Should a Christian ever get involved with hypnosis?

But above all beware. Whenever any one asks you to give up your mind or will to another — were it but for a moment — there is the evident hand of the devil in it. This is no question of physical powers, or of what is naturally inexplicable. What is behind giving up yourself, your will, to any one but God, is plain enough in its character and consequences; it is too easy to understand it. The divine axiom is that the Lord and He alone has a right to you. Consequently such a demand proves that Satan is taking advantage, it may be of what is natural, but certainly of you. Hence under cover of occult laws, there is something deeper than what is natural behind the call. Do not therefore be deceived by the fact that there may be and are properties beyond our ken in the realm of nature. There is also the working of the enemy, which under new forms reveals the same principle of evil which has wrought since the flood. It has changed its name, but it is substantially the identical evil against which Jehovah was here warning His earthly people. Now we, if drawn aside, are far more guilty than they, from the very fact that God has spread out His word with incomparably greater fulness, and given us by the Holy Ghost since redemption the power of entering into His mind and will, far exceeding anything on which even a high priest could draw in times of old. Here no doubt a divine oracle was looked to, and an answer received in peculiar cases; but there is no possible case of difficulty, there is no point whatever that concerns God or man, for which there is not an answer in the written word, although we may have to wait on Him for profiting by it.

HUMAN influence is seen in natural power that men possess. There is the power of eloquence, logical powers of mind that can bring conviction, emotional powers that can sway men. There are powers of human influence in the parent, with the school-master, in every walk of life. There are powers resident in men that are best latent, such as hypnotism, mesmerism, auto-suggestion, thought-reading, which are more or less dangerous when called into active use. The reason why there are any natural powers in man that are dangerous to use lies in the fact that man is fallen, and if a man is not under the influence of the Spirit of God, he is open to come under sinister influence without being aware of it.

HUMAN influence is seen in natural power that men possess. There is the power of eloquence, logical powers of mind that can bring conviction, emotional powers that can sway men. There are powers of human influence in the parent, with the school-master, in every walk of life. There are powers resident in men that are best latent, such as hypnotism, mesmerism, auto-suggestion, thought-reading, which are more or less dangerous when called into active use. The reason why there are any natural powers in man that are dangerous to use lies in the fact that man is fallen, and if a man is not under the influence of the Spirit of God, he is open to come under sinister influence without being aware of it.

In these lands it is necessary for Satan to act less grossly and to adopt specious disguises. So we have séances, planchettes, palmistry, hypnotism, mesmerism, astrology, horoscope reading, etc., etc. Some palmists simply trick the public; but I am convinced they often serve as “decoy ducks” for Spiritualism. They thrive in big cities and at seaside places and pleasure resorts; where they trap the unwary, and relieve the foolish of their money. In hypnotism, mesmerism, etc., it is necessary to yield yourself to the hypnotizer or mesmerizer, as resistance renders you proof against their powers. Does this not remind the reader of “Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you”?

Do you think that if I go to the mother of God and worship her, it is not of Satan? I do not believe that mesmerism is all imposture. Nor do I limit spiritual fornication to Popery, the religious world is in it in measure.

It is not hereby asserted that all whose organs of speech are surrendered by their own wills to an influence apart from themselves are under the influence of evil spirits, as in the case of those known as “spiritists,” though they are liable to be possessed at any time. But any who have a knowledge of hypnosis or psycho-therapeutics are aware that it is possible for persons to exercise a power of thorough compulsion over others when the patients submit. In that condition, where the control is human and not demonic, things are said and done of which the subject is quite unconscious. We say no more on this topic, and only allude to it because of the shameful irregularities which have been attributed to the Holy Spirit by the deluded votaries of the cult of Tongues.

Now, it may be that, on reading the foregoing quotation, the reader feels disposed to ask what possible application it can have to professing Christians? We ask, in reply, Are there any Christians who are in the habit of going to the performances of wizards, magicians and necromancers? Are there any who take part in table-turning, spirit-rapping, mesmerism, or clairvoyance? If so, the passage which we have just quoted bears, very pointedly and solemnly, upon all such. We most surely believe that all these things which we have named are of the devil. This may sound harsh and severe; but we cannot help that. We are thoroughly persuaded that when people lend themselves to the awful business of bringing up, in any way, the spirits of the departed, they are simply putting themselves into the hands of the devil to be deceived and deluded by his lies. What, we may ask, do those who hold in their hands a perfect revelation from God, want of table-turning and spirit-rapping? Surely nothing. And, if not content with that precious word, they turn to the spirits of departed friends or others, what can they expect but that God will judicially give them over to be blinded and deceived by wicked spirits who come up and personate the departed, and tell all manner of lies?

Christians are exhorted to “let themselves go,” “not to resist the Spirit,” “to let their minds become a blank.” This is dangerous advice indeed, laying open the bodies of those who follow it to demoniac influence. Similar advice is given in Spiritist circles.

Christians are exhorted to “let themselves go,” “not to resist the Spirit,” “to let their minds become a blank.” This is dangerous advice indeed, laying open the bodies of those who follow it to demoniac influence. Similar advice is given in Spiritist circles.

One experienced Christian worker, who attended Pastor Stephen Jeffreys' meetings in the Colston Hall, Bristol, told the writer that he was convinced that the power was hypnotism. Another eye-witness said that the Pastor would take the head of the sufferer in his hands, jerk the head this way and that for a moment or two, and then the person would fall stiffly to the floor, more or less unconscious. The testimony printed by themselves as to Principal George Jeffreys' methods points the same way.

Does not this testimony point to hypnotism? The Scriptures instruct the elders to anoint sufferer with oil, and pray, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and he shall be raised up. Nowhere in any description of healing is there manipulation of the back of the head by the healer. It is a well-known fact that manipulating the back of the head is one of the ways that hypnotists practise to bring about the cataleptic state.

When Peter cured the lame man sitting in the Gate Beautiful of the Temple by the power of the name of Jesus Christ, we read that he took him by the hand and lifted him up, and that the cripple immediately leaped up and walked, praising God. There was no handling the back of the head, and falling to the ground in an unconscious state.