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It was bound to happen. One political leader after another has capitulated on the marijuana legalization issue, including our ex-pot-head President. I suppose it was only a matter of time before certain Christian leaders would follow. Some would rather not be seen as the Carrie Nation-kind, striving for what they think is a pointless Prohibition. Others decry the incarceration of too many youth, thrown into prisons for possession, only to learn how to be career criminals. Those who formerly opposed the legalization of pot, like the Republican Party have votes in mind. Some in the Tea Party are expressing Libertarian sentiments. But some Christian Leaders such as Mark DeMoss and Pat Robertson seem to be testing the waters of evangelical opinion. So, if there are any are questions about where I stand on the legalization of recreational weed, the answer is NO, NO, NO! (Legitimate medical use as a controlled substance monitored by the medical community, not pseudo-medical head shops, is another matter.)

Consumption will be directly proportional to the degree of legalization. Which drugs addicts will be deterred because their source of getting high is suddenly easier to obtain? The Centers for Disease Control calculate that excessive drinking costs the United States $223.5 billion annually and the government pays more than 60 percent of these health care costs. And we should add marijuana to that mix? Of course alcohol is a worse problem than pot, as Mr. Obama argues. THAT’S BECAUSE IT’S LEGAL! Legalize marijuana across the country and the next generation will be . . .  I don’t even want to think about it. Among cannabis users in treatment in the United States, 80.5% are not married, 90% have obtained an education of 12 years or less; 25% are unemployed (too stoned). Of the cannabis users who entered treatment services from 2000 to 2008, nearly a quarter report psychiatric problems.

I’ve dealt with the issues of weed’s physical and mental impairments before (“Obama on Pot” January 22, 2014 – to read CLICK HERE). But my point in this blog is that anyone involved in addiction rehabilitation or intervention ministry knows all too well the dangers of legalizing marijuana. Ironically, the same time that noted evangelicals are soft-peddling pot, the CVS Pharmacy chain announced that it would stop selling cigarettes by the end of the year! What kind of moral schizophrenia is gripping our country? Hardly a day goes by that I don’t deal with someone bound by demons and addictions, and the majority began down that road with the purple haze of pot. This isn’t an issue of just another culture war. This is a battle for the soul of America. Based on nearly four decades of deliverance I can tell you that Jack Daniels may or may not get you a demon, but the risk of invasion by an evil spirit is multiplied many fold with every toke taken.  We have a society on the edge of moral collapse Must we seek rationales for legalizing yet one more highway to hell?

The media buzz continues. Since the CNN story two weeks ago about Skype exorcisms, worldwide media has bombarded me wanting to know about Skype exorcisms. Under that guise, a reporter for a major online site try to prank me. He purported to donate real money toward our ministry for serious time with me to have an exorcism. His deception was pretty obvious, but I elected to consider the possibility that the plight he described of childhood sexual abuse might be legitimate. With that assumption, I ministered to him as I would anyone else who was genuine and aboveboard. Here is part of the email I sent him at the end of our time:

I want to follow up our time together. I realize that you were less than forthright about who you are and the possible intentions of your call. Several times I referred to the fact that this might be a possible ruse just to let you know that any misrepresentation on your part would invalidate the entire process. Several things that you said were dead giveaways and very transparent, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt in case you personally were in genuine need. Much of your story was inconsistent, but I chose to accept you at face value. If you lied about the facts of your life, it’s a sad commentary on any kind of journalism done with deception. If you were, by chance, being sincere about what you told me, then I will respect your privacy and not reveal details of our conversation publicly. And I will be willing to help your further for a time at no additional expense to you. On the other hand, should any part of our time together appear in any public format, we may take whatever legal action may be appropriate. I in no way consented to any recording of our conversation in any format, and the appropriate statues would apply to this.

Two thoughts: first, why would I do anything like this? Even though this man was deceptive I had no way of knowing if, in spite of his ill motives, whether or not some facts that he shared might be true.  Perhaps, what he meant for evil God could mean for good by my helping him. I’ve had people try to fool me before, and they actually ended up manifesting demons much to their surprise. But the saddest commentary on what happened is the ruse, if it was that, of claiming sexual abuse.  Molestation and sexual violence is all too common in our culture, and it’s not a funny matter.  It’s far too serious to use as some kind of trap to “expose” an exorcist. I haven’t heard back from this man. I don’t expect to until his article appears. Such attacks come with the territory of stepping outside of the box for the Lord.  For the next reporter who tries such an unscrupulous tactics, I suggest you find a different scenario rather than claiming predatory abuse. That kind of ploy is too demeaning to real victims of sexual crime.

