| "body"> | | | | However, I do believe that healing work is a clear |
| Many people today, in search of a more natural | | | | mandate from Jesus himself. In John 14:12, we hear |
| healing methods, have heard of an ancient healing | | | | Jesus saying, "The person who trusts me will not |
| energy technique called Reiki. | | | | only do what I'm doing but even greater things, |
| Reiki describes a technique wherein a practitioner lays | | | | because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you |
| his or her hands onto a client's body, while "running | | | | the same work to do that I've been doing." |
| energy" into the client's energy field. Some of the | | | | It is clear that Jesus is indicating that we should |
| most well-known and notable benefits of this healing | | | | follow him in healing ministry--that we should also do |
| work include: reduced stress, enabling the body to | | | | what he is doing to heal others through God's power. |
| better heal itself on all levels, relaxation, relieving | | | | In Matthew chapter 8, we read the story of Jesus |
| chronic pain, and helping to unblock and release old | | | | healing the leper by giving him a healing touch. The |
| stuck emotions. | | | | Scripture says, "Jesus reached out and touched him, |
| Traditionally, this technique was believed to have | | | | saying 'I want to heal you. Be clean.'" |
| originated in Japan approximately 100 years ago, | | | | If properly understood, using energy techniques like |
| though there is some debate about its specific | | | | Reiki can fit very well into helping us fulfill Jesus' |
| religious and spiritual beginnings. Some sources claim | | | | longer-term earthy mission. I personally prefer letting |
| that Dr. Usui, the traditional founder of Reiki and a | | | | go totally of the word "Reiki" since it has so many |
| Japanese university professor, was Buddhist, while | | | | "eastern" connotations, and simply calling healing by |
| others claim he was Christian, and he was in search | | | | the laying on of hands "Christian Energy Healing." |
| of the method by which Jesus did his miracles. | | | | We can call upon the healing energy of the Holy |
| Some of the challenges Christians have had in | | | | Spirit, or Jesus, and of God the Father, we can lay |
| pursuing this healing method, either as a client or as a | | | | our hands on ourselves and others, and we can |
| practitioner, include the fact that there are no clear, | | | | stand in awe at the miraculous power of Christian |
| unequivocal guidelines as to how Reiki should be | | | | healing. |
| practiced, and therefore it is open to the individual | | | | Can there be such a thing as "Reiki for Christians?" I |
| interpretation of each person. This can feel rather | | | | believe so. And it is my hope that many Christians will |
| threatening, as some Reiki practitioners talk to | | | | be able to easily let go of Reiki's eastern baggage, |
| guides, angels, and spirits, and work with healing | | | | and will be able to embrace the spiritual healing power |
| energy in a way that seems to violate the beliefs | | | | of this wonderful God-given healing technique. |
| and practices of the modern Bible-believing Christian. | | | | |