Burning Incense

[Fortran]

I was wondering if it is fine for a Christian to light candles, burn incense and fragrance oils just for the fragrance, not for the purpose of worship? The reason I ask is because I believe incense particularly has an association with non-Christian religious acts and ceremonies. Any advice?

 

[WisdomTree]

I was wondering if it is fine for a Christian to light candles, burn incense and fragrance oils just for the fragrance, not for the purpose of worship? The reason I ask is because I believe incense particularly has an association with non-Christian religious acts and ceremonies. Any advice?

Catholic, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches (among other ancient liturgical Churches) uses incense and fragrance as part of their worship. Sure, non-Christians use them also, but that doesn't mean they are the originator, since scripture speaks of incense also. In fact, the Catholic Church claim to have inherited most of its practices from the Judaic temple practices making it totally kosher.

 

[Krillin]

I don't see the issue in having candles in a worship service. We have them at mine. Used to, we took it more seriously in that we had acolytes walk down the aisles in a robe to light them as an organ played. These days someone just lights them with a butane lighter...lol

But no, candles are ok to use or not to use.

 

[Billy Bayou]

Personally, I see no problem with burning incense or candles.

Long as they don't become a part of your worship ceremony or a necessity to your worship based on some mixed up ritual.

Christ wanted simple displays of worship. We come as we are, we don't need buildings, props, statues, instruments, potions etc. Just us and our outward display of glory toward our God.

 

[Jonathan95]

We are His temples now, our incense are our prayers, so literal incense aren't worship to God. But if you want to use it for the fragrance, that's up to you. Personally I wouldn't, mainly because I find it unnecessary, especially considering the cost and also because I'm usually sensitive to fragrances.

 

[David Sylvian]

I was wondering if it is fine for a Christian to light candles, burn incense and fragrance oils just for the fragrance, not for the purpose of worship? The reason I ask is because I believe incense particularly has an association with non-Christian religious acts and ceremonies. Any advice?

Of course, why not.

If you have a conscience problem with it, do not do it. Do not do anything you do not have confidence in.


Edit, add: There is no reason you should have lack of confidence on this matter. That there is speaks of a much bigger problem.

 

[Knee V]

Nothing in creation is inherently evil. People might misuse something, but that doesn't make the thing "bad".

Pagans have almost always used incense. But God commanded the Israelites to use it as well. That same practice was continued by the early christians, and is still used by many christians today. It's essentially no different from having a certain lighting or having certain background music, at least in terms of helping us to prepare our hearts. It also reminds us of our prayers going up to God, and the scent reminds us of the fact that God delights in our prayers.

I know that it is easy to denigrade that kind of practice when one is not used to it. But for many christians it is a completely normal part of their worship and cycle of prayers.

 

[Knee V]

But if it's not your thing, it's not your thing. While we have incense for every service imaginable at my church, I almost never feel like taking the effort at home to light the charcoal and get the incense going. I just jump straight into the prayers.

 

[Dusky Mouse]

Sure. I burn candles and incense in my prayer room at home. And about the house for that matter.
I make bees wax candles for burning. I stay away from the typical paraffin candles because paraffin is a toxic petroleum byproduct and is not healthy to burn in candle form. Also, many wicks used in commercial enterprise can be made of lead, which is not good either.
Make your own, which isn't that hard, and you know what you're getting and when you do it in service to the Lord it means even more.
I use granulated incense that I get from Monastery Icons. Their pure Frankincense is amazing.

 

[Knee V]

Sure. I burn candles and incense in my prayer room at home. And about the house for that matter.
I make bees wax candles for burning. I stay away from the typical paraffin candles because paraffin is a toxic petroleum byproduct and is not healthy to burn in candle form. Also, many wicks used in commercial enterprise can be made of lead, which is not good either.
Make your own, which isn't that hard, and you know what you're getting and when you do it in service to the Lord it means even more.
I use granulated incense that I get from Monastery Icons. Their pure Frankincense is amazing.

We use beeswax as well. Good stuff.

 

[Dusky Mouse]

We use beeswax as well. Good stuff.

Indeed. And the candles last a very long time. Far longer than the paraffin variety. And they're much healthier to burn too.

 

[cerette]

It's wonderful that you seem to use caution with things you know can be/are part of the rituals of false religions. However, just because something is used in a bad way by some people, doesn't mean the same items can't be used in a non-bad way by Christians. If you like fragranced candles or incense, of course you can burn them.. There is nothing wrong with the candles themselves.

 

[Max Shade]

The reason I ask is because I believe incense particularly has an association with non-Christian religious acts and ceremonies.

Where did you get this belief?

Any advice?

Always check your sources for prejudice and misinformation. I suspect the source of your belief included significant quantities of both. Incense and such has been used by faithful Christians inside and outside of religious contexts for centuries.