The Chinese are coming, the Chinese are coming. The last time I was there (climbing the Great Wall on my birthday-Wow!) I was a bit overwhelmed at the pace with which the largest nation on earth is progressing. The economic powerhouse of Peking is about to become the mightiest power on the planet. With Washington in the political doldrums, China is surging past the U.S. So what’s next? American’s aren’t likely to exchange Big Macs for egg rolls or Apples for Lenovos (disclosure-I’m typing this on a Lenovo), but the behind-the-scenes ownership of American icons may eventually be communist controlled. Picture restrooms in airports with signs in Chinese characters. Wells Fargo with a dragon replacing a stagecoach. Seriously, my issue isn’t with corporate takeover but the spiritual aspects of the Chinese effect.

An article in The Economist (my personal favorite news magazine) argues of the future, “China’s power will make itself felt in every aspect of American life.” Here’s the rub. Granted, The People’s Republic of China is officially atheistic, but religion is very much alive. Missions experts have speculated that there may be more born-again Christians in China (mostly worshiping underground) than in the U.S. A. But my concern is that China is a profoundly superstitious and occult culture, filled with demonic ritualism. Some American architects, like their counterparts in Hong Kong, already consider Feng Shui when erecting an edifice. (In Hong Kong no office or residence would ever be built without consulting a Feng Shui master and appeasing the metaphysical energies of chi.) What happens if the Chinese investor in an American skyscraper insists on occult ceremonies before the ground is broken? That is just one of a thousand subtle ways that the America of the future may be overcome by Chinese culture. I’m not Xenophobic but with our country already succumbing more every day to New Age ideas, such as “holy yoga” in churches, who knows where it will lead. Conspiratorialists of another age were worried that the Antichrist was the Pope, or Hitler. Who knows, he may speak Mandarin.

It has been a wild week! First, a week ago tonight, CNN’s “Anderson Cooper AC360” show featured a story about our ministry doing deliverance by Skype on the Internet. That infuriated our critics, including some Catholic exorcists. Some evangelical Christians who believe that the ministry of casting out demons died with the apostolic age vented their fury. Meanwhile, national and international media went into high gear. Stories about our ministry appeared on Huffington Post, the Drudge Report, the New York Daily News, TheBlaze.com, French TV (with whom I did an interview last night), CNN Latino, UK Sunday Herald (most read newspaper in Scotland), Vocativ.com, a top Greek news web site, numerous (maybe hundreds) of local TV stations – that’s just a partial list. I and my staff have been handling scores and scores of media requests all week. As I pointed out the past couple of days, I didn’t seek this, it sought me. The Skype exorcism was inadvertent, not planned as some kind of promotion. But through it all God has been getting the glory as the one who sets people free. In this one week alone, millions around the world have been faced with the fact that Satan is alive and well, and Jesus overcomes him when we confront the devil in the name of Jesus.

I appealed yesterday for those who do support this ministry to encourage us. I have been deeply touched by the response that has flooded our office. I wish I could let you read every email, but here are a few excerpted quotes:

• I have been to your sessions and been so blessed to be taught by you. I was a demonized woman and have been set free and now minister as a pastoral counselor. You are the real thing. I have also done several counseling cases by Skype. Delora
• The Lord used you as His servant to minister a lot of deliverance and inner healing inside of me. Be encouraged although this trash talk is out there against your ministry. I love you brother Bob!!!!!!!!!! Rebecca
• Keep doing what you’re doing. Thank you for all you have taught me. You changed MY LIFE!!! Libby
• We have had family and individual encounters with you. You brought me to the place of childhood pain and I was delivered from oppression and generational curses. You ministry is critical to the success of my family, every family. Kathy

Some comments haven’t been so nice:

• Why do you have the hubris and narcissistic belief that you can cast out demons via Skype? They will expose you as a fraud and fake. You are just another money hungry opportunist and you will be judged one day. Brian
• Anyone offering a demon test in exchange for money is himself a demon. May God curse you and your lies. Terry (NOTE: Our web site demontest.com does charge a small processing fee to develop and maintain the site.)

Wow, our ministry has obviously hit a raw nerve. There are many other quotes I’ll be sharing in the near future, but one thing is certain. People are talking, the media is buzzing, and lives are being changed. Last night I had an encounter with a man who is involved in many demonic New Age cults. He bought a Bible at a Goodwill store and opened it a random and read 2 Cor. 10:3-5. That’s when he remembered seeing me on TV, and immediately called our offices to set up an appointment. His demons are powerful and threatening. They cursed and tried to intimidate me. They bragged, “We’re going to get him to kill himself, and take a few people with him.” Because of our intervention and God’s grace this man will not be another news headline of violence! Isn’t that what this ministry is really all about? Why can’t the critics see that? If you do, I’d still love to hear from you at 303-980-1511 or bob@boblarson.org.

