

Luke 8:29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

Luke 9:42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

Luke 11:14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.

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Acts 19:13-16 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. When we see these types of behaviors: cutting oneself, extreme violence, self-imposed isolation; it may be more probable that we are observing demonic possession, than mental illness. Of course most mental illnesses are much different, and are mild by comparison to these scriptural examples of possession. Epilepsy is only mentioned a few times in Scripture, and is not treated as a “demonic possession-only” affliction. In the following verse, epilepsy is treated as a mental/physical condition, and is mentioned alongside paralysis. The KJV and AKJV make this distinction more plainly than other versions (see below). Therefore it is best to seek treatment medically for such a disease, but having friends and family (as well as yourself) pray for healing is also recommended by Scripture. Remember that Luke was called the beloved physician by Paul (Col. 4:14); demonstrating that God has given us doctors for a purpose. God can establish the means as well as the ends, and doctors are given by God to help us with physical and mental maladies. Therefore we do not recommend that someone abandon medical treatment; but that that they seek prayer in addition to medical treatment. Matthew 4:24 (NKJV) Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.

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Matthew 4:24 (AKJV) And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with diverse diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatics, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. Sickness and disease are the result of the Fall, and are a consequence of living in a sin-cursed world. If you would like to read an in-depth booklet and book (online and free) that really gets to the heart of these questions, please see the following: http://www.answersingenesis.org/assets/pdf/radio/Death_suffering_Mitchell.pdf (booklet) http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/hcalg/ (free online book)

I hope this has been helpful, Troy LaceyAnswers in GenesisPO Box 510Hebron, KY 41048 www.answersingenesis.org

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epilepsy -the little

black book

volume 1:anger

volume 1:anger

Do you mind me calling you epilepsy?

Ermmm, to be honest ... that’s my issue.... you are still a bit of a taboo with me ... to ... admit your existence...

Sorry! Don’t take it personally

No – whatever you are comfortable with.

Well what’s your problem!

I am not sensitive. In fact that lack of emotion is one of my many fortes a trait of mine that many of my clients start to replicate.

INTERVIEW

page 2

INTERVIEW????????

... my clients’ needs vary, but it’s usually down to how they feel and how I feel they should feel.

Your epilepsy programme is a standard package at basic level.

It includes...

page 3

1. Absence

3. transcendence

5. software malfunction

2. anxiety

page 5

4. discomfort

5. software malfunction

page 6