The interconnected nature of the modern world often leaves followers of Jesus Christ faced with strange questions, like: What does the Bible say about burning sage? In order to understand this question’s roots and draw a wise conclusion, we need to look at the origins of using a smudge stick and read Bible verses on the topic.
Deuteronomy 18:9-11
“Do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.”
The ancient practices of sage
The world we live in today has many different cultures standing right next to each other. Such a plethora of beliefs, traditions, and customs can be beautiful because there is a unique expression of God in every people-group on earth. But it can also be confusing for a Christian who stands in the middle of all of these differing opinions to know what is the truth. Let’s discover
Using herbs to treat illness: Is it Biblical or not?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, sage is a “European perennial mint (Salvia officinalis) with grayish-green aromatic leaves used especially in flavoring meats”. In the same way that chamomile flowers are used in bedtime tea, sage leaves are used to treat heartburn, stomach issues, and a loss of appetite.
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There is evidence of this that goes as far back as the ancient Egyptians and ancient Rome. With modern medicine, we can be forgetful about the fact that people have always used herbs for healing – in many cases, that’s what goes into the bottle of pills or cough syrup you buy from the pharmacy to treat your ailments.
Some research on sage has suggested that sage has antimicrobial properties so it helps with respiratory problems. There are also compounds in sage that activate receptors in the brain that elevate mood and reduce stress. It is fascinating that sage has been used to help with memory problems too.
The Bible explains God as the Creator of life on earth. Psalm 24:1 says “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it“. That includes plants and herbs that are good for our bodies. There are many examples of this in the Bible, like when Isaiah told Hekeziah: “Crush figs together and put them on your sore. Then you will get well.” (Is. 38:21) Therefore, we can say that using herbs to treat illness is Biblical.
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History claims that Native Americans were the first to use white sage for rituals to rid unwanted energies that were hanging around a person or place and replace them with good energies (blessings, protection, prosperity). Some ancient cultures believe that plants have a soul and a spirit, so they can be a gateway for us into the spiritual realm. The aim of burning herbs in this way -called smudging- is purification.
How the 4 natural elements are present in smudging:
The sage (or other herb) leaves represent the earth.
Native cultures place sage inside an abalone shell. The shell represents water.
When they light the sage, it represents fire.
The smoke it makes represents air.
Sometimes smudging is done by hand. A person will hold a bundle of sage that is tied with string (AKA a smudge stick) and light the end to release a slow, thick smoke. The smudge stick might be waved around, held over a person or object that needs cleansing, or held out as somebody walks around a space that needs to be purified.
While air purification and getting rid of bad smells are not sinful, there seems to be more to this practice. This spiritual significance of burning herbs as used in smudging does not blend with Biblical beliefs, as we will explore below.
What does the Bible say about getting rid of negative energy?
According to the Bible, the spiritual realm is real (Eph 6:12). So, what the ancient indigenous cultures might have called ‘negative energy’ or what new age people call ‘bad vibes’, is not necessarily absent from the Bible. However, different wording is used. The Bible is clear that there is a good and a bad army that fights for people’s souls. Bad things will sometimes seem good to confuse God’s children (2 Cor. 11:14).
The main difference between the Bible and other cultures is not the presence of evil spirits, but how they can be removed. According to the Bible, Christ Jesus came to defeat the bad army (1 Jn. 3:8) and inaugurate the Kingdom of God (Mk. 1:15). When Jesus was on earth, He told demons to leave people’s bodies (Mat. 8:16) and He gave His followers the authority to do the same (Luk. 9:1). Jesus is the only way (Joh. 14:6).
Protection against evil comes from God (2 Thes. 3:3). All you need to do is pray and ask God to make the darkness flee (Mat. 7:7)(Joh. 8:12). His Holy Spirit that dwells inside you is not a spirit of fear (2 Tim 1:7), so you do not have to be afraid of bad energy or evil spirits. For all power belongs to God (1 Pet. 5:11). With the help of the Holy Spirit, you can test and discern whether something is right or wrong (Rom. 12:2).
The Bible does not explicitly mention burning sage. It does, however, talk about burning other herbs and creating scented aromas as an offering to God.
In the Book of Exodus, we read how God gave Moses specific instructions about the use of incense in the Temple.
Exodus 30:7-8
“Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come.”
Also, read Leviticus 16:12 for a more detailed explanation of how Aaron was to use incense in the Temple. See how beautifully the Psalmist wrote about this burning of incense at twilight:
Psalm 141:1-2
“I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”
God also told Moses to use other spices to create incense in the tent of meeting.
Exodus 30:34-36
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.”
The people of God in ancient times struggled with influences from other cultures too.
Look at the message that God sent to His people through the prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 18:15
“My people have forgotten me; they burn incense to worthless idols, which made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths. They made them walk in byways, on roads not built up.”
Now you might be wondering: Are herbs and incense only mentioned in the Old Testament? The answer is: No. Remember the wise men who visited Jesus’ parents right after His birth?
Matthew 2:11
“They opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
A beautiful image is found in the last book of the Bible when an angel takes humanity’s prayers to God’s throne.
Revelation 8:3
“He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.”
There are not any real examples of burning sage in the Bible, but other aromatic herbs and incense are mentioned.
If you are burning sage for the health benefits or the aroma, the Bible does not say anything against such practices. Some Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox churches still use incense during services.
So, yes, burning sage is permissible according to the Bible. It’s OK. You are not committing a sin by simply burning some herbs…
But, your intention matters. If the burning of herbs is done with any beliefs relating to a spiritual ritual, it has become a stumbling block.
‘“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.’ – 1 Cor 10:23
This verse from 1st Corinthians explains it well. If burning incense, using smudge sticks, or anything else distracts you from living wholeheartedly for God, get rid of it. Psalm 24:3-4 reminds us why it matters to give God our all.
“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.“
Eljoh Hartzer is combining theology and art to nurture faith journeys across generations. She is a Masters-level Practical Theologian with the University of Stellenbosch. She is also a writer and editor in the niche of Christianity and children's content and she illustrates children's books. Eljoh resides in the Swartland area in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
You can follow Eljoh on LinkedIn or Instagram.
