Is an exorcism something a Christian can perform today?

from the old testament

• The Old Testament clearly establishes God’s complete authority over spiritual powers and demonic influences. God commands His people to rely solely upon Him, rather than on occult rituals or superstitious methods, to deal with spiritual threats (Deuteronomy 18:10–11).
• When King Saul faced torment from a harmful spirit, he did not employ exorcistic rituals; instead, he experienced temporary relief through David’s worshipful playing of music (1 Samuel 16:14–23). Notably, this approach was not a permanent remedy, but it illustrates that spiritual oppression was recognized and countered through God-centered worship, rather than ritualistic exorcism.
• In 1 Kings 18, Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal shows God’s decisive power over the demonic influences behind false gods. Elijah simply called upon the Lord in prayer, and God powerfully answered, demonstrating divine authority over false spiritual powers: “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God” (1 Kings 18:37).
• The Book of Job offers critical insight into demonic activity and its limits. In order to show Job’s righteousness, God allowed Satan to attack him. However, He limited Satan’s boundaries (Job 1:12).
• After Satan took everything from Job and killed his children, he was disappointed by the results. He returned to God and asked for more, saying, “‘Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.' And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life’” (Job 2:4b–6). Satan can only do what God explicitly allows. God’s sovereignty provides a protective boundary around His faithful servants.

from the new testament

• The New Testament explicitly addresses demonic activity, with numerous accounts of exorcisms—primarily by Jesus and His apostles. However, unlike pop-culture depictions of them, a New Testament exorcism was simply one with authority commanding the demon to leave a possessed person. Jesus, as God, had clear and absolute authority over evil spirits (Mark 1:23–25). Immediately after Jesus’s command, the demon left. Such demonstrations authenticated Jesus’s identity and authority.
• Jesus granted His disciples similar authority (Matthew 10:1). Later, He affirmed broader authority by sending approximately seventy other disciples out (Luke 10:19). Jesus gave those individuals limited authority over demons to spread His gospel.
• The early church continued to practice exorcism with the same simplicity that Jesus had taught (Acts 16:18–19). No elaborate rituals or incantations were needed—only reliance on the authority of Christ Himself.
• Exorcisms were both limited to specific individuals and quickly faded from practice (1 Corinthians 12:28). While “miracles” included more than exorcisms, it was associated with casting out demons. Paul indicated that working miracles was a limited gift.
• When the apostles spoke about demons, they never taught believers to command them to leave (exorcise them). Instead, we are told to avoid sin, giving “no opportunity to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27), and to be on the lookout because “your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Rather than teach how to get rid of demons and Satan, the believer is taught how to not succumb to their temptations.
• Exorcisms are notably absent in the one passage where one would expect them. In Ephesians 6, Paul specifically taught how to engage in spiritual warfare. However, he never once taught any form of offensive attack (Ephesians 6:13). “Stand firm” is the picture of a soldier standing behind the large shield against an attack.
• Peter likewise counseled believers to resist (not attack) Satan, saying, “resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:9).
• Jude, dealing with false teachers who were claiming the authority to rebuke Satan, said that false teachers “blaspheme” by rebuking what they don’t understand. He noted even the great angel Michael, who fully understood spiritual realities and was in a direct conflict with Satan, didn’t rebuke him. Instead, he deferred that responsibility to God (Jude 1:9–10).
• Acts 19 should be seen as a warning against presuming the ability to perform exorcisms. In that account, seven men cornered a demon-possessed man and commanded the demon to come out. The demon replied, “who are you?” (Acts 19:15c). By that, he meant, “what authority do you have over me?” We then read that the demon-possessed man had the strength to beat up and strip seven men naked (Acts 19:16). Engaging in direct spiritual warfare with demons is no joke!

implications for today

Because this world is ruled by Satan, Christians are surrounded by spiritual warfare. However, Scripture gives no grounds for believers to claim authority over demons. Instead, all of Scripture teaches that God is the one with authority, and we, like the angel Michael, are to defer to Him to handle Satan and his demons.

What can we do if we encounter someone we believe to be oppressed? Christians encountering genuine demonic oppression should respond by praying for the individual and asking for God’s help. Unbelievers are unable to resist Satan, so for them, we pray for their salvation and teach them the gospel, encouraging them to repent. While a Christian cannot be possessed, he or she can be influenced by demons. Being influenced indicates the believer is not resisting Satan, and we must encourage them to start resisting by praying and reading Scripture. Regardless of whether the one oppressed is a believer or unbeliever, spiritual oppression must never produce fear or reliance on rituals. Rather, we must engage the oppressed with the truth of Scripture, relying on God to handle any demonic influence.

We can do this because the power to overcome spiritual evil rests entirely in God Himself. Believers confidently rest in Christ’s victory, acknowledging the reality of spiritual battles but relying on the simplicity and sufficiency of Christ’s authority in these matters.