An encouraging word:  GOD VINDICATES

We’ve all felt at one time or another that we were unjustly treated or misunderstood. If you’ve read my blogs this week, that’s what I’ve been experiencing; but I am encouraged by David’s words in Psalm 17:2: May my vindication come from you [God], may your eyes see what is right. When you feel you’ve been harshly judged or wrongly accused, release your hurt to the Lord. He judges all things fairly by a divine standard. It is better to be vindicated by God than to be falsely praised by men.

One would have thought I advocated some sinister plot against Christianity. All I did was allow the cameras of CNN to film me conducting an exorcism on the Internet, via Skype – as reported last Friday night on “Anderson Cooper 360.” Much of the furor was generated by an article that appeared on the web site Vocative, replayed throughout the media such as The Drudge Report and TheBlaze.com. In yesterday’s blog I countered by pointing out that I have been doing Skype exorcisms for a long time, and the CNN report on this issue was inadvertent, not some hatched, Internet “scam,” as was suggested. Vocative quoted the Reverend Isaac Kramer, director of the International Catholic Association of Exorcists. Said Kramer, “If a person is fully possessed, the demon inside of them will not let them sit in front of the computer screen to be exorcised. Chances are, they’re going to throw the computer screen across the room and destroy everything.” Since he’s never done a Skype exorcism (and frankly we don’t know if he’s ever done an exorcism), how would he know? First, when people manifest on Skype they can get physical, move out of camera range, and even shut down the signal. We work through that, and I always try to have a family member or friend present. Second, I appreciate the Catholic Rituale Romanun; that ancient rite is a wonderful guide but it isn’t the only way an exorcism can be done. Finally, since I’m not an ordained Catholic priest, approved by a Bishop, by Vatican standards I am “unqualified” no matter what I do with deliverance. Fortunately, most Catholic exorcists are not so dogmatic about the way God uses other Christians to minister in Christ’s Name.

Kramer concludes his objections by saying, “it would be like trying to perform a Baptist on someone through the telephone.” (Very poor analogy. Of course you can’t baptize by phone since physical presence is necessary.) Kramer adds: “Why modernize something that’s already been perfected?” Do I detect a bit of pride? Perfected? Hardly. Satan’s devices are constantly being adapted to our age (for example, Internet porn), so why should the Church refuse to take reasonable advantage of modern technology? Even the Pope has a twitter account. And remember, Jesus cast out demons long-distance (Matthew 15 — the Canaanite woman).

As I did yesterday, I issue an appeal for those who have been helped by this ministry through deliverance and inner healing. Please take a moment and email me your thoughts at: bob@boblarson.org  or call 303-980-1511. If you’ve witnessed an exorcism in one of our seminars and your life was touched as a result, we would appreciate hearing from you with a testimony and word of encouragement. And if you are in need of an exorcism or prayers of deliverance, via Skype, phone, or in person, please call 303-980-1511. Check the Personal Encounters section above for locations where we can help you on-on-one. This ministry is under attack and we appreciate your prayers and financial support.

An encouraging word:  STATE OF THE MARRIAGE UNION

In President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night he said that one of the investments America needs to make is in “a child’s life . . . quality education.” That is a worthy investment but certainly not the best. The answer to our problems as a country would be better solved by a solid investment in marriages and family, strengthening the core of a youngster’s existence. Children with two, happily married, godly Christian parents are likely to be successful in life. Children from broken homes are more prone to suffer dysfunction and addiction. By all means let’s educate our children well, but as a nation we need to focus more on the state of the marriage union.

I have no idea what the photo above represents. An exorcism, maybe? The headline below it is a jab at me. “Worthless?” Ask the many in bondage to demons who have done Skype exorcisms with me, and who have been set free. “Full-Time Exorcists?” In the article I am about to reference, I have no idea who qualifies. The article in a web site called Vocative was generated by my appearance last Friday night on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360.” CNN-TV flew in a crew from New York and Atlanta to report on our ministry. Neither I nor CNN had planned the story around Skype exorcisms, but I happened to have one scheduled the day they filmed. The producer and interviewer were so fascinated with what they saw that Skyping to get rid of demons became the theme of the story.

The article accuses me of using the CNN interview to “advertise” some newly developed technique of Internet exorcisms. The truth is that I’ve been doing exorcisms by Internet conferencing for years and never thought of it as anything unusual. Just yesterday, the day this article came out, I did a Skype exorcism of a man wonderfully delivered from a Baal demon. Of course, it’s always better to do any ministry face-to-face. But for those in other countries (I do Skype exorcisms all over the world from Australia to Africa, India to Europe.), getting help by Internet is the next best thing to being there.

