Posted in theology

Is Beth Moore Possessed?

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I’ve been wondering this for a while. I have reasons for thinking it, and I mean the question with absolutely no snark, no sarcasm, and no mal-intent. Is Beth Moore possessed?

The question is sincere, but after I explore it briefly, my question also provides an opportunity to have a larger discussion about demons & possession.

I don’t cherry pick one bad photo to make a case, either. She has looked like this for a long time, years. There are many photos you can search where in the search results we see a seemingly half-crazed Beth with what is known as “crazy eyes”.

The Matthew 6:22 verse is speaking of a conflict between light and darkness …what you look at is what you treasure, and manifests itself in dueling interests and priorities. However when we look at people in the Bible who were possessed, it also speaks to their physical appearance before and after. For example, the Gadarene demoniac was undressed, filthy, bloody, and wild-acting. The Bible shows us that afterward he was dressed and in his right mind. Quite a contrast. When we combine the two ideas, that the Mt 6:22 verse that what you spiritually ‘look at’ your mind will follow, and if you are possessed, that your body will eventually demonstrate the interior state, you have the point. One follows the other.

This question affords a legitimate opportunity to share concepts and verses regarding spiritual possession and a Christian’s spiritual warfare. Christians shrink from this discussion but it’s important not to.

Reason #1 for my question: Beth Moore is not a Christian. How do I know? She is a rebel against God. She preaches at pulpits, she preaches a different Jesus, she accepts alleged personal direction from God in voices & whispers, she prophesies (and falsely, too), she refuses correction, she lives a feminist, un-Titus-like lifestyle, and she is unrepentant and unteachable. (1 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 2:20, Galatians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 11:4, Jeremiah 23:21, Proverbs 5:12–13, Titus 2:3-5). No one can do those and other sins for so long without repenting. No one can do those sins as a teacher and not be disqualified. The Spirit would not allow it. Remember, unsaved people are under satan’s jurisdiction as slaves to sin. (Romans 6:16, 19). They can be entered by him as satan did to Judas or into others by one of his demons.

Secondly and concerningly, Moore wrote in the preface to her book When Godly People do Ungodly Things, a scenario that adds up to possession. She wrote:

“Unbeknownst to me, He’s been writing each chapter on my heart for several years. When the message for this book was complete (in His estimation — not mine!), God compelled me to ink it on paper with a force of the Holy Spirit unparalleled in my experience. He whisked me to the mountains of Wyoming where I entered solitary confinement with Him, and in only a few short weeks, I wrote the last line.”

When someone claims a force entered her and wrote the book without her knowledge or mental consciousness, then forced her to put ink to paper, and then made the editing decision of when the book was finished, sounds like possession. Or Automatic Writing, which amounts to the same thing.

“Automatic writing, also called psychography, is a claimed psychic ability allowing a person to produce written words without consciously writing. The words purportedly arise from a subconscious, spiritual, or supernatural source“. (Wikipedia)

It is delusion to say she wrote a book via the Holy Spirit. If she is right that it was the Holy Spirit (it wasn’t) then what He wrote is scripture. (Even the Bible writers weren’t forced, but He used their mind and personality to inspire the writing, not force it). So I personally think that between her long rebellion, increasingly frenetic demeanor, and the presence of the force that compelled her to do things, it is likely that Moore is possessed.

Whether or not you believe so, please read the following about possession. It is real and it happens today. Of course with modern knowledge about the real cases of actual mental disabilities and diseases, we should be careful to separate the medical cases from the spiritual. But the spiritually possessed exist.

In recent news we read that cases of demonic possession are rising. Even though the Catholic Church is a false church, priests ‘trained’ in exorcism have increasingly been sought out to perform their ritual in hopes of ridding the person of the suspected demon.

John MacArthur recounts a case where he and an elder helped a young woman who was obviously and chillingly possessed. Her strength seemed superhuman and exceeded the elder’s, who had been a boxer in the Navy. They gave her the Gospel and she repented. She was immediately calm afterward.

Is demonic possession real?

In the New Testament, Satan and his demons had the power to enter and possess people; this is what the Bible shows happened to Judas (Luke 22:3; Luke 8:30–32). Many other people were possessed, too. (Mark 9:17-29, Matthew 12:43-45, Luke 11:14, Acts 16:16-18). The Bible is true. If it records incidences of demon possession, exorcisms, and casting out of demons, it happened.

Does possession happen today? Wasn’t that just in Bible times?

