Is the idea of chi compatible with the Christian faith?

Answer

Chi (also spelled ch’i or qi) can be defined as “the energy force that gives life to all things.” The concept of chi originates from Taoism, which suggests that there are spiritual and health advantages to cultivating and strengthening one’s inner chi. This is achieved through practices such as meditation, exercise, and other techniques. Traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and certain martial arts like Tai Chi aim to harmonize and improve one’s chi on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.

Simply put, the concept of chi is not congruent with the Christian faith. A fundamental belief of Christianity is that God created all things through Jesus (see Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1-4). It is God who grants life, and through Jesus, all things are sustained (see Psalm 147:9 and Colossians 1:16-17).

Some may argue that chi is simply another term for the “life” that God breathed into Adam “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”, (Genesis 2:7). However, we cannot integrate the term chi into the Christian faith because the underlying philosophy of chi (Taoism) is also inconsistent with Christianity. For instance, the Taoist perspective on “God” is that each individual has their own interpretation of what “god” is, and each interpretation is equally valid—neither right nor wrong. In Christianity, God is not defined by human perceptions. Instead, He reveals Himself to us (see Jeremiah 29:13-14). While God is infinite and beyond complete human comprehension, He has chosen to reveal Himself to us through the Scriptures.Human understanding. He has revealed certain things about Himself and is able to be known personally. In Christianity, Jesus Christ is the only way to a genuine relationship with God (see John 14:5-7).

The concept of chi cannot be separated from the spiritual realm. When one engages with the spiritual realm, he or she will either encounter God or the demonic. In the Old Testament, God forbade Israel to engage in certain occult practices. This was for their own protection; the prohibited practices would have put them in contact with demonic forces (see Deuteronomy 18:9-13).

Seemingly innocent practices, like trying to balance or strengthen one’s chi, may indeed produce some perceived benefits—or at least no “bad” effects—but if those practices are not in line with a biblical worldview, then they are to be avoided. Chi is a counterfeit of the kind of life offered by Christ (see John 10:10).