A Christian View of Reiki ~ Examining Faith

Opinion: A Christian View of Reiki

Posted in New Age, Other Beliefs | 2,828 views

reiki_healing by Michael Golzmane

“… A leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.” Matthew 8:2-4 (KJV)

Is such healing the stuff of mere Biblical history, performed once and only by Jesus himself, some 2555 years ago? Or is healing (even dramatic healing like in the Bible verse quoted above) meant for us today?

Many Christians are hearing about a healing technique called “Reiki.” But what is a Christian view of Reiki?

As a Christian, I believe that the healing power of God–the healing power of Jesus–isn’t simply historic in nature, meant to be a mere “belief”–or an ancient tale to be retold in church on Sundays.

The same power that Jesus used to perform his miracles, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us today, and not just “in theory,” or “in principle”–not even “in belief”–but for real. This healing power is available to us in its fullness right now, right here, and right where we are–if we but know how to “tune in” to it and get “in the flow” of it.

One of the great challenges Christians find in accepting the possibility of radical healing (especially “energy healing” technologies like Reiki) is many think that if they actively participate in bringing about the healing of body, mind, or spirit, that this fact alone will tarnish the image of Jesus, and will “dumb him down” to being merely a human being with “some healing powers.”

On the other side of the equation, a Christian view of Reiki (or other energy healing techniques, possibly including acupuncture, acupressure, and chiropractic) may include the belief that one who practices it or participates in it is eliminating the need for Jesus, and is creating a secular theology where God and Jesus are no longer necessary. Sometimes this erroneous belief is expressed as “I can just go ahead and do this healing myself, and I guess I don’t really need God anymore to work through me.”

But, participating in your healing is quite different (in my opinion) than being the Originator and Chief Cause of your healing. God can never be replaced, as God is the Source of all healing. Trying to heal yourself without acknowledging and connecting with your Source is like trying to operate a car with an empty tank of gas–you won’t get very far.

Reiki Healing Touch: And the Way of Jesus

However, when we take a Christian view of Reiki (or other energy healing techniques) and learn some of the methods through which God’s healing Grace can come to us, we become “not merely hearers of the Word, but doers” (James 1:23).

Imagine continuously praying to God to heal you of obesity, not realizing that God, in His infinite wisdom, has inspired some of the great books, DVDs, motivational audio, personal coaching programs, and teachers around the world to supply you with all the information you need about healthy diet, exercise, and detoxification. (We merely need to clear the channel of our own consciousness in order to be able to “let in” the presence of the healing answers we are looking for.)

But even more than this, God Himself is also always personally available to you as the Inner Voice, Inner Presence, and the deep inner joyful experience of love, peace, and harmony that characterize the experience of communion with God’s Holy Healing Spirit. Merely being still and “knowing that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), and relaxing into the deep well of God’s Loving Presence can often be enough to bring about the change in consciousness necessary for total personal healing.

In a sense, we are partnering with God to help bring about healing. God cannot bring about an end to world hunger, for instance, until we become loving and compassionate enough ourselves (through prayer, meditation, study, service, fellowship, and other ministries) to become a conscious “channel” for God’s grace to flow.

A Christian view of Reiki thus can include the idea that one of the main purposes of hands-on healing is to help us “clear the channel” of our perceptions so that we may more fully hear, feel, know, and realize the Truth of God’s Presence and God’s Will. When we are in harmony with the Divine in this way, healing can more easily flow to us and through us, out into the world.

Reiki & You: Awakening the Healer Within

Becoming a conscious place for healing to flow really strikes at the heart of what a Christian view of Reiki is all about. Though “energy healing” can seem weird and new-agey to some Christians at first (probably because this type of healing is still not very commonly practiced in the Christian community), I believe that it is one of the many ways Christians can further the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.

About the author: Michael Golzmane is a health educator and online writer about super health and super nutrition, especially through raw and living foods. www.DavidWolfeFanClub.com

For more information, recipes, resources, and tips on using raw chocolate to heal your body, mind, and spirit, please click here.

