Qi energy leads us away from God
Qi (or chi) refers to the circulating life force or vital energy that is central to Chinese medical treatments, exercise and self-defence. This is counter to the Holy Spirit, who is breath of God and His life-force. Whenever we turn to acupuncture (针刺), Chinese medicine, fengshui (风水), qigong (气功), tai chi (太极拳), foot reflexology (足底按摩), tuina massage (推拿), yin-yang (阴阳) or taoist sexual practices, we are turning to an ungodly life force and energy.
(See Chinese versions: 简体中文 > 气功使我们远离上帝 | 繁體中文 > 氣功使我們遠離上帝)
The Holy Spirit is God’s life force in us
The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our salvation and inheritance as God’s redeemed children.
Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
The original Hebrew word for the Holy Spirit is ‘Ruach’. According to Wikibooks, “the word ‘Ruach’ cannot be construed as a person. It is a force. It is invisible and like wind, because it can be felt or experienced, but not seen. It is the breath of God which disperses His life-force, His energy and His intentions/mind.”
The Holy Spirit is God’s ‘life force’ breathed into us, just as Jesus breathed into His disciples when He gave them the Holy Spirit. This is reminiscent of when God breathed life into the first man, Adam.
John 20:21-22 ESV Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 2:7 ESV then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
The counterfeit spiritual life force
Centuries ago, the world came up with an alternative life force called Qi. The basic fundamental belief is that Qi is a flow of energy that permeates everything in the universe, exclusive of God, and that people can enhance their lives and longevity by influencing and controlling their Qi through various practices and treatments.
One cannot reference Qi without mentioning Taoist philosophy and spiritualism, which includes Qi in its teachings. The Tao in Taoism is described as the “Great Mother“, a natural, spontaneous, eternal, nameless and indescribable “way” that is the beginning and marks the course of all things. Tao is also known as the “flow of the universe”. Qi is the energy in the Tao universe.
According an article on Taoism in Acupuncture Today, “Early Taoists believed their prehistoric ancestors possessed a good balance between their physical and spiritual natures, but this was lost as people began over-emphasizing the physical aspects of life. When this happened, those who maintained or restored their natural balance tried to help others by developing holistic (yin/yang) philosophies and different arts and sciences that could address such imbalances. In essence, these practices had a dual role, first serving material needs such as health or self-defense, while providing those who mastered these skills the potential for reconnecting with their spiritual natures. To accomplish this, one must discover and then pass through the most mystical of all doors – those that connect the temporal, physical world with the eternal, spiritual realm. The transformation from a partial material being into a whole materially and spiritually balanced being (a.k.a. “integral being”) can only take place when the physical (jing), subtle energetic (qi) and spiritual essences (shen) are perfectly balanced. Taoist legends tell of countless generations of ancient masters who spiritualized their beings after harmonizing themselves with the qi of the high mountains or deep forests in the Chinese heartland. While all the Taoist holistic arts and sciences originally were designed with such spiritual breakthroughs as their ultimate goal, over time the appreciation of the spiritual aspects of these practices gradually eroded. This erosion had been taking place for many generations before TCM, and a spiritually neutered, standardized version of the ancient healing arts emerged in the former Middle Land.”
