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As the premise of this blog states, I don’t believe that healing from chronic illness is simply a physical endeavor. It is emotional as well as spiritual. Most people who embrace holistic wellness would also agree.
Health care practitioners with a new age or Eastern medical perspective (which is popular in holistic and integrative medical circles nowadays) often advocate spiritual practices as an essential component of recovery. Practitioners might suggest to their clients, for example, that they do some yoga or meditation as part of their recovery.
In Christianity, spiritual healing is also central to the entire healing process, and is based on principles found in the Bible and a 24-7 relationship with a living God who leads and guides us in our decision-making, and transforms our thoughts so that they conform to His, not our own, which are subject to fallibility.
It seems to me that in some holistic medical circles, Eastern and new age spiritual practices are almost universally accepted as the best way to address the spiritual component of wellness. Let’s face it- it’s cool to be a Buddhist; to channel energy, to be a medical intuitive; to do Reiki, yoga and the rest, but it’s not so cool to be a Christian and to practice healing through Biblical principles and the Holy Spirit.
I could be wrong, but these are my impressions based on what I have observed at medical conferences and through talking with many health care practitioners, since I often hear practitioners advocating spiritual practices from the East, but I seldom hear talks about the power of Jesus or the Holy Spirit to heal.
Maybe the collective belief is that this sort of chatter is best reserved for the church, but that Eastern practices are okay because they are based on science or an intellectual philosophy rather than religion (which is not true). Still, I can’t help but wonder why it is okay to talk about God as a higher energy- as prana, chi or otherwise- but not as a person?
Is it because the belief among those in integrative medical science is that God is only universal energy, which we can channel at our will- but that God is not a person, with a will, thoughts and emotions?
Yet the Bible, which I believe is the infallible, inspired word of God, demonstrates that God is actually comprised of three persons- The Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit- and they they all have a will, thoughts and emotions. 1 John 5:8 of the Amplified Bible states: “So there are three witnesses in heaven, the Father, the Word (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one…”8
Christianity has earned a bad reputation in the United States among some people. And I don’t necessarily blame those that have been turned away from organized religion, since Christians are often known more for what they are against, rather than what they are for. Indeed, some of us have done a better job of reprimanding people for who or what they are or are not, instead of loving them unconditionally with the love of God.
This has led some folks, I believe, who were once open to the idea of a loving God, to embrace the idea of universal energy instead. Which to me is sad because, well…I think that God isn’t just energy, but the One that created the Universe and who longs to have a relationship with us! (Notice I did not say that God is human 🙂 And God is the mightiest force in the Universe; the Creator, the alpha and omega; the beginning and end of all things (Rev. 22:3).
And though I consider myself part of the integrative, or holistic wellness community, I don’t share the popular new age perspective that the Holy Spirit is simply Christianity’s way of defining universal, or higher energy, or that Jesus was just another good man, or healer, on earth. Because the Holy Spirit is more than energy- He is also a person, with a will, thoughts and emotions, and He is part of the Godhead, as is Jesus Christ.
I respect everyone’s right to believe differently, and I believe that all faiths have aspects of truth to them- but we let’s face it, we all believe in an ultimate truth- and just as some believe in universal energy, so I believe that Jesus Christ is the ultimate “way, truth and the life”(John 14:6) – and not just the truth of life here on earth, but in the Hereafter.
I also believe that not all energy is created equal. Our bodies are comprised of electromagnetic fields, which we can channel for our healing and that of other people. But the higher, more powerful energy of the universe comes only from three sources- God, demons, or angels.
Which is one reason why I don’t pray for people using any means or medium besides Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. And I don’t allow anyone to pray over me using a random form of “higher energy”–because for all I know, no matter how well-intentioned the channeler might be, that energy could be demonic, or from a dark spiritual entity, if you prefer- which can then bring harm to me or someone that I pray over.
Anyway, I love praying through the Holy Spirit, since He is God, and as such, imparts not only physical healing to us, but also a profound revelation of His love, Jesus’ love, and God the Father’s love towards us. He doesn’t just fix the broken bone- He shows us who He is for us, and His remarkable compassion towards us, through His healing touch.
Jesus Christ still heals through the Holy Spirit today, like He did when He walked the earth 2000 years ago, and abides in all those who believe in Him and who receive Him as their Lord and Savior. Do you know Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit? If you don’t, I invite you to put aside all prejudices and preconceived notions about who they are, and ask God to reveal them to you….You just might be surprised at the gentle, loving persons that you meet!