First of all, in the defense of this latest fad, they do not promote the entertainment version of hypnosis. Hypnotism today is being compared to ‘visions’ in the Old and New Testaments. If we want to agree that they are the same, here are some questions I have:
1. In the instances I read about, God came to them, they were not going into a trance to find God’s message for them.
2. These visions were never induced by another person.
3. The visions were to see or hear/see Godly messages, not to cure a disease, act as an anesthetic, or break sinful habits.
4. The people were Godly people, and not heathen, Gentiles, unsaved, or whatever word you choose to use for ungodly.
5. If you believe that deep prayer can cause a trancelike state, again, there is no outside influence taking you there.
6. Despite the often quoted reference to Deuteronomy 18:10-11, I prefer to read how Ezekiel 13 warns against the false diviners/prophets.
When scripture speaks about soundness of mind in the NT, can that happen in a hypnotic state? Yet ‘sound mind’ was the word used to describe those who had demons cast out of them. Are the evangelical Christians so far off in accusing hypnosis of being of the devil since a sound mind is the opposite of demon possession?
When we’re told to love God with ‘… all our mind,’ do we have “all” our mind in a humanly induced trancelike state? Or does someone else have part of it? Are we to surrender any part of ourselves to a someone other than God?
On the road to Emmaus, Christ opened their ‘minds’…the same Greek was used repeatedly as understanding, reasoning, and feelings. If God (Christ) opened their minds, won’t He do the same for us?
If we’re to have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), can we find a time He was put into a hypnotic (trancelike) state?
My last comment is found in 2 Timothy 1:7. It’s the only time I can find this Greek word used in the New Testament, but I think it makes a good case for avoiding hypnosis. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” I for one won’t be turning what little mind I might possess over to anyone in the near future!
6 comments:
I have to agree with this Lonnie. It scares me to allow anyone other than God to have access to my mind in that way. I don't even trust myself enough because the mind can deceive even me. I feel like that if there is something we need help with be it bad habits, emotional hurt, etc... that God is fully capable and willing to help us with those things. The way of hypnosis, in my opinion, opens up a door to the enemy to have access to our minds.
You don't know what hypnosis really is. And it sounds like you are acting out of a spirit of fear. Here is a really good link that I found a few days ago, http://www.christianhypnosis.org/hypnosis-for-christians.php and not sure if this next link will work or not
http://www.facebook.com/notes/paul-johnston/hypnosis-fact-vs-fiction/245415208815308
I've read the articles and while I agree that it may be a matter of word definition, I think the vast majority of people would disagree with you. My observations were not addressed, and I would like to hear a biblical basis and/or examples for the things written in the articles.
Trance is not the same as hypnosis, where you are conscious and have full ability to accept or reject whatever is going on. I agree with your conclusions but you're not talking about the same thing he is at all. Actual hypnosis is a therapeutic tool that bypasses unhealthy defense mechanisms to create behavioral change that helps heal people. There really is no discussion until you're both talk about the same thing.
I am very familiar with 1Tim 1:7 as I wear it around my neck. In light of the verse however does that mean that a 'true christian' doesn't need counselors/therapists or a psychologist? The Holy Spirit is the Great Counselor, and many people would agree that they don't need to talk to someone about their feelings they just 'take it to The Lord in prayer'. You can twist scripture to condemn or justify anything when you take it out of context. The Lord has freed me from my emotional baggage through hypnosis and while talk therapy would have done the same thing over the course of years I am now free from the load of rubbish that I have carried for some 28 years. The Lord has not only freed me from the emotional trauma but also generational sins and demonic presence.
Mike - My observations are just that, my thoughts based on my study of scripture. I based that study on the arguments I found from "Christian Hypnotists" and their scriptural justification. I'm not arguing what has happened good or bad in your life, or the best method of help. You asked my opinion on hypnosis and I researched it and gave it. All I asked in return was a biblical rebuttal to my observations, not a discussion of the sins of the world. Janet, thanks for your comment...I agree there is obviously a broad spectrum of definition out there, which I discovered in my research.
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