Neil Anderson Critique: Bondage Breaker Essay Example

this, Christians must take action. Anderson (1993) compares this to being in the military and relying on tanks and missiles but neglecting to wear a helmet (1993, p.93). In other words, Christians must not underestimate Satan's power despite having protection from God. The writer proposes that there is work to be done in understanding and implementing the concept of "taking up the armour of God" as discussed in the Holy Bible's book of Ephesians. Moving into the second portion of the book, Anderson (1993) delves deeper into Satan's schemes and tactics targeting a person's thoughts and wickedness in chapter seven; including their ability to exist within or outside our world (Anderson, 1993, p.116).In Chapter 10 of his book, Anderson (1993) discusses the persistent lies of Satan that take root in one's mind and eventually become accepted as truth. He also explores how deception can subtly infiltrate a person's mind, dominating their life. The final part of the book focuses on the freedom found through Christ, which many are unaware they possess. Anderson explains that to rid oneself of negative forces fueled by diabolic influences, prayer is the first step, along with acknowledging past or present non-Christian activities and renouncing them completely. Recognizing the deception one has believed is another step, for which Anderson provides Bible passages and sample prayers to aid individuals in this process. Seeking forgiveness for others is then encouraged as the third step. These sections provide detailed explanations for areas of pride, rebellion, and ultimately ensuring success in this process.

One concern I have with this theory of Satan's attacks on Christians is its lack of clear scriptural support according to Anderson (1993).

While he states that Christians are free through Christ but still influenced by Satan, his position on this matter remains unclear.Although I acknowledge the Bible's guidance on being vigilant of Satan's influence and demons residing within us, I have reservations about agreeing with Anderson's perspective (1993, p.118). Doubts arise from his interpretive approach that raises questions about his comprehension of scripture. It perplexes me how demonic forces can persist if Christ sacrificed himself to grant us freedom. While I am not wholly opposed to this notion, it prompts me to reevaluate my position and conduct further research. Furthermore, this viewpoint's potential unacceptability gives rise to concerns regarding its exploitative use in everyday life. It becomes easy for individuals to perceive every misfortune as a manifestation of Satan's opposition. Over time, they may even attribute their own sins to Satan based on biblical teachings. However, God expects honesty and self-reflection from his people; thus, I must avoid falling into the trap of solely blaming Satan without truly examining my personal struggles. Despite these considerations, I found the book enjoyable and would recommend it as my preferred reading since it provides a fresh perspective on our dark world.Before reading this book, I had limited understanding of the biblical foundation for this subject, despite it being a topic with various theological perspectives. Anderson's viewpoints on spiritual attacks resonated with me, and I was surprised by the evidence he presented to support his theories. Furthermore, his insights into the influence of new age spiritual forces in today's world intrigued me greatly. This knowledge is particularly important as many individuals now turn to these sources for guidance. Personally, my faith

journey has been shaped to some extent by acknowledging Satan's assaults on Earth and our spiritual connection with God. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and intend to explore its content further in the future.

Realizing that moments of confusion or feeling lost may be attributed to religious conflicts is enlightening, but I am uncomfortable using it as an excuse. Therefore, before accepting it as truth, I believe it is crucial to delve deeper into this subject and hear different perspectives from other experts in the counseling field. Understanding the ongoing research conducted in Christian therapy that acknowledges demonic influences is something that genuinely piques my interest. Not only do I want to know if this approach is commonly used in treatment, but also how it is being studied and explored.