Mars Hill Pastor to Debate Existence of Satan on ABC

By Nathan Black|Christian Post Reporter

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Two controversial preachers, a former Las Vegas escort and an author on spirituality have been recruited by ABC to debate the existence of Satan on Friday.

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(Photo: AP Images)
Pastor Mark Driscoll preaches in this undated photo at Mars Hill Church in Seattle.

The unexpected line-up will tackle the issue at Mars Hill Church in Seattle for ABC's "Nightline Face-Off" series, which will air on March 26.

Arguing that the devil does exist will be Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church and Annie Lobert, founder of Hookers for Jesus. On the other side of the debate are Deepak Chopra, author of Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment, and Bishop Carlton Pearson who is often labeled as a heretic for his Gospel of Inclusion preaching.

Considering the line-up, the debate is not likely to get into any complex theology and history, according to T.J. Wray, associate professor of religious studies at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., as reported by the Seattle Times.

"Why don't they call professionals – the people who write this stuff?" Wray asked, according to the Seattle Times.

Similar questions were raised by Christians two years ago when ABC launched its "Face-Off" series with two evangelists and two atheists debating "Does God Exist."

Some Christians expressed disappointment in the lack of preparation by New Zealand evangelist Ray Comfort and 90s television star Kirk Cameron in the May 2007 public debate. They were faced off with Brian Sapient and Kelly (no surname), two atheists behind the controversial "Blasphemy Challenge" – a campaign on YouTube that encourages youth to denounce the Holy Spirit and "damn themselves to hell."

But perhaps they were more frustrated that ABC did not bring on Christian apologists or those who hold theological degrees to represent the theists.

This time around proves no different.

According to James Goldston, executive producer of "Nightline," they went for "the most interesting voices" they could find, as reported by the Seattle Times.

And interesting voices could translate to great ratings.

The response was "pretty dramatic," as Goldston said, when they televised the 2007 debate. More than 15,000 comments were posted on the program's website, according to ABC.

But not all disagree with ABC's approach.

Pastor Driscoll of Mars Hill, who believes Satan is at work in the world for evil, believes the lineup of debaters helps ensure a "practical discourse" rather than "just an academic debate," according to the local Times.

The debate will be moderated by Dan Harris, who covers faith issues for ABC News, and representatives from both sides of the "Does Satan Exist" question will be at Friday's taping to watch and also ask questions.

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smbga »

Sat Mar 28, 2009 3:29 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

abish: you said it right!!
abishag98 »

Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:35 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 3

Mark Driscroll isn't exactly in tune with the Scriptures as he has his unique "worldly" method of preaching. The apostles of the Bible would have thrown him to the dogs.

But, I gotta' tell ya' . . . Deepak Chopra and this Carlton Pearson are not exactly what you'd call the brightest people to walk the face of the earth.

This so-called debate is a sham because you've got losers on both sides. What a waste. No wonder ABC, one of the premiere liberal television networks, is airing this thing.
believer »

Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:02 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

chas, I will agree that it was the charismatic movement of the late 60s and early 70s within the catholic church that let many catholics for the first time hear God's plan of salvation and many catholics came to Christ as a result after hearing God's plan of salvation for the first time in their life since it was not taught to them in church. And this movement was of the laity and not from the leadership of the catholic church although some priests and nuns took part in it.
Chas »

Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:13 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 3

Smbga,

You go ahead and keep praying in tongues, the gift the Holy Spirit has given to you. In my Catholic Church, many Charismatics(Over 180 Million of our 1.2 Billion) pray in tongues.

Do not listen to ukelemike, for he claims too much authority for someone standing on a crate yelling at you from a sidewalk.

May God bless you Smbga. Your Catholic Friend in Christ!
smbga »

Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:11 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Ukele: I pray in the spirit (tongues) every day. So are you saying that that is a waste of time? It's not real for today???
ukulelemike »

Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:13 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 2

smbga-
If I may interject, you need to understand a couple things about gifts/signs/miracles. One, is that some of them were gifts given to the Ap[ostles only, for the initial growth of the church, to authenticate it-once the Apostles were gone, those gifts were removed. Paul speaks of signs of an Apostle in 2Cor 12:12.