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photo credit: Nieve44/La Luz

7 Responses to "Opinion: A Christian View of Reiki"

Sherri says:
August 27th, 2009 at 9:00 pm

This is a great summary of how Christianity and Reiki mix perfectly. I am try to convey similar messages on my blogsite (http://www.seeingmiracleseverday.blogspot.com), and I think I will link to this post/article as a wonderful explanation and viewpoint. I believe it is important at this time to get Christians to open their minds to practices such as these, and to use that passion of Christ (and of Christianity) in a very positive way to help change the world to a more loving and less judgmental place – to a world that behaves more like Jesus. Thanks for posting!
gestroud says:
August 31st, 2009 at 11:08 am

You’re welcome, and thank you for sharing your thoughtson this article. I think Mr. Golzmane raises some valid talking points on our perception of Reiki, faith healing and healing in general. While I caution all Christians to remember to place God at the foremost in all of our needs, there are some aspects of alternative forms of healing that bear closer inspection.
Michael Golzmane says:
January 15th, 2010 at 10:19 am

Hi guys, thanks so much for reprinting my article here. Thanks Sherri for your positive comment. Yes, I think Christianity and Reiki can mix perfectly. And thank you gestroud for your input and comments as well. I see that you are cautioning people to “place God at the foremost in all of our needs”. This is a good point. My only question is, at the core of our spirits, what do we really mean by this? Are we so very sure that be going to church and reading the bible we absolutely know for sure what “God” is, where “God” starts, where “God” leaves off, and where “something else” begins? My point in writing the article is to point out the perhaps debatable assertion that “God” is present throughout all creation, and therefore, when we align ourselves with practices that create harmony between us and God, we tend to notice God’s power becoming more available to us. To a traditional Christian, you might say, “the more you read the Bible and follow Jesus, the more you will notice the presence and activity of God in your life; and the more your life will bear the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, etc.” Reiki I don’t think is a way of “edging God out” of our healing process…but it’s a way of accessing the limitless power of God’s grace that has always been accessible to us anyway, if only we knew how to tap into it.
channeal says:
April 1st, 2011 at 12:26 pm

Just to say that I believe reiki and Christianity are not compatible. Please would any Christians arriving here take a look at my website above. Thank you.
a-spiritual-journey-of-healing.com says:
January 5th, 2012 at 4:24 am

Dear Michael,
Thank you so much for a very clear article on Christianity and Reiki. Lovely too to see the responses and feel in like-minded company. (Channeal I respect your right to a different view). My website also combines Christianity with alternative healing practices.

The objection I sometimes encounter amongst Christians to Reiki, Qi gong etc is that they are concerned that they fall in the category of witchcraft in the Bible. I have prayed on this subject and received the answer that on a purist level most of what we do here is witchcraft. We are often making our own decisions and relying on making things happen with our bodies, rather than aligning our thoughts with God and allowing Him to lead us in all we do. This is as true of earning a living as it would be of engaging in a healing practice or relying on a doctor.

As Paul said, whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.

Jesus, when accused of healing by using the Devil’s power suggested that the good result – the healing – was evidence that it was God who was behind it. If the Devil heals then his kingdom is divided and it will fall.

I have a healing blog at http://www.a-spiritual-journey.....aling.html

A friend’s prayer on the Christian journey has also led her to Reiki http://www.supernalfriends.com/

With the Love we are,
Katherine
Dana Taylor says:
January 5th, 2012 at 12:58 pm

Being a Christian Reiki practictioner is not for sissies! It pushes all sorts of controversial buttons. I was involved in Christian healing ministry for decades before my spiritual journey led me with great trepidation to a Reiki therapist. The experience freed me from a lifelong affliction and increased my Christian faith. Blending the two traditions continues to be an exciting adventure.

Dana Taylor
author “Ever-Flowing Streams of Healing Energy”
Blog: Supernal Living (www.definitelydana.wordpress.com)
Michael Golzmane says:
January 6th, 2012 at 8:21 am

Hey Katherine and Dana,

Thanks so much for writing. Very appreciated. If you or anyone would like to contact me directly, please feel free to email me at christianenergyhealing@gmail.com

Just to sum up where I am at this point, I think the more “orthodox” you are–or the more you define Christianity as a religion with rules and beliefs–the less compatible you will feel when things like Reiki appear on the scene. It will feel threatening to you.

If you view Christianity as a path and as a practice of unconditional love–taking Jesus as the prime example of this–then Reiki as well as any other practices that are sourced from unconditional love will seem natural and nonthreatening.

I am leaving behind all the ways in which the religion called Christianity (which I think is quite different from the path that Jesus himself followed) has disempowered us, and all the ways it has restricted the Light of God from being expressed through my life.

Radial position? Yes.

Peace and Blessings,
—–Michael