The article also calls it an “Internet scam.” Those who are aware of the long and credible history of this ministry know the integrity and legitimacy of our efforts to bring healing and deliverance. (Interestingly, the people who wrote the article slamming me never bothered to contact me for comment, a practice legitimate journalism follows – give the primary source a chance to respond.) Instead they spoke to people such as author Thomas Allen, who wrote Possessed, supposedly about a series of exorcisms in 1949. Allen, whom the article never says ever performed a single exorcism himself, declared confidently, “An exorcism is a religious rite. Neither Skype nor the Internet could possibly be used.” A reader of the article, who goes by the name Ted, posted: As a professional exorcist of over twelve years experience, with 100% perfect results, I have helped several of Bob Larson’s victims. As for Catholic exorcisms, they are a joke. Their so-called ‘holy water’, special prayers, big crosses and other junk that they use, make the spirits laugh. In one fell swoop this individual claims that those you see on our YouTube exorcism channel (CLICK HERE if you want to watch.) are “victims” and that his efforts to expel demons are “perfect.” Slamming the Catholic Church is shameful and disingenuous. It is Catholic priest who kept this ancient spiritual tradition alive, long after other Christians abandoned it! I’ll have more to say about this controversy tomorrow.

For now, I issue an appeal for those who have been helped by this ministry through deliverance and inner healing. Please take a moment and email me your thoughts at: bob@boblarson.org  or call 303-980-1511. If you’ve witnessed an exorcism in one of our seminars and your life was touched as a result, we would appreciate hearing from you with a testimony and word of encouragement. And if you are in need of an exorcism or prayers of deliverance, via Skype, phone, or in person, please call 303-980-1511. Check the Personal Encounters section above for locations where we can help you on-on-one. This ministry is under attack and we appreciate your prayers and financial support.

An encouraging word:  ANSWERING YOUR CHRISTIAN CRITICS

My blog today is about some vicious attacks leveled at me by Christians. It happens a lot. How do I handle it? One way is to remember what Nehemiah said while rebuilding the temple. His critics insisted that he stop his God-appointed mission and answer their accusations. He answered, “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” This happened five times. (The devil is persistent.) Reasonable questions should be answered, but the attacks of Satan are only worth the response Nehemiah gave. Say it kindly, but say it firmly, “No!”

An encouraging word:  LET GOD SEARCH YOUR HEART

“I The Lord search the heart and examine the mind” (Jeremiah 17:10). Have you ever thought about that? There is nothing in your soul which the Lord doesn’t know. Every thought, each aspiration, every temptation you’re allowed. If God examines our minds, how much more should we be careful to guard everything that enters the world of our imagination. Take inventory today of what you’ve allowed into your heart and by examination get rid of what’s not pleasing to God, before He who knows your heart finds it necessary to chasten your mind.

Last Friday night, worldwide TV network CNN featured our ministry in a special report on the show “Anderson Cooper 360.” CNN flew in personnel from New York and Atlanta to spend two days examining our ministry. Veteran journalist Gary Tuchman covered the story which was shown on the Friday night airing of AC/360. In addition to lengthy interviews, Mr. Tuchman asked to see an exorcism in action. My schedule that day included a Skype exorcism, and the individual gave permission for the media to film it. The CNN web site carried this explanation: The idea of exorcisms in this day and age certainly sounds strange and unusual, but they do happen. If you are thinking of scenes out of movies, maybe instead you should be thinking about video conferencing on Skype. At least one reverend is conducting exorcisms on-line. Gary Tuchman got a firsthand look. (The entire report can be seen at http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2014/01/24/skype-exorcisms/?hpt=ac_bn1 )

During the interview I explained, “In simple terms, an exorcism is the process of expelling an evil spirit from an individual who has become somehow invaded or demonized or possessed by that being, and sending it back to hell and freeing the person.” CNN’s cameras recorded the Skype exorcism of a man from Norway named David, possessed by four demons, including Leviathan. The demon persistently threatened me with chilling curses, which I repeatedly canceled by the blood of Christ. “We will kill everyone,” the demon growled. Tuchman interviewed David who was remarkably changed after the hour-long exorcism.

This was ground-breaking — the first time an internet exorcism has been performed before world media. Many millions of people witnessed this dramatic encounter with evil, and CNN fairly presented the story, free of any sarcasm or ridicule. We thank CNN for this provocative report and the respectful way they edited the footage.

To the friends and partners of our ministry, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving us this amazing opportunity to bear witness to Christ’s power. If is your faithful support which has opened such doors. This is my pulpit, my mission field, my congregation – millions being touched by the Gospel around the world via secular media. I don’t seek nor do I curry such opportunities. God’s blessing and favor has opened doors that no man can shut.

If I ministered deliverance in every mega-church in America for an entire year, I couldn’t reach as many people as I did last Friday night on CNN. Your prayers and financial support are effective and far-reaching. Every gift is multiplied dramatically to reach those outside the church who are in need of salvation and deliverance. As you pray about the gift you will share today, remember that you and I have open doors never given to any other ministry, a sacred trust we will use wisely by God’s grace.