Other signs and gifts were given for the initial growth of the church, done by others than the Aposltes-keep in mind: because a sign is romised, it doesn't mean the sign would be done over and over again, else it loses it's purpose. If I said I was going to give you a dollar, and gave it to you, it wouldn't be right for you to come to me the next day and demand a dollar, since I had promised to give you one-I gave it already. No need for it to be given a second time, as the promise was already fulfilled.
Some other gifts are still in use, but they are given as the Lord chooses to give them. Today's idea of tongues is not biblical tongues, which is easy to see, as in the Bible they were known languages, and there was an order given for how they were to be used, as well as when, and by whom, all of which are normally ignored by 'tongues-speaking' churches. If the Lord wishes us to have a gift, He will give it to us to use when He chooses to.
smbga »

Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:36 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

forsalt: i just didn't know for sure what your stand on the gifts of the Holy Spirit are. Not the fruit. But the gifts. I know that Paul instructs us as believers to ask for the gifts to be imparted into us. But it's the Holy Spirit that is the one to determine to whom he will give what gift. I have known ministers in the past who was living an ungodly lifestyle but still used the gifts.
Online4Him »

Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:31 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

smbga,

That is okay . . . an honest mistake.
smbga »

Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:03 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

for salt: but don't you agree that prophets have all 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit operating in their life?
smbga »

Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:44 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

forsalt: what about prophets?
smbga »

Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:47 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

online: I am sorry about that.
Online4Him »

Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:33 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

smbga, (first of all, no child of God is 'holiest'. That is reserved for God)

I agree: the (only the "Holiest" of individual) comment was made by mnschris70 . . .
smbga »

Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:30 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

online: first of all, no child of God is 'holiest'. That is reserved for God. And no one on the earth is sinless. I have known of ministers in the past who was living a sinful lifestyle. I would have never let them lay their hands on me to pray for me. Never!!! Why? When you practic or commit sin on a regular basis and think it's alright, you open yourself up to demons. And if a minister has demons (attached to him or inside the body) then when he lays hands on you those demons may come to you. It's called transference. I can count on one hand the number of ministers (men or women) who are anointed and do not practice sin. This is sad. Because the world and the church as a whole are suffering from bondages and the shepherds don't see it.
Online4Him »

Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:58 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

(. . . and only the "Holiest" of individual)

Define "Holiest" . . . in the context of an individual.
ukulelemike »

Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:55 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Chas~
Longevity doesn't prove anything-of so, Buddhism is better than all of us.
Neither does charity matter, especially for a church that preys on it's own fallen, demanding payment for prayer to be made for their dead-how sick is that? Especially for a church that killed millions of true christians because they saw the falsehoods inside the bloated mother, and rejected the wafer-god and the queeen of heaven, and the baby baptisms, all against Scripture. Or the fact that the Pope believes in evolution.
So, I stand by my statement-you ought to spend some time actually studying the Bible, rather than the traditions of the church fathers, or the cathecism-try God's words, not the pope's.
and, by the way, the catholic church has only been around since about 325ad, when Constantine decided that, since he couldn't get the Christians to bow to him as Emperor, he would try to do it by being "born again", which he wasn't. Not from Peter, who not only wasn't the first Bishop of Rome, but was never said to even be IN Rome. read the book of Romans sometimes-there is a comprehensive list of those in the church there to whom Paul sent salutations and Peter isn't listed.
I pray one day you'll find the true Christ and true Salvation, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, without works, and leave the bondage of Rome.
smbga »

Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:49 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

for those who truly do not believe in the devil and his demons, do you consider yourself to be saved? (born again?) If so, then how can you say that you are born again and not believe in the devil? Did not Jesus encounter him in the wilderness? If he was real back then, isn't he still real today? He hasn't gone anywhere. He is very busy destroying anyone that he can.
smbga »

Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:47 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

believer: Yes. My former pastor in Fl. once told me about the times that he would prepare and get ready to go and minister the Word of God. And the enemy would usually use those closest to him (family if they allowed him to) to cause problems. But he would just go and minister and ignore the enemy and give him no attention whatsoever. He once told me that too many times we give the enemy credit for his evil doings. Yes he is evil. But it is wise to ignore him at times. I found that to be true.
KidCharlatan »

Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:36 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

I can't believe anyone still believes in 'Satan' as any kind of real entity.
believer »

Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:05 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

sm, totally on target, as a Pastor I know if God has given me a word, satan will do all he can to keep me from sharing that word effectively, a true man of God battles him and his demons every time they prepare to go into the pulpit and while they are preaching.
smbga »

Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:03 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

If a pastor or minister of the gospel has never dealt with devil or cast demons out of individuals, I would question his authority. think about it.
smbga »

Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:01 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

forsalt: Yes I agree with you again! We better have His Word in us long before the storms hit. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but His Word will never pass away. It is forever settled in heaven. One southern baptist minister (if he were still alive) would have been the perfect candidate for this debate. Lester Sumrall. He had many demonic encounters.
Chas »

Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:57 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

Yes, ukulelemike.

