Can Christians Use Crystals?
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As Christians, it is important to pay attention to our health. We only get one body in this life, so we need to do our best to take care of it.
Some people have turned to the idea of using crystals as a way of promoting health. If it were strictly a health question, then that might be a different conversation. However, as you will soon see, crystals promote more than just good health, and I believe that is where the potential danger lies.
What Are Crystals?
Crystals fall into the category of alternative forms of medicine. People who use crystals do so for their perceived healing properties. They believe crystals can promote healing in your body, soul, and spirit. While there has been no confirmed evidence of this from traditional medicine, there are those who will give credence to their healing abilities.
According to Health Line, “Some people claim that crystals promote the flow of good energy and help rid your body and mind of negative energy for physical and emotional benefits. They believe certain crystals benefit your sleep, help you manifest your desires, and add an additional healing element to reiki.”
At the age of three, my son received a leukemia diagnosis and had to stay in the hospital for two and a half months as part of the initial treatment. During this time, we would stay with him in the room in rotating shifts. This rotation would include friends and family members. On one occasion while he was there, a woman came by who wanted to perform a reiki ritual to help aid in the healing of my son’s body. She was trying to promote “good energy” that would help my son recover. We were not there at the time, but a friend of ours was and she politely refused and asked her to leave. The lady was persistent, but thankfully my friend held her ground and eventually the lady left.
Who Uses Crystals in Their Religious Practices?
Crystals frequently play a role in various types of religious or spiritual activities. People may use them for meditation, healing, spiritual growth, rituals, spells, and for promoting good energy. Among the groups who may use crystals are those who practice New Age Spirituality, Wicca, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Native Americans.
Please recognize that none of these groups practice a faith that aligns with Biblical Christianity. So if you think using crystals can help promote “good energy,” then the question you must consider is where is that energy coming from? I can assure you it is not the Holy Spirit, and that is why we did not want this woman to perform her reiki ritual over our son.
Can Christians Use Crystals?
Because of the spiritual nature attached to them, I would say Christians should not use crystals. I know some might argue they are innocent, but we must recognize if you use them, you are potentially opening yourself up to ungodly spiritual influences and practices.
Some might also argue they are using them strictly for medicinal purposes. Again, there has been no scientific evidence that would vouch for their healing powers, so using them in this regard is most likely no more than a placebo effect.
3 Problems with Using Crystals
1. Idolatry
While there has been no scientific evidence of the healing power of crystals, relying on them can become a form of idolatry. The idolatry can become a placebo effect which I mentioned above. Even though there is no power to heal, just using or having access to the crystals can make you believe they do. In essence, a crystal can be no different from the golden calf the Israelites created when they were in the desert. They offered sacrifice to this golden calf, even going so far as to say this was the god who brought them out of Egypt. They worshipped a created image and gave it authority and power it did not have. Those who put their trust in crystals may ultimately take their eyes off the Lord and end up worshipping a created thing instead of their creator.
I was watching television late one night, and an ad came on for someone promoting miracle water. They had testimonies of people who supposedly used this miracle water and, soon after, blessings flowed in their life. Each one was proclaiming the power of this miracle water. This is idolatry. Anything that removes your eyes from trusting God to trusting some object that can bring blessing into your life is idolatry. Your trust should be in God and not water or crystals.
2. Lack of Spiritual Discernment
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
When you consider the groups who use crystals, you will notice they all have one thing in common. They may practice “spirituality,” but they are not focusing on the Holy Spirit. This means the spirits and energy they are channeling represent the spiritual forces of evil that war against God.
Regardless of how innocent or helpful these things may seem, they are not. Remember, Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. He does this to lure you in with what seems harmless and even helpful. However, his purpose is not to help you draw close to God, but to move you as far away as possible from him. Be careful of these “spiritual” things that seem innocent, because there is a roaring lion behind them looking to devour you.
3. You Are Violating God’s Principles
“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you” (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
I don’t need to add anything to these words. God’s word says it all.
Don’t Take the Bait
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
One thing Christians wrestle with is engaging in things the world engages in. We can easily fall victim to the promotion of practices, especially ones that seem to be helpful. Don’t take the bait. Before you engage in any practice, run it through the sieve of God’s word and the discernment of the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is not to be like the world or to engage in behaviors like the world does. We are called to be separate and different, which means sometimes we won’t do as everyone else does.
Rather than turning to crystals to relieve stress, anxiety, or to promote healing, what you need is physical rest, time in God’s presence, and time meditating on his word. I am not saying this will solve every physical ailment in your body, but at least you know it will not create a spiritual problem in your life.
RELATED PODCAST: Former New Ager & Witch Britt Pryor shares her radical testimony on how Christ pulled her from the new age and witchcraft movement and completely restored her soul.Tune in and be blown away on how Christ can turn the pain and suffering of an individual into a beautiful masterpiece.
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