 Laura K. UNITED CHURCH EMBRACES NEW AGE THERAPIES
At least fifteen United Churches in the Calgary area offer Healing Touch (HT) as a form of pastoral care and hands-on healing. Its treatments are meant to restore bodily health through alteration of the "healee's" energy field. Healing Touch is rooted in the earlier Therapeutic Touch (TT), developed by clairvoyant (and Theosophical Society president) Dora Kunz and Dolores Krieger, a nurse/professor at NYU. (www.therapeutictouch.org)
TT has been taught world-wide to medical professionals and the general public since the 1970's. It's based on the Hindu concept of "prana", a life-force or energy that surrounds every living thing, which must flow freely for good health. TT's role is to unblock flow and the healer does so through a number of steps including Eastern-style meditation to increase consciousness of the deeper self and the "universal healing field", intuition to reveal hidden knowledge about the illness, and the "laying-on of hands". The healer's hands are sites for energy transmitters called chakras, used to literally push away blocked energy and/or transfer healthy energy to the client. Vigourously channelling healing thoughts, imagery, colours or sensations through the healer's chakras to the patient's troubled areas accomplish the transfer.
In 1989, the Healing Touch Program was developed by Colorado nurse Janet Mentgen who built upon TT by adding more philosophy. It is the coursework typically offered in the United Church. A cursory look at the HT web site (www.healingtouchprogram.com/shop/bookstore) reveals its New Age convictions. As ungodly as Therapeutic Touch is, Healing Touch is downright frightening by the use of spirit guides to assist (or even take over) the process of healing. These guides (demons) catapult Healing Touch into the occult yet the United Church doesn't mind. The program is taught and practised in many of its congregations as well as national Education Centres with brochures declaring it a continuation of the work of Jesus.
A primary textbook used in Healing Touch and taught in my former church is "Hands Of Light" by Barbara Ann Brennan (www.barbarabrennan.com). I've posted a summary of its main points (click here to read it), countered by Scripture and essential Christian truths. The book's content is shocking indeed.
From my experience, the United Church has many lovely, caring people who sincerely want to help others. The fact that the occult has been allowed to infect the church is distressing. I hope that anyone who is involved - or is contemplating being involved - will take my critique to heart.
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Comment by Anonymous on 2010-02-04 16:22:52
Hello. Excellent Article! The enemy of God wants to usurp The LORD and be a counterfeit in every way. When people are duped into this kind of stuff, even those who call on the name of Jesus as their Lord and Savior, are they a part of the great "Falling Away" as prophesied in the Book of Reveleation? --- Just a thought.... God Bless. --- Numbers 6:24-26 to everyone! |
Comment by Cary on 2010-02-04 23:02:40
Speaking of United Church...
There is a Haiti benefit concert at Hillhurst United Church, 1227 Kensington Close NW Calgary on Friday Feb 5th at 730pm, $20 at the door, featuring the band "Station Kitty" at country-rock band. All door proceeds go to Haiti Outreach, there with also be reps from Samaritans Purse and Red Cross. Silent Auction at the intermission, bring a friend to a pleasant of evening of music featuring local music! Please pray for Haiti. |
Comment by Massage Therapist on 2010-02-04 23:25:13
Interesting isn't it? The reason why it flourishes is because it works. Also interesting that the practitioners have complete faith and confidence in it's effectiveness. If we had even a quarter of the confidence in God as Healer that they have in the power that drives the myriad of energy modalities that are practiced... hospitals would be emptied.
And why shouldn't I expect to see healing as clearly as they expect to see healing? So, every day when I put my hands on clients I acknowledge to God that it is not my therapeutic training that heals but God alone. I invite Him in and He does show up. I'm looking for bigger and faster results and I practice with Him every day. I'm looking for people to know the difference, that they just had a power encounter with God. Waiting for it to be obvious enough to them that they ask about what just happened so that I have permission to tell them.
Another funny thing, I have had practitioners of various energy healing techniques on my table. They know that something is going on and spend time trying to figure it out but they usually end up telling me about their exploits thinking I must be a fellow with them. Others have gone all around the edges but have not directly asked me what power I practice with. God has showed me things about people's lives that need prayer while I work. That brings odd inquiries like "do I believe in past lives because they do and something just happened to them." People have asked me if I deal with chakras and what ever kind of energy healing they are anxious to have.
One thing I have never had is a christian come out and ask me if I planned to do energy work. That one question would be very revealing to them. There are thousands of practitioners using thousands of variations on energy healing and they don't usually say a word, just do it while they work on you. Ask some pointed questions and you'll get your answer. At the very least ask the Holy Spirit to be your shield and turn back every force that is not of God -you might get nothing from the treatment but you might not pick up any spiritual hitch hikers either! |
Comment by Anonymous on 2010-02-05 10:19:43
To the massage therapist: My children once gave me a gift certificate for a massage. I thought nothing of it until I was laying on the table with candles & incense burning - and I thought "what am I doing here"? so I prayed in tongues thro' the whole session, needless to say have not repeated the experience. It would be so nice to know of Christian professionals. Do you advertise in Christian puplications?
I also have comments on TT but want to read the suggesred articles first.
