By Oyewole O. Sarumi
I was stirred to write this article after reading on the FB page of Bro. Ibukunoluwa Lawal a short piece titled: “Fear and Demons Are Being Marketed as Christianity”. It was a very well-crafted piece that resonated with some of the jottings in my writing notebook. So, I took a bit of his piece and adumbrated it with my jottings to bring about this article to your reading notice.
My belief is that Christianity, at its core, is a message of hope, redemption, and liberation through Jesus Christ, and not of putting believers in perpetual bondage. The Gospel proclaims freedom from sin, peace with God, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, in many circles today, a distorted version of Christianity is being marketed—one that thrives on fear, spiritual paranoia, and an obsession with demonic activity.
Instead of preaching Christ as the all-sufficient Saviour, some modern ministries have turned Christianity into a religion of endless spiritual warfare, where every misfortune is attributed to demons, or your fathers’ or mothers’ houses, village alignment, while every solution comes with a price tag and works. This fear-based approach not only misrepresents the Gospel but also traps believers in cycles of anxiety and bondage.
This article examines the rise of fear-driven Christianity, its dangers, and how it contrasts with biblical truth. We will explore the historical and theological roots of this trend, its psychological and spiritual impact, and how believers can discern and embrace the true Gospel of peace and freedom in Christ.
The Rise of Fear-Based Christianity
1. Historical Context
The phenomenon of fear-based religion is not entirely new. Throughout Church history, various movements have emphasized spiritual warfare to the point of overshadowing the centrality of Christ. In the medieval period, superstitious beliefs about demons and curses were rampant, often mixed with Christian teachings. The Reformation sought to correct such distortions by re-cantering the Gospel on grace and faith in Christ alone.
However, in recent decades, particularly within certain charismatic and Pentecostal circles, there has been a resurgence of teachings that exaggerate demonic influence. Some modern ministries have turned deliverance, which is a legitimate biblical practice—into a lucrative industry, where every problem is framed as a demonic attack requiring specialized (and often monetized) intervention and spending days with the prophet on the mountain or a specific location
The Commercialization of Spiritual Fear
A disturbing trend in some churches today is the commercialization of fear. Believers are sold “prophetic bulletins,” “anointed oils or water,” “mantles” and “prayer packages” as necessary tools for survival against unseen enemies. For example, when you have bad dreams, missing keys, or even gifts from loved ones are labelled as demonic portals. Even some believers have been cut off from their families due to the prophesies that certain members of their family are the orchestrators of their challenges. This creates a culture of dependency on the “church cult” where congregants are conditioned to seek constant “deliverance” rather than resting in the finished work of Christ.
The apostle Peter warned about such exploitation: “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you” (2 Peter 2:3, KJV).
When ministries prioritize selling spiritual solutions over proclaiming Christ, they deviate from the Gospel’s simplicity and power. And we have these all over Africa where churches especially the charismatic and Pentecostals have put their members under strains, while being constantly inoculated with prophesies that sediment fear and anxiety in them without any recourse for hope.
The Psychological and Spiritual Impact of Fear-Based Teachings
Induced Paranoia and Anxiety
Fear-based preaching encourages a mindset of constant suspicion. People begin to see demons in every setback, and even in close friends and relatives, leading to spiritual exhaustion and isolation. Instead of experiencing the peace of Christ (John 14:27), believers live in a state of hyper-vigilance, questioning every event, relationship, or personal struggle in an endless manner. Their mind has been blurred from reasoning to the extent that issues that are self-inflicted are quarantine as spiritual attacks that requires prophetic attention.
Spiritual Bondage Under the Guise of Deliverance
Ironically, many churches have specialised in deliverance they are proud to claim it, while critical examination would reveal the underline practices of witchcraft, and these churches that claim to offer deliverance often create deeper bondage for their people. By convincing people that they are perpetually under attack, these ministries keep them returning for more prayers, more offerings, and more rituals—none of which provide lasting freedom. So, they are stuck, and don’t know who Christ really is because they are already deceived.
Paul’s words to the Galatians are relevant here: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1, KJV).
True deliverance is found in Christ, not in repetitive exorcism sessions that are the stock-in-trade of these churches today.
The Erosion of Personal Responsibility and Faith
When every problem is blamed on demons, people around you, situations, personal responsibility and genuine faith are undermined and become non-essential in such life. Rather than growing in discipleship, such believers become passive, waiting for a “man of God” to pray for them, give them a ‘psalm’ to read, or prayer points to be offered from 12 midnight, instead of exercising their own authority in Christ (Luke 10:19).
