October 13, 2025 • 17 mins
This is Episode 150 of Christian Research Journal Reads. This is an audio version of the CHRISTIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL article, “Crystals: Vibrations, Energy, and Healing Power?” by Lindsey Mendenwaldt. This article was published exclusively online in the Christian Research Journal, Volume 48, number 03 (2025). https://www.equip.org/articles/crystals-vibrations-energy-and-healing-power/
It was accompanied by Postmodern Realities Episode 454: Crystals: Vibrations, Energy, and Healing Power?
This podcast presents audio versions of Christian Research Journal articles. As the flagship publication of the Christian Research Institute, the Journal seeks to equip followers of Christ to think and to live Christianly—to exercise truth and experience life. Truth, especially essential Christian doctrine, forms the basis for how we live our lives in Christ. As the apostle Paul instructed Timothy in 1 Tim. 4:16, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”The Christian Research Journal enjoyed a print incarnation of almost 45 years. Now exclusively an online publication, the Journal consists of thousands of free articles. We hope that through these audio articles you are not only equipped to proclaim and defend your faith but that as a disciple you also draw closer to Christ in your walk with Him. You can find the written version of each article that is an episode of Christian Research Journal Reads at the website of the Christian Research Institute, equip.org. All Christian Research Journal articles at equip.org are completely free and do not require a subscription and are not under a paywall.All episodes will be available at the following podcast platforms with more being added daily! You can help spread the word about this new podcast by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on and telling others!You can view off our Website at the at this link and off our Journal main page.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/christian-research-journal-reads--6022978/support.
It was accompanied by Postmodern Realities Episode 454: Crystals: Vibrations, Energy, and Healing Power?
This podcast presents audio versions of Christian Research Journal articles. As the flagship publication of the Christian Research Institute, the Journal seeks to equip followers of Christ to think and to live Christianly—to exercise truth and experience life. Truth, especially essential Christian doctrine, forms the basis for how we live our lives in Christ. As the apostle Paul instructed Timothy in 1 Tim. 4:16, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”The Christian Research Journal enjoyed a print incarnation of almost 45 years. Now exclusively an online publication, the Journal consists of thousands of free articles. We hope that through these audio articles you are not only equipped to proclaim and defend your faith but that as a disciple you also draw closer to Christ in your walk with Him. You can find the written version of each article that is an episode of Christian Research Journal Reads at the website of the Christian Research Institute, equip.org. All Christian Research Journal articles at equip.org are completely free and do not require a subscription and are not under a paywall.All episodes will be available at the following podcast platforms with more being added daily! You can help spread the word about this new podcast by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on and telling others!You can view off our Website at the at this link and off our Journal main page.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/christian-research-journal-reads--6022978/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
This is episode one hundred and fifty of the Christian
Research Journal Reads Podcast. Crystal's Vibrations, Energy and Healing Power
by Lindsay Mendenwall. This article was published exclusively online in
the Christian Research Journal Volume forty eight, number three, and
twenty twenty five. The Christian Research Journal Reads Podcast presents
(00:28):
audio versions of Christian Research Journal articles. To read this
article and its full documentation, please go to equip dot org.
That's e quip dot.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Org Crystals, Vibrations, Energy and Healing Power. This article is
by Lindsay Mendenwald and is read by an automated voice.
If you've ever been to a natural history museum, you've
probably seen giant rocks on display, not for their outside features,
but for what is inside. For example, the Denver Museum
(01:03):
of Nature and Science features a Gem and Mineral section
that showcases crystals and stones from around the world. My
daughter used to love spending time there looking at them
and rarely wanted to leave. I remember having a similar
experience at the National Museum of Natural History, the site
of the Hope Diamond, a forty five carrit blue violet diamond.
(01:25):
I was absolutely mesmerized by the stone Crystals may be
beautiful to look at, but do they hold special powers too?
Some people, including some Christians, believe they do and have
incorporated crystals into their spiritual practices. This leads to the question,
what does the Bible say about that? This is indeed
(01:45):
the question we should ask whenever we hear about things
like this. Going back to scripture is the best way
to find out what is right for our religi as Christians.
This article will navigate the various claims about crystals, as
well as help you know how to respond in someone
in your life says they believe crystals have power. What
are crystals despite their beauty, but simply crystals are rocks.
