Demonic Derangement Syndrome

Do I have demonic derangement syndrome? Would I know if I did? How is it defined? What causes it? How can I protect myself against it?

What is derangement syndrome?

Derangement Syndrome is an informal, derogatory, and non-clinical term used to describe the acute onset of paranoia or irrational behavior in otherwise normal and balanced people, typically triggered by the mention or actions of a specific political figure or topic. The phrase is associated with "Bush Derangement Syndrome" and "Obama Derangement Syndrome" and "Trump Derangement Syndrome" (TDS).

It can also be applied to religious groups. For example, the Pharisees had “Demonic Derangement Syndrome” directed at Jesus. Their hatred of Him was irrational. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, since this did not line up with their ideology that Jesus was evil, their proposed solution was to kill Jesus (Jn. 11:38-53). They were not open to any evidence that challenged their beliefs.  

I see religious groups today having derangement syndrome toward other religious groups. One example (among many) could be Fundamentalist's rejection of the charismatic movement. Their best way to “kill” the charismatics is to write books about them, seeking to de-platform them by the lies they spread about them.

One symptom of a derangement syndrome is the assumption that they know the motives of others. They decide a person has evil motives, and then they set out to destroy the person's reputation. You can see this behavior in blogs, comments made to blogs, videos, and books. However, only God knows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, and we are instructed to let Him judge the motives: “The LORD weighs the motives” (Prov. 16:2).

A while back I had the unfortunate experience of running across a write-up of a controversy that involved the leadership of Bethel Church. The blog I was reading that was attacking them seethed with pure sarcasm, hatred, the judging of their motives, and desire to destroy them. The comments to the blog were even worse. After reading a bit, I found it made me sick to my stomach. I quit reading and felt defiled and disgusted that “believers” would act this way. These “believers” felt they were doing God a favor as they killed the prophets using the tools of accusation and slander and deception, yet they only knew part of the story. I knew more pieces of the story, and it was nothing like they were suggesting.

Where does demonic derangement syndrome come from?  

“They did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” (2 Thess. 2:10-12).

Journaling: Mark, I place within all of mankind a love for the truth. It is an instinct at birth. It is the desire to do what is right. It is one’s conscience. This is My gift to ALL of mankind at birth (Rom. 2:14,15). Yes, many pressures work against this love for the truth and seek to draw them away. These include the desires of the flesh, the attacks of satan, and evil in the world. Even religion can become demonic (Jn. 8:44-47), and damage the faith of young believers (Matt. 18:6,7). This ought not to be. However, since the fall in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3) this is the situation.

Even you, as a child, were drawn away from Me by the view of Christianity presented to you by your “church.” That group was filled with much legalism and error which turned your heart away from Me. However, you remember well the night I chased you down and brought you into My kingdom. I used the one tool that could convince your heart. That was fear of going into eternity without Me. I have many tools I can use to bring people to Me. I will use whatever tool is necessary to get through to each individual. You responded to the angel speaking My message over and over in your mind. You chose that night to come follow Me. You received My truth. You responded to My love. Rest assured, I DO call ALL to come follow Me (Jn. 3:16-21). Some do not respond.

What happens to the person who does not embrace a love for the truth

“They did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false” (2 Thess. 2:10-12).

Journaling: Mark, the deluding influence is demons, so they end up believing the lie, rather than believing the truth. There are no vacuums in the spirit world. Areas My light does not fill are quickly filled with satan’s darkness. That is why you are called children of the light and are to walk in the light (Eph. 5:8). That is why you are informed that the light within you continues to get brighter and brighter, until the dawning of the full day of Christ in your heart (2 Pet. 1:18,19). I am the Father of lights (Jas. 1:17). You are children of the light (Eph. 5:8). You are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14).

Traits of those with demonic derangement syndrome

When demons take over, one manifests the traits of satan and his demonic hosts. For example, you will see the following traits in the hearts of the deceived:

1. Judging and accusation of others' heart motives: For example, look at satan’s temptation of Eve. Satan suggested that God’s motivation toward Eve was to harm her or hold her back from her full potential. In reality, God had pure motives. He was offering Eve the best life, one of living forever and communing with God daily. 
2. Lies and deception – satan speaks partial truth and partial error. Satan said, “You will be like gods” (Gen. 3), but the full truth is that by seeking to ascend to the place of God, you also terminate and destroy your life. Satan didn’t mention this other result.

