The Energy of Love: Reiki and Christian Healing

By Bruce G. Epperly

Today, we need to marshal all the healing resources at our disposal.

A growing body of evidence shows that spiritual healing practices have a positive impact, both on healing and on the quality of life that people experience while under medical care. Dr. Bruce Epperly calls on Christians to embrace these varied resources. He crosses both the boundaries between formal scientific medical practice and spiritual healing, and the boundaries between healing practices that come from a variety of spiritual and religious traditions. He then incorporates these into a distinctly Christian theology of healing practice. Where healing takes place, he sees God at work.

Healing characterized the ministry of Jesus, and Epperly believes that it should characterize the life and ministry of Christians in all times and places. This is a balanced call that doesn't pit one tradition against another and also does not place spiritual healing practices in opposition to medical science. This is about embracing what heals.

Today, we need to marshal all the healing resources at our disposal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Energion Publications
• Release date: Aug 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781631994401

Book preview

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THE ENERGY OF LOVE

REIKI AND CHRISTIAN HEALING

BRUCE G. EPPERLY

Topical Line Drives

Volume 26

Energion Publications

Gonzalez, Florida

2017

Copyright Bruce G. Epperly 2017

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U. S. A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture references marked NKJV are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Electronic ISBN: 978-1-63199-440-1

ISBN10: 1-63199-434-4

ISBN13: 978-1-63199-434-0

Energion Publications

P. O. Box 841

Gonzalez, FL 32560

[e-mail]

energion.com

This book is dedicated to the Reiki Healing Team

of South Congregational Church,

United Church of Christ, Centerville, Massachusetts,

my reiki students over the past twenty years,

and their embodiment of Jesus’ healing ministry

through reiki healing touch.

Table of Contents

1 THE ENERGY OF LOVE iv

2 THE HEALING CHRIST 10

3 THE REIKI STORY 16

4 PRAYER WITH YOUR HANDS 21

5 HEALING PARTNERS 31

6 CHRISTIAN REIKI? 33

WORDS TO LIVE BY 39

CHAPTER ONE

THE ENERGY OF LOVE

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16, NKJV)

Everyone needs a blessing. Everyone needs to experience the power of healing touch. Everyone needs to be touched in ways that are safe, welcome, and nurturing. From the very beginning of our lives, we need loving touch to energize our cells as well as our souls. In fact, as studies of infants’ well-being indicate, from our very first breaths our lives depend on nurturing touch. Touch can comfort, welcome, energize, and transform. Parents and grandparents bless a bruised knee and comfort a frightened child with a hug. A hug can let us know that we’re not alone and everything will be alright. When we touch each other in love, this welcome and safe touch can heal our bodies, minds, and spirits. Regardless of our belief or doubt, our loving touch embodies God’s energy of love.

That’s the heart of gospel healing, the word made flesh to transform bodies, minds, and spirits.

Healing touch is at the heart of Christian faith. Jesus knew first-hand the power of touch to heal. As the incarnation of God’s creative Word, or Logos, the ever-present divine wisdom that created the universe and sustains each moment of existence, Jesus lovingly touched little children and the loving and affirmative energy of Jesus’ touch shaped the rest of their lives. Jesus laid hands on the sick and their lives were forever changed. Regardless of their prior health condition or social situation, they were now at home in God’s realm of wholeness and peace. Jesus commissioned his first followers to teach, preach, and heal, and to make God’s love known in changed souls and changed cells.

Jesus knew that healing touch, given by limited and fallible humans, can also bring energy and wholeness that can transform our lives. Today, Christians are rediscovering the healing ministry of Jesus through prayer circles and liturgical services of laying on of hands and anointing with oil. In so doing, they are embodying Jesus’ mission statement, I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). They are incarnating in our own time the spirit of Jesus’ first sermon:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18-19)

Over the past two thousand years, Christians have embraced and, in many ways, created modern Western medicine. At their best, Christians have encouraged the integration of technology with healing touch and pharmaceuticals with prayer. Along with the best technological medicine, they have sought to embody the