James 1:12 (NIV) says: >“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” I'm trying to understand what specific kinds of hardship or trials this verse is referring to. Does it include all forms of suffering (e.g., sickness, poverty, personal tragedy), or is it focused more on spiritual trials—such as those that come from the flesh (sinful desires), the world (opposition to godly living), or the devil (temptation and spiritual warfare)? Does persevering through these inner and external spiritual battles also qualify one for the crown of life? Or is the verse mainly referring to persecution and martyrdom for the Christian faith? Also, is the “crown of life” best understood as a metaphor for eternal life itself, or is it a distinct reward for faithful endurance beyond salvation? I'm seeking perspectives grounded in Scripture and theology across Christian traditions.

I recently watched the video ["My deliverance testimony: **warning this will trigger many christians**"](https://youtu.be/Lm9TcYmZjMs) which recounts a former New Age practitioner's conversion to Christianity and subsequent deliverance from demonic forces. These forces were legally allowed into her life through occult practices during her New Age days. She specifically mentioned a stubborn demon, allowed in through Kundalini Yoga, which only left her after eight months of her conversion. The "controversial" aspect of her testimony, depending on one's doctrinal commitments, is that she still required demonic deliverance well after her conversion and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Despite being "on fire for Jesus," this particular demon persisted until she was fully delivered. As expected, the video is causing some controversy in the comment section. For example (quoting some comments): > I believe demons can oppress a Christian. I do not believe that they can Indwell a Christian who is saved and sealed with the Holy Spirit. If that is the case, I immediately question if one was truly converted. The notion that a demon can indwell a Christian is a lie of note. The one who the son sets free is free indeed. You are sealed with the Spirit of God. > > Many make the claim that actual Christians can be indwelled by a demon and that is a lie. There is no record of that in scripture. It also diminishes the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation. I have seen deliverance and it is dramatic. The conclusion is that they were never saved to begin with. That is tough pill to swallow as many think they are when they are not. When you respond to the gospel, God himself seals you with his spirit. His spirit helps you live out your life through sanctification, he also helps you pray and he (the Spirit) intercedes on your behalf. That alone eviscerates any claim about Christians having a demon inside of them. Lies from the devil. If you believe that, you do not understand the gospel and you need some basic sound doctrine. Basic theology is important, it helps us get crystal clear on these matters, especially the gospel (which is everything). > Thank you for sharing about this, you are right - it's controversial in the church at large to say Christians can have demons. Sadly, it's very difficult for many of us to find a church where anyone (including the pastoral team) is willing to take on anyone as a disciple, let alone believe that anyone in a church setting would need deliverance from a demon. For encouragement to anyone who may happen to read this, after fifteen years of being saved (and told I was showing the fruit of the Spirit), I began listening to the book, Pigs In The Parlor (by Frank Hammond). Well, an hour or two later I started coughing uncontrollably. I wasn't sick, had no other symptoms of sickness, but experienced a coughing fit for five or ten minutes. Afterwards, I kept thinking, That was so weird; what was that? But over the following week, I realised a thought-pattern that had bothered me for decades was gone! So I've concluded that a demon left, simply after hearing (through earbuds, by the way) the prayers that were being spoken in the audio book I was listening to! Hallelujah, God is so good! God bless you and your family 🙂 > I had a very similar experience as you…having demons and then also > having the Holy Spirit…my full deliverance took almost 2 and a half > years. 🤯 > > People don’t understand your body becomes a battlefield as you learn > to submit and be sanctified in Jesus.🤍 > > Praise God for the miracle of your life!!!!🙌🏻 Derek Prince really > helped me too!!!❤ > > Thank you for inspiring me to share this truth on my channel. I > haven’t thought of covering this topic but the body of Christ needs to > hear that Believers can house demons. They stay until they are kicked > out. > > I, like you, was so desperate. You have to FIGHT and KILL the flesh > with the Truth of God’s word, prayer, fasting and never giving up on > God. > It happened with me too! I was Holy Spirit filled and I still had demons. It took obedience and sanctification in order for them to leave me (yes, they were inside me). Few months after I got freed I started a research about the occult in order to make a video and expose the lies. But I went soo far away into that investigation that I walked out of the narrow path of Jesus (by giving almost all of my focus on the darkness) and I once again got possessed by an unclean spirit. I cried, I repented, I fasted, but it really took time to solidify my commitment to walk in holiness and obedience with the Lord. Once the Lord saw that I was committed to walking with Him in purity the spirit left me in a split of a second. What biblical texts are cited to support the belief that Christians can have demons?

