What is spiritual mapping?

Answer

Spiritual mapping is a relatively new technique used to identify locations where demons are active and then confront them. It is based on the belief in “territorial spirits,” which are demons believed to govern specific geographical areas. Once a territorial spirit is recognized, its territory is mapped, and then spiritual warfare is conducted against it. For instance, some Christians engage in spiritual warfare against the “spirit of greed” in a city known for its casinos or the “spirit of lust” in a red-light district.

Advocates of spiritual mapping often distinguish between three levels of warfare: “ground-level” warfare, which involves casting out demons from individuals; “occult-level” warfare, which addresses more organized spiritual evil; and “strategic-level” warfare, which directly confronts the “territorial spirits” over a larger area. These territorial spirits are believed to report directly to Satan and oversee all demonic activities within their domain. At times, these high-ranking territorial spirits are referred to as the “strongman” of an area, and the objective of spiritual mappers is to “bind the strong man.”

The Bible does not mention spiritual mapping. Those who advocate for spiritual mapping are doing so without biblical support. The Bible does not instruct Christians to actively seek out demons for battle, nor does it classify demons as spirits “of lust” or “of greed,” among others. The concept of “binding the strong man” is derived from a misinterpretation of Jesus’ parable in Mark 3:27 (where Jesus is the One who does the “binding,” not us).

Spiritual mapping is commonly practiced by individuals involved in “apostolic ministry” who assert that apostolic gifts and roles are being reinstated in the church today. However, Scripture clearly states that the role of the apostles was to establish the foundation of the church.Church (Ephesians 2:19-20), and foundations only need to be laid once. There are no apostles today. Spiritual mapping is also associated with dominion theology or Christian reconstructionism, which aims to bring about the fullness of God’s kingdom worldwide.

Christians are instructed to resist the devil, and he will flee «Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. », (James 4:7), and to stand firm against the schemes of the devil by utilizing the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). Our weapons of warfare are the Word of God and prayer (Ephesians 6:17-18). The battle belongs to the Lord «The horse is prepared against the day of battle: But safety is of the LORD.», (Proverbs 21:31), and He has already defeated Satan and the evil rulers of this world «Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. », (John 12:31). The Body of Christ is secure, and we need not fear demons. Nor do we need to name them, talk to them, or map them.