The Catholics are partners with the Devil; especially when we are the largest charitable group on the planet, especially when we feed the poor, especially when we provide housing for the impovrished, especially when we have the largest adoption agencies helping children, especially when we stand against homosexual marriage, especially when we stand against abortion, especially when we stand against embryonic stem cell research, especially when we provide aid to countries in need, especially when we represent 1/3 of all hosptitals in the US giving care to the infirm even if they don't have insurance, especially when we visit the person in jail and have the largest jail ministry, especially when we run most of the soup kitchens in this country and around the world, especially when we live the beatitudes every single day.

Yes, I can see how especially you would see us in partnership with the Devil. A house divided against itself cannot stand, as Jesus says. Our house has stood for 2000 years because we live our faith in action for the Lord who is Jesus Christ and we are His church.
ukulelemike »

Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:45 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

They really should have gotten a couple of Independent Fundamental Baptist preachers to speak on the reality of Satan, not a reformed hooker and an near-infidel from the emerging church, who barely believe in Satan anyways. Get some people who really understand from a position of having dealt with him.
As for a Catholic priest, they are in league with the devils, so while they believe in them, being their partners in crime, I wouldn't trust them to argue the point.
smbga »

Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:07 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

forsalt: Yes!!! And also the ones who are in ministry. I just recently shared with a dear friend to make sure that everything from their past has been taken care of so that there is absolutely nothing that the enemy can use against her when she starts ministering.
believer »

Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:17 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

sm, that is so true we Christians have to battle with satan and his demons everyday and only by the grace of God and the power of His Holy Spirit working both in us and through us do we have victory! Demon possession and oppression are not the only tools in satan's arsenal, but at the same time we serve the God who has defeated satan and his demons already.
smbga »

Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:19 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

sorry for typing the wrong words. but my fingernails get in the way at times. but hopefully you get the main point.
smbga »

Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:16 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

and they probably sounds very judgmental to most. But it's a fact. I once had alot of demons. But thank God I saw that I needed help and I got it. I am free today. Thank you Jesus
smbga »

Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:14 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

believer: Yes!! But sad to say, the majority of believers don't believe that. You mention devil or devils and they tell you not to mess with them at all. Well I don't mess with them at all!! But when I have encounters I know my authority and don't put up with them. They have to go in Jesus Name. I know some believers who don't think they have demons attached to them. But their actions and lifestyle tell me different.
believer »

Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:08 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

chris, please read your Bible and you will see that Christ sent out His disciples to include not only His apostles but others and gave them the power to cast out demons, it is not an ability given only to catholic priests, but to other believers as well.
smbga »

Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:08 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

the way i typed the last statement didn't come out right. We should follow the example that Jesus gave.
smbga »

Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:03 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

i don't believe it should be a long sickening ordeal for someone to be delivered from demons. never Look at the example Jesus gave us. Yes, the demons would try to act up but it didn't go on for hours.
smbga »

Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:01 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

msn: i have seen many people delivered from oppression. (demons in a person's body or their soul) not their spirit. True possession is when a person has at least one demon in their spirit. There are alot of ministries who do it different ways. But the ministry I was under yrs ago in Florida was one of great power. When he prayed for people who had demons of any kind (but were not possessed) they came out quietly. I never saw anything scary whatsoever.
msnchris70 »

Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:02 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

Believer,

I'm sorry, but why were you there? In a posession case, only the Priest should be in the room.

I travelled a lot in the South while I was a Reformed Minister, and most all these so called demon posessions in Pentecostal or Fundamentalist Baptist style churches are not posessions at all. I would say objectively that theyse people have watched way to much TV and try to act like they are posessed.

A truly posessed person acts nothing like what you see in these churches. Moreover, I know of many pastors who will try to do the expulsion of the demon only in private as it should be done. A real exorcism is truly the scariest thing you can ever see or especially hear through a door. It is frightening on so many levels it is hard to describe.

Only a Priest with Apostolic Authority can expel a demon. Simply reciting bible verses will not do much, other than make the demon uncomfortable. The reason why protestants don't document these accounts, because they would all be found out to be false exorcisms. The reason why the Catholic church always documents these exorcisms, because the church cannot ever be a part of something untrue. Just like any miracle that happens where someone can walk, when before they could not. The Catholic Church, before saying it was a miracle, will have experts try to prove it false. This can take years and years before they render a judgement that a true miracle occurred compared to the Protestant way which is undocumented unresearched and unreliable. If your truth can stand the test, then why not test it. We do.
smbga »

Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:06 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

delight: in answer to your first ?? the minister who prayed for me was used with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was revealed that I had a spirit of rejection from birth.
smbga »

Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:05 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

delight: Yes I agree. But do you believe that there is a 'spirit of infirmity'? The scripture speaks of it. I don't go around looking for demons. Have you ever had one speak to you? And not thru an individual either? I am not being smart or arrogant. Honest I'm not. But even tho I was raised in a christian home, I was not allowed to mention the name satan or demon. he isn't dumb. he knows those who are fearful of him and those who aren't. I don't go around and talk to him either. But when his demons come around and start trying to cause problems for me, I know that I have power and authority over all of them in Jesus Name. Anointed music does drive them away. I play it in my home all the time. And praising God will drive them away also.
DelightntheLord »

Sun Mar 22, 2009 3:50 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

"How was it confirmed to this minister that he was removing demons?"