Christian theology generally teaches that only God is omnipresent, while Satan is a created being with limited power and presence. Yet, believers around the world often experience temptations or trials that they attribute to Satan’s influence. How do Christian theologians explain Satan’s ability to seemingly affect or test many people in different locations at once, if he cannot be everywhere? - Does Scripture suggest he works through a network of demons? I’m asking specifically from a biblical and theological standpoint, not from personal opinion.

According to the Wikipedia article on [Territorial spirit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_spirit) : > **Territorial spirits** are national angels, or demons, who rule over certain geographical areas in the world, a concept accepted within the Charismatic movement, Pentecostal traditions, and Kingdom Now theology. This belief has been popularized by the novel, *This Present Darkness* by Frank Peretti, as well as by the ministry of Peter Wagner. The existence of territorial spirits is viewed as significant in spiritual warfare within these Christian groups. > Peter Wagner promotes **"Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare"** (SLSW) which involves the practice of learning the names and assignments of demonic spirits as the first step to effective spiritual warfare. Opponents of this theological construct, and associated beliefs in "spiritual warfare", point out that while the Bible may describe some form of demonic control over geography, it does not prescribe many of the behaviors and teachings that proponents advocate in response. There is no mention in either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament of believers banding together and praying a form of "spiritual warfare" against particular territorial demons. The battles occurring in the spiritual realms (as described in Daniel 10) have no Biblically identified link to the actions and prayers of God's people in the physical world. Are the belief in "territorial spirits" and the practice of "Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare" innovations of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement? Did they borrow these ideas from prior sources? Can we find evidence of similar beliefs being held in other periods of church history? _____ **Note**: an interesting book that reports the alleged application of these ideas in the context of the Argentine Pentecostal Revival is [*Listen to Me, Satan!*](https://www.amazon.com/Listen-Me-Satan-Carlos-Annacondia/dp/1599792346) by Carlos Annacondia (an interview is available at [Carlos Annacondia: The evangelist at the forefront of revival](https://www.premierchristianity.com/home/carlos-annacondia-the-evangelist-at-the-forefront-of-revival/2092.article) , and a YouTube documentary called [Carlos Annacondia - "Listen to Me Satan"](https://youtu.be/gaK67UFQ6kI)) .

I am currently working on a project devoted to the thoughts of the Curé of Ars (St. John Vianney) on various topics. One of the topics is *scruples*. St. Alphonsus Liguori, for instance, has this to say about scruples itself: > A conscience is scrupulous when, for a frivolous reason and without rational basis, there is a frequent fear of sin even though in reality there is no sin at all. A scruple is a defective understanding of something. St. Philip Neri seemed to have a fair amount to say on the subject, including > The scrupulous should remit themselves always and in everything to the judgment of their confessor, and accustom themselves to have a contempt for their own scruples. And he offered the following advice to those pestered by scruples: > If those who are molested by scruples wish to know whether they have consented to a suggestion or not, especially in thoughts, they should see whether, during the temptation, they have always had a lively love to the virtue opposed to the vice in respect of which they were tempted, and hatred to that same vice, and this is mostly a good proof that they have not consented. and > When a scrupulous person has once made up his mind that he has not consented to a temptation, he must not reason the matter over again to see whether he has really consented or not, for the same temptations often return by making this sort of reflection. However, when I searched, for example, the various sermons and catechetical instructions of the Curé of Ars, I could find nothing along these lines. In fact, I could find nothing at all in which anything directly regarding *scruples* in the above sense is even mentioned. St. John Vianney, has, however, used the word in a slightly different sense on several occasions; when, for example, he says: > My children, you make a scruple of missing holy Mass, because you commit a great sin in missing it by your own fault ; but you have no scruple in missing an instruction. and also, > He [lukewarm Christian] has few scruples in cutting out, on the least pretext, the Asperges and the prayers before Mass. But, alas, I can find nothing regarding his having addressed *scruples* specifically as a spiritual disease. I have consulted his definitive biography by Trochu, and all I could find in there regarding scruples as a disease, is a reference that Trochu makes in regards to St. Benedict Labre en route to receiving the hospitality of the Vianney household when St. John Vianney was a little boy: > Tortured by scruples, Benoit Labre had just left the Trappist monastery of Sept-Fonds, where he had been a novice under the name of Brother Urban. He had now acquired a certainty that his vocation was to be a wayfarer for the remainder of his life, so he set out for Rome. His first halt was at Paray-le-Monial, where he paid long visits to the chapel of the Apparitions. From Paray he journeyed to Lyons, but rather than enter the city at nightfall he chose to spend the night at Dardilly. On observing a number of poor persons going to the house of Pierre Vianney, he went along with them. QUESTION: Does anyone know if the Curé of Ars had had anything to say about the disease of *scruples* directly, perhaps along the lines of the Liguori and Neri quotes provided above; and if so, what are they or where I may find them? (The sources I have used, for the most part, are in English. Perhaps there is something in the French in which the subject is directly addressed?) Thank you.

