Bob Larson
by Steve Lumbley, Apostasy Watch!
In case you’re not familiar with Larson he is a long time Christian radio
personality who claims to be an expert on cults, the occult, and supernatural
phenomena. Actually that’s not quite fair. Larson is an expert on cults and
alternative religious practices and has written some very good reference
materials on the subject. His focus these days though is on his so called
deliverance ministry.
Larson first came to widespread attention within the Christian community during
the 80’s when his radio program Talk Back aired on hundreds of stations
nationwide. During the show he would take calls from listeners who were
struggling with everything from satanic ritual sexual abuse, to demonic
oppression and even possession. He even took calls from critics and those who
seemed to be wildly opposed to what he was doing. Needless to say the broadcast
usually got quite contentious, making for some very compelling radio. It was
during this time that Larson seemed to move away from being a Christian
apologist and researcher to become more of what one would call a deliverance
minister.
During his heyday and even recently, Larson has appeared on numerous television
shows including Oprah, Donahue, Montel, Sally Jesse, Larry King Live, &
Politically Incorrect. His focus always seems to be satanic cults and activity.
According to Larson, satanic cults are widespread in our society and extremely
dangerous. Many day care centers are fronts for satanic cults who wish to
indoctrinate and sexually abuse our children. Virtually all our problems, as
individuals and as a society are caused by demons. For Larson, there is a demon
behind every corner and of course he is one of the few people on earth with the
expert knowledge to effectively deal with them.
Larson conducts what he calls Spiritual Freedom Conferences in cities around the
country almost every weekend. In fact he spent quite a bit of time in this one
talking about how often he flies and how many cities he’s visited in recent
years.
The conference is a 2 day event with the first evening being free and open to
the public. The second requires a reservation and costs $39 at the door.
According to the promotional material the Spiritual Freedom Conference is
designed to:
FIND THE PERSON GOD MEANT YOU TO BE
Bob draws upon his more than 20 years of experience investigating the occult to
reveal how evil influences people's lives. Unlike the Hollywood version of the
occult, Bob’s conferences feature the supernatural center stage without smoke
and mirrors! He teaches his audiences about the many ways that evil attacks
human beings. “The devil traffics in human suffering,” Bob explains, “and we
take people to the ‘point of the pain’ to discover where their souls have been
scarred, allowing Satan to torment them. Sometimes, exorcism is part of the
healing process that follows.”
The first thing that one receives when attending is a resource catalogue
displaying all Bob’s books, tapes, and training programs. The catalogue header
claims that this is:
”INFORMATION YOU CAN’T GET ANYWHERE ELSE”
I’ll vouch for that claim because the information presented certainly isn’t
found in the bible.
There were approximately 50 people in attendance for the free portion of the
seminar including 10-12 who were either part of Larson’ traveling group or were
part of the local deliverance team known as the DWJD (Do What Jesus Did) group.
Bob Larson claims that he has performed more exorcisms than any person on the
planet. He takes pride in this. It is interesting to note that the word exorcist
occurs only once in the Bible. Found in Acts 19:13 and is the Greek word
exorkiste which means conjurer. That is an accurate description of what I
witnessed.
After beginning with a worship song Larson launched into a pitch for his latest
book, introduced several members of the DWJD team and began recounting various
exorcisms that he and they have been through. Throughout the evening Larson
touted these local deliverance teams that he is “planting” in cities throughout
the country. He explained that even after he leaves an area the deliverance team
remains to minister to those who need it. I later discovered why he is so
excited about these deliverance groups. (Hint – it involves money!)
While talking to one of his DWJD leaders Larson began to speak of abandonment
issues. He told the story of one person who was demon possessed because her
parents left her in day care. According to Larson, the demon told him that he
had entered the girl at the age of 2 when she was left in day care. This day
care facility was a front for a satanic cult. Cult members dressed in priestly
robes sexually molested the children. Larson called this the curse of
Melchizedek. He claimed that this is the curse under which the Catholic Church
is operating.
