Essential Oils – 7 Reasons Why the Christian Church Let Go of Anointing for Healing

February 10th, 2021 by dayat Leave a reply »

When Jesus set about his healing ministry, he prayed, laid-on hands and apparently anointed those who were sick. The scriptures don’t really state that he personally anointed the sick, however he sent his disciples out to heal and anoint all those who were sick-and they were not using their cooking oils for this anointing. So if anointing with oils like frankincense, myrrh, balsam, cedarwood and spikenard was so important to Jesus’ healing ministry, why did they stop doing it?

For the first few decades every Christian could anoint with blessed oil for healing of body and soul. These oils would be blessed at their gatherings by the chief elder at the same time as the bread and wine were blessed. People would then take the oils home to use with their families that week. It is wise to remember that these oils were also considered medicines and were used for all kinds of diseases. So the first use of anointing in the Christian church for primarily for healing the sick. They even sent blessed phials of oils to friends and relatives for their healing who lived at a distance. Some of the early women healers set up the first hospitals for the sick where they used essential oils for healing and comfort. Only gradually did anointing become part of the rituals for baptism, confirming one in the faith, for forgiveness of sin, and to anoint the hands of those called to be deacons, deaconesses and later priests and bishops.

What are some of the reasons why the Christian Church lost sight of anointing for healing? Here are a few of the reasons:

1. Anointing eventually was given to the priesthood only (women were the principal healers by virtue of their ability to care for their families. However, they were excluded from this church function)

2. After a few centuries, essential oils were primarily used in a public way to anoint penitents for the forgiveness of sin (This required a donation to the church)

3. Anointing gradually was just for the seriously ill who were about to die (last rites)

4. Anointing became “symbolic” for the inner anointing of the Holy Spirit

5. To receive this final anointing, one had to make a hefty donation to the church

6. The oil used by the church was no longer a “healing oil” but a carrier oil like olive with some fragrance-usually balsam added to it. (Thus it really was symbolic in nature!)

7. Reformers threw anointing out as only “play-acting”

To learn more about this fascinating story of how the Christian Church moved so far from the teachings of Jesus, I invite you to investigate a program that aims to restore this form of healing in our Christian life. How can we learn today the ancient art of healing with aromatic essential oils? Educational courses that are Christian-based can help us reclaim our rightful role in healing and anointing.

Check this out for more information on learning to heal and anoint as the Early Christians did. http://www.HTSpiritualMinistry.com You can also look at our aromatherapy program that tells the story of anointing through history. http://www.ISHAaromatherapy.com

You can also read more about our fascinating history of healing in Christia

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