As we learn from the Bible, there is a wicked force of evil spirits in the world called demons. Originally they were created by God as holy angels. Their home was heaven and they served and worshiped God. But through pride and rebellion they became evil. Their leader, Lucifer, became known as Satan the devil, he was able to lead one third of those holy angels in his prideful rebellion.  As a result of their rebellion and pride, they were cast out of heaven by God Himself. They number in the millions. They are eternal. Created by God originally they will live forever. In the future, they will be thrown into a lake of fire where they will be tormented forever. They cannot be redeemed, they cannot be forgiven, nor will they or can they repent. They are forever wicked. They operate in the world today to achieve the purposes of Satan and thwart the purposes of God. They are behind the world’s complex system of evil and they are the dominating powers in the lives of all people who do not belong to God through faith in Jesus Christ. The whole of humanity is in the grip of this force of evil spirits. They are real, they are personal, and they are wicked.

Source

Can a Christian be possessed?

No. Plainly, no. Christians are sealed with the guarantee of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. A demon can’t enter what is sealed and protected by God. If a demon entered a believer where the Holy Spirit dwells, would the Spirit cede His authority to a demon and allow the demon to direct that person into sin? No.

A Christian can certainly be tempted externally by the invisible influence of a demon, but not possessed bodily. GotQuestions explains, “Demon possession involves a demon having complete control over the thoughts and/or actions of a person. (Luke 4:33-35).” (Remember Beth Moore’s experience of being overtaken in thought so that a force could write a book through her). GotQ explains that James 4:7 says for believers to resist the devil, it doesn’t instruct us to cast him out. Ephesians 6:10-18 never gives instructions for the believer in his spiritual warfare to cast out a demon.

We don’t look for satan or one of his minions under every rock. We have been released from bondage and we look to Christ. But we don’t ignore or underemphasize the real danger to the unbeliever for him to be possessed by an evil spirit or the beleiver to be harassed. Paul was harassed by a demon for years. He thrice asked the Lord to take it away. We know from the Bible that false teachers have entered into the church in order to pollute the doctrines of God and draw believers away. (Galatians 2:4). It stands to reason some of those spies and false teachers are not only under the influence of satan but possessed by one of his demons.

We know and understand that in ongoing warfare among nations, there are sleeper cells that operate secretly waiting for an opportune time try to undermine national security, and there are active double agents who try to do the same. These kind of activities also exist in spiritual warfare, too. That a teacher such as Beth Moore who we know is false, meaning she is under heavy influence from satan to perpetrate false doctrine among believers, might also be internally possessed, is not impossible to believe. Her words, behavior, long-term falsity and those eyes, tell us the story.

From a covert warfare point of view, what better position to have than to possess a person so firmly planted on the inside? A person with millions of followers, who has become nearly untouchable in terms of criticism and heavy protection from influencers and officers of the faith? He is the most crafty creature in the garden. (Genesis 3:1).

Spiritual warfare includes occasional demonic possession even in this day and age. Christians are hesitant to discuss this fact because it makes us look crazy. Possession is not an everyday occurrence but it exists. We should be aware and we should be forthright about its existence. In John MacArthur’s experience he said when dealing with the young lady who was possessed, we have no authority over the kingdom of darkness. We can’t cast out or drive away or beat a demon at his own game. The Gospel is the authority. The Gospel via the blood of Christ will overcome, in His timing, any demonic activity going on. So effectively, we do the same as we always do. Stand for Christ, give the Gospel, know our Bible, and ask people to repent.

Author:

Christian writer and Georgia teacher's aide who loves Jesus, a quiet life, art, beauty, and children.

33 thoughts on “Is Beth Moore Possessed?”

  1. In the Greek, the term is always daimoniazo (demonized), not “demon-possessed.” The emphasis is on the influence of the demon, not on ownership by the demon . Can a demon influence a person so deeply that it is virtually ownership? Yes. I have seen a couple of cases.

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    1. Hi, thanks! In my Greek word dictionaries it’s either… Demonized or demon possessed.

      Vines:
      B-1,Verb,G1139, daimonizomai ]
      signifies “to be possessed of a demon, to act under the control of a demon.”Those who were thus afflicted expressed the mind and consciousness of the “demon” or “demons” indwelling them, e.g., Luke 8:28. The verb is found chiefly in Matt. and Mark; Matthew 4:24; Matthew 8:16,28,33; Matthew 9:32; Matthew 12:22; Matthew 15:22; Mark 1:32; Mark 5:15,16,18; elsewhere in Luke 8:36; John 10:21, “him that hath a devil (demon).”

