“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14
Recently, a Christian family that is dealing with a demonic presence and paranormal activity in there house and family invited some friends to come burn sage throughout their home to “cleanse” it. I also had a Christian friend suggest the burning of sage to his friends. Another Christian friend has crystals in their home to “absorb the negative and evil energy” in their home. Though not as wide spread as people may think, today there are more Christians turning to, bringing into practice, or “Blending” Native American pagan religious rituals and mythical items and beliefs with their Christian faith. Such as burning sage, the use of crystals, and other items. I believe If you try to bring in ancient middle age, new age or pagan rituals with their connection and supposed “curing” powers that are not connected to that of God, but of manmade gods, and you are acknowledging that something other than God has power in this earth, you are opening and granting access to then to those things not of God.
It is like when I anoint with olive oil. Olive oil is not “magical” or has any powers. When I anoint with it I claim it as a visible sign of the invisible sealing and anointing of the Holy Spirit. I claim the presence and power of God. Smoke from sage or anything else you burn, or a rock or crystal is not “magical’ or has any power in itself. You have to believe it is connected and derives any spiritual power from a deity, spirit, or god. If not our one true God, the. What god are you claiming powers of healing in?
There is in the Bible references to burning incense and crystals and gems. However, The Bible never assigns any mystical properties to crystals. None of these superstitious beliefs about sage, crystals or other pagan practices come from the Bible. The Bible does not say that these are beneficial for attracting wealth, rekindling romance, or warding off evil spirits; neither does it say that sage, crystals or other items are needed to connect to God’s Spirit. On the contrary, the Bible warns strongly against engaging in anything related to superstition and the occult. God declares the practice of the occult detestable: “There shall not be found among you …anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcereror a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) The use of these items and assigning them powers as charms, amulets, or talismans is a type of occult practice, however harmless it seems. Anything that seeks to manipulate the spirit world can be categorized as witchcraft.
My family, I pray you will declare over your life today that Jesus is Lord, salvation and healing is in Christ alone, and putting your hope, trust and healing in the hands of anything else is a sin, missing the mark, and remove, repent and release these things to the foot of the cross, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
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