A self -professing apostle stands on a platform in various gatherings while children are brought before her. The parents are bringing their children forward in order to seek out deliverance from indwelling demons. Some of the children writhe on the floor and scream. Some children react passively to the countdown to three for the demons to leave. The minister tells the people that children can have indwelling demons as well, and they need deliverance from inhabiting demons. There is even an instance where a father brings his infant daughter before the minister for demonic deliverance from a failed hearing test. She asks the father if he has anything to renounce, and he lists the things that may have opened a door to this demon. As the infant ceases to cry at the count of three, the crowd and the minister take this as confirmation that demons have been expelled from this child.

Another professing apostle teaches a group of children about the importance of deliverance. She tells the children that it is important for Christians to receive deliverance from demons, but at no point do these children hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. The children are shown a curriculum they can use privately or in Sunday school where they learn more about hearing the voice of God, what demonic objects to avoid in their homes, what practices and beliefs bring curses, and how to cast out demons and break witchcraft. She instructs them in how to break off the spirit of depression and heaviness, and she ends one of her videos with casting out the spirit of rebellion, commanding it into the abyss. There are many other deliverance ministers who subscribe to casting demons out of children, making it commonplace.

Children’s deliverance ministry is a sensitive subject and rightfully so. While there are those who would defend such practices and doctrine, others are disturbed by it. The basic principles of deliverance ministry to adults are also applied to children, attributing such sins as rebellion, anger, and lust to indwelling demons. Other medical ailments, such as autism are also said to be demonic in nature. The teaching of demons entering children in utero goes back decades to a popular deliverance book called Pigs in the Parlor. This book is still popular today, and it contains much of the foundation for practices and beliefs within the modern deliverance movement.

As a mother, it grieves me to see such things being taught to children. It is equally grieving to know that I was once heading down this path in believing such things. I once held to the belief that certain toys my daughter had contained demonic spirits, and I removed them from our home. I attributed them to her temper tantrums and fits of anger, failing to completely acknowledge that I was dealing with a three-year-old whose issue was not a demon but sin. My daughter did not need her toys removed due to demons; she needed a mother who understood the Word of God correctly and provided proper discipline and correction. Counting to three seems more reasonable with a toddler than a demon.

When looking at these practices, questions arise. Did Jesus count to three when dealing with demons? Did Jesus go through theatrics and break off generational curses from people, or did He cast out the demons in His Godly authority? Did Jesus Christ have people bring a list of renunciations to declare before casting out demons? One thing that should be noted is that renunciation does not equal true repentance. Renunciation is simply trusting in one’s own works to voice them out loud, and even then, there is no personal accountability because the devil is credited for the actions and behavior. Repentance is a gift from God, and true repentance brings transformation and brokenness over one’s sin. It brings a Godly sorrow, not a worldly sorrow.

What should children be learning in Sunday school? I do not believe they should be hearing an emphasis on the demonic and how to set themselves free from indwelling demons. Children need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is difficult at times for us to acknowledge this, but this is the truth: children are sinners. They are born in sin and with a sinful nature. They are not born saved. It concerns me that these children in these environments are being taught so heavily about demons while it seems there is little to any focus on the gospel in accordance with Scripture.

They need to hear why they need salvation. They need to hear about sin and repentance. They need to hear about Jesus and why He came to earth and died on the cross. They need to hear the good news to their bad news, and when a child does come to saving faith in Christ, they need to be reminded of the gospel and discipled in their home and at church about sanctification and the kindness of God to lead them to repentance when they do sin. They need a diet rich in the Word of God.

Children are delivered in the same way as adults, by hearing the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ and being granted repentance and faith by God. They do not need to see their parents having demons cast out of them in response to personal sin. Children need parents who will walk alongside them and model humility and transparency in repentance and sanctification. Our personal acknowledgement of sin in our lives and the transformation God cultivates in the process of us being conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit is a profound witness to our children, and it truly glorifies Christ.

Our children also need to know that sickness and disability do not equal demonization, and when facing difficult situations and even moments of anxiety and depression, our hope is in Christ alone. We teach our children to go back to the Word of God for edification and comfort, knowing that even in trials and hardships, the Lord is with those who are His. The Lord is truly the Deliverer, and His gospel is truly good news. The message of the modern deliverance movement does not proclaim good news, and now children who hear it are being led into spiritual bondage. May we as believers in Christ stand for the truth of God’s Word and contend for the faith in this matter.

Listen to this episode discussing the topic of children’s deliverance ministry: The Lovesick Scribe Podcast: The Millstone of Children’s Deliverance Ministry on Apple Podcasts