What is spiritual warfare ? And how is it different from malefic ("black") magic ? One Evangelical Christian sums it up with, *Prayer should not be spellcasting. God is not your djinni.*

In Ephesians 6:12, Paul writes: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬ The standard, modern understanding of this passage is that our true opponents are not physical enemies, but rather evil spiritual forces that attempt to sow division and chaos. How has this passage been used historically, and has it ever been used to justify war by dehumanizing the enemy? If so, could you point me to some examples?

Recently our minister preached a sermon based on Luke 9:42: >Even while the boy was coming [to Jesus to be healed], the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. The minister drew a parallel with people who are in the process of coming to saving faith in Christ Jesus, or new Christians, and who then experience "spiritual attacks" that prevent them from continuing on the path to salvation. Then I found a sermon preached by Baptist minister Charles H. Spurgeon [sermon # 1746, Volume 29 – The Devil’s Last Throw](https://www.spurgeongems.org/sermon/chs1746.pdf) which said, in part: >When a person had almost believed in Christ, but not quite, Satan seemed to multiply his temptations around him, and to bring his whole force to bear upon him. It is amazing how the ungodly will lay all kinds of traps for one who is escaping from his sins. They are fearfully set on keeping him from Christ. Toward the end of his sermon he said: >I never dare to preach to anybody a temporary salvation. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved,” not for merely tonight, but forever. When God saves a man, he is saved, not for weeks and years, but eternally. If Christ turns the devil out of him, he shall enter into that man no more, forever. Now this is a salvation that is worth your having, and worth my preaching. To prevent asking a question that will attract only opinion-based answers, is there any biblical basis for believing that Satan will do his uttermost to prevent a sinner from coming to saving faith in Christ Jesus?

I just finished watching a testimony from a mature Pentecostal woman sharing her personal 'spiritual warfare' experiences, and she recounted a time when the demons would get physical with her and literally leave scratch marks on her skin. She then explained that the demons could do this to her because she had some 'open doors' (spiritually speaking) that she had to close. This is not the first time I come across a testimony where experiences of this sort are reported. For example, with a simple search I found this Quora question [Can a ghost or entity leave marks or scratches on your skin?](https://www.quora.com/Can-a-ghost-or-entity-leave-marks-or-scratches-on-your-skin) with more anecdotes along these lines. **Question**: which denominations believe that demons can physically harm Christians (provided that certain 'doors' are kept 'open')? I'm assuming that Pentecostals probably do (judging by the testimony I just watched). Are there any others? ___ Related: - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/86308/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/80419/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/80515/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84082/50422

Does the Bible contain a thought or any indication of it that throughout the whole Old Testament era there was a process of preparation for the first coming of Christ taking place in the spiritual world? We know that in the physical world there was a process of preparation taking place for the first coming of Christ – in the way of God’s firstly forming a chosen nation, then revealing to them some standards of His righteousness, and later, through multiple periods of their history, showing to them that they were unable to live according to those standards by themselves, that they needed to fully rely on God’s saving hand in the matter of their salvation – despite possessing the status of the chosen nation. But what about the spiritual world? Does the Bible contain any indication that there was also a kind of preparation for the first coming of Christ happening in the spiritual world during those times (perhaps, some kind of spiritual warfare happening between God’s angels and fallen angels, the outcome of which made the first coming of Christ possible)?

I'm a Pentencostal and I've realized that are some demons that can not be casted out by a common Christian (even living in holiness and fasting). It seems there is a level of anointing (authority given by God in spiritual realm) that the Holy Spirit gives to the person performing the deliverance. It also seems that the higher a person suffered because of the Gospel the higher the anointing. I also noticed that the higher the level of gifts from Spirit is the greater is the anointing to casting out demons, for example someone having gift of miracles has more authority than someone which is only batized on Holy Spirit. I'd like to know if there are some literature which discuss different levels of anointing and deliverance. (Need not be exclusively based on the Bible).

