12 Responses to “Christianity and Acupuncture?”

1. Anonymous on February 19th, 2009 12:44 pm
   

   There is a lot of false information on this post. First, Acupuncture isn’t a religion. Surgery was also first done in China, does that mean that Christians can’t have surgery? That’s absurd.

   Second, acupuncture has tons of hard evidence that it works. goto medline, the main medical scientific database for WESTERN MEDICINE and type in acupuncture. You;ll find a lot of hard evidence of it working. Of course it doesnt fix everything… nothing does, but in fertility there are many very credible studies showing acupuncture can immensely increase your chances of getting pregnant.

   If acupuncture doesnt work, then why does Harvard medical School, Yale, UCLA, etc. all have acupuncture programs they are incorporating into their med schools?

   Third, if you want more christians in the world then I suggest you use acupuncture for fertility. If you are bull-headed about it, then the realities of Darwin (which you probably don’t believe in anyway) set in … you are less likely to reproduce so you won;t have children to carry on your bull-headed ideas.
2. Christyne on February 19th, 2009 6:04 pm
   

   Just because some acupuncturists feel the need to practice in other belief systems doesn’t mean that it is wrong for Christians to partake in acupuncture. Would it be wrong if someone’s surgeon or general practitioner was hindu, jewish, or budhist? Do we ask the nurse in the emergency room what religion she is before she takes our blood pressure? As a Christian myself I believe that God would want us to take the natural approach to healing, instead of poisoning our bodies with prescription drugs. I have been seeing my acupuncturist for years, and she is very understanding of my faith, there are other patients there that I’ve talked to who are also Christian.If anyone has any interested in good acupuncture look them up,ECCM. and don’t let anyone claiming they know the will of God make you feel bad about it.
3. Priscilla 101 on February 20th, 2009 6:51 pm
   

   Infertility Feedback: Question: “Should a Christian participate in acupuncture / acupressure?”

   Answer: Let us begin this answer with a bit of history. The origin of acupuncture is Chinese and it is a teaching of Taoism. Taoism is the philosophical system evolved by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu and that advocates a life of complete simplicity and naturalness and of non-interference with the course of natural events in order to attain a happy existence in harmony with the tao or life force. It is also called Hsuan Chaio, which is a popular Chinese religion that purports to be based on the doctrines of Lao-tzu but which is actually highly eclectic in nature and characterized by a pantheon of many gods, superstition and by the practice of alchemy, divination and magic.

   In this Chinese philosophy and religion there are two principles. The first is the “yin,” which is negative, dark and feminine and the second is “yang,” which is positive, bright and masculine. The interaction of these two forces is thought to be the guiding influence for the destinies of all creatures and things. In other words, there is no place for the one true God of the universe in this false religion. Ones fate is under the power of the balance or imbalance of these two forces. Acupuncture is an attempt to bring these two forces (yin and yang) into harmony and therefore positively affect the “destiny” or the health of the body. Acupuncture then is a mechanism practiced by adherents of Taoism that is used to bring the “yin and yang” of the body into harmony with tao and it is based in a false religion.

   With that information as a basis, can we find an answer about false religion in Scripture? The answer is yes. There are numerous commands to Israel by God that deal with the false gods of the pagans that surrounded them. We find many of these commandments in Leviticus and again in Deuteronomy. However the first commandment God gave to Israel is the foundation of all of these commandments. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).

   The question of whether acupuncture is Biblical is answered by the first commandment. That first commandment from the Old Testament is repeated in the New Testament (Matthew 22:37-40). Any practice that is part of a false religion is not Biblical. The fact that our society has been inundated by imported eastern religions and “New Age” practices is another sign of the “last days” (2 Timothy 3:1-7). However, these things are not “new” at all. Rather, they are the old counterfeit religions masquerading as legitimate practices. No wonder the Apostle Paul warned us that Satan and his ministers masqueraded as angels of light. “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 American Standard Version).

   Adding the word “Christian” to something does not legitimize it nor does it make it Biblical. The term “Christian acupuncture” is what is known as an “oxymoron” or a self-contradiction. In other words, the two words cancel out each other. Acupuncture is not based in the foundations of Christianity. The definition of a Christian means a follower of Christ. Acupuncture is a practice of an ancient Chinese religion and philosophy that has no place in the life of a born again believer. Acupuncture may seem harmless and innocuous and perhaps even “beneficial” but it is a doorway to the occult. William Divine, chairman of the California Acupuncture Association said, “You could bring one patient in and five different practitioners could look at him and they would come up with five different diagnosis and none of them would be wrong.” In other words, none of these five practitioners know the truth they are all operating from their own opinions based in superstition rather than a diagnosis based in true knowledge. A needle piercing the skin could conceivably cause beneficial reaction to a nerve but that is not the original theory behind the practice of acupuncture. There are many who are practitioners of this philosophy that are deceived as to its true origin and what they are really involved with.

   As to the difference between acupuncture and acupressure, instead of needles, pressure is placed upon nerve centers. For instance there are pressure points said to be in the sole of the foot and the palm of the hand that correspond to other areas of the body. Acupressure would seem to mean the same as deep massage therapy where the muscles of the body are exposed to pressure to increase blood flow. However, if the process is practiced in relation to bringing the body into the harmony of yin and yang then it is rooted in occultism. The question becomes is it being practiced as part and parcel of the same philosophic origins of Chinese acupuncture? The answer to that question would be the guiding issue.

