Bondage Breaker

"The Bondage Breaker: Overcoming Negative Thoughts, Irrational Feelings, Habitual Sins" by Neil T. Anderson.
The purpose of this book is “to clarify the nature of spiritual conflicts and outline how they can be solved in Christ” (13). Neil T. Anderson based the Biblical truths and his experiences to prove all his discussions and writings which I believe will be effective in overcoming the bondage of Satan.
In the first chapter, Anderson talks about how a Christian who is saved can be deceived by his or her worldview. These demonic forces give misconceptions to believers so that the spirituality of the believers will be weaken and become bondage to the power of Satan. Moreover, he also remains us that there are psychological as well as spiritual problems of the people. The most important thing Christians must understand is that the word of God is our authority and power over these satanic forces.
In chapter two, Anderson has mentioned about a paradigm shift of the worldview of the West to the so called “New Age movement.” The eastern practices of supernatural power are increasingly attractive to the West. Thus, there are more supernatural exercises in the western society than the past. People are being misled by this idea that they can be gods themselves. As Dr. Paul Hiebert has pointed out, we should not ignore the activity of evil forces.
In chapter three, the author discussed about our privileges in Christ Jesus. We are children of God and partakers of the divine nature. Sometime we forget our identity in Christ and condemn ourselves. Satan is a liar. Obviously, there is constant fighting between our desiring to do the will of God and to follow our sinful nature. The Apostle Paul himself struggled. I agree with Anderson that we must control our minds and thoughts in order not to sin and become the bondage of sin.
In Chapter four, Anderson has explained us the advantages and disadvantages of confronting the satanic forces. It is true that we should not be proud of or rejoiced just like the disciples by casting out demons but we must give glory to God because we do not have the ability to do it by our own. It is only by the power of God. The author has explained it well by sharing testimonies and the Scriptures. In Chapter five, as the author said, once we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have both spiritual and physical enemies. Thus, protecting ourselves with the full armor of God, reading the word of God and prayer will be essential for us. Prayer is one of our Christian spiritual weapons. It is also the spiritual air that we breathe to mature in Christ.
In dealing with evil forces in people in chapter six, the author has described some effective strategies to understand how to confront and communicate with a person by the name of Jesus Christ powerfully. Anderson has proved his explanations about the personality of demons and their activities based on the word of God. It is true that supernatural powers can trick people in many ways. Because of our human tendency to acquire supernatural power for some reasons, some people are physically and spiritually demonized so much so that they could not go back to their normal life. The author is informing us in the chapter seven that there are medium, spiritist, witchcraft, palm reader, psychic, and fortune-teller who are very active in the society. Even in the Old Testament God has instructed the people of Israelites not to involve in these paganistic worship practices and beliefs.
Anderson has profoundly shown us the three basic temptations, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life, which Christians are facing in our daily life. He has explained the concept of temptation by the Scriptures and his experiences. Even Jesus our Lord was tempted by Satan and why not we. But we can resist and overcome the temptation of Satan by the powerful word of God in Christ Jesus. In chapter nine, Anderson talks about the accusations of Satan to our life and the danger of believing his accusation. Many times in our Christian life we fail God but we have to confess our sin so that God will forgive and strengthen us. We should not just believe whatever we hear because Satan is accusing Christians to self deception. We are righteous in Christ Jesus before God.
He also mentioned the disadvantages of not obeying what the Bible says in our daily basic. Satan gets a chance when we ignore and compromise the word of God. In chapter ten, the author is informing us to be aware of false teachers, prophets and pretenders in the churches in order not to be disguised by them. We need spiritual discernment.
In chapter eleven, the author encourages us to control our thoughts, behaviors, speeches, and feelings so that Satan can not creep into our heart just like Peter and Annias and Sapphira in the Bible. So we must live a true and holy life before God. The steps of boldly taking freedom in Christ in chapter twelve are essential for our Christian life. Anderson has laid step by step procedures based on the Scriptures to resist the devil and live powerfully in Christ by prayers, dedications, declaration and submission.
When we do counseling it is important to confront every evil force with the truth of the word of God. Anderson has placed what we should keep in mind when counseling people in chapter thirteen. His counseling procedures are effective strategies to help people free from the bondage of Satan. Ministering the whole person is crucial in counseling.
It will be difficult for people who do not believe in the reality of the demonic forces active in the society. However, the reality is that they are so active in that millions of people are being disguised by the demonic ideology and control. As Christian we should not afraid to encounter but to live courageously believing that we are in Christ who has all authority and power in heavens and on earth. Since believers are the most wanted people whom Satan wants to attack we should preach and teach the word of God in the churches and in the families. I believe that most of the people who are having self deception are started from the family.
I have seen people who are attacked and possessed by the evil forces in my place. As Anderson mentioned, there are some people being used by the supernatural forces so that the demons spoke through him or her. Neil T. Anderson has communicated effectively and profoundly by teaching us in this book. Moreover, he has given us practical truths and examples which we need to be aware of in dealing with people who are one way or another controlled by the satanic forces. We should not be intimidated by these evil forces when encountering with them because Jesus Christ has already defeated the power of the kingdom of darkness on the cross of Calvary. We must declare and know our identity in Christ Jesus so that we will overcome every temptation in life.