(02:10):
In a natural history museum section dedicated to rocks and gems,
you'll usually see diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and more. Those are
all crystals. According to the International Gem Society IGS, a
crystal is a solid whose atoms are arranged in a
highly ordered, repeating pattern. These patterns are called crystal systems.
(02:32):
If a mineral has its atoms arranged in one of them,
then that mineral is a crystal. In other words, whether
something is a crystal or not depends on its atomic structure.
Crystals are typically pretty, which makes them popular for jewelry
and home decor. But there's more to the story regarding
the popularity of crystals, and a lot of it has
(02:53):
to do with the energies found within crystals and their
supposed powers. Do crystals contain power? The last time I
was in Denver, I spent about an hour walking through
a crystal shop in downtown Lyttleton, a suburb of Denver.
The first thing that hit me on the way in
was the intense smell of incense. The next thing was
the sparkle. A shopful of crystals is bound to be sparkly,
(03:16):
and this one didn't disappoint in that respect. In addition
to crystals, this shop offered smudge products, skulls, candles, and
other New Age related items, but my focus was on
the crystals. I meandered slowly through the shop, taking note
of various inscriptions telling me what particular crystals did. For example, apparently,
(03:37):
rose or quartz is a master healer and stimulates the
immune system. It is also helpful if you want to
perceive and receive the love energies of the higher planes.
The blue ora quartz can eliminate all the negativity in
your mind. It's a high vibrational stone and is deeply
connected to the throat, thymus, third eye, and crown checkras
(03:59):
of your body. Hoping to guard against psychic attacks, the
lapis lasuly stone claims to do just that. Now if
those descriptions don't screen, the New Age item of what
does this shop and others like it? Mix claims that
there are properties found within crystals that make them useful
spiritually and physically. Let's consider the claims and the evidence
(04:22):
so that we can draw our own conclusions Crystals, vibrations
and energy. In his short piece about crystals for the
Christian Research Journal, Elliot Miller wrote, since crystals are good
for transmitting electronic frequencies, occultists assume that they must also
be good for transmitting psychic frequencies. This belief has led
(04:44):
to all sorts of New Age ideas about vibrations and energy.
New Age theology holds that crystals increase vibrations and lower
negative energy. New Agers believe that your body and everything
else on Earth is full of energy, and that energy
is connected to the Earth. Our energy is operating on
different frequencies depending on our physical, emotional, and spiritual well being.
(05:08):
To reach our full potential, we need to raise our vibrations,
which then will raise the Earth's vibrations. The higher the vibrations,
the better. Ultimately, once we reach a certain level of vibration,
many new Agers believe we will all achieve a sension
our highest possible cells. Crystals can help us move in
(05:28):
the right vibrational direction. Founder of the Crystal Healing Collective,
Gene Mitchell's rights, just as crystals have energy, the energy
in the human body is what keeps our hearts pumping,
our muscles moving, our brains ticking, and our cells running.
We can utilize the healing energies of various crystals to adjust, raise,
(05:49):
or remove certain energies in the body. When describing her
use of crystals, X new Ager turned Christian Melissa Dharity says,
I remember wearing an onyx to a treat certain energies
to me. It's been thought that these crystals and gems
can just absorb a lot of negative energy. For support
of these claims, some New Age practitioners assert that Nicola
(06:12):
Tesla was a proponent of crystals for humans because he
used quartz crystals to generate energy. Many attribute the quote
if you want to find the secrets of the universe,
think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration. To Tesla,
but I couldn't find a credible reference for it. However,
he wrote, in a crystal, we have the clear evidence
(06:33):
of the existence of a formative life principle, and though
we cannot understand the life of a crystal, it is
nonetheless a living being, which sort of alludes to life
energy found within crystals. But it's a stretch to say
that Tesla believed crystals could generate energy within humanity. In fact,
there is no scientific evidence to support this idea. Dougherty explains,
(06:56):
there have never been any studies done that have supported
crystals having energy or any sort of healing power. Here
she's talking specifically about vibrational energies that heal. We know
that every crystal possesses energy, but in well defined physical
ways mass energy, equivalents, bond energy, and so on, not
(07:16):
in the mystical sense that vibrational frequencies radiate healing power.
Let's look at the assertion that crystals offer healing and protection.