"How did he identify the "strongman" amongst the demons?"

GOOD questions.

I'm one for giving the devil his due, but sometimes we give him too much credit and begin to lose focus on Christ; if we begin to look for demonic spirits and give them names. We are to stand firm and call on Jesus Christ to rebuke strongholds.

Perhaps, instead of always looking for things to bind we should sing out praise to God. Since most demonic spirits are principalities and powers of the AIR, they are atmospheric and a song to God will drive them away. That is unceasing prayer.

Few are the true prayer warriors; and to engage demonic influences requires a devotion and focus on Christ alone, one must be gifted in discernment and know the answers to the above questions.
monstrance »

Sun Mar 22, 2009 4:13 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Yes, I don't have Fox News on either.
smbga »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:07 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

and the Word of God also tells us to test the spirits. there are alot of voices out there. every morning the first thing I do is bind every familiar spirit that has an assignment to cause deception in my life.
smbga »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:05 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

wr: Yes I knew the minister very well. I don't allow just anyone to lay hands on me and pray. Been there done that and I ended up with worse than what I came with. That was many yrs ago. But I have learned to ask God for discernment in ALL THINGS on a daily basis. I am very cautious. And there are times when a demon can be blamed for something when it isn't the case at all. discernment discernment discernment.
wrhalver »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 5:58 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 3

smbga

I guess it's too much to get into for this blog.

While there is a concern when a sickness or an evil is misdiagnosed as a demon as opposed to being a simple mental or physical problem, I believe there is much more demonic activity than the church wants to identify and confront.

A minister who has the gift of Discernment through the Holy Spirit would know. I trust you had such a minister.
smbga »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 5:42 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

wr: The Holy Spirit revealed it all.
wrhalver »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 5:22 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

smbga

How was it confirmed to this minister that he was removing demons?

How did he identify the "strongman" amongst the demons?
smbga »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:54 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

In the book of Mathew chap. 12, Jesus is explaining to the people about kingdoms being divided against themselves. then He tells about binding the strongman. The strongman is the head demon. The one that is the most powerful. He tells all the others under him what to do. When praying for people to be delivered from possession or oppression, it is always good to go after the 'strongman' first, and then all the other demons will come out much easier. As I stated earlier in this forum today, this subject can get real deep. The minister that prayed for me the day I got deliverd anointed my forehead with oil and commanded the spirit of rejection to come out. That was the strongman.
wrhalver »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:45 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

smbga

I am not familiar with how you are using the term "strongmen" here.

What does that mean?
smbga »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:29 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

wr: do you believe that there are strongmen?
wrhalver »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:28 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

smbga
you have said...
"It is a fact that adopted children have a spirit (demon) of rejection in them (soul)."

Where does this fact come from?

Who identified this demon that oppresses adopted children?

Who identified this demon as the one that was oppressing you?

How was the demon removed from oppressing you?
smbga »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:14 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

how many know of individuals who have gone to psychics to consult their dead relatives? when the so called relative appears or talks, who do you think it really is? it is not the relative that is dead. I can promise you that. It is a familiar spirit.
smbga »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:12 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

monstrance: demons (disembodied spirits) are not seen with the natural eye except by the Holy Spirit. There are times when those who are not born again will see them. This is because they have or already have dabbled in witchcraft of some kind. This opens the door into the spirit world in which they can and will manifest themselves. And then I know of a believer who after they got saved still had demonic visitors (demons) because of her lifestyle in the occult before she was saved. demons do not leave on their own. they must be cast out.
smbga »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:08 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

there is some misunderstanding here in what I said: I was not possessed. I was oppressed in my soul. I was adopted at birth. It is a fact that adopted children have a spirit (demon) of rejection in them (soul). Look yall this gets deep. And I have a gut feeling that most aren't going to believe this. So I will finish with this: a true child of God cannot be possessed by a demon or demons. But they can be oppressed. I was oppressed. Not possessed. And when God deliverd me back in 2007 a minister laid their hand on my head and commanded the spirit of rejection to come out of my soul. And it did. What an experience.
wrhalver »

Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:12 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

smbga

Does the Holy Spirit control one part of your body and a demon control another part?

Who identified the demon that possessed you and how was it cast out?

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