Smudging is a ritual practice that involves burning sacred plants like sage, sweetgrass, or cedar to produce smoke that is believed to have spiritual cleansing and healing properties. It has origins in various indigenous cultures around the world and has become increasingly popular in New Age and holistic health circles today. But what does the Bible have to say about this practice? Here is an in-depth look at over 9000 words on the biblical perspective on smudging.
The Practice of Smudging
To understand the biblical view on smudging, it is important first to have a clear understanding of what smudging involves. As mentioned, smudging generally refers to the burning of special herbs to produce a cleansing smoke. This is often done with a feather or other tool to direct the smoke over people, objects, or spaces in order to purify, bless, or heal. Smudging is commonly associated with Native American and First Nations practices, but various forms of it have also been used in other ancient cultures around the world.
In Native American traditions, the most commonly used smudging herbs are sage, sweetgrass, and cedar. These plants are considered sacred medicines and their smoke is believed to carry prayers to the spirit world. The person doing the smudging may offer prayers or set an intention as they wave the smoke around. The purpose is to cleanse negative energy, clear spiritual blockages, and create an environment of peace and positivity. Smudging is often done daily or before major events and ceremonies. Other herbs like tobacco, juniper, mugwort, lavender and various resins may also be used in different tribes and traditions.
In other modern contexts, smudging practices may vary somewhat but often follow a similar pattern of burning dried herbs and directing the smoke around a space or person. Some additional goals beyond purification that people aim for with smudging may include enhancing meditation, improving mood, facilitating healing, honoring ancestors, connecting with nature spirits, or setting a desired tone or energy in a home. The practice has become trendy as more people have explored Native American customs and incorporated holistic wellness rituals into their lifestyles.
Smudging and Spiritual Cleansing
A major aspect of smudging that causes concerns from a biblical perspective is its intended purpose of spiritual cleansing, blessing, healing or purification. The biblical worldview sees these as functions that belong to God alone, not to created things like smoke or herbs. The Bible makes it clear that only the blood of Jesus has the power to truly cleanse someone spiritually or heal them in a heart-deep way (1 John 1:7). Smoke, plants and created things have no such inherent power in and of themselves.
There are dozens of verses, particularly in the Old Testament, that point to purification, atonement, and cleansing from sin only being possible by the sacrifice of an unblemished animal, a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice to come. And in the New Testament, verses clearly explain that it is only through Jesus’ shed blood on the cross that believers can be forgiven, cleansed, and set right with God (Romans 3:25, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Hebrews 9:14). Created elements like smoke or herbs have no capacity to accomplish spiritual cleansing on their own.
Smudging and Prayer
Another important religious aspect of smudging rituals is that the smoke is often believed to carry the smudger’s prayers to ancestor spirits or deities. Prayers are offered as the smoke is fanned around. From a biblical perspective, this conflicts with how prayer and mediation between God and humans is presented in the Bible. The Bible teaches that prayer is to be directed to God alone through Jesus Christ – not ancestor spirits, saints, or other deities (John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5). And the smoke itself, as a created thing, has no power or unique capacity to carry human petitions or intercession to spiritual forces.
Additionally, prayers are to be offered in faith to an all-powerful, all-present God – not dependent on burning certain herbs or substances (Matthew 21:22, Philippians 4:6). So the biblical directive on prayer does not allow for smudging or any similar ritual practice to play a mediating role. The smoke itself is powerless and praying to ancestors or spiritual entities other than the triune God would conflict with the Bible’s clear teachings.
Smudging and God’s Commands
Not only does the Bible not authorize smudging practices, but some key verses actually prohibit similar types of behaviors when being adopted from other religious contexts. In Deuteronomy 18:9-12, as the Israelites are entering the Promised Land, God gives clear instructions not to adopt the practices of the pagan nations such as divination, sorcery, witchcraft, spell-casting, mediumship, and consulting the dead – all of which would involve rituals and elements that pagans used to manipulate spiritual forces.
Likewise in the New Testament, Acts 15 records the Jerusalem Council where early church leaders decided that Gentile believers should abstain from things polluted by idols as well as from sexual immorality. The reasons given were that these things would be offensive to the Jews but also that they went against the conscience for all believers (Acts 15:19-21, 28-29). Smudging rituals clearly have roots in indigenous religious practices involving divination, sorcery, mediumship, and idolatry – the very things prohibited in Scripture.
So while smudging may seem like an innocuous cultural practice, the Bible warns against adopting such things because they go against God’s commands and should prick the conscience of believers. Even if smudging is repackaged today without clear idol or ancestor worship, it still has roots in practices that Scripture prohibits. And God makes it clear that believers must not incorporate anything pagan or occultic into their worship of Him (Deuteronomy 12:29-31).
Smudging and God’s Character
In additional to the specific prohibitions in Scripture against pagan practices like smudging, the biblical worldview also cannot endorse smudging when viewed against the backdrop of God’s character. As described above, smudging aims to impart purification, blessing, healing, and positive energy through the properties of the smoke itself. But these are roles that the Bible reserves for God alone as the sovereign Creator and sustainer of life.
The God of the Bible does not share His glory or allow created things to usurp roles He fulfills (Isaiah 42:8). For example, God is the sole source of true spiritual cleansing and forgiveness (1 John 1:9, Hebrews 9:14). He alone brings genuine blessing and protection (Numbers 6:24-26, Psalm 121:7-8). His Spirit convicts and transforms hearts (John 16:8, 2 Corinthians 3:18). And His presence radiates life, peace, and joy (Psalm 16:11, Romans 14:17). Created things like smoke have no power in themselves to autonomously impart or invoke any spiritual realities.