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1. Acupuncture |
Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles along a person’s meridian system, a network of 20 paths with multiple acupuncture points, to unblock or redirect the flow of Qi in one’s body. There are supposedly over 400 acupuncture points in the body. Acupuncture is said to help with numerous medical problems, including digestive disorders, respiratory disorders, neurological and muscular disorders as well as urinary, menstrual, and reproductive problems. So widespread is the acceptance of acupuncture these days that many western countries have set up their own acupuncture boards, such as the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture or the British Acupuncture Council. Note: Some people liken acupuncture to the witchcraft practice of voodoo, except that acupuncture is voodoo executed directly on human beings, not dolls. Now, a variation of acupuncture therapy has even emerged using small human anatomical dolls. Created by an American acupuncturist and healer, the Tong Ren therapy is supposed to access energy from a universal source and direct it to a patient who could be miles away. The practitioner taps on certain points of a doll with a magnetic hammer to break down resistance to Qi at those same points on a patient’s body through “distance healing”. |
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2. Traditional Chinese medicine |
Qi and yin-yang form the basis for all traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) teaching. Yin-yang represent the opposite manifestations of Qi; material vs. immaterial, heavy vs. light, cold vs. hot, moist vs. dry etc. Imbalances in one’s Qi (yin-yang) are said to affect the body’s blood or lymphatic circulation, vital organs and body parts negatively. TCM teaching says that Qi constantly changes and to order to become a healthy and well adjusted human being, people must continuously seek to balance the yin-yang in their lives through various treatments:
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3. Fengshui |
Fengshui was first used in China to identify auspicious sites for ancestor graves so they would be unaffected by floods (water) and typhoons (wind). Fengshui is now used to harmonise living people with their surroundings, from gardens or buildings to large geographical areas, by tapping on the Qi in the environment. It is said to be have been influenced by beliefs in Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Shinto and Vashtu Shastri. People consult fengshui masters to help them plan a space so as to maximise their chances of prosperity, fame, good health, good relationships, having children etc. Instruments to influence the yin-yang of a place by fengshui masters include:
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4. Qigong and tai chi
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Research reports from the US National Library of Medicine says “In the ancient teachings of health-oriented Qigong and Tai Chi, the instructions for attaining the state of enhanced Qi capacity and function point to the purposeful coordination of body, breath and mind (paraphrased here): “Mind the body and the breath, and then clear the mind to distill the Heavenly elixir within.” There are thousands of forms of Qigong practice that have developed in different regions of China during various historic periods and that have been created by many specific teachers and schools…. Some were originally developed as rituals for spiritual practice, and others to empower greater skill in the martial arts… A key underlying philosophy of the practice is that any form of Qigong has an effect on the cultivation of balance and harmony of Qi, positively influencing the human energy complex (Qi channels/pathways) which functions as a holistic, coherent and mutually interactive system. Tai Chi translates to mean, “Grand Ultimate”, and in the Chinese culture, it represents an expansive philosophical and theoretical notion which describes the natural world (i.e., the universe) in the spontaneous state of dynamic balance between mutually interactive phenomena including the balance of light and dark, movement and stillness, waves and particles. Tai Chi, the exercise, is named after this concept and was originally developed both as a martial art (Tai Chi Chuan or taijiquan) and as a form of meditative movement. The practice of Tai Chi as meditative movement is expected to elicit functional balance internally for healing, stress neutralization, longevity, and personal tranquility.”Indeed, qigong is a spiritual teaching which claims “supernatural healings” by highly trained qigong masters. These healings can only take place if the recipients place their faith in qigong, according to a qigong website that states, “When great masters of Qigong treat patients with their incredible power, they pay special attention to the patient’s belief and what they call “wu xing” (comprehension / understanding or “getting the message”). The reason being, as much as their ability or power is important as being the transmitter of the power or energy, it is important that the patient is open to it as being the receiver. The belief and comprehension plays the most important role in establishing a good receiver. Some masters wouldn’t even treat a patient who lacks belief and this sort of comprehension.“ |
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5. Reflexology |
Foot reflexology is supposed to help the flow of one’s Qi to remove toxins and waste. It is said to help with conditions such as allergies, migraines, depression, back pain, arthritis, sinus problems, asthma and insomnia. Drawings of what looks like foot reflexology have been found in an Egyptian tomb from 4,000 B.C. and there are claims that the practice began in China at around the same time. |
Warnings from the Bible
The Bible warns us not to be seduced by “diverse and strange teachings” from this world, including those based on philosophy, which come from human thinking and demonic spiritual powers.
Hebrews 13:9 ESV Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
Colossians 2:8 NLT Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
Satan will try to grab what God created and make himself the benefactor, deceiving people into praising and worshiping the created, rather than the Creator Himself. The enemy will also present ideas that appear to have wonderful spiritual wisdom, but are actually abominations of God’s Word. For instance, tai chi promotes the balance of yin-yang, light and dark. The truth is both cannot exist together, because God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all. We cannot fellowship with God while we walk in the shrouded darkness of Qi.
1 John 1:5-6 ESV … God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
God is spirit and we must worship Him based on His Spirit (God’s life force and not Qi) and His truth (the Bible and not philosophy). To lure our hearts and minds away from complete dedication to God, Satan will intoxicate us with seductive philosophies and promises of counterfeit blessings and health. Eventually, placing our faith in the counterfeit Qi life force will cost us our souls, no matter the amount of worldly treasures we gain for believing in Qi.