We read a text in Scripture like: > “Therefore submit to God. **Resist the devil and he will flee from you**.” > ‭‭James‬ ‭4:7‬ **Q**: **What does it mean that a Christian submits to God, resists the devil, but the devil doesn’t leave?**

I've already asked my fair share of questions on the paranormal, but so far I have mainly received answers from the Catholic viewpoint. Therefore, this time I want to limit the scope of this question to the **Protestant perspective**. **According to Protestants, are there genuine cases of paranormal activity in modern times?** If so, is there agreement among Protestants as to the causes? Are genuine cases of paranormal activity caused by God, angels, demons, the disembodied spirits of the dead, people endowed with psychic abilities or something else? ___________ Related questions: - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/89056/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/87240/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/80515/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/82874/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84082/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/80419/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/44557/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/53105/50422

This question was originally inspired by a "Buddhist to Christian" [testimony](https://christian-faith.com/buddhist-monk-turns-to-jesus/) (courtesy of [this answer](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/88869/50422)) . Specifically, this part of the testimony: > [...] > I met her while visiting my best friend, Zlatko. She listened sympathetically to the problems and struggles in my life, emphasising that ONLY GOD could help remove the burdens from my shoulders. I could not work for my “”Salvation””. As I listened I felt different, warmth had crept into my heart, and finally I said a short prayer to welcome the LORD Jesus Christ into my heart as my Saviour. **I didn’t know it then, but found out later, that Jovanka my friend’s wife had prayed intensely in “”tongues”” while I was being witnessed to. God later told her the following: “”Marlies, you think it was your good witnessing skills that led Souk to Jesus! No, when Jovanka prayed in tongues she bound the demon sitting on his head that had stopped him from turning to the Lord Jesus Christ.””** > > When the prayer was over I felt totally at peace and relieved. I was not even afraid of what my parents might say that one of their children had changed from a religion that had been in the family for centuries. In fact, within a few weeks I told them that no longer did I follow the Buddhist religion, but had become a Christian. It turns out this is not an isolated case. After some searching I was able to confirm that other Christians share similar beliefs regarding the usefulness of tongues in the context of spiritual warfare and deliverance/exorcism. For example: From https://godencounters.com/praying-gift-tounges/ : > Tongues of war – There is a place where **the Holy Spirit goes on the offensive. He battles through us**. Sometimes there is a coupling together of the gift of faith with tongues. **A rising within occurs and a push or urge to launch out against the demonic forces happens. Sometimes it is the wedding between discerning of spirits and tongues. You combat or attack the dark force, commanding it to flee**. From http://www.demonbuster.com/tongues.html : > **During some of our DELIVERANCE sessions when the demon is being stubborn, we pray out loud in TONGUES. Usually, the person immediately covers their ears with their hands because the demons apparently can understand. The demons absolutely hate for you to pray in TONGUES at any time**. > > By the way, the demons can also speak in TONGUES, but it is coming from the spirit of the devil. You almost cannot tell the difference, which is why we have cast OUT many demons of FALSE TONGUES. Even [Tim Conway](https://illbehonest.com/author/tim-conway) , from *I'll Be Honest* (same ministry as [Paul Washer](https://illbehonest.com/author/paul-washer)) , in the video [Has the gift of speaking in tongues ceased? - Tim Conway](https://youtu.be/YMkpn0iZonA?t=1269) , referenced an anecdote from the book *From Witchcraft to Christ* ([link](https://www.amazon.com/Witchcraft-Christ-Doreen-Irvine/dp/1842912593)) that involved tongue-speaking for deliverance. At 21:09 Tim said: > But the fact is, the gift of tongues was a legitimate, and I believe, is a legitimate spiritual gift, and if somebody has an ability - look, **I read a book not too long ago, called 'From Witchcraft to Christ'**, **and the man who was heavily involved in delivering this woman from all these demons that were in her** --she was involved in witchcraft, she was involved in Satan's worship--- and a friend of Martyn Lloyd-Jones, **he believed he had the gift of tongues of angels**, **and you know what the woman said, who had been delivered of all these demons? She said**, whether he did or not, I can't say but she said **"I know this, when he would talk in that language, the demons inside me were terrified and they understood him"**. So, again, I'm not going to say what God can or can't do. And this was a very godly man, and like I said, he was a friend of Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and it seemed like God had given him special and unique gifts to be able to deal ... Is it possible man can speak in the tongues of angels? Hey, I haven't had it, I'm not going to say first hand. Paul definitely alludes to things like that [...] **Question**: What is the biblical basis for speaking in tongues for deliverance and spiritual warfare?