Crystal healing in his book lead us to a place.
Andrew Pacolik claims crystals can be used to promote wellness
and health. He writes, crystals are profound gifts and a
(07:37):
great integrative therapy that can be used in conjunction with
any other form of health care for personal pleasure, meditation,
stress relief, and healing. Crystal chromotherapy advocates claim that colored
crystals can stimulate or calm various bodily functions, influence endocrine secretions,
and help balance the energies of the body, mind, and spirit.
(07:59):
In her books Crystals, Jenny Harding says application of specific colors,
either directly with equipment or visualized by the therapist, can
bring about speedy and effective rebalancing of the body's energies.
Simply wearing a necklace can promote healing. The most effective
type of jewelry to choose for healing purposes is a
(08:19):
pendent that hangs down toward the heart. Harding rights the
heart is the bridging chacker between spirit and matter, and
combinations of crystals work well there to spread their energy
throughout the aoric field. Put more clearly, Harding claims that
wearing a crystal by your heart will improve your energy.
Science says otherwise. In fact, there was a study done
(08:41):
in London in two thousand and one to test the
effectiveness of crystals. Half the study participants had been given
cheap plastic crystals, while the other half were using genuine ones.
Both fruits reported feeling the tingling, energy enhancing sensations that
were promised. That's the placebo effect. In action, placebos and
confirmation bias. I've mentioned that many of the powers attributed
(09:05):
to crystals or pseudoscientific, which means they are not compatible
with the scientific method. If these claims aren't scientifically accurate,
why is there such support for these ideas. The reason
likely comes down to two things, the placibo effect and
confirmation bias. The placebo effect is when someone experiences a
(09:25):
positive effect after taking medicine but there wasn't an active
ingredient in the treatment. They feel better because they were
told the medicine would help them feel better. It's important
to note, though, that placebos may make you feel better,
but they will not cure you. Confirmation bias is when
you interpret evidence in a way that confirms your existing ideas.
(09:48):
For example, suppose you believe that all twelve year old
girls prefer pop music. If research says that most twelve
year olds favor hip hop, yet you meet a twelve
year old girl who prefers pop music, your belief has
been confirmed, and you are more likely to reject the research.
Anecdotal evidence reigns supreme in confirmation bias, So if you
(10:09):
believe a particular crystal will heal you and when you
wear it you feel better, you're likely including both a
placebo effect and confirmation bias. Crystals and manifestation. In twenty
twenty four, Ann Kennedy wrote an excellent article for the
Christian Research Journal about manifestation, the idea of people bringing
about the good things they desire by intuitively controlling their
(10:32):
own energy fields. New agers believe that crystals can assist
in all kinds of manifestation. For example, if you want
more money, or more love, or more anything in your life,
there's a crystal for that. Place the crystal near to you,
such as on your bedside table, and use it to
focus your intentions every day. You may also want to
(10:54):
meditate with the crystal and visualize the energy of attraction
surrounding you. The idea is that if you focus on
what you want long enough, you'll achieve it, or maybe
with the gift of time, hard work, and persistence, you'll
reach your goals without crystals, since that claim has no
scientific backing crystals and astrology. Growing up, I remember birthstones
(11:17):
being all the rage, and while researching this article, I
encounter the close relationship between births, stones and astrology. For example,
the paradot my birthstone, has a variety of alleged benefits
for its wear, such as mental clarity, prosperity, and intelligence.
The Internet is rife with information about zodiac signs and burthstones,
(11:38):
but there is no scientific support that says if someone
wears the right stone you'll reap particular benefits. Such beliefs
are pseudo scientific and not grounded in science or supported
by scientists. Prayer and crystals. When I was in seminary,
one of my theology professors talked about some of his
Christian relatives by referring to them as the crystal people.
(12:02):
His family members were using crystals as part of their worship.
You may be saying to yourself, well, that is unusual. However,
it's not uncommon. In a twenty twenty three Pere Research pole,
twelve percent of Americans said they use crystals for spiritual practices.
In a twenty eighteen pole by Pure Research, thirty seven
(12:22):
percent of Christian respondents said they believe physical objects like
crystals can possess spiritual energy. The numbers seem to get
worse the younger the age group. In a twenty twenty
two pole, forty four percent of thirteen to twenty five
year olds said they engage with crystals or herbs as
a spiritual exercise, with one in five twenty one percent
(12:45):
saying they do so on at least a weekly basis.