I think it is safe to assume that most of the time we are NOT being told the full story, so don’t get all hot and bothered about situations until you have journaled about them and God has told you His perspective and His posture toward the event. It is almost always very different from my perspective and my posture. Journaling allows me to step from man’s thoughts to God’s thoughts and be refreshed again and again (Isa. 55:9).

The list of demonic traits goes on. You can add to these all the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 2:2,3; 2 Pet. 2).

Question: Do I see the above traits of demonic derangement syndrome in myself?

How did Jesus respond to people with demonic derangement syndrome?

Setting: The Pharisees were sons of the devil (Jn. 8:44). Their hearts were hardened against Jesus (Jn. 12:37-40). They had demonic derangement syndrome directed at Jesus. Jesus did not try to use logic or reason with them. They were too far gone. When you and I encounter a person under a spirit of delusion (demonized), trying to reason with them will be of NO AVAIL! They are under demonic delusion. Reasoning with a demon gets you nowhere.

Jesus was asked, "Why do You speak to them (Pharisees) in parables?" Jesus answered … "Whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL" (Matt. 13:10-17). 

Jesus said "whoever does not have" (i.e. the Pharisees no longer had their God-given gift of a "love for the truth" which God had provided to them at birth). So the next step is "even what he has shall be taken away from him." So yes, even the ability to see and hear and think clearly was now removed from them. They were now delusional, demonically-deranged individuals with seared consciences, and hearts that were hardened and dull. They were hardened in their sinful ways.

A couple more stories of demonic derangement syndrome

Some media outlets would appear to be under demonic derangement syndrome as the vast majority of their articles and newscasts are directed at accusations and half-truths and outright lies. I choose to avoid these entirely. Instead, I read the “Coffee and Covid” blog. This morning email provides a review of events of the last 24 hours provided by Jeff Childers, a Spirit-filled lawyer who speaks using down-to-earth language and shares the big picture perspective superior to what I normally see. Plus he makes it fun.

I ran across a one-minute video put-down of Mark Virkler. The video included me speaking one sentence where I said I trusted my heart. This was followed by them quoting the verse that “the heart is evil…” (Jer. 17:9), demonstrating that I was a false teacher for saying it is OK to trust your heart. So I did put in the “comment section” of that blog, “Thank God, I no longer have an evil heart because I now have a NEW heart and a NEW spirit, which is joined to the Holy Spirit and I am now a partaker of the divine nature and my new heart is trustworthy (Ezek. 36:26; 2 Pet. 1:4)."

I watched to see if they would respond to my comment and perhaps reach out to dialogue with me or to remove their accusative video. They did neither. I see no reason to engage them any further. If they were seeking the truth and open to logic, Scripture, or the biblical approach to handling issues, they would have responded. Actually they should have contacted me first before publishing an accusation about me (Matt. 18:15-18).

I don’t fear for my reputation because God told me years ago that Jesus made Himself of no reputation (Phil. 2:7-10), and I was to release my reputation to God, and allow Him to return it to me whenever He wanted and in whatever condition He wanted. I did that. I am at peace. All is well. I believe God rules (Ps. 22:28; 59:13; 66:7; 103:19; Dan. 4:26; Isa. 45:5-7).

Journaling application

• Lord Jesus, has my heart become dull? Am I living according to all the truth You have revealed to me?
• Lord, have I allowed You to step into the hurts of my past, and show me the gift You produced in my life through them, giving me a NEW perspective that produces forgiveness and gratitude?
• Am I listening to any people or groups who are under the spirit of delusion of demonic derangement syndrome? If so, what would You have me do?

Hearing God's voice is as simple as: 1) quieting down (Ps. 62:1-5), 2) beholding Jesus at my right hand (Ps. 16:8; Acts 2:25), 3) asking for His revelation and tuning to flowing thoughts and flowing pictures (Jn. 7:37-39; Jer. 2:13), and 4) recording this flow (Hab. 2:1,2; Rev. 1:9-11). I then test it, ensuring it lines up with Scripture (Ps. 1:2; Jn. 10:35; 1 Thess. 5:2;) and is affirmed in the hearts of my three spiritual advisors (2 Cor. 13:1; Prov. 11:14). See this link.

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