Part 1 of a Series written by Beth Hovis, an instructor at Trinity School of Natural Health who specializes iridology and herbology.

Very often the question comes up – if Trinity School is a Christian-based school, why are we teaching topics such as energy healing and “New Age” concepts?  Some of our students have even faced the accusation that what they are learning isn’t of God, but rather it is ungodly, unchristian, satanic and “of the devil.”

Are there warnings in the Bible that clearly tell us to stay away from practicing divination, telling fortunes, sorcery and interpreting omens? Yes! And as a Believer in Jesus Christ, I take these warnings very seriously.

It is clear throughout scripture that in the spiritual realm there are forces of energy, also called spiritual forces that would be considered good, godly, holy, clean, and angelic. There are other spiritual beings, however, that are evil, satanic, demonic and unclean.

As we explore the topic of Energy and Energy Healing, I do believe that we must discern the spirit or spirits behind the modalities we are using. If we are tapping into something that God considers evil, wicked and unclean, then we need to avoid that.

Satan hasn’t changed from when he deceived Eve in the garden of Eden. He is up to his crafty tricks even still mixing lies with the truth. As a result of this, I believe that there are some things we need to stay away from. There are other things that we need to reclaim as gifts from God given to us from the very beginning of time, and use those things the way God intended!

I often compare using herbs, crystals, or Muscle Response Testing to spending money, watching television or using a computer. Money isn’t evil all on its own. We have to use money in order to purchase things we need – food, clothes, and shelter.

The Bible tells us it is the love of money that is the root of all evil.[1]  We can spend our money on good things as well as bad things.  The choice is ours.

Television isn’t bad either.  We can watch shows that are uplifting and good, or we can watch things that are negative and harmful to our thoughts, hearts, and emotions. 

Computers, well, when they work and aren’t giving us problems, aren’t bad either.  It’s up to the user as to whether or not the equipment will be used for positive and good things or negative and harmful things.

What I have realized is that some things that were considered “off-limits” such as herbs are not really evil and “of the devil” like I was first warned about almost thirty years ago. Herbs have been used by people for thousands of years from many different nations. 

The Bible clearly states that herbs were created for mankind, for our good.  They are a gift from God to us.  Even before He created man and placed him in the garden, He already made abundant provision for him.[2] 

Even though herbs have been used by peoples of religions other than Christianity, it doesn’t change the fact that herbs work because God created them.  The effectiveness of herbs to support the body so that the body can heal itself isn’t new; it’s true. And the Bible confirms this over and over again. [3]

I find this so fascinating. Not only did God provide herbs for mankind at the very beginning, He created crystals and precious metals as well.  We know that in Genesis 2:9 it says, “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”

Did you know that God also mentioned crystals and stones in abundant provision as well? And that He called it good? Genesis 2:10-12, says, “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it parted, and became four heads. The name of the first Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold: and the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.” 

What were Adam and Eve going to do with gold and bdellium and onyx stone?  I don’t know, but the fact is it’s listed in the second chapter of the Bible, and we are told it is “good.”

God doesn’t tend to waste words. When He dictated Creation Week to Moses, He thought it was important to share that He had created gemstones and gold that would later be highly valued. 

When we get to the Exodus of the children of Israel out of Egypt and they are wandering around the desert for 40 years, He has the artisans craft a breastplate for the High Priest with “certain stones or crystals.”[4]  The New Jerusalem is made out of precious stones.[5]  God himself is seen sitting on a Sapphire throne. [6]  In the book of Revelation, God is described as looking like jasper and carnelian, and an emerald rainbow is all around Him.[7]

It’s these kinds of things that make me wonder if maybe the truth is that God created the Earth and the things in the Earth and on the Earth for our good.  It makes me ask the question, “Have we actually been deceived into staying away from the things that God created for our benefit?”  It makes me think that maybe the enemy has stolen and twisted and mixed these good things with other things that aren’t good and godly so that we would miss out on what God meant for us to enjoy.

It makes me wonder, “How do we take back what has been stolen from us and use it the way that God intended, with purity and goodness?”  I find myself searching the Bible as well as scientific research to better understand God’s original design of our bodies (meridians, chakras, muscle response testing) as well as things He created in the Earth (herbs, crystals, light therapy, sound therapy, magnetic therapy, etc.) to determine how we can take back, restore and use these wonderful gifts the way God originally intended.

Over the next few months (or every other month) we will explore different topics related to energy healing such as herbs, crystals, meridians, chakras, Muscle Response Testing, etc., to see what is true and not new. I want to explore these topics from a Biblical perspective along with looking at the scientific understanding of how our bodies work and how they respond to God’s creation of energy.

Let’s begin the process of stripping away lies so that we get to truth. As we study and use God’s amazing gifts of energy healing, it is my hope to find answers to the accusations that we face; answers that are biblically sound and yet eye-opening and freeing for those of us in the natural health field.