Should Christians use crystals as part of their prayer life?
The short answer is no, and scripture is clear. Why
What does the Bible say about crystals? First and foremost,
crystals are part of the earth, so they were created
by God. We find several references to crystals throughout scripture,
(13:07):
especially in the Old Testament. The levitical high priest in
Exodus thirty nine ten thirteen wore a breastplate full of
precious stones. Proverbs eight eleven says wisdom is more precious
than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Rubies and lapis lagically are mentioned in Lamentations four. Although
(13:28):
the Bible makes mention of crystals, nowhere does it say
crystals hold any special powers. On the other hand, using
crystals for power falls in line with the occult and witchcraft,
which is expressly forbidden in scripture. Sea Gullatians five, nineteen
twenty one. How should Christians respond? One of your questions
might be, do I need to throw away all of
(13:50):
the crystals in my house? I don't think so.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
No.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Most people have some sort of crystal in their home,
whether in their jewelry box or as a decorative peace.
They are, as I mentioned above, part of God's beautiful creation,
and they don't carry some sort of inherent mysticism. Former
new Ager Marsha moont Negro writes, as a Christian, I
think the crystals were mere objects and were harmless. It
(14:16):
was the idea that they were supposed to have some
kind of energy or power that I came to realize
was wrong. The problem was the beliefs behind what they represented,
not the objects themselves, which after all, are part of
God's creation. So no, you don't need to throw out
all the crystals in your home. That said, we need
to view all things in light of scripture. Before you
(14:38):
bring crystals into your home. Ask yourself, how am I
thinking about crystals, and do my thoughts align with the Bible.
The Bible says, we demolish arguments and every pretension that
sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we
take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Two Corinthians ten to five. You I have a history
(15:00):
of participating in the New Age, or if New Age
ideas are a stumbling block for you, it would be
wise to avoid crystals. If someone in your family struggles
with these false ideas, it would be wise to remove
crystals from your home so that you aren't causing someone
else to stumble Romans fourteen thirteen twenty three. If someone
(15:20):
in your life is using crystals for healing, manifestation, or
even prayer, respond with gentleness. Ask them why they are
using the crystals, and if they considered what the Bible
says about divination and the occult, it may be appropriate
to mention the science or lack thereof associated with crystals.
Offer guidance, but also offer a reminder of the freedom
(15:42):
found in Christ. Galatians five to one says it is
for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then,
and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a
yoke of slavery. Let's not be held captive by false
ideas and idols. Instead, let's be set free by the
savior of the world.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Thank you for listening to another episode from the Christian
Research Journal Reads podcast, which provides audio articles of Christian
Research Journal articles. If you go to equip dot org,
you will find a brand new article for the Christian
Research Journal published weekly. In addition, please subscribe to our
other podcasts. Wherever you find your favorite podcast, you will
(16:26):
find the Christian Research Journal Reads podcast, the Postmodern Realities podcast,
which features interviews with Christian Research Journal authors, our flagship podcast,
The Bible answer Man Broadcast, and the Hank Unplugged podcast,
where CRI President Hank Canagraph takes you out of the
(16:48):
studio and into his study to engage in in depth,
free flowing, essential Christian conversations on critical issues with some
of the most interesting and informative people on the planet.
At equip dot org, you will also find a lot
of resources to equip you, including many thousands of Christian
(17:10):
Research Journal articles.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
That's e q u I P dot r G
This is episode one hundred and fifty of the Christian
Research Journal Reads Podcast. Crystal's Vibrations, Energy and Healing Power
by Lindsay Mendenwall. This article was published exclusively online in
the Christian Research Journal Volume forty eight, number three, and
twenty twenty five. The Christian Research Journal Reads Podcast presents
(00:28):
audio versions of Christian Research Journal articles. To read this
article and its full documentation, please go to equip dot org.
That's e quip dot.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Org Crystals, Vibrations, Energy and Healing Power. This article is
by Lindsay Mendenwald and is read by an automated voice.