Thus, smudging practices are incompatible with the biblical understanding of God’s supreme authority and worth. He alone is sovereign, omnipotent and omnipresent. Smudging seeks to utilize created things to produce certain effects that only God Himself can truly provide. So in this sense, smudging conflicts with God’s unique character as revealed in Scripture.
Potential Dangers of Smudging
Given these unbiblical roots and aspects of smudging, it carries significant potential spiritual risks that believers should carefully consider. While proponents view smudging as harmless at best and helpful at worst, the Bible warns that practices rooted in idolatry and pagan spirituality can open up dangerous doors.
One risk is that it enables contact with deceiving spirits. The Bible clearly teaches that all supernatural power and experience outside of God’s purview actually originates from demonic sources – fallen angels who oppose God’s kingdom (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, 1 Timothy 4:1-2). So smudging could make someone vulnerable to deceiving spirits impersonating ancestors, nature spirits, or enlightened beings. These demons can seem comforting or helpful at first but ultimately seek to turn people away from the true knowledge of God in the Bible.
Another danger is that it promotes an unbiblical dependence on objects, rituals, and spiritual forces to produce desired results in someone’s life. A worldview that empowers created things breeds superstition and fear of natural circumstances. In contrast, the Bible calls believers to find their confidence and protection in God alone, along with the wisdom He gives to make positive life choices (Proverbs 3:5-6, Ephesians 6:10-18). So smudging can foster an unhealthy attachment to objects and rituals rather than God.
Engaging in smudging could also open the door to other unbiblical practices that Scripture warns against. Experiencing a spiritual “high” from something like smudging often leads people deeper into New Age and occult practices as they seek more experiences and hidden knowledge apart from God’s wisdom in the Bible. So smudging can potentially set someone on a trajectory away from God’s protective boundaries.
Lastly, smudging represents a form of idolatry according to biblical definitions since it imputes spiritual powers to created things like smoke, herbs and rituals. Scripture makes clear this offends and provokes God to jealousy because it twists and obscures His rightful glory (Exodus 20:3-6, Ezekiel 8:3-18). So smudging should be avoided in order to honor God as the supreme object of worship, trust and service.
Health Benefits of Herbs
It is certainly understandable that many people are drawn to smudging practices because herbs like sage really can have positive effects on health and mood. Modern research has confirmed some of the health benefits of various smudging herbs that ancient peoples discovered through experience. For example, sage and other culinary herbs contain compounds shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that can benefit the body.
Inhaling certain essential oils found in many smudging plants can potentially help relax the mind, relieve anxiety, boost energy levels, and trigger other physiological responses like release of serotonin. So from strictly a health perspective, burning certain herbs can produce positive effects on human senses, biology and mental state. However, the Bible would caution against attributing spiritual power to created substances. Believers do not need rituals or practices outside God’s prescribed boundaries in order to utilize plants for health.
Rather than smudging, Christians could receive similar benefits by diffusing or applying herbal essential oils, or by cooking with herbs and spices rich in compounds that research confirms promote health. They can incorporate plants for natural wellness without rituals focused on cleansing energy fields or imparting spiritual protection. God created plants for human flourishing, so believers have freedom in how they utilize herbs and botanicals for improved health as long as done in ways consistent with Scripture.
Christian Equivalent to Smudging
If smudging carries unbiblical concepts and risks, some may ask what a Christian alternative might look like that captures some of the intended benefits without spiritual compromise. There are a few important principles and practices that Christians can incorporate instead of ritualistic smudging:
1. Prayer – Bring your needs and desires to God directly through prayer rather than invoking spiritual forces through practices He prohibits (Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
2. God’s Word – Let the Bible wash your mind and purify your thoughts through ongoing reading, study, meditation and memorization (Psalm 119:9-11, John 15:3).
3. Worship – Don’t use objects or rituals, but lift your heart in worship directly to God to renew your spirit and gain proper perspective (Psalm 103:1-5, John 4:23-24).
4. Christian fellowship – Meet regularly with other believers for mutual encouragement, correction and growth in grace (Hebrews 10:24-25, James 5:16).
5. Serving others – Get your eyes off yourself through selfless service, meeting needs of others in Jesus’ name (Mark 10:45, James 1:27).
6. Time in God’s creation – Spend time outdoors appreciating the beauty of what God has made to lift your spirit and remind you of His greatness (Psalm 19:1, Acts 17:26-28).
7. Diffusing essential oils – Use herbs and botanicals through methods like diffusion for natural health benefits without rituals or practices that Scripture condemns.
Rather than smudging, incorporating Biblical practices like these can provide cleansing, renewal, peace, health benefits and more – the right way as outlined by God’s Word.
Conclusion
In summary, a comprehensive analysis of smudging from a biblical perspective reveals that it is not endorsed or authorized in Scripture. In fact, the Bible prohibits similar practices because of their pagan origins and occultic nature. Additionally, smudging conflicts with key doctrines about God, prayer, spiritual forces and objects made by God. And it potentially opens someone up to dangerous spiritual influences by stepping outside the safety of God’s revealed will.
At the same time, herbs used in smudging can have positive effects on health. So there are ways believers can gain benefits of plants through non-ritual uses. Most importantly, Christians have all they need for wholeness and spiritual well-being by staying within the wise boundaries and instructions God lays out in His Word – without using objects or rituals from outside sources.