Joan |
Comment by Doug on 2010-02-05 19:02:16
Thank you for the open description of the truth of this movement. I happen to have a sister in law that teaches 'healing touch' seminars across the country. I allowed her to 'do' me once as a condescension to allow further communication with her. She did not know we were under Jesus' blood but the results were my 'life force' turned out black (dead) oops! I guess being crucified with Christ came through! I am alive to Him though! |
Comment by Doug on 2010-02-05 19:02:59
Same lady directs United Church pastors where and how to serve their people. |
Comment by Massage Therapist on 2010-02-06 20:28:10
Joan,
I've never advertised because the shepherds guide is so expensive to get involved with. I'm open to thoughts on it. God heals, maybe we don't see more because we don't demand to see more (pull on Him).... what do you think? I do know that trusting something because it works when you need it to is a very scary proposition and easy to do. |
Comment by Doug on 2010-02-07 09:44:51
Massage Therapist:
To your comment that many use TT because it works, plus many other healing modalities work. I agree that the 'angel of light' involved does perform false miracles of healing, to deceive even the elect if it can. True healing will only come through people like yourself and 'anonymous' as you lay hands on people and allow Holy Spirit who fills you to flow in His healing presence and power. His presence makes the difference! I have found chiropractors that have really helped me in my healing journey by asking first "Can you and I pray together after the treatment?" Their response has qualified them to treat me or to serve other clients. |
Comment by Massage Therapist on 2010-02-07 10:47:40
Well said Doug! |
Comment by Laura K on 2010-02-07 22:33:58
Thanks, everybody, for your comments. I am learning a lot through them. Doug's experiences are especially interesting - how tragic that the United Church thinks HT could be acceptable to God. |
Comment by Elizabeth on 2010-02-09 22:41:08
Excellent article Laura. On the surface , HT appears to be innocuous , but is leading us astray,seeking healing from other sources than Christ. Thank you for writing on this topic so Christians will stop using these healing modalities. |
Comment by Joan on 2010-02-12 18:48:48
As an Rn (retired) I had contact with people who had been treated/practiced this procedure. I kept away from it, because it wasn't done in Jesus name. In retrospect I wonder why I didn't go to the seminars etc. and take the opportunity to lay my hands on the sick with the approval of administration and heal in Jesus name. One reason I know is because I was intimidated by "New Agers" - but no longer. Most of them are spiritually sensitive people who know there is more - they are just looking in the wrong places because people like me who know the truth have not stepped up to fill the void and lead them into the truth of Jesus the annointed one - the true healer. Hence the Church is the last place they look
Joan |
Comment by Massage Therapist on 2010-02-13 13:00:21
Here Here! |
Comment by Massage Therapist on 2010-02-14 10:20:57
Interesting Joan, I commented on your PS post and my reply appears before your PS.
I was just listening to Reinhart Bonke and he compared us to a fuse. He explained that a fuse with lower resistance conducts more power than a fuse with with higher resistance. A fuse with higher resistance will blow in the presence of great power. He then said that like the fuse, our resistance to the Word of God affects the ability of the power of God to flow through our lives. If we have great resistance to the Word we will not see the power of God flow in our lives to a great extent. In reverse, if we believe the Word - and he specifies that it is essential to take it at face value or we question God and the only guide He has given us - then to the degree we believe is the degree that the power of God can flow through us. Faith is the conductor of the power of God.
So since the kingdom of darkness will always counterfeit the real, it makes perfect sense to me that the "faith" of these practitioners directly relates to the success of their treatments.
Now what is wrong with our results? I have seen miracles happen, I saw a leg that was a foot shorter than the other grow out in 30 seconds and the lady walked out of the service with her built up shoe in her hand. The power of God. I saw a lady that weighed over 300 pounds shrink down to about 145 pounds over the course of a two hour healing service and walk out holding giant pants up. The power of God. I've seen a terminal breast cancer patient apply a cloth that was prayed over at a healing service and within 2 weeks she had doctor confirmation that the cancer was gone and many years later she is still healthy and whole. It is not that I am short of the demonstration of God's power. I said earlier that I lay hands on people all day long and am practicing allowing the power of God to heal them. Perhaps the strength of my resistance, my "fuse" needs to be addressed so that the power of God can move through me without my own resistance interfering. You are right - a form of godliness without power. Forgive me Lord, You promised we would even see the dead raised and I believe that! |
Comment by Joan on 2010-02-13 05:23:27
PS to my comment above. I said the last place the New Agers would look is the Church, but that's not true since this blog is about the United Church embracing this form of healing. The therapist in her comment stated "Also interesting that the practitioners have complete faith and confidence in it's effectiveness. If we had even a quarter of the confidence in God as Healer that they have in the power that drives the myriad of energy modalities that are practiced... hospitals would be emptied." - so Church why is this counterfeit allowed to infiltrate the body of Christ? Jesus said if we even had faith as small as a mustard seed we could move the mountains and again all things are possible only believe, - believe in what? His name? the redemption He bought and payed for? His word? which says our work is to believe in the one He sent. Could it be we have put our confidence in ourselves rather than our confidence in God as our Healer? So have had a form of godliness without power?
Now thanks be to God who is building His Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against her, and as we turn again to our God and lift our hearts with our hands, as I believe is happening all over the world, He will hear from heaven, forgive our sins, He will bring restoration and reconcilliation to His Church and the preaching of the word will have signs and wonders following - always. Like Mosses and the magicians in Pharaoh's court they could imitate God's power for a bit, but God demonstrated His sovereignty in the end Praise to His name forever.
Joan |
Comment by Joan on 2010-02-14 15:47:19
Amen!! I'm going to take notice of my "fuse" as well. The problem is from my end, not His. Good talking to you. I have found these blog's of Radiant Christian very helpful, the dialogue expressing different points of view in love is very refreshing.
Joan |
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