One thing I have always been interested in is the demonology of Hollywood. From The Exorcist to Constantine, and Rosemary’s Baby to Hellraiser it’s interesting to see Hollywood’s take on God’s greatest enemies.

What’s fascinating about The Exorcism of Emily Rose is that it chooses not to go over the top in its portrayal of the possession of a college age girl. There are no images of heads spinning around, crosses being defaced, or projectile vomit that encompasses family members or priests. No, what we are left with is something much more frightening.

We are left with a story that has an heir of truth about it. The movie is loosely based on the true story of a German girl named Anneliese Michel. You can find out more about Anneliese by checking out another story posted on my site here. However, though the story seems to ring more true and touch us at a more human level than The Exorcist, it certainly still has its fair share of Hollywood flare.

The good news is that we don’t have to be internet sleuths and find out just how accurate (or inaccurate) Emily Rose is when compared to true events. Intriguing as the movie is and regardless of how grounded in truth it turns out to be, it is my belief that it raises some questions for the Christian.

It has long been believed by a great many Christians that it is not possible for a Christian to be possessed by a demon. I hold to this belief as well, and the logic goes something like this: to be filled with Christ is to leave no room for demonic habitation. However, the movie begs the question: is it possible that this is merely wishful thinking?

*Warning, spoilers ahead…if you haven’t seen the movie, and don’t want anything to be ruined, cease to read immediately!

Emily Rose’s priest ends the movie by reading a letter to the jury that Emily wrote shortly after a dramatic exorcism attempt on the day after Halloween. Emily explains to him that after the failed attempt she fell asleep, only to be awakened a few hours later by someone calling her name. She leaves the house and walks toward a field, where she falls to the ground. Moments later, she has an out-of-body experience where she is greeted by the Virgin Mary and told that God sees her anguish and is offering to take her home to be with Him immediately.

However, the Virgin Mary tells Emily, if you choose to stay you will face great torment; but many people will hear of your struggle and will come to realize that there is a God by their knowledge that you fought with the Devil.

Obviously this scene is very Catholic in nature; obviously this entire encounter and conversation with Mary was scripted for a Hollywood movie and not taken from the life of Anneliese Michel. But just because this is a fictional story does not diminish the question: Is it possible for there to ever exist a circumstance that would require God to allow one of His children to withstand the horrors of possession in order for Him to further His purposes and propagate His glory on Earth?

It’s hard not to ask the question in light of our study of the book of Job. Job underwent so much torment; but what we ultimately find is that this torment was not for the purpose of testing Job, but for advancing the kingdom of light against the accusatory kingdom of darkness.

I continue to stand firmly in the camp that a Christ follower cannot be possessed by a demon. However, I would love to hear from others who feel that under certain circumstances, or in particular crises of spiritual warfare, there may very well be room for God’s allowing of the righteous to be turned over to the enemy in body alone.

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” -1 John 4:4

For further reading on this topic, feel free to check out the appendix of the fabulous book Across the Spectrum. It can be viewed in PDF form here.

Tags: Emily Rose, exorcism, Spiritual Warfare