It's a common concern I hear about. When Christians start delving into the world of more natural options regarding their health, they can run into a lot of confusing information. Some of the practices that seem like they could help are condemned as new age or occult.
When this happens, you need to take a careful look at what the practice is versus what people have made it to be.
Let's take crystals for example. Many people condemn them because they are "new age" and incompatible with Christian beliefs.
It's true that some people use them in ways they shouldn't. They'll connect with spirits or other occult practices and sometimes use crystals as part of their ritual.
Most Christians realize that contacting spirits is forbidden since it's expressly stated in the Bible. However, is it really the crystal's fault if it's used that way?
Here's what I know – crystals are rocks. They have a patterned or repeating molecular structure that makes them different than ordinary rocks, but they are still rocks. That means they were created by God, along with the rest of the rocks on earth.
Did you catch that? God created crystals.
If you believe, as I do, that God's creation was perfect, crystals were a part of that creation.
What we need to do is separate what is God's and perfect from what is man's and sinful.
The crystal is God's creation, and the occult uses of it are man's.
Chakras are also commonly rejected by Christians because they are commonly referenced in Hinduism and Buddhism.
While the term "chakra" may be more specific to these religions, the idea isn't. Traditional Chinese medicine, for instance, recognizes that there are centers in the body through which energy flows. Methods like acupuncture, acupressure, reiki, and vitaflex target these points or energy to heal.
Again, if there are points or centers or channels of energy in our bodies, how did they get there? If you believe we are God's creation, that means God put them there.
Another example is yoga. I've heard people say that yoga originated in other religions and is, therefore, not something Christians should practice.
Again, we need to break down what it is versus what man has made it.
Yoga is movement – plain and simple. It's a series of movements, stretches, etc. that can improve strength and flexibility.
Does God have anything against movement? Of course not! He created our bodies for movement, and they require it to stay healthy, so movement isn't the problem.
Sure, some people incorporate meditation, prayer, or other religious elements into their yoga practice, but that isn't necessary for everyone.
Let's acknowledge that anyone can do yoga or any other movement simply for the physical benefits, or you can do yoga and pray to Jesus.
When I started doing yoga, I didn't even know about its origins. Are you going to tell me that while I was learning yoga movements with my mind on nothing religious at all, I was somehow worshipping a Hindu god? Certainly not! Worship must be an intentional action. You can't accidentally worship.
Once again, it's not what God made that's the problem. It's what people have made it into. Practice yoga with your heart set on God, do it for strictly the physical benefits, or even ditch the term "yoga" and call it stretching — you'll be just fine.
Those are only a handful of examples, but I hope you can extend this idea to other practices.
Think for yourself. If you hear someone say something isn't Christian or Biblical, break it down. Is there something inherent in the practice that's ungodly, or does the problem lie in the way some people use it? Look at what it is at its core. Did God create it? If so, it's okay to use as He intended.
Be aware, though. There are definitely dangerous practices out there. It's wise to be cautious of crossing the line into the occult. Avoid anything that involves consulting with the dead or spirits, such as tarot and other types of readings. There is only danger there, no Godly benefits.
For example, while I haven't found anything anti-Christian in the healing modality of reiki, I'm not comfortable having it done by any of the practitioners near me. The reasons vary – one decorates her reiki room with Buddha statues, another also does tarot readings, and one openly states in her description of reiki that during the sessions, she often receives messages from departed loved ones. If I find a practitioner who is a Christian and uses reiki only for its healing purposes, I won't hesitate to try it, but I won't receive it from any of these people, no matter their intentions.
It's always wise to guard your soul carefully, but while you're being watchful, please don't miss out on things God meant for our health simply because other people misuse them.
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