      Strong’s Concordance
      daimonizomai: to be possessed by a demon
      Original Word: δαιμονίζομαι
      Part of Speech: Verb
      Transliteration: daimonizomai
      Phonetic Spelling: (dahee-mon-id’-zom-ahee)
      Definition: to be possessed by a demon

      John 8:44, 1 John 3:10 indicates ownership…

      My take on it. Either way, not a good situation!

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  3. Your posting confirms what many of us have long believed, that Beth Moore is either under demonic influence or control, and perhaps even possessed. Continue to stand in the truth of Scripture, Elizabeth; it is your mighty shield and buckler. “So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16 NASB is the appropriate response to those who will condemn and malign you for holding to the truth of God’s revealed word.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. What BM is describing is automatic writing. While that is demonic, and evil, this does not mean she is possessed. “Jesus Calling” came through automatic writing (as did, “God Calling”). So did the Enneagram, the “Big Book” of AA, etc. Were all these people possessed? Perhaps, but not necessarily. BM may also clarify her description of her experience, but she clearly teaches leftist, Woke “Christianity,” and not biblical Christianity.

      Further connecting the dots, a few years ago she waffled a little bit, at least at first, on mysticism. She was confronted on it (“Be still …”) and she renounced it … but then reversed course and fully embraced it. The main point, however, is that a person cannot engage in mysticism (e.g. going into the spiritual realm with countless spirits that are on the opposite side of God to seek direction and an experience with God) and not come out heavily influenced by demons and even “doctrines of devils.” So is it any wonder if she is directed by automatic writing? No. This also explains how she believes so differently than she did 20 years ago. But this does not mean she is possessed.

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      1. I agree about the negative influence of mysticism. Agree also that solely engaging in automatic writing (defined in the article, and linked) does not necessarily mean she is possessed. At least not permanently, since automatic writing MEANS you have been taken over by a spirit for at least as long as that writing period. But all the other items I listed do add up to a likelihood of possession. Additionally, when we consider the verse in Matthew 12:43-45 about the demon that goes into a person but then goes out, then goes back in with 7 more of his friends, and the state of that person is worse at the end, and since we know a spirit overtook her once during that automatic writing session, it is likely that more demons came around and eventually took up permanent residence. So it’s likely that she is possessed.

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  4. Okay. Let’s take a moment to see if YOU can be teachable. Forgetting your opinions (which you are fully entitled to) about Beth Moore’s teaching or her spiritual condition (which is really none of your business), as a person with a very serious vision-related disability I find your “crazy eyes” comments ableist, insensitive and very hurtful. I don’t have a say in what my “crazy eyes” look like. If yours appear “normal,” count your blessings! I can tell you that it doesn’t feel all that great to discover that intelligent, articulate people – my brothers and sisters in Christ, no less! – are looking at my eyes and wondering if I’m possessed because of a disability that is completely outside of my control. Guess it’s a good thing that, when man looks on the outer appearance, God looks on the heart.

    Beth Moore is a public figure. As such, criticism comes with the territory. Have all the strong feelings you want about her teaching style and lesson content. But when you resort to attacks on her physical appearance – ESPECIALLY attacks that can and do apply to and hurt other people – it makes one wonder if you have legitimate theological issues with her or only personal ones. Just something to consider.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You are entitled to your opinion as well. I wonder if you even read the article, because I laid out, with 21 scriptures, my theological issues with Beth Moore. Her spiritual condition is absolutely my concern. I do not want to be taught Bible by a leader who doesn’t know Christ, and by the scriptures’ standards, falls far below qualifications.

      Crazy eyes is a well-known layman’s phrase related to psychopaths and demonized persons. Psychologists started observing pupil dilation among the mentally ill more than 100 years ago and they find it useful to this day. I opened with the scripture about the eyes being the lamp of the soul.

      Beth Moore takes so much time in her speeches talking about personal appearance, it’s a regular talking point with her. Her hair, its color, the state of her hair, her nose, her size, her clothes, ad nauseum, her ‘siestas’ all know that personal appearance is a thing. In any case, I normally choose to refrain from discussing anyone’s personal appearance, but as mentioned, crazy eyes is a well-known psychology phrase. I stand by using the phrase, especially given my up to this moment, 0% mention of appearance of anyone, track record.