To attach the name of Melchizedek to the sin of pedophilia borders on blasphemy.
Here’s what the Bible says about Melchizedek:
….King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of
peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning
of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest
continually.
Heb 7:2-3
Melchizedek was an O.T. manifestation of Jesus. He was a King of righteousness
and peace. It is not surprising that a demon would want to attach such a vile
sin to that name. What was surprising was that a supposed man of God would
believe the demon and perpetuate that idea. This was only the beginning of
Larson’s extra biblical pronunciations.
After this, Larson asked for any person who was born out of wedlock or felt
abandoned by a parent to stand for prayer. About a dozen people stood. The first
thing he did was tell them that the feelings they had were not their fault.
He first went to one young man on the front row and prayed. When he did, the
young man began to growl in a demonic voice. Bob hugged the young man close to
him for a few seconds but did not attempt to cast out the supposed demon. Then
he called for his DWJD team to come forward and help pray for these people. He
asked several times for the team to disperse and pray for the people standing
but they never did. They all seemed to want to stand around Bob as he went from
one person to another. After praying for about three people and anointing them
with oil he brought forth a particular girl named DeeDee (not her real name).
This began an hour long deliverance session and the other 8 or 9 people who were
standing for prayer never got prayer. Very strange.
From that point on DeeDee became the star of the show. Under questioning from
Bob she admitted that she had been born out of wedlock, that she never knew her
father until she was 12 and that she herself had born three children out of
wedlock. This all seemed very embarrassing to her. I found out later that she
had already been going through some deliverance sessions with the local DWJD
group. Anyway, Larson hugged her and loved her and assured her that nothing was
her fault. All her problems were because of the curse of the bastard.
This curse comes to a person who was born or conceived out of wedlock. Based on
Deut 23:2
A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth
generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
Larson claimed that people born out of wedlock always have a hard time going
into a church or becoming a part of a church group. This he said was the basis
of DeeDee’s problems.
During a deliverance session Larson calls up demons and converses with them. He
“forces” them to tell him how they came in, by what “right” do they stay, what
generational curse they’ve brought with them, etc. He also calls on a person
“alters” meaning alternate personalities which he says are not demons but are
personalities developed by the individual to “protect” themselves, for example
protection from further emotional harm. He says some alters are good and some
are bad. Working with the alters can help determine which demons are present.
He does not simply tell a demon to depart in Jesus name. He spends a great deal
of time conversing with the demon and asking questions. Somehow he assumes they
are telling the truth, probably because of his great power over them. Sometimes
he asks them “are you telling the truth?”
Larson uses the “sword of the spirit” by placing a bible physically on the
demonized person. This appears to cause them great discomfort. While two male
deliverance team members physically held her, DeeDee struggled, writhed around
and screamed as if in pain whenever Larson touched her with the Bible. He
actually “stabs” the demon with the “sword” (bible) which appears to force the
demon to tell him what he wants to know. Under questioning the demon finally
admitted that it had gained entrance to DeeDee’s family line seven generations
back when her ancestors sacrificed pigs and called on demon spirits for power.
Eventually Larson and the deliverance team got through all DeeDee’s “alters”
found the source of her curse and expelled her demons sending them to “the pit”
and to “torment”. As I said, it was quite a show.
As I was watching this farce I was asking God what was really going on here. It
was clear that I was seeing demonic manifestations but it was also clear that
Larson and his team were using non scriptural means of dealing with them. The
first word that the Lord brought up in my spirit was conjurer. Then the Lord
clearly spoke to me the words Simon the sorcerer.
In Acts 8 we see the story of a man named Simon who practiced sorcery. He was a
Samaritan and had bewitched the people of that region with his great power.
Simon offered the apostles money in exchange for power of the Holy Spirit. Peter
rebuked him and told him that he needed to repent. There is no evidence in
scripture that Simon ever did repent.
Historical documents indicate that Simon became a leader in a pseudo Christian
sect known as the Gnostics. This is from the Greek word gnosis meaning to know.
