is a common struggle but not often discussed even among believers since it seems to border on taboo topics. There are in fact many Christians famous and forgotten who had been afflicted and tormented by this evil spirit of oppression. John Bunyan who wrote Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners and Pilgrim’s progress should be a textbook to those who suffer oppression partly because he himself has this testimony that he heard evil blasphemous voices. In the latter end, his groaning was only relieved by the cross of Jesus and His great forgiveness. We must beware of psychologists who do not base their judgments on the Word of God but on their own minds. Let every man a liar but let God be true should guide us because there is no lie in Truth. The Scriptures are clear that only the Lord can bring true healing and integrity to the heart of man. It is part of the ministry of the Lord to set the captives free and mental oppression is not an exception. The increasing darkness released these days will not only facilitate crime and terrorism but also mental problems for many people who are seeking genuine answers to issues surrounding them but could not find in mainstream Christianity and Psychology. As the Apostle John wrote, “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev 12:12. The devil has but a short time now and trying to do all sorts of means in order to cripple the Church and oppress the people. His mission has not changed, it remains to be “to steal, kill and destroy” (Jn 10:10). Part of the inheritance of the Church is to minister freedom to all captives from diseases to oppressions of the devil. It has not changed also. Mental oppression is not a disease that science can heal because drugs do not directly heal the soul or the spirit of man. It is the Word of God which “ isquick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow” (Heb 4:12), which heals mental oppression by deliverance. The Church is mandated to bring deliverance to the captives because all authority has been given to Jesus Christ and which He has also given to His disciples… “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” Matt 10:7-8. Mental oppression can be a terrible suffering but take heart, cheer up for Jesus Christ has overcome the world and He has come to set the captives free.
Edison Macusi Bonn, Germany