WHAT ABOUT WIND CHIMES?

What about wind chimes? This is a question that we are asked time and time again. Mention has been made on audio recordings but we have not written on the topic in Voices before. We have capsulated enough material in this article to help you research more if you find the need to.

What are wind chimes? A wind chime is a hanging configuration of metal or glass pieces combined with pieces of other material, such as wood, that chime when pushed by the wind.

What is the history of wind chimes? We traced the history of wind chimes back to China where highly skilled metal workers created the forefather of the wind chime, clapperless bells called yongzhong, which were used as an accompaniment for religious ceremonies. They were often elaborately decorated, cast, or carved and hung from the eaves of sacred structures. Buddhists especially made use of wind chimes and wind bells, attaching them profusely by the hundreds or even thousands to the eaves of temples, shrines, and pagodas, causing during breezy moments an almost overwhelming auspicious sensation of sound. They believed their use would attract spirits (demons) - obviously not the Holy Spirit! Wind chimes are believed to have been introduced into the western world through the teachings of Feng Shui.

Feng Shui is the Chinese art or practice of positioning objects, especially graves, buildings, and furniture, based on a belief in patterns of yin and yang and the flow of chi that have positive and negative effects. The movement of energy in Feng Shui is known as Chi.

Bo Fisher in his booklet, "Exposing the Invasion of the New Age in the Church", defines Feng Shui (pronounced "fung schway") as a way of arranging environmental surroundings in such a way as to attract or increase the flow of chi to a place or building. It is deeply superstitious and is filled with such injunctions as to keep the toilet lid closed so that the chi doesn't run down the drain. Feng shui also incorporates other superstitious factors such as horoscope, lucky numbers, placement, orientation, or shape of buildings and landscaping, etc., all in an effort to attract chi. It is based on the ancient Taoist religious volume entitled The I-Ching. Feng Shui enjoyed immense popularity around 2000-2002, and one could log on to the home pages of AOL.com or MSN.com to find out how to arrange your home furnishings using the principles of feng shui, but its popularity has seemed to wane lately. Perhaps people discovered the complex superstitions they would have to take into account. It is unclear exactly how Christians responded to this Oriental fad, and one can only hope that they were able to discern its occult roots. ("Exposing the Invasion of the New Age in the Church" booklet is available from Lake Hamilton Bible Camp for donation of $2.00 plus $1.50 postage)

The Importance of Wind Chimes in Feng Shui - Wind chimes are believed to have healing powers and to enhance the mind, spirit and body of the whole person. Tubular wind chimes, in particular, are said to enhance the Chi of a home. The number of tubes and the material of the wind chime are very important to Feng Shui beliefs. Steel and brass tubes represent the metal element and are best suited for placement in north, northwest or west corners. The number of tubes on the chime will change the purpose. Six or eight tubes will give you luck but if you wish to avoid bad luck you should use a chime with only five tubes. Bamboo and coconut wind chimes represent the wood element and should be placed in the southern corner to bring fame and the east or southeast to create luck. If you place metal chimes in the south corner (wood element) you are asking for trouble because metal destroys wood. The preferred number of bamboo rods is three or four.

Today, wind chimes are advertised as an excellent way to enhance positive Chi in your life. Their incredible resonance, sustain and vibrations are promoted to calm the mind, release stress, promote relaxation, reduce anger and tension. Their musical tones are described to enhance a sense of well-being, expand awareness and open your mind. They are advertised to help bring balance and harmony to gardens and homes.

What does all of this mean to the Believer? The Scripture tells us that God is our peace. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. In Him we live, and move, and have our being. You say, "I do not have wind chimes to enhance the "Chi" of my home, so this doesn't apply to me." Well, demons are real, whether you believe it or not! Objects can both attract and carry evil spirits. The Bible says we are not to bring abominable or accursed things into our homes, lest we become like it. Jos 6:18 "And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it." Why did the children of Israel not enter into the Promised Land? It was due to their unbelief. (Heb 3:19) God's Word is what we are to believe in. In closing, we are reminded of the Scripture in Mt 7:24-27 "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." Try replacing your wind chimes and their sounds with a CD or cassette of the Word of God!

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