Gnosticism is the idea that God has revealed additional knowledge beyond the
scriptures. This additional knowledge is required if one wants to truly seek
God. What Bob Larson practices is Gnosticism.
In Larson’s world, casting out a demon is a complex process. Only a person with
the knowledge he possesses could possibly be successful. A simple believer, one
who obeys the words of the Lord couldn’t possibly do what he does. No, a simple
“come out in Jesus name” would never work. You must first determine the name of
the lead demon, discover the source of his entrance, find out the curse under
which he is allowed to stay, deal with any “alters” the person has developed as
a defense mechanism. It’s all very complicated. Larson himself said that after
thirty years he is still coming across new curses and new spiritual rules by
which demons dominate people.
My Assessment
I felt sorry for the people present. They were obviously mesmerized by this man
and his supposed power over demons. They were captivated by the idea that with
proper knowledge they too could have extraordinary power over the powers of
darkness.
What was missing from all this was any presentation of the gospel. Not once did
Larson or any of his team preach repentance from dead works and faith toward
God. DeeDee was told that her having children out of wedlock was not her fault.
It was the fault of her ancestors. Demons caused her to do what she did.
The truth is that while people may be pre-disposed to certain sins due to the
iniquity of the fathers (see Ex 34:7), each one of us is ultimately responsible
for our own behavior. What DeeDee needed to do was confess her sin before God
and ask God to grant her repentance. She should turn to God and believe the
gospel which is the true power of God.
Casting out devils is a sign that is to follow the preaching of the gospel.
Mark 16:15-17
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe;
In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
The signs should never be the focus themselves. They are only seen as proof of
the power of the death, burial, and resurrection, of the Lord Jesus.
Like Simon, Bob Larson has attached money to the supposed power of the Holy
Spirit. Earlier I told you how excited Bob was to plant these DWJD deliverance
teams across the country. He should be excited because to become a member of the
DWJD team you must first pay Larson $4,000. I’m not making this up. You can see
it for yourself on his website.
And the $4,000 fee is only the beginning. After that you must attend Larson’s
workshops and seminars on topics like “Uncovering the Mystery of Multiple
Personalities” only $299 plus transportation and lodging.
Or perhaps you’d like to attend one of Larson’s 5 day “Restoration Retreat’s”.
During these five days, Bob Larson, along with a staff of medical and mental
health experts, financial advisors and experienced lay ministers, will minister
to your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Only $1,500 (tax deductible)
plus transportation.
If you don’t have time to travel you can take advantage of Bob Larson’s
expertise by phone in the privacy of your own home or office. Larson’s personal
coaching program is “a 12-step program designed to meet your needs and goals.
Your journey to full spiritual potential begins with your very own Personal
Profile. This 20-page spiritual diagnosis will uncover crucial aspects of your
life. Bob will personally pray over your Profile and God will reveal to him the
keys to your freedom and spiritual development.” Only $199 per week payable in
three easy installments.
If you can’t do that, there are plenty of books and tapes available to you such
as:
Larson’s Book Of Spiritual Warfare ($15.99)
All you need to know about demons, deliverance, angels, exorcism, Satanism,
witchcraft, the occult, and psychic phenomena.
The Four Laws of Spiritual Warfare (video $29.95)
Learn how to confront, identify, deal with, and cast out demons.
The Warfare Workshop (6 – one hour tapes $49.95)
In this series you’ll learn:
How a Christian can have a demon
How to know if you have a demon
How to call up a demon
What Scriptures Satan Hates Most
Quite a profitable little business he’s got going here isn’t it. All this
reminds me of the simple words of Jesus
…he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And don’t
forget your checkbook!
Pastor Bob DeWaay has written extensively on deliverance ministries and
spiritual warfare. For additional study see his excellent article
How Deliverance Ministries Lead People to Bondage
http://www.twincityfellowship.com/cic/articles/issue78.htm
Information cited may be found at
http://www.boblarson.org/
Steve Lumbley 2004 www.apostasywatch.com
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© Eastern Regional Watch Inc. 2003. All Rights Reserved.