Crystals are a term that brings up more than a million results on Google, and it’s a topic that many people might have come to read about. Crystals are mnerals from the Earth. Diamonds are just another type of crystal, so are tiger’s eye and jasper.
But there is also a movement that claims crystals can have special or mystical ‘powers’. Some people believe that crystals can heal the sick, or aid conditions like arthritis in some way. The idea that crystals can have any kind of ability or power can sure bring a lot of questions for somone’s faith.
References to crystals in the Bible are almost everywhere, including in the books of Revelation and Deuteronomy. The Bible compares the sight of God[‘s glory to be as clear as crystal, and glowing like a rare jewel.
Other references in the Bible warn us against the use of amulets, idols and anything that does not directly connect our faith to God’s power. We know that crystals have measurable properties, such as the incredible hardness of diamonds; this isn’t a special power that crystals ‘project’, but something we know through observation.
The Bible tells us throughout that healing can only happen through God. The idea of ‘faith healing’ with the use of crystals is not something that the Bible endorses – and often, the beliefs associated with crystal healing can encompass other belief systems that the Bible does not mention.
Crystals (and their value) are well known and talked about in the Word. People traded and mined fine crystals just the same way we do today. Unfortunately, people had just as much potential to be consumed by greed as they do today – and the Bible tells us that it is impossible to serve both God and money at the same time.
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Does the Bible Talk About Crystals?
Yes, there are many mentions to crystals (and even to specific crystals like jasper) throughout the Bible.
One of the first references most people remember from the Bible is the priest’s breastplate, which is said to have contained several crystals. This might have been a sign of how people chose to dress back then – the priests had to stand out from the rest of their congregation, and crystals would have shown beautifully in the light!
Other mentions of crystals in the Bible occur in the books of Revelation and Job.
Revelation 21 compares the glory of God to a most rare jewel such as jasper, and says that it is clear as crystal. Just like everything the Lord created, crystals are a divine gift from God.
Crystals were used more than once in the book of Revelation (and throughout the Bible) to refer to things that glitter or shine brilliantly.
The book of Job, in chapter 28, tells us that gold and glass cannot equal the glory of the Lord – and it cannot be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. This reference is important, and again refers to the intense value of our faith in the Lord: while crystals can have Earthly, monetary value, God’s love lasts.
Does the Bible Compare Anything to Crystal?
The Bible makes even more references and comparisons to the brilliant shine of crystals in other parts of the Word. The books of Revelation and Ezekiel also references crystal, though does not mention any specific ones.
The first verse of Revelation 22 speaks about the water of life, which it says to be as bright as crystal. The Bible was translated and written so that it can be very descriptive, and paint a picture. In most parts of the world, everyone knows what it means when something can shine as ‘bright as crystal’.
One more reference to crystal appears in the first chapter of Ezekiel. Verse 22 refers to a vision, where once again it speaks of shining like an awe-inspiring crystal.
Again, this is something that the writers and translators of the Bible put to use so that everyone knows when they read it: bright as crystal.
awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.” Ezekiel 1:22
What Does the Bible Reference with Crystal?
Usually, the Bible uses the word ‘crystal’ as a visual way to describe how bright something might have shown. If not, the Bible mentions specific crystals such as jasper.
There are even more references to the brightness of crystal to be found throughout the book of Revelation. Here, it speaks of a sea of glass, which shone like crystal.
throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:” Revelation 4:6
The word crystal in the Bible is also sometimes used as a reference to value. People in Biblical times were very aware of the brightness and the value of crