Thanks to all who commented on my post yesterday - and to Rachel who commented on this issue at her site.
I had a chat with my good friend Cathy (a true Woman of God, just shining from within with His presence!) yesterday, who knows this woman well. Apparently she's been delivering where none is needed recently - and scaring the Young Adults group with tales of demonic activity and consequent banishment! The poor kids are being frightened into submission before God - and it's not right! Where I was able to deal with it, Cathy is worried that many kids and others will not be able to.
Although this is a relevant ministry to this lady, it seems there may also be an element of "attention getting" - trying to be visible by casting out everything in sight, real or perceived. It's a situation that will have to be dealt with in love and very carefully by the pastor, as he apparently is not aware of what's going on, but will be shortly...
As for my side of the story - well, I firmly believe that God has dealt with my past. A sermon I heard recently illustrated God putting Himself between me and the past so that I didn't have to see it creeping up on me constantly. Spot-on! Yes, there are consequences (and as my aunt says "If you can't be a good example, be a terrible warning!"), but I do believe God uses these to strengthen and form me into what He wants for my life.
I just hope that the repercussions of this and other issues don't hurt the woman involved and that God will help those who talk to her to do it in the right way.
(Why does this ministry make me a little uncomfortable? Well, I guess in part it's because I once ran into a "faith healer" at a very charismatic church I was visiting. He screamed a semi-sermon for half an hour, trying to work up the congregation, after which he attempted to heal a number of folk, claiming he was "way past" the shaking and shouting manifestation of his powers - and then doing his thing from a distance. The congregation was COMPLETELY silent - in shock perhaps - quite a thing for a 1000-strong group! Yeah, there was a spirit at work there, but I don't think it was the one he claimed - and I was VERY glad I was sitting way in the back row! I know there are true faith healers out there, but this chap was not one of them. He was just plain scary. Another one to chalk up to experience had!)
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