   The important issue here is separation for the born again believer from any and all practices that would bring them the danger of bondage to counterfeit religions. Ignorance of evil is a danger and the more we inform ourselves as to the true origin of the so called “eastern” philosophies and practices, the more we see that they are rooted in superstition, occultism and false religions that are in direct opposition to divine viewpoint found in God’s Word. The world’s false religions teach that there are “many paths to God.” This is the ultimate lie. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6 King James Version). The word “by” in this verse is the Greek word “dia” and it means through. None of the counterfeit religions can bring us into harmony with God. The only way is through the LORD Jesus Christ.

   Recommended Resource: The Kingdom of the Cults, revised and updated edition.
4. Colette Pioline ART on February 21st, 2009 1:48 am
   

   Infertility Feedback: You have serious medical conditions.

   Please rely on medical treatments that have actually undergone rigorous scientific testing.
5. Wazza H on February 21st, 2009 3:36 pm
   

   Infertility Feedback: Don’t worry, keep seeing the acupuncturist, I am both, a Christian first and then an Acupuncturist
6. cheir on February 22nd, 2009 8:36 am
   

   Infertility Feedback: Like many other treatments it can work, usually by suggestion.True acupuncture is totally different from the high-street model and uses electrical impulses. The problem comes when an acupuncturist uses demonic powers to effect cures. That’s when the Christian will suffer spiritually.
7. Jane S on February 25th, 2009 10:32 am
   

   Infertility Feedback: that’s stupid. the Bible has rules on acupuncture too? screw that.
8. Love Changes Everything on February 27th, 2009 1:24 pm
   

   Infertility Feedback: I would consult several different medical professionals, and see what the medical professionals think. Explain your concerns about the impact of drugs on your body. Check with the AMA about acupuncture. Get all the facts about acupuncture and other treatments in order to make an informed decision.
9. Swamprat on February 27th, 2009 3:04 pm
   

   Infertility Feedback: Sweet heart faith is a wonderful thing and I believe in Divine healing myself. I don’t see where acupuncture would go against Gods works. I’ve never seen anything in the Bible about it. If you ask me that would be no different than going to a regular doctor who was an atheist. Its whats in your heart not theirs Good luck and God bless.
10. Rian T on March 2nd, 2009 10:23 am
    

    Infertility Feedback: If God lets you get better, even using something that others say is wrong, do you really think that he is so opposed to it that He wouldn’t let you heal?
11. euhmerist on March 2nd, 2009 11:53 am
    

    Infertility Feedback: Since 1976 the Chinese government has been testing ancient medical practices with modern testing methods. They have verified that acupuncture does work. There are electronic instruments that PROVE there are electromagnetic meridians in the body. Because this has been scientifically verified, just like gravity, it works if you believe in it or not. Just like any other therapy, the effects vary from patient to patient. Even pharmaceutical drugs vary in their effectiveness from patient to patient.
12. Smiley on March 5th, 2009 9:47 am
    

    Infertility Feedback: I can totally see why you might be hesitant to go to an acupuncturist, given the common views on it and it’s history being bound up with other religions, but I can also see why you want to avoid taking drugs if possible.

    I have CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) so my health has also been really bad. I am also a Christian, raised and still am, with a pastor for a father. Before being diagnosed with CFS (which there really isn’t a cure for) I had been on a lot of different drugs and treatements which didn’t help, so I now try to avoid them. I heard (actually through a woman at my church) that someone she knew with CFS found acupunture to be very helpful, so I decided to give it a try. There is one just down the road from my house, which was convenient. I have found her to be so incredibly helpful and since seeing her my health has dramatically improved. She not only does acupuncture but gives me herbs every week for my symtptoms and also goes over my diet and lifestyle with me.

    I would strongly suggest that you give it a try because I have found it so beneficial. It is something that works great for some people and not so much for others, but it is worth a try if it means getting healthy without the drugs. I did have some reservations at first, because it is very tied into other relgions and my acupncturist does tend to talk about some things in spiritual terms that I don’t agree with, but in the end it works and you don’t have to believe in their religion for it to work. God has made our incredible bodies and given us a world that is fill of special abilities, such as herbs or pressure points for healing. God has always been present in the wolrd, no matter what someones culture is, and I truly believe that he talks through other religions and cultures apart from Christianity in the past and present.

    Pray to God and ask him to lead you to someone who can help you. I have actually found that the hour a week I spend lying on the table when I am getting acupuncture is a great prayer time, so you can spend that time with God and ask him to add his healing to your treatement.

    Good luck and I hope that God leads you to where you need to be to be healed. I pray that you will feel better soon but also that through your illness God will show his goodness so that you will learn from this experience, I know I have. I pray that you will stay strong in God and allow him to heal you in whatever way he sees fit, whether that is through alternative healing like acupuncture, through medical means or even through a miracle. I pray that through your sickness, you will be an example to others dealing with hardship of how God can help us through these hard times. God bless you.

    EDIT: I would also suggest that you look for someone who practices Japanese acupuncture rather than Chinese acupuncture. My lady uses the Japanese method and it is practically painless, a slight twinge every now and then, but I was talking to my mum who had it done when she was younger for her allergies and she said that the guy she went to would twist the pins while they were in her which would really hurt and make her not want to go back. When I asked my acupuncturist about this, she said that was the Chinese method and actually the way she had been taught but she found that the Japanese method was just as effective without the pain. Just a heads up.

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