Warning: Spiritual Dangers of Watching ‘The Deliverance’
Apostle Alexander Pagani, a deliverance minister, pastor and author, has issued a warning to believers regarding the potential spiritual dangers of viewing films like “The Deliverance.” He argues that such movies can open doors to spiritual influences that many Christians may not be equipped to handle.
Streaming now on Netflix, “The Deliverance” is one of the most viewed movies in America. The storyline is detailed by IMDB and lists it as a Horror/Thriller film.
In a case widely covered at the time, Latoya Ammons and her three children experienced strange incidents in their Gary, Indiana, home that grew progressively worse: the children were levitating, becoming violent with one another, and speaking in deep growls with no recollection afterward. Skeptics abounded, but the Gary Police Department, Department of Child Services and the local church and hospital all became involved, filing reports that took the supernatural occurrences seriously. Officers, doctors and social workers said they witnessed many of the incidents, including one in which Latoya’s 9-year-old son walked backward up a wall. The Indianapolis Star covered it closely as the Department of Child Services investigated it.
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Pagani contends that movies like “The Deliverance” should not be taken lightly by believers, emphasizing that they often contain content that could “open a door” to demonic influence. “For some Christians, it’s dangerous,” Pagani says, referring to the movie’s portrayal of possession and exorcism. He believes that engaging with such material, even passively through entertainment, can have real spiritual consequences.
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From a biblical perspective, Pagani’s concerns align with Scriptural warnings against exposing oneself to ungodly influences. The Bible warns in Ephesians 6:12, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.” Movies that depict demonic activity in a sensationalized manner may desensitize believers to the reality of spiritual warfare, causing them to be less vigilant in guarding their hearts and minds.
Pagani further highlights the deceptive nature of horror films that portray exorcisms as entertainment. “We have to be discerning,” he advises, noting that the Bible encourages Christians to be sober and vigilant because “your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,” (1 Pet. 5:8). The minister argues that movies like this could numb viewers to the reality of spiritual warfare, making them more vulnerable to the very entities the films depict.
Ultimately, Pagani does not recommend “The Deliverance” for Christians, citing the potential risks to their spiritual well-being. “Don’t see the movie,” he states plainly, “don’t open that door.” For Pagani, the potential cost of exposure to such material far outweighs any entertainment value it might offer.
In a culture where the lines between demonic dangers in reality and fiction are increasingly blurred, Pagani’s warning is a call for believers to remain spiritually vigilant and to guard their hearts against influences that could lead them astray.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