 

[David Sylvian]

Nothing in creation is inherently evil. People might misuse something, but that doesn't make the thing "bad".

Pagans have almost always used incense. But God commanded the Israelites to use it as well. That same practice was continued by the early christians, and is still used by many christians today. It's essentially no different from having a certain lighting or having certain background music, at least in terms of helping us to prepare our hearts. It also reminds us of our prayers going up to God, and the scent reminds us of the fact that God delights in our prayers.

I know that it is easy to denigrade that kind of practice when one is not used to it. But for many christians it is a completely normal part of their worship and cycle of prayers.

I do not think incense burning is inherently evil, I think that would be an absurd belief. But, if a Christian believes it is evil because they see other religions doing it, they may themselves be weakened in their own faith because of their own perception. That can harm their walk in the faith.

I do believe it is important for them not to have such a weak conscience, however.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

I don't see anything wrong with the stuff. Mine isn't a candle. Its more of a liquid I pour into a small glass bowl and burn a candle underneath it so it heats up the incense and makes the room smell good. No spiritual significance to me. Just nose significance lol.

 

[Fortran]

Thanks for the replies, everyone, I appreciate it.

I do not think incense burning is inherently evil, I think that would be an absurd belief. But, if a Christian believes it is evil because they see other religions doing it, they may themselves be weakened in their own faith because of their own perception. That can harm their walk in the faith.

I do believe it is important for them not to have such a weak conscience, however.

I think you raise a great point. It is something I need to address and something I really need help with. Lately, I essentially look at everything under action, thought, word, deed, under a microscope. It is reeling starting to have negative effect on my emotional well-being and on my walk with God I believe. This is a topic I really need help on, but maybe if I give some background everyone can better understand.

Recently, I really started drawing nearer to God and making Him the focus of my life. During this process, I really was convicted of some things that I ought not have been doing. Certain televison shows I probably should not have been watching, being more careful about my words, etc. This I feel was good and healthy and strengthened my relationship with God. But now I feel as I am seeking wrong in everything, and honestly in most cases, finding something wrong with it. For instance I personally did not feel burning incense and the like was wrong, but then I put under a microsocope. So now, even though if somebody ask me if it was okay to burn incense I would apply in the affirmative, I keep have nagging thoughts - just what if?

I really think this is all started with a search on the internet - foolish of me I know. I simply searched something to the effect of whether TV was a sin. I did not feel it was as a whole, I think I felt certain shows were, and I just wanted to get others opinion on it. But then I stumbled on to at least one, if not more, sites that condemend TV in its entirety. Now, I personally feel there are shows on TV that are acceptable for Christians, and because of this - I began to wonder what else that I held to be fine may truly be a sin. From there I found people claiming video games, fictional books (in general, not specific ones), burning incenses, and other things were inappropriate for a Christian. The logical part of mind realizes that someone saying it on the internet does not make it true, but now there are very few things I can do without questiong, What if is wrong? What if I should be doing something else with my time? Now, I struggle to do even a pretty innocent hobby such as knitting sometimes, because I can't help but think that I should be praying or reading the Bible or something. Don't get me wrong - I dedicate time to God each day, I know we must put God above all else, but does that mean we should dedicate each moment, not spent on work or responsibiliteis, to reading the Bible, praying, or otherwise serving God directly?

Not only do I evaluate nearly every action or potential action under a microscope, but nearly every thought as well. I struggle with "bad" thoughts of pride, jeolousy, anger, and the like which I would rather not have. I attempt to reject them, but i feel in some ways just having them is a sin, but I do not know how to prevent them either. This has led to a bit of compulsive praying, I find myself frequently asking forgiveness for things I am not entirely certian are a sin, but would rather be safe than sorry, so to speak. Sometimes, I just have a feeling of guilt, I cannot recall any speific wrongs immediately (though I can usaully come up with some potential wrongs if I think on it), but I feel compelled to ask for forgiveness, anyway. As, one can see, my conscience is quite messed up, and dug myself into quite a deep hole. I really could use some help; how can I fix this?

 

[seashale76]

I was wondering if it is fine for a Christian to light candles, burn incense and fragrance oils just for the fragrance, not for the purpose of worship? The reason I ask is because I believe incense particularly has an association with non-Christian religious acts and ceremonies. Any advice?

I buy my candles and incense from a Christian monastery. Of course, we use candles and incense in my house as part of our worship, what with being Orthodox Christians, however, we also sometimes burn incense just because we like the smell (though we do tend to cense our icons anyway). I also burn candles just because I like them. Neither has to be part of worship- and it is very much a part of CHRISTIAN worship. So- any objections are simply being worried for no particular reason.