      If you are so angry and hurt by some old lady blogger in a corner of the internet mentioning another person’s crazy eyes, not even aimed at you, I suggest you perhaps are a bit over-sensitive. 🙂

      Liked by 5 people

    2. Did you just make this post about you? This is the way the world does things. Everyday, we see unbelievers taking offense at the smallest things, all over social media, ad nauseam. But are Christians supposed to be quick to take offense, reading our own problems into posts which have nothing to do with us? What about humility? And what happened to giving brothers and sisters the benefit of the doubt instead of automatically assuming their motivation for writing was to insult us personally?

      My husband and I have two sons with Down syndrome. Two of the biggest symptoms of this genetic condition is the shape of their eyes, as well as the presence of what are called “Brushfield spots”. These are white spots scattered around the irises which can make their eyes sparkle in direct light, sometimes unnaturally, giving them an almost “otherworldly” appearance. But it never once occurred to me to take offense at this post because I understand that Elizabeth wasn’t referring to our boys or anyone like them.

      “Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.” Philippians 2:3-4 (NET)
      “A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention.” Proverbs 15:18 (NKJV)
      “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” Proverbs 16:32
      “Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.” Proverbs 19:11 (NLT)

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  5. Thank you, Elizabeth, for this excellent, well-thought out article. I firmly agree with you. She exhibits all the signs of being demonized or demon possessed. It is concerning to me that so many Christian women (and even some men including pastors, sad to say) are being influenced by her and this is a great danger to the Church. I am praying this article will go far and do much to help people see the truth about false teachers in general and Beth Moore in particular.
    When I taught in the inner city, I ran into cases of children who were heavily under the influence of demons. It took prayer and pleading the Blood over them to release them, and thankfully they all did come to salvation. Spiritual warfare is real and in these last moments of the last days we must be prepared for battle. God bless you sister. Keep up the good work!

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  6. Thankyou Elizabeth for an informative article. It does make me wonder about another person I know, but who will remain nameless for the moment.

    Can you explain what you mean by “pleading the blood” ? This seems like a charismatic practice, unless you mean that you are pleading with the person to believe in the redemption that we have through the blood of Jesus.

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      1. I didn’t realise that this was an old Baptist term. I guess it’s in the same sense as 2 Corinthians 5:20, begging sinners to be reconciled with God. Some charismatics plead the blood of Jesus for protection against illness, demons and whatever else.

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      2. well it’s good that you asked, so you can make sure what you read here is solid. I try to maintain a balance between being clear but not too lengthy, and sometimes revert to shorthand phrases for the sake of space. 🙂 I’m not charismatic in any way, shape, or form.

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  7. I commented a photo on your twitter post that I screengrabbed from a video on her Instagram a while back during one of her weird ramblings about carrots. Something is definitely “OFF” with her. It’s almost like she’s on drugs or something. All the baby talk, the bug eyes. Not someone acting in full control of her faculties.

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    1. I remember, and it stayed with me both the comment and the picture. Especially your noticing the baby talk, which I had not known about. Then another lady sent me another one, and between you two and my own observations, I decided to write about it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts back then and now as always!

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  8. Do you really think Matt. 6:22 is speaking of our physical eyes? You think we can look at someone’s physical eyes as a clue to what may or may not be in their soul? Based on this reasoning, what is your assessment of the blind lady who testified at the SCOUS Barrett hearing? The other points you make in your article are very valid, however, the physical appearance of someone’s eyes as a means of discerning their spiritual condition is unbiblical.

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    2. To answer your question, “Do you really think Matt. 6:22 is speaking of our physical eyes?” the verse is speaking of a conflict between light and darkness …what you look at is what you treasure, and manifests itself in dueling interests and priorities. However when we also look at people in the Bible who were possessed, it also speaks to their physical appearance before and after. For example, the Gadarene demoniac was undressed, filthy, bloody, and wild-acting. The Bible shows us that afterward he was dressed and in his right mind. Quite a comparison. When we combine the two ideas, that what you spiritually ‘look at’ your mind and body will follow, and if you are possessed, your body will eventually demonstrate the interior state, you have the point. One follows the other.

      Liked by 2 people

  9. If she is possessed, it is none of our business! She is His, period. How dare you print this nit-picking, mean- spirited critique of anyone, let alone a sister in Christ? Have you not heard we are to “judge not, lest you be judged”? What would Jesus say about your article, or your life for that matter? Please, learn to write things that encourage others in love and good deeds.

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    2. Sheri,
      If Beth is possessed, then it IS absolutely our business because then what she teaches would be from Satan. This critique is not “nit-picking,” rather it is a good summation of what sort of teacher Moore is. I’ve done a lot of research on her myself and have done reports on my blog.