The general flow of thoughts of the book has communicated and taught what the author wanted to deal and convey but some ideas are illogical to my understanding. Can a Christian be demon possessed? Can a person be controlled by demons without allowing them to control? Is the self deception concept be the only reason for demonization? According to Anderson, it seems to me that Christians can be possessed by the devil at the same time they are in Christ Jesus. Were those people whom he dealt with are committed Christians? Or did they really experience and receive the assurance of salvation in Christ? I think we should question ourselves if there is something wrong about our relationship with God and ask forgiveness and repent for what we did.
How can I carry the cross of Christ? (36) Even though I am in Christ and Christ is in me, I could never carry the cross of Christ. In Matthew 16: 24, Jesus said to His disciples, “if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Jesus Christ himself said that “take up his cross” but not My cross.
In Asia, it is believed that there are certain places and areas where satanic forces dwell. Since it is pluralistic religious societies and cultures, every one understands it. But how can a westerner who does not have a concept of ghost or spirit understand the territorial spirits? The author mentioned that 15 percent of the evangelical Christian will be completely free of satanic bondage. (107) Do you believe this information? It seems to me that he knows every person’s spiritual journey and that he is accusing 85 percent who are still struggling. Can we really say the statistical percentage of people who are completely free from the attack of demons?
Is it true that temptations are to invite and live independently of God? Who is tempting us? Look at the life of Job, God allowed Satan to test his faith and absolute dependency upon God. It was not to live independently of God. It is to realize the need for us to totally depend and trust in God. As I read through the book page by page, Anderson has shared many of his experiences encountering with believers who said they lost their salvation because of unpardonable sins that they have committed. My question is that does Anderson believe in losing salvation in Christ?
I appreciate Anderson for frankly sharing his mistakes and wild experiences because they have testified that he as human being has weakness and unprepared for a certain degree that he must absolutely depend on the word of God in Jesus Christ. And I also want to suggest that when performing counseling, there must be some one beside the counselor and the counselee in the office because we need to have accountability and credibility of what we are doing. The counseling steps and asking a counselee’s background information will be also helpful because you will encounter different kinds of people with different problems in their lives.
First, obviously enough, the westerners are searching for supernatural power and satanic performances that we even can watch on television, movie and newspaper. (27ff) There will be a lot of people who are suffering under the control of these evil forces. I appreciate Anderson for pointing out the problem of acquiring supernatural knowledge and power because the desire for power is an expression of the influence of satanic forces. (34) This idea has interrelated the whole theme of this book. Wanting to become a god has demonstrated the interrelationship of whole idea of this book.
Second, “he knows if he can control your thought, he can control you behavior.”(53) This idea also has an interrelationship idea with the purpose of writing this book. Most of the author’s illustrations and experiences have demonstrated that people are controlled by demons because they cannot control their thoughts.
Third, Anderson has presented some biblical truths about our identity in Christ (213-4). His approaches here also show the whole idea of dealing with self-deception and demonic people with the word of God in Christ. I personally thank him for his excellent work for gathering these important statements from the word of God. The appendices are also useful information for our identity and position in Christ.
First, as a human being, somehow or some points I experienced blaming myself comparing with other people or not performing what I should perform in the ministry. As Anderson mentioned on page 18, I have a tendency to doubt myself. Whenever I prayed my mind was full of my daily planning and needs in life. But this book enlivened and reminded my identity in Christ. I agree with Anderson that there are many Christians who are experiencing what I have experienced. Anderson is correct in saying that “nothing is more foundational to your freedom from Satan’s bondage than understanding and affirming what God has done for you in Christ and who you are as a result.”(42)
Second, the seventy “returned with joy and, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (Luke 10:17).(58-9) Sometime, some pastors and evangelists have a tendency to show off a God-given power by force but nothing happens. Jesus commanded us not to enjoy for casting our demons but rather to enjoy for our names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:19-20) We should not boast our ministries and services for the Lord. God hates a prideful heart. We should take Jesus Christ, our Lord as the excellent example in our ministry.
Third, animistic cultural beliefs have also somehow influenced the worldview of the people so that people interpret their dreams based on their superstition, consult palm reader, fortuneteller, and so on. Even some people who professed to be Christian consult these palm readers, astrologers, and fortuneteller to receive the result of their problems. Thus, “understanding the spiritual nature of our world should have a profound effect on your (our) evangelistic strategy.” (91)
Fourth, since there are all kinds of teachings and information in the world, we should not believe whatever we hear (141-2). We should study the word of God and compare whether his or her teaching is based on the truth. Feeling is dangerous for determining the truth. People go where they feel good. Feeling does not last long.
Neil T. Anderson has dealt with the practical negative deceptions of human beings which blur our freedom and victory in Christ Jesus. His biblical supports and counseling procedures give how to defeat and resist the satanic temptations and attacks. His experiences are so powerful. In this book, the author does not really acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit who is revealing the truth and empowering him in the ministry.