Many Christians believe that Christians **cannot** be possessed by demons. What is the biblical basis for this belief? _____ Related: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/32198/50422

The possibility that a person can become demon-possessed is a well established fact of Scripture. The four gospels as well as the book of Acts make many references to individuals who were tormented and possessed by evil spirits. But what about the *how*? What would be an **overview** of beliefs on *how* people can become demon-possessed in the first place? Can evil spirits enter and possess whomever they want (and to what extent, are there different degrees of possession)? Are there spiritual laws that determine when, where, why, how and the extent to which a person can be influenced and ultimately possessed by evil spirits? ________ Related: - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/81001/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84082/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84365/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/82874/50422

- Does being a cessationist have any bearing on one's views on spiritual warfare, demon possession and the casting out of demons (a.k.a. exorcisms)? Can a person be a cessationist and still believe in contemporary demon possessions and exorcisms? - Are there dedicated deliverance ministers or exorcists who are cessationists? If not, how do cessationists drive demons out of demon-possessed individuals? ____ Related: - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/12536/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/81001/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/83574/50422

Acts 16:16-18 (ESV): > 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by **a slave girl who had a spirit of divination** and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. **Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour**. Are there published testimonies from people who received deliverance from a spirit of divination or a similar spirit, as in Acts 16:16-18? I'd like to read or watch a first-hand account, told from the perspective of a person who used to have a spirit of divination or similar spirit influencing them, about (1) their experiences prior to the deliverance, (2) the deliverance itself and (3) how their life changed after the deliverance. __________________ Related questions: - [Do Christians believe in witchcraft and the occult?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84082/50422) - [How often do missionaries report encounters with demonic activity while deployed to countries belonging to the 10/40 Window?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/82874/50422) - [How do Christians approach the evangelization of individuals who have had profound spiritual experiences in other religions?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84362/50422)

According to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10/40_window) : > **The 10/40 Window** is a term coined by Christian missionary strategist and Partners International CEO Luis Bush in 1990 to refer to those regions of the eastern hemisphere, plus the European and African part of the western hemisphere, located between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator, a general area that was purported to have the highest level of socioeconomic challenges and least access to the Christian message and Christian resources on the planet. Recently someone told me about the prevalence of the belief in demons and ghosts in countries pertaining to this troublesome region. I did a quick search and indeed was able to find several anecdotal reports suggesting that this appears to be the case. Two examples below: 1\) [Defining Missions – A Tibetan Testimony (Illustrating the 10/40 Window)](https://christopherchapman.blog/2012/08/28/tibetan-testimony-illustrating-the-1040-window/) : > [...] By the string of Hollywood movies in recent decades focusing on Tibetan culture one would get the impression that they have much wisdom and light to offer the West in terms of spirituality. This is a satanically inspired fabrication, and couldn’t be further from the truth. **Tibet is a dark place filled with demon possession, witchcraft, poverty, brutality and fearful superstition**. Over every mountain pass you will find prayer flags waving in the wind. With each gust of wind it is believed that one more prayer has ascended to the demonic forces of fear that control their lives. **And with every prayer it is hoped, more than believed, that somehow the brutal spirits ruling their land will be, to some small degree, appeased with this fruitless tradition**. 2\) [4 Reasons to Evangelize the 10/40 Window Before Anywhere Else](https://messagemissions.com/4-reasons-to-evangelize-the-10-40-window-before-anywhere-else/) : > **In the 10/40 Window, most people live in deep fear of evil spirits** (a > few atheistic nations excepted). They offer daily sacrifices to > appease their ancestors, avoiding retribution, and seeking blessing. > Statues of demons and spirits adorn almost every street. **Reports of** > **ghost encounters abound**. **Many cultures regularly seek out witch** > **doctors, psychics, spiritists, blessings, spells, and potions, and** > **fear curses and omens**. > > The 10/40 Window’s demonic fears aren’t baseless. Inhabitants of the > 10/40 Window fear evil spirits because they’ve lived under evil’s > vicious taunt. **Demonic forces work out in the open there, spreading** > **torment, confusion, rage, and addiction**. **Our partners regularly tell** > **us stories of the most shocking demonic attacks**. > > I’ll only give one example. > > **A 19-year old Burmese man lived under severe demonization since age** > **15**. **Demonic illness, madness, and rage constantly plagued him and often drove him running into the jungle**. He soon became so violent > that his teachers had to remove him from school, and his own parents > locked him in his room and chained him to his bed. They sought every > cure possible, but neither medicine nor monks nor mysticism could turn > the tide. Soon, the parents met our partner, Pastor J, and asked him > to pray for their son. > > What happened next should blow us away. Our partner prayed for the > young man in the name of Jesus, and the tormenting spirit left > immediately. In a matter of seconds, Jesus had delivered the young man > from insanity which four years of Asia’s best cures could not heal! > Can you imagine the joy and relief His family experienced? He soon > received Christ, and today he would rather die than reject Jesus. Who > could blame him? > > Our partners tell us similar testimonies regularly. Jesus is setting > the 10/40 Window free, person by person, soul by soul. He longs to > liberate every unreached captive, for He is “not willing that any > should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 > NKJV). What keeps this great deliverance from the pages of history? > “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2 > NKJV). _____________________ **Question**: Can someone more knowledgeable on the topic confirm whether this is true? Does demonic activity abound in many of the countries belonging to the 10/40 Window and how often do Christian missionaries encounter demonic activity while on duty in these countries?

