Should a Christian ever get involved with hypnosis/hypnotism?

Answer

Hypnosis poses challenges for a Christian due to several reasons:

1) The Bible teaches that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). By following the Spirit’s guidance, we receive the strength to manage ourselves better. Hypnosis involves relinquishing control from ourselves to another individual.

2) Christians are called to surrender their entire being—body, soul, and spirit—to God. Romans 6:12-13 provides the blueprint for conquering sin: “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” It’s a matter of control—either sin controls us, or God does. (See also Romans 6:16-23;1 Corinthians 6:9-12;and James 4:6-7:) The biblical principle does not leave room for hypnosis (submitting to another human).

3) Hypnosis induces an altered state of consciousness where the mind becomes highly receptive to external suggestions. This susceptibility is essential for the hypnotist to alter the subject’s behavior. However, the term “susceptible” should raise concern. The Bible instructs us to be vigilant, self-controlled, and alert. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” «Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: », (1 Peter 5:8). The hypnotist is not the only one seeking to alter our behavior; Satan also seeks to.

Do some editing, and we should be cautious about providing him any chance to present his suggestions.

4) Hypnotism is frequently promoted as a straightforward method of “redirecting” ourselves and discovering the solution within us. As followers of Christ, our focus should be on our Redeemer, not on ourselves or anything else “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”, (Hebrews 12:2). We understand that the solutions are not found within us “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”, (Romans 7:18); the answer we require is discovered in Christ “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”, (Romans 8:2).

5) Many of the methods employed in hypnosis are also found in mystical, philosophical, and religious systems, including the occult. The “father of hypnotism,” Franz Anton Mesmer—from whom we derive the term mesmerize—was himself involved in the occult. His technique for inducing a trance closely resembled how a medium conducts a séance. Hypnotism, along with yoga and Transcendental Meditation, has always been associated with spiritual darkness. The newfound acceptance of these practices has not altered their fundamental essence.