If you've ever been to a natural history museum, you've
probably seen giant rocks on display, not for their outside features,
but for what is inside. For example, the Denver Museum
(01:03):
of Nature and Science features a Gem and Mineral section
that showcases crystals and stones from around the world. My
daughter used to love spending time there looking at them
and rarely wanted to leave. I remember having a similar
experience at the National Museum of Natural History, the site
of the Hope Diamond, a forty five carrit blue violet diamond.
(01:25):
I was absolutely mesmerized by the stone Crystals may be
beautiful to look at, but do they hold special powers too?
Some people, including some Christians, believe they do and have
incorporated crystals into their spiritual practices. This leads to the question,
what does the Bible say about that? This is indeed
(01:45):
the question we should ask whenever we hear about things
like this. Going back to scripture is the best way
to find out what is right for our religi as Christians.
This article will navigate the various claims about crystals, as
well as help you know how to respond in someone
in your life says they believe crystals have power. What
are crystals despite their beauty, but simply crystals are rocks.
(02:10):
In a natural history museum section dedicated to rocks and gems,
you'll usually see diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and more. Those are
all crystals. According to the International Gem Society IGS, a
crystal is a solid whose atoms are arranged in a
highly ordered, repeating pattern. These patterns are called crystal systems.
(02:32):
If a mineral has its atoms arranged in one of them,
then that mineral is a crystal. In other words, whether
something is a crystal or not depends on its atomic structure.
Crystals are typically pretty, which makes them popular for jewelry
and home decor. But there's more to the story regarding
the popularity of crystals, and a lot of it has
(02:53):
to do with the energies found within crystals and their
supposed powers. Do crystals contain power? The last time I
was in Denver, I spent about an hour walking through
a crystal shop in downtown Lyttleton, a suburb of Denver.
The first thing that hit me on the way in
was the intense smell of incense. The next thing was
the sparkle. A shopful of crystals is bound to be sparkly,
(03:16):
and this one didn't disappoint in that respect. In addition
to crystals, this shop offered smudge products, skulls, candles, and
other New Age related items, but my focus was on
the crystals. I meandered slowly through the shop, taking note
of various inscriptions telling me what particular crystals did. For example, apparently,
(03:37):
rose or quartz is a master healer and stimulates the
immune system. It is also helpful if you want to
perceive and receive the love energies of the higher planes.
The blue ora quartz can eliminate all the negativity in
your mind. It's a high vibrational stone and is deeply
connected to the throat, thymus, third eye, and crown checkras
(03:59):
of your body. Hoping to guard against psychic attacks, the
lapis lasuly stone claims to do just that. Now if
those descriptions don't screen, the New Age item of what
does this shop and others like it? Mix claims that
there are properties found within crystals that make them useful
spiritually and physically. Let's consider the claims and the evidence
(04:22):
so that we can draw our own conclusions Crystals, vibrations
and energy. In his short piece about crystals for the
Christian Research Journal, Elliot Miller wrote, since crystals are good
for transmitting electronic frequencies, occultists assume that they must also
be good for transmitting psychic frequencies. This belief has led
(04:44):
to all sorts of New Age ideas about vibrations and energy.
New Age theology holds that crystals increase vibrations and lower
negative energy. New Agers believe that your body and everything
else on Earth is full of energy, and that energy
is connected to the Earth. Our energy is operating on
different frequencies depending on our physical, emotional, and spiritual well being.
(05:08):
To reach our full potential, we need to raise our vibrations,
which then will raise the Earth's vibrations. The higher the vibrations,
the better. Ultimately, once we reach a certain level of vibration,
many new Agers believe we will all achieve a sension
our highest possible cells. Crystals can help us move in
(05:28):
the right vibrational direction. Founder of the Crystal Healing Collective,
Gene Mitchell's rights, just as crystals have energy, the energy
in the human body is what keeps our hearts pumping,
our muscles moving, our brains ticking, and our cells running.