Biblical Christianity vs. Fear-Driven Religion
Jesus’ Ministry: Power Without Paranoia
Jesus cast out demons, but He never advanced an atmosphere of fear. His primary mission was to proclaim the Kingdom of God (Luke 4:43), through those miracles and not to keep people fixated on demonic activity. Even when confronting evil spirits, His approach was authoritative yet straightforward—never sensationalized as we could observe today.
The Apostles’ Emphasis on Christ, Not Curses
Let us note that the New Testament epistles focus on Christ’s supremacy, not demonic obsession. Most of these churches that use fear and demon possessions are fond of using Old Testament to justify their excesses. Paul’s letters, for instance, emphasize: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV).
The early Church thrived on preaching Christ crucified and resurrected, not on manufacturing spiritual enemies as is the norm in our churches today.
The Danger of False Teachers
Peter and Jude strongly warned against false teachers who would infiltrate the Church with destructive doctrines (2 Peter 2:1, Jude 1:4). Today, some ministers fit this description by replacing the Gospel with fear-mongering and financial exploitation. Unfortunately, these days, many of our churches a being run and led by those who are perpetuating destructive doctrines that put people in fear and bondage.
How to discern and embrace true Christianity
Christ-Cantered Teaching
A genuine Christian ministry will always make Jesus—not demons, not curses—the central message. As Paul declared: “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2, KJV).
Fruit of Peace, Not Fear
Jesus promised rest for the weary (Matthew 11:28). If a ministry leaves you more afraid than before, it is not aligned with the Gospel, so run away from such as fast as you can. Remember, signs of miracles in a church are not an assurance that God is there and note that the devil also manifests as angel of light.
Rejecting Exploitative Practices
Be wary of churches that monetize deliverance or create dependency on “special” prayers and products. True spiritual authority does not come with a price tag (Matthew 10:8). Also, there is no special place for deliverance, Jesus did His miracles as led by God the Father – on the road, in the house, temple, by the river-side – all the to glory of the Father, not even himself!
Conclusion: Returning to the Gospel of Freedom
Christianity is not a religion of fear but of faith, love, and sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). While spiritual warfare is real, it should never overshadow the supremacy of Christ. Believers must discern between authentic Gospel preaching and manipulative fear tactics.
The true Gospel liberates, not enslaves. It points us to Jesus—the Deliverer, not just deliverance. As John proclaimed: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36, KJV).
Let us reject fear-based distortions and run to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). In Him, we find true rest, peace, and victory.
1 comment
The issue of Distorted Christianity occasioned, particularly by the focus on fear and chasing demons, has its root both in the Bible and African traditional religious beliefs. Early African church leaders, who were not properly educated both academically and biblically; as well as being believers in and practitioners of traditional religions and practices.
Little wonder, both – African religions and traditional practices – easily found common expression in the church. Many Nigerian Christians abroad confess their liberation from such demon-oriented Christianity. This is the Christianity that has been passed from the fathers to the present church – the gospel of personal problems of people, as against that of salvation of the soul and the demand of eternity.
As already stated, there’s also a Bible dimension to the issue, which was even evident during the time of the Lord, and Paul. The line between deliverance and exorcism is very delicate and thin, and can be easily crossed. Jesus was accused of casting out demons by Beelzebub, and the sons Sceva were casting out demons by exorcism, though in Christian fashion.
However, and more fundamentally, it has its root in the two brands of the gospel presented by Jesus in the Gospels. What is happening in the church today are reflections of those brands of the gospel – power and righteousness. In Mark 16:16-18, Jesus espoused the gospel of powers:
“And these signs shall follow those who believe: in my name they shall cast out demons…” Also in Acts 1:8, he said, “And you shall receive power after the holy spirit has come upon you…”
Power does not exist in isolation; it has an object – to destroy or make or change something. Power must be used or it is nothing. Power is part of the gospel, but it’s obviously being abused by power-mongering preachers.
The tragedy is that no amount of power or number of demons killed can take anyone to heaven, none. Jesus called those, who exercise such power without righteousness as “workers of iniquity.”
Mathew 28:17-18 seems to support this position of power, when read out of context. It says “All authority, (power, according to some versions) has been given to me. Go you, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to observe all things I have told you…”
Here’s the catch: Teaching them to observe all things…” This is about discipleship, which has almost disappeared in the church. Everything now is sharp sharp, and cash and carry. This is the real thrust of the gospel, which is being ignored while focus is on power.
Without teaching and observing all things we have been instructed in the Gospels, the gospel loses its message and relevance. Power is part of the gospel but it is not the gospel.