John 4:24 ESV God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
2 Peter 3:14,17 ESV Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace… take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
Mark 8:36 ESV For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
Spiritual practices do affect our health
1. Biblical evidence
The Bible tells us that following God will bring health to our bodies and nourishment to our bones. It is true that when we walk in unconditional love, joy, hope and peace, our bodies will also respond accordingly. More scientific research is emerging recently to show the deadly effects that hatred, unforgiveness and resentment can have on our mental and physical state.
Proverbs 3:7-8 NIV Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Moreover when Jesus healed people, He also told them not to sin anymore, in other words, not to disobey God’s commandments – implying that obeying our Heavenly Father influences our bodies and health.
Mark 2:5,11 ESV … he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” …“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”
2. Scientific evidence
Research shows that faith in God or other beliefs also brings similar benefits. Research from the US National Library of Medicine shows that people report positive health effects from tai chi and qigong, including increased bone density, reduced blood pressure and higher immune systems. In general, the practices of acupuncture, qigong, tai chi and reflexology which rely on Qi aim to bring an elevated sense of calm, comfort and physical well being.
Similarly, God’s Word tells us that we are promised peace of mind, comfort and physical well being when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and obey His Word.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Proverbs 4:20-22 ESV My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
A paper by the Paraíba State University in Brazil summarises various studies on the influence of religion on health and states that “Overall, better physical health status, as measured by a variety of indicators, is moderately associated with higher levels of religious involvement… Levin investigated the effects of religiosity on numerous conditions, including chronic disease, functional disability, psychological wellbeing, and subjective perceptions of health… Kaplan found religious protections, such as increased hope, social personal regulation, and regulation of depression, fear and anxiety, to have positive effects on a patient’s cardiovascular system… Benson showed how prayer provided emotional comfort, and thus, improved health… Koenig detailed the numerous ways that the “healing power of faith” can improve one’s health, including relaxation effects, coping and social support.”
3. Practical evidence
There are reports of people who turned away from new age healing practices and were healed. Go to testimonies.
Turning away from darkness and deception
1. Repent
First, we should invite Jesus to be our Saviour and the Holy Spirit to be our primary life force.
Ephesians 4:30 ESV And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Next, we need to repent to God for believing in the counterfeit life force of Qi and give our Creator all the credit for our bodies, health, energy and well being. Let us praise Him for being the true Power behind our well being and healing.
Psalm 103:2-3 ESV Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
2. Seek greater revelation and conviction by the Holy Spirit
As the Holy Spirit convicts, we ought to repent of taking part in acupuncture, Chinese medicine, fengshui, qigong, tai chi, foot reflexology or tuina massage in the past, and turn away from them for good.
John 16:8 ESV … he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
3. Practice discernment going forward
Not all practices are evil and demonic. A normal foot rub cannot be misconstrued as foot reflexology, a Chinese herbal tea may not be a yin-yang prescription, and a deep tissue body massage is not necessarily tuina. Light needling to release chronic fascia and muscles is not the same as acupuncture by a master who practices qigong or worships idols. While things like fengshui, qigong and tai chi should be avoided, we ought to practice discernment on other things. We are to choose to walk in God’s light at all times and not be overtaken by dark theories and seductive witchcraft practices.
John 12:35-36 NLT Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”
It is also necessary to check that any healer, “doctor” or master we consult is not involved in Chinese witchcraft or following Chinese philosophical teachings. Be careful that any physical manipulation of our bodies or any spoken or written declaration over our destiny, health, mind, body and soul by such people do not become spiritual curses, even if they are well intentioned.
1 John 4:1 ESV Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
4. Invite God to lead us to healthy practices
Jesus came to give us healing. Sometimes, healing comes miraculously when people pray for us in Jesus’ name and other times, God leads us to trustworthy health advisors. We all live with some sickness in this world and we can always go to God for wisdom on what to do.
At all times, we should remember to be joyful and hopeful. The apostle Paul didn’t let sickness stop him from serving God wholeheartedly, and neither should we.
Galatians 4:13-14 ESV You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
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