We can utilize the healing energies of various crystals to adjust, raise,
(05:49):
or remove certain energies in the body. When describing her
use of crystals, X new Ager turned Christian Melissa Dharity says,
I remember wearing an onyx to a treat certain energies
to me. It's been thought that these crystals and gems
can just absorb a lot of negative energy. For support
of these claims, some New Age practitioners assert that Nicola
(06:12):
Tesla was a proponent of crystals for humans because he
used quartz crystals to generate energy. Many attribute the quote
if you want to find the secrets of the universe,
think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration. To Tesla,
but I couldn't find a credible reference for it. However,
he wrote, in a crystal, we have the clear evidence
(06:33):
of the existence of a formative life principle, and though
we cannot understand the life of a crystal, it is
nonetheless a living being, which sort of alludes to life
energy found within crystals. But it's a stretch to say
that Tesla believed crystals could generate energy within humanity. In fact,
there is no scientific evidence to support this idea. Dougherty explains,
(06:56):
there have never been any studies done that have supported
crystals having energy or any sort of healing power. Here
she's talking specifically about vibrational energies that heal. We know
that every crystal possesses energy, but in well defined physical
ways mass energy, equivalents, bond energy, and so on, not
(07:16):
in the mystical sense that vibrational frequencies radiate healing power.
Let's look at the assertion that crystals offer healing and protection.
Crystal healing in his book lead us to a place.
Andrew Pacolik claims crystals can be used to promote wellness
and health. He writes, crystals are profound gifts and a
(07:37):
great integrative therapy that can be used in conjunction with
any other form of health care for personal pleasure, meditation,
stress relief, and healing. Crystal chromotherapy advocates claim that colored
crystals can stimulate or calm various bodily functions, influence endocrine secretions,
and help balance the energies of the body, mind, and spirit.
(07:59):
In her books Crystals, Jenny Harding says application of specific colors,
either directly with equipment or visualized by the therapist, can
bring about speedy and effective rebalancing of the body's energies.
Simply wearing a necklace can promote healing. The most effective
type of jewelry to choose for healing purposes is a
(08:19):
pendent that hangs down toward the heart. Harding rights the
heart is the bridging chacker between spirit and matter, and
combinations of crystals work well there to spread their energy
throughout the aoric field. Put more clearly, Harding claims that
wearing a crystal by your heart will improve your energy.
Science says otherwise. In fact, there was a study done
(08:41):
in London in two thousand and one to test the
effectiveness of crystals. Half the study participants had been given
cheap plastic crystals, while the other half were using genuine ones.
Both fruits reported feeling the tingling, energy enhancing sensations that
were promised. That's the placebo effect. In action, placebos and
confirmation bias. I've mentioned that many of the powers attributed
(09:05):
to crystals or pseudoscientific, which means they are not compatible
with the scientific method. If these claims aren't scientifically accurate,
why is there such support for these ideas. The reason
likely comes down to two things, the placibo effect and
confirmation bias. The placebo effect is when someone experiences a
(09:25):
positive effect after taking medicine but there wasn't an active
ingredient in the treatment. They feel better because they were
told the medicine would help them feel better. It's important
to note, though, that placebos may make you feel better,
but they will not cure you. Confirmation bias is when
you interpret evidence in a way that confirms your existing ideas.
(09:48):
For example, suppose you believe that all twelve year old
girls prefer pop music. If research says that most twelve
year olds favor hip hop, yet you meet a twelve
year old girl who prefers pop music, your belief has
been confirmed, and you are more likely to reject the research.
Anecdotal evidence reigns supreme in confirmation bias, So if you
(10:09):
believe a particular crystal will heal you and when you
wear it you feel better, you're likely including both a
placebo effect and confirmation bias. Crystals and manifestation. In twenty
twenty four, Ann Kennedy wrote an excellent article for the
Christian Research Journal about manifestation, the idea of people bringing
about the good things they desire by intuitively controlling their
(10:32):
own energy fields. New agers believe that crystals can assist
in all kinds of manifestation. For example, if you want
more money, or more love, or more anything in your life,
there's a crystal for that. Place the crystal near to you,
such as on your bedside table, and use it to
focus your intentions every day. You may also want to
(10:54):
meditate with the crystal and visualize the energy of attraction
surrounding you. The idea is that if you focus on
what you want long enough, you'll achieve it, or maybe
with the gift of time, hard work, and persistence, you'll
reach your goals without crystals, since that claim has no
scientific backing crystals and astrology. Growing up, I remember birthstones
(11:17):
being all the rage, and while researching this article, I
encounter the close relationship between births, stones and astrology. For example,
the paradot my birthstone, has a variety of alleged benefits
for its wear, such as mental clarity, prosperity, and intelligence.
