Baptist Pastor Claims Monks Praying for Demon Possession Shows Orthodox Tradition Contradicts Scripture

What was said

"When we're talking about the monks that are praying to be possessed by demons, they're using their worldly ways of thinking and actually praying for something very evil to happen, because if one has the Holy Spirit within them, they cannot be demon-possessed. So to pray and want to have a demon to come into you and to claim that it's some type of humility, I would say, is completely far away from anything that is Christian and concerning."

Pastor Sam cited passages from the Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus where monks pray to be possessed by demons as evidence of unbiblical practices in Orthodox monasticism. He argued this contradicts the Holy Spirit's indwelling and represents dangerous theology that should be rejected. Alex Sorin responded that this language is poetic and hyperbolic, similar to St. Paul saying he would accept being anathematized for his kinsmen, and that the entire text is about spiritual warfare against demons rather than inviting possession. The exchange highlighted fundamental disagreements over how to interpret patristic spiritual literature.