Spiritual Covering Broken - #7 Demons in the Sanctuary

Demons in the Sanctuary - #7 - Spiritual Covering Broken

We could call this chapter ‘oppression in the sanctuary.’ Just reading the chapter is difficult for me because I start to feel oppressed. The central character Mira is tormented by a dream. Then there is a description of a young man who has appeared in previous chapters. Previous he was described as drifting away from God, dabbled in satanic ceremonies and saying “I think it’s time for me to try Satan.” In this chapter he murders and elderly couple with senseless violence.

The shock of this must be set in context. What happened? Is this related to the church? The leadership struggles? The pastor? What is the meaning of this horrible act?

The man was the young drummer from the worship team so he was involved in the church and some might say ‘under’ pastor Rutherford’s covering. At this point we are not so sure that being under pastor Rutherford’s covering is a good thing.

Many Christians say that it is essential to be 'under a covering.' They assume that it is better to be 'under a covering’ than not being ‘under a covering;’ that being ‘under a covering’ is a good thing.

This story forces us to dig deeper and understand more about a spiritual covering.

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Jesus - Our Ultimate and Primary Spiritual Covering

Our first covering is provided by God. It is a blood covering because we are talking about life or death matters. Disobeying God in the Garden of Eden lead to death and an uncovering. God made clothes from animal skins to cover them (death of the animal to provide the covering.) That prefigures the death of the Lamb of God who takes away our sins and this blood covenant is our ultimate and essential covering.

A Good Secondary Spiritual Covering

Our pastor (or other spiritual head) is secondary to Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. A secondary 'head' is only effective as a covering if their spiritual life opens heaven over them and others around them. If they are filled with light then that light will help protect others under them. If they have a humble prayer life and a broken and contrite heart before God, then they can help provide protection for others ‘under’ them.

A Poor Secondary Spiritual Covering

Those we submit to (this can even be mutual submission rather than one ‘head’) are not effective covering if their spiritual life is all pretense, if the moral life is shattered and if they have opened their life to satanic powers in those or other ways. Instead of heavenly angels and the Holy Spirit, this ‘covering’ may open them to powers of darkness. That rips the covering off and exposes the flock to oppression.

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The Horror of an ‘Open Heaven’ to Darkness

Pastor Rutherford breaks the news to Mira about the horrible double murder by the young drummer. But something is wrong! Wrong attitude! “He seems unconcerned.”

On the other hand, Mira’s heart is pierced to know that the young man attended the Good Shepherd church and “yet had completely lost his way.” She is deeply concerned.

Our Lord Jesus Christ - the good shepherd - is concerned about every lost one, every one that loses their way, every one who drifts away from the church. Mira has the heart of the Good Shepherd.

Pastor Rutherford recounts other murders that happened on his watch, while he was the pastor (shepherd) of the flock of the Good Shepherd Church. He should be alarmed at the fact that this is not an isolated event. But our author does not portray him as concerned but as mumbling as he munched on a sandwich. Here is the real horror in this chapter.

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I am alert for any patterns of evil or harm in a person’s life. Alerted to such a pattern I immediately start sniffing around to discern where the ‘covering’ is broken, where the spiritual attack comes from. My job as a shepherd (counsellor) is to protect my clients and move them into safety and protection.

Any pastor in Pentecost with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and years of experience should also be immediately alert and humble when seeing problems in the covering they provide. They sense danger to the flock and they take action to deal with it. (I always remember that this story is based on the ministry of an experienced Pentecostal minister - Rev. Ralph Rutledge - in an independent charismatic church.)

Why does Pastor Rutherford not get it! Why is he nonchalant about three murders in his church? Why does death not evoke horror in him?

Where is his spiritual maturity as a pastor and a man of God who has been filled with the Spirit? Where is the fruit that goes with the talk?

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In conclusion be aware that a ‘covering’ can be good or bad. If the man is in darkness the ‘covering’ – spiritual atmosphere – will be dark as well. If the man is in sin then the covering is broken in the area of his weakness and others may be vulnerable in this sin area as well. If the man is demonized then there will be a demonized church. That is not a good covering at all!

A good shepherd will be alerted by problems and act to discover the spiritual problem and to deal with it. Among other things that means dealing with unconfessed sin issues.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.  6. The Blessing of Unity. 7. Touch Not God's Anointed, 8. Spiritual Covering, 9. Control Exit with Threats,

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked