Eastern Healing Series: Click | View Series
Continued from: Part 7

Evaluating With Wisdom (Receive, Redeem, Reject, and Relate)

Now with a foundational understanding of the basics of Eastern healing practices and some elements of alternative healing, we can begin to carefully evaluate the various practices in alternative medicine. This vast subject requires a basic blueprint that would assist the Christian in knowing what to receive, redeem, reject, and relate in the faith experience. This is essential because every successive generation that is not given proper education about these Eastern practices endangers Christendom.

There is evidence that Christians accept and reject practices which they do not understand. I have personally seen devastating outcomes when Christians accepted and allowed healing practices that are clearly anti-theistic (anti-God) and were seriously injured as a result. Conversely, I have seen Christians reject valuable healing resources that are biblically safe. By basing their opinion on hearsay rather than researching and investigating for themselves, they give a valuable practice the reputation of being satanic. Guessing is not a safe option here; knowledge and understanding is crucial.

Springs Without Water

Christian, you must know how serious this is. The church as a whole is threatened by the dangerous encroachment of Eastern philosophy, which we are warned not to embrace. In 2 Peter 2:17-19 we are warned not to be given to false teaching:"Those false teachers are like springs without water and clouds blown by a storm. A place in the blackest darkness has been kept for them. They brag with words that mean nothing. By their evil desires they lead people into the trap of sin--people who are just beginning to escape from others who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are not free. They are slaves of things that will be destroyed. For people are slaves of anything that controls them." (New Century Version)

I believe that the "4 R" evaluation method above will be very valuable to assess whether or not certain practices are acceptable. It is very simple to use, and I will provide the basic blueprint of this method in the following posts. At the very least the Christian will be able after this evaluation to deduce what aspects of a particular practice does or does not violate Christian faith, theology, and doctrine, and see more clearly the reasons why acceptance or rejection is necessary.

To be continued.

Recommended Books:

A collection of fantastic reading material on various important topics, used and shared by Pastor Mark Driscoll. Find out more.