Question: I am in great need of some information. Three Christian relatives of mine - one of whom is our church's worship pastor - have, for reasons of either pain relief or exercise, become involved in tai chi, yoga and tae- bo (form of exercise incorporating tae-kwon-do and kick boxing). I know they have done it innocently and simply need knowledge of the REAL powers behind these programs. Do you have any information you can forward to me or do you know of any ministries that might? I would truly appreciate your assistance. Thank you.

Answer: Those three practices are rooted in the pantheistic belief that a universal life-force flows through everything, connecting all parts of the planet to an ultimate Source, Energy or Cosmic Mind. This Force is called PRANA by Hindus, KI in Japanese, and CH’I by Chinese and other Eastern practitioners, who believe it courses through the body in the form of meridians. Since it's the same force promoted through Pokemon and other expressions of Japanese anime, we have copied the chart below from our Pokemon Movie review:

Polarity

Instead of describing each "healing" practice based on psychic (ki or ch'i) energy, let me (Berit) share something God taught me back in the seventies through an Holistic Health Conference. His lesson may be more helpful than a lengthy definition.

I was a full time mom in those days, but I wanted to maintain my RN license. So I attended the conference, which seemed an easy way to earn the needed "continuing education" credits. As a brand new Christian, I knew nothing about holistic health and little about spiritual dangers in general. A workshop on "Polarity" sounded interesting, and neither its Yin Yang symbol nor the promise that the special massage would "balance the male and female energies" of my body alerted me to its occult source. Since the facilitator assured us that she could fix any kind of back problem, I signed up for a future private session.

A few weeks later I drove to her clinic and was ushered to a massage table. I began to feel a bit nervous – especially after noticing a mystical drawing on her wall. "What’s that?" I asked the therapist when she came into the room.

"It’s my spirit guide," she answered.

Praying for wisdom, I asked, "Where does your power come from?"

"It’s from the universal force," she began. "It goes through my spirit guide into me, then through my hands into you."[see note]

I almost hopped off the table. But after a quick and fervent prayer for God's guidance came a comforting assurance that He would guard me. Silently, I praised God, put on His armor (Ephesians 6:10-18), and waited.

As soon as the facilitator-therapist touched my back, she began to cough. Soon she was coughing so hard that she could hardly breathe. So she squatted on the floor next to me. Moments later, I turned my head and asked, "What are you doing down there?"

"Re-aligning my energies," she finally answered. She stood up to try again, but the moment she touched me, the coughing resumed. Angry, she stepped back, waited to catch her breath, then announced, "I can’t help you. MY POWER WON’T GO INTO YOU! You might as well go home."

Delighted, I tried to explain why. But she didn’t want to hear about the difference between my God and her cosmic force. "Just leave," she warned. I did, and all the way home I praised my Lord who had shown me that "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

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Healing Touch: The same energy that flows through the hands of the believing practitioner of Polarity also explains the New Age "healing touch" -- healing the sick by sending occult energy into the diseased area of the body.

Herbal Therapy

Question:Is it okay for Christians to use herbs for healing?

Answer: God, the Creator of heaven and earth, made all the different herbs found around the world for our blessing:

"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. (Genesis 9:3)

"For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;" (Hebrews 6:7)

Therefore we can use them according to His guidance. But I say that with extreme caution. The problem today is that herbal therapy has been generally usurped by the holistic health movement and therefore tends to be taught by those who embrace pantheistic powers and psychic energy. Warnings in Psalm 1:1-2 and other Scriptures remind us to avoid the counsel of those who follow other gods and reject Him. Most literature dealing with herbs today are written by those who fit the latter category -- or by those who blend the latter with selected Scriptures to win the approval of the Christian community. So be sure you ask God to show you His will for you.

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