This Present Darkness

Ok, so as a follow up to the Battle Cry blog, I have been particularly focused on spiritual warfare lately. I am rereading, for like the 8th time, "This Present Darkness" by Frank Peretti. It seriously freaks me out, as it should. I mean, this book would be the freakiest movie ever, but I hope they never even consider making it into a movie, because it's so much better in my head than any movie will ever be. It's all about the fight between angels and demons for the souls of the people in this town. It's fiction, but it's compelling stuff, and also reiterates the seriousness of the battle we're enmeshed in. And gives practical tips on how to strengthen the armies of heaven (prayer) and defeat the armies of hell (by binding and casting them out in the name of Jesus). I used to think that you could just banish demons by thinking, "I rebuke you in the name of Christ!" or some other such thought. Until my sister asked me once, when I was feeling particularly beleagured, if I had said it out loud. Apparently, in John Eldredge's book, "Waking the Dead" (which I have started, meaning I have read the first few pages, never got beyond that, I keep meaning to get back to it), he points out that we are giving demons too much credit when we do that, in that we assume that they can read our thoughts. Eldredge says, or at least what I interpreted what my sister says, that only God can read our thoughts. So in order to rebuke demons, and Satan, we need to say it out loud. It can be whispered, but it has to be audible. So I have to recheck that in the Bible and in Mr. Eldredge's book, but it makes sense. Anyone else have any insight on that??
A friend of mine had a problem with "This Present Darkness" because it focuses the demonic presence on the psychology department of a college. As a psychology major and future therapist, I do not have similar qualms about this setting. In the book, they focus on the Eastern mysticism and New Age self-discovery psychology realms, which are definitely there, and definitely not from God. In psychology, Christians must walk a fine line between therapeutic healing of emotional and psychological pain, and sending someone down a path filled with ambiguous self-god and self-goddess philosophies. So I don't take offense at the setting, while others might. So be warned about that, if you undertake a reading of it. If you are offended or have issues with my focus on this topic, I always enjoy a good dialogue about topics such as these. If you get a chance, and want a glimpse into what the supernatural battle going on around us could look like, read "This Present Darkness." I will always find great comfort and great fear in this book, and that is what makes it one of my favorites. Like my pastor said yesterday about the women at the tomb, "Afraid yet with great joy." It was true for those women after they witnessed the awesome power of God, and it is true for me when I contemplate the same thing with this book.