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QUESTION:
Dear Brian,
I recently started receiving acupuncture treatment for Interstitial
Cystitis. I was diagnosed with the condition last August and have
been undergoing treatment with a urologist who is an expert on
IC. I became disenchanted with western medicine's approach to
this disease (or syndrome). The pain was getting to be too bad,
even with the 4 prescription drugs I take daily. After doing a
lot of my own research, I came across information on Traditional
Chinese Medicine and acupuncture.
I'm a devout Catholic, and though I was intrigued by TCM and
really thought it might be of help to me, I was uncertain as to
whether a Christian should be involved with it. I asked a priest
in my parish, who said that the Church would not have a problem
with my going for acupuncture. He said that if it helped me, I
should go for it. I would have much preferred to find a Christian
acupuncturist, but don't know of any in our area. Your website
did not show any listings for Pennsylvania.
I would like to ask you: What kinds of questions should I
be asking my acupuncturist? How can I be protected from any New
Age or Taoist philosophies or practices that she might use? How
can I share the Gospel with her?
Thanks for your help, and may God continue to bless you and your
work.
-KJ
ANSWER:
There are many diseases for which western medicine falls short.
Is your acupuncturist also giving you Chinese herbs? Hopefully
yes.
The main point about acupuncture in a Christian context is that
the acupuncture points work regardless of how the acupuncturist
THINKS they work. They may think they're unblocking qi, or they
may think they are stimulating nerve fibers to produce neuromodulation.
They may be more or less sophisticated in their understanding
of the accurate translation of Chinese language (e.g. qi is air,
not energy). If they are interested in these things, they should
read the Dao of Chinese Medicine by Donald Kendall.
The only ways you could be endangered, to my knowledge, would
be incorporating new age ideas into your life, accepting inaccurate
views of Chinese medicine passed on verbally by your practitioner...
if you are worried on a spiritual level, I would pray for protection,
stay in the Word, even ask the acupuncturist if they just needle
the points medically or if they try to "add" something
energetically or spiritually.
In my opinion, the Christian is better off with an acupuncturist
who is medically, not metaphysically minded.
I would share the gospel with her the same way I would with any
new ager- if that's what she is. Pray first that the veil be removed
from her eyes and she see the truth of the gospel, that she be
convicted of her sin and see the need for Jesus's gift of forgiveness,
that Godly people be put in her path, that her heart of stone
be replace with a heart of flesh, etc. Then talk to her about
her spiritual beliefs. I find it's best to ask questions- it's
very difficult to witness to some new agers- especially to answer
their questions and criticisms of Christian doctrine- I've made
some forays here and feel I haven't been successful enough because
I can't answer all these concerns to their satisfaction. See The
Case for Faith, by Lee Strobel. I'm buying a copy of this book
(The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict Fully Updated To Answer
The Questions Challenging Christians Today by Josh McDowell) because
I saw it once and was impressed by how complete it was, but wasn't
ready to read it.
Anyway, best I can tell, we pray, we witness as well as we can,
and then we leave the results up to God. I try to witness with
respect for the person, with compassion, with sensitivity, by
listening and earning their respect, and in the context of a relationship-
it's not a hit and run!
All the best,
B
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