The Internet is rife with information about zodiac signs and burthstones,
(11:38):
but there is no scientific support that says if someone
wears the right stone you'll reap particular benefits. Such beliefs
are pseudo scientific and not grounded in science or supported
by scientists. Prayer and crystals. When I was in seminary,
one of my theology professors talked about some of his
Christian relatives by referring to them as the crystal people.
(12:02):
His family members were using crystals as part of their worship.
You may be saying to yourself, well, that is unusual. However,
it's not uncommon. In a twenty twenty three Pere Research pole,
twelve percent of Americans said they use crystals for spiritual practices.
In a twenty eighteen pole by Pure Research, thirty seven
(12:22):
percent of Christian respondents said they believe physical objects like
crystals can possess spiritual energy. The numbers seem to get
worse the younger the age group. In a twenty twenty
two pole, forty four percent of thirteen to twenty five
year olds said they engage with crystals or herbs as
a spiritual exercise, with one in five twenty one percent
(12:45):
saying they do so on at least a weekly basis.
Should Christians use crystals as part of their prayer life?
The short answer is no, and scripture is clear. Why
What does the Bible say about crystals? First and foremost,
crystals are part of the earth, so they were created
by God. We find several references to crystals throughout scripture,
(13:07):
especially in the Old Testament. The levitical high priest in
Exodus thirty nine ten thirteen wore a breastplate full of
precious stones. Proverbs eight eleven says wisdom is more precious
than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Rubies and lapis lagically are mentioned in Lamentations four. Although
(13:28):
the Bible makes mention of crystals, nowhere does it say
crystals hold any special powers. On the other hand, using
crystals for power falls in line with the occult and witchcraft,
which is expressly forbidden in scripture. Sea Gullatians five, nineteen
twenty one. How should Christians respond? One of your questions
might be, do I need to throw away all of
(13:50):
the crystals in my house? I don't think so.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
No.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Most people have some sort of crystal in their home,
whether in their jewelry box or as a decorative peace.
They are, as I mentioned above, part of God's beautiful creation,
and they don't carry some sort of inherent mysticism. Former
new Ager Marsha moont Negro writes, as a Christian, I
think the crystals were mere objects and were harmless. It
(14:16):
was the idea that they were supposed to have some
kind of energy or power that I came to realize
was wrong. The problem was the beliefs behind what they represented,
not the objects themselves, which after all, are part of
God's creation. So no, you don't need to throw out
all the crystals in your home. That said, we need
to view all things in light of scripture. Before you
(14:38):
bring crystals into your home. Ask yourself, how am I
thinking about crystals, and do my thoughts align with the Bible.
The Bible says, we demolish arguments and every pretension that
sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we
take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Two Corinthians ten to five. You I have a history
(15:00):
of participating in the New Age, or if New Age
ideas are a stumbling block for you, it would be
wise to avoid crystals. If someone in your family struggles
with these false ideas, it would be wise to remove
crystals from your home so that you aren't causing someone
else to stumble Romans fourteen thirteen twenty three. If someone
(15:20):
in your life is using crystals for healing, manifestation, or
even prayer, respond with gentleness. Ask them why they are
using the crystals, and if they considered what the Bible
says about divination and the occult, it may be appropriate
to mention the science or lack thereof associated with crystals.
Offer guidance, but also offer a reminder of the freedom
(15:42):
found in Christ. Galatians five to one says it is
for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then,
and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a
yoke of slavery. Let's not be held captive by false
ideas and idols. Instead, let's be set free by the
savior of the world.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Thank you for listening to another episode from the Christian
Research Journal Reads podcast, which provides audio articles of Christian
Research Journal articles. If you go to equip dot org,
you will find a brand new article for the Christian
Research Journal published weekly. In addition, please subscribe to our
other podcasts. Wherever you find your favorite podcast, you will
(16:26):
find the Christian Research Journal Reads podcast, the Postmodern Realities podcast,
which features interviews with Christian Research Journal authors, our flagship podcast,
The Bible answer Man Broadcast, and the Hank Unplugged podcast,
where CRI President Hank Canagraph takes you out of the
(16:48):
studio and into his study to engage in in depth,
free flowing, essential Christian conversations on critical issues with some
of the most interesting and informative people on the planet.
At equip dot org, you will also find a lot
of resources to equip you, including many thousands of Christian
(17:10):
Research Journal articles.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
That's e q u I P dot r G
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