I was born and raised in Sweden. I grew up with "kinda" Christian parents. However, I can't remember ever going to a church except when somebody had died or got married. I couldn't tell you which of the numerous "branches" that they believed in, but that's sort of at the core of my question: why exactly does it matter? I realize and recognize that it *does* clearly matter to an enormous amount of people. I just don't understand **why** exactly. Why is it of such importance that other people also believe the exact same set of ancient stories, and interpret them in the same manner, as yourself? Frankly, as cozy and nice as Christianity can be, I would not feel any sorrow if everyone around me were, instead of Jesus and God, referring to Thor and Oden. In practice, what I like about religion is the concept of unity within a people. Having structure and tradition and recurring events, etc. Some common set of rules which bind a people together and empower it against the outside world. Note that I'm not saying that peoples should be fighting or going to war to somehow force (or even attempt to convince peacefully) each other about how "they are right". This is also at the core of my world view. I don't understand the futile struggle to travel to Africa (for example) and tell them about our Jesus and God and how they should be living. It's frankly insulting to me. I wish that Christians would never have tried to go on "missions" to "spread the faith", but rather keep it as local as possible. As somewhat of an "outsider", although still definitely not an Atheist, it seems absurd to me the amount of time, efforts and sorrows are expended arguing and fighting with each other about religions, which can be seen as a metaphor for races, and the belief (no pun intended) that one can "turn" somebody into a Christian (or any other religion, for that matter) by convincing them with arguments. Or that this is meaningful even if it is possible. I suspect that you will respond: > Well, in so-and-so page of the Bible, Some Person said so-and-so, so that's why we try to spread the gospel! I don't mean to offend anyone, and I find the Bible fascinating in many ways, but at the end of the day, what's the end goal of trying to spread a religion/faith/world view to people who are fundamentally incompatible and even violently opposed to hearing what some White Christian tells them, since they already have their own views and traditions locally? I'm truly not "taking any sides". I just wish that Christians in particular would not try to push their faith (which appears to vary wildly between the numerous "branches") onto people who are just as disinterested in "becoming Christians" or "letting Jesus into their lives" as you would be if a Muslim told you to start slaughtering animals according to the Halal method, or told you that you can only go to Heaven/Valhalla if you believe in the Nordic mythology. I hope that my point is coming across clearly and that it doesn't offend anyone. I'm genuinely trying to understand why it's such an important thing for Christians to promote their, what amounts to, traditions and rites, toward other people. Even just trying to convince another Christian of a different branch that what they grew up with is "wrong" is an exercise in futility and appears, to me, almost as if the people trying to do so are actively "picking a fight". In either case, that's what inevitably happens when you tell somebody (or imply) that they are wrong and you are right; they just become stubbornly convinced that their way was right all along and that these external people are trying to sell them something which they have zero interest in. Would it really be out of the question to simply have your branches and churches and do what you wish in there and if somebody shows interest, they can be invited to join, but this isn't some "end goal" or "the overall purpose" of gathering and believing a certain branch of Christianity (or any religion)?