      I don’t agree that she may be possessed; I’m not sure there’s enough evidence for that, but I do think she is certainly influenced by Satan.

      Your abuse of the “judge not lest you be judged” passage demonstrates you don’t understand it. Jesus was taking about hypocritical judgment. All through the N.T. we are called to judge teachers and teachings. Beth’s teachings most of the time do not comport with Scripture, ergo she is a false teacher by evidence.

      We not only write to encourage others but we also follow the dictates of Scripture to warn others of false teachers so others are not taken in by them.

      Liked by 2 people

    3. None of her business? Nit-picking? If my friend, brother, acquaintance, or even enemy had something horrible happen to them, I would make it my business. And you wouldn’t? What is worse than being possessed by a demon? If a self-proclaiming Christian leader, who is teaching millions of people, is possibly suffering, and under the heavy influence of Satan, if not possessed by a demon, then that should be near the top of the list for our business.

      You assume “She is His.” Maybe, but what tells you this. That is quite the judgment. Somewhat ironically, and very pertinently, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 speaks directly to what you mention, and this whole topic:

      For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

      I don’t know if she is saved one way or another, but I see her fruit. I see her teaching. It is increasingly the opposite of Scripture, and even with her own teaching 20 years ago. Something did change. I don’t know if I would go so far as to say she is possessed, or not saved, but it does seem that through her many compromises, her world-embracing ways, and her indulging in mysticism, she has not only opened herself up to the demonic, but she has been “taken captive to do [Satan’s] will.” 2 Timothy 2:26

      Liked by 2 people

  11. Thank you , this was refreshing to see this article. We see so much compromise of late, and so many on the “tone police” rants. This woman has shown us who she is with her fruit. Thank you for standing on truth. God bless you

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  12. You did cherry pick a photo. While here eyes are prominent, only a few have a “crazy eye” look, with yours being the worst. Also putting on clothes and bathing counts as serious physical change to you?

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  13. Pingback: The incident in the Garden instructs us about false teachers – The End Time

  14. Is Beth Moore possessed? Well, the Bible clearly talks about false teachers, but I don’t believe it specifically calls any of them “possessed.”

    However, is Beth Moore operating under the influence of demons (i.e., demonized?). My guess is yes. I think 1 Timothy 4:1 applies: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.”

    Just about any false prophet will be operating under the influence of demons.

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    1. I appreciate your reasoned comment and the use of scripture. I agree with you.

      The Bible depicts many instances of possession. In the OT, (1 Kings 22) the LORD sent a lying spirit in the mouth of “all these prophets” v 20. We see in the NT an echo of that, where a strong delusion will be sent to all the wicked “so that they may believe what is false” v 11.

      We know it’s possible for a demon-possessed person to proclaim near to the truth, as the slave girl following Paul in Acts 16:17 yelled for many days, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”

      I don’t know the specific answer to my question about Moore of course, but false prophets/teachers as I mentioned in the essay, are wicked, already are marked for condemnation, and are anathema. Anyone vessel of wrath would be exposed to satan be used for God’s glory in this demonic way, as the lying spirit was used in the mouth of the prophets in the incident with Ahab. There’s no reason to think that over the course of time that some or even many of these false teachers weren’t invaded by a demon and used to teach falsely in order to carry out what we’ve been told is satan’s agenda. Personally I think it’s likely that she is possessed, if not permanently, at least when she channeled her book, but perhaps on and off at other times, too.

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      1. Hi Elizabeth,

        The verb you mentioned higher up on the page, δαιμονίζομαι, seems to always be translated “possession.” But to my knowledge, it occurs only in the Gospels. So, concerning the false prophets in 1 Kings 22 and the slave girl in Acts, I don’t know if we can actually call those situations outright “possession.” However, those prophets and the slave girl were certainly under either heavy demonic oppression or demonization.

        Anyway, for our purposes here, the distinction probably doesn’t matter that much. 🙂 We both agree that Moore seems to be under the influence of demons. I don’t know whether Moore is saved or not, but it’s not unusual for Christians to be oppressed, and sometimes even demonized. Of course, this is not always a Christian’s fault—often the enemy targets certain Christians in order to stall their progress in Christ. But in the case of someone like Moore, this kind of demonic deception is entered into willingly and intentionally.

        As Jesus said in Matt 7:16, “By their fruits you will know them.” And the fruit that Moore is giving off definitely doesn’t seem to be coming from God. 😉

        Anyway, thanks for the interesting article. Hopefully it will help others to be stay far away from Moore’s teaching.

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