Acts 19:11-20. God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul, even cloth that had been held to Paul's body was curing the sick and driving out evil spirits. Inspired by this, some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried driving out evil spirits by saying "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." Seven sons of a Jewish high priest tried this and the demon replied "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" And the possessed man lept up at them, overpowered them, and drove them naked from the house. This became known throughout Ephesus and fear filled the people, and they extolled the name of Jesus. Believers came forward and shared their practices; and practicers of magic came forward and burned their books worth 50,000 pieces of silver. "So the word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily."

Was it common for Jewish exorcists to practice their trade in the nude? Why were they naked when they ran from the possessed man's home? What was up with that? I also love that there even were "itinerant exorcists" roaming around. There have been several times, especially lately, when an itinerant exorcist would have come in very handy!

That brings me to my main point. If demons were common and well known enough then for there to be a trade in itinerant exorcism, what has changed now? Do we think there are fewer demons? The mention of exorcism nowadays brings, at best, a tolerant smile to the lips of many. People don't really believe in demons - everything seems to be attributed to psychological or medical factors. But are there really fewer demons, or are we just in a state of denial? I think, to a large degree, it is the latter. That is not to say there are not true psychological disorders, but there is also true demonic possession, and true demonic influence, and it is more common than we like to think. Our denial, of course, gives the demons more power. We play right into their hands by not believing in them and leaving them free to do their thing.

But once we acknowledge the demonic, we really do have to call in the experts. These itinerant exorcists who tried to DIY were quickly overcome by the demons. We have to give the devil his due, and understand that untrained people are not qualified to deal with the true power of evil. So no itinerant exorcists need apply - go for the real thing!