Can Christians become possessed? Why not?

[Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton)]

I've always been taught that a Christian cannot be possessed. Can't find a verse that says that though. And passages like 2 Cor 11:3-4 that refer to receiving "another spirit" seem to indicate otherwise. "Another" seems to indicate "in addition to", not "a different one". So how would you Biblically lay out a position that Christians cannot be demon possessed?

I believe a lot gets blamed on "the devil" or his minions that makes him a scapegoat. "The Devil made me do it" is mostly just an excuse. When you look at cases of demonic possession in the New Testament, it isn't just people giving in to their own lusts and desires. It is (usually?) characterized with very self-destructive behavior. People throwing themselves into fires and such. When they went into the pigs, they threw themselves over the cliff. Demons want to destroy us.

So on the one hand, I think we are real quick to blame the devil, but on the other hand, I have to wonder if we aren't playing the game where our theology and worldview reflects that we don't really believe he exists or that he can impact us. But what are *your* thoughts? If we truly are in the "last days" and things are getting worse and worse prior to His second coming, why is it that we don't see the kinds of examples of demon possession that seems so prevalent in the Gospels? And if it *does* happen today, how do we defend the idea that it can't happen to Christians when Paul seems to indicate that people can have "another spirit".

[john roberts]

It is wealth and riches (money) that elevates people to god status and makes them idols. It was the idea that you can be as gods --of elevated status which was involved in the first sin (Adam and Eve).

[Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton)]

John, your comments and verses without full context make no sense. It's disruptive and a discussion killer. It is expected that we won't all see things the same way. But we are patiently 12 pages now down a rabbit trail of you claiming odd things about demons that are outside the scope of the thread. I was willing to go down that trail a bit if I could get you to put it into some kind of context so I could understand your viewpoint, but that just doesn't seem to happen no matter how many times I ask you the same questions over and over. So I'm closing the thread. And I'm asking that before you jump into another one that you review the Rules of Engagement and ensure that future participation is in a way that fosters understanding and discussion and does not just amount to claims that are not really defended.

D.