BIBLICAL BRIEFS 62
The Bible says nothing about it, as well as for most modern issues we are exposed to in our lives. However, it is not necessary for the Bible to provide detailed guidelines in all things, because born again Christians have the enormous advantage of the Holy Spirit to lead them in all truth (John 16:13). Still, we do not trust our ability to hear from God practically, and often seek answers from the Bible (John 5:39), where this abuse often leads to incorrect applications. Christians’ over-cautiousness and fear of bindings, occultism, and Eastern mysticism, and so forth, by eg. exploring outside the familiar Western medicine is legendary, and their suspicion thereof is often only because of a lack of knowledge. The Bible is not a handbook on traditional advice or codes of conduct, but wants to holistically and adequately equip you for every good work (2Tim. 3: 16-17) so that “you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers”(3John 1: 2). In Acts. 19:19, believers burned books on magical arts, most probably with information on alternative medicine, but this should not be taken as the example. Many unfolding facets of science, for example, energy and aura, magnetism, vibration, the enormous role of natural medicine and insights from quantum physics, with which believers are confronted and have to make decisions about, are all part of God’s miraculous creation for our help and may also serve in our healing. Many of the practices mentioned above have a very specific scientific foundation and a proven record of healing, irrespective of the original belief or practice from which it originated. The simple biblical appraisal thereof, considering all the scary stories concerning demonic exposure and consequences, is Jesus’ words in Mark. 7:15 – “there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him, but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man”. Although he also refers to food, it is clearly understood in a wider context. 1Cor. 10:23 remains valid for believers: “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.” One has to know God’s will in everything and approve and distinguish accordingly (Rom. 2:18).
Dr. Tom Gouws
