Each of these two books has a sub-title; the first is “The Foundation of Deliverance Ministry” and the second “The Practical Ministry.” The author is Peter Horrobin the founder and International Director of Ellel Ministries. I know that there are Christian leaders in a number of countries who regard this particular ministry with great concern and have profound reserves about the extremes into which it goes. These two books express the convictions of Peter Horrobin and presumably those of the many trained workers in a number of countries who have passed through the courses of the organization. Because of the frequent negative opinions I have heard it seemed good to take a serious look at the books, they spell out the belief system lying behind the counseling practiced by the workers. As I made my way through both books I felt again and again the words ‘yes, but…’ Agreement with what was written, but only up to a point. One quotation sums up my concerns, it is from volume two page ninety. ‘It is only by the ministry of healing and deliverance following the receipt of the gift of salvation that the work of the enemy down the generation line can be undone…’ Both books infer that view throughout, but does is represent the true New Testament position? The answer has to be a resounding ‘no’. The experience of the full salvation obtained for us by our Lord Jesus Christ is not dependent upon subsequent sessions of counseling administered by competently trained experts however sincere and committed to Christ they themselves may be. There is no adequate scriptural justification to suggest that many problems may be demonically based and lurk in the unsuspecting believer and necessitate exhaustive examination till all is exposed and removed. The first volume purports to present the scriptural foundations for this ministry of healing through deliverance but in fact it does not carry the weight it should in order to do so. In stead there are frequent examples from case files of Ellel Ministries cited to bolster the scripture quotations although so often you can say ‘yes, this is helpful, this is right’ but always there is that ‘but’ that goes along with the ‘yes,’ simply based upon the fact that too much is assumed, the superstructure built, the system of belief formed is established on too little a scripture foundation. The testimony of the epistles simply does not warrant the extrapolation of reasoning under-girding this counseling ministry. It reminded me of an experience I have had on a number of occasions; for instance, when we moved to Canada our friends sold us a Toyota Camry, which was about twelve years old. We were not familiar with this particular kind of car, we had never really noticed them before, but as soon as we got it we began to see Toyota Camry’s of a similar vintage everywhere, or so it seemed! However, every car was not a Camry! Although it is North America’s most popular car it does not even make up a quarter of the cars on the road! Has this happened with the idea that the problems of many Christians are rooted in their being demonized and they have not yet been healed through deliverance ministry? Has this ministry genuinely seen and experienced that sometimes it is possible that a demon, or a curse, or a generational link can be at the root of certain problems but has it developed a systematized approach that goes far beyond scriptural warrant? There is no doubt that so called ‘deliverance ministry’ is magnified out of all proportion to the general tenor of scripture in these books. The insinuation that those who do not practice deliverance ministry only offer a superficial ministry is stated on one occasion too. Yet, we must say ‘yes’ again, demonic activity is real but is there a hidden realm that must be accessed by trained experts before we can walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus? If so then our dependence subtly shifts from Christ and His work to the experts whose ministry we must submit to. This is a form of priest craft and in common with all such in the end robs Christ of His place. So, we must register our partial agreement with what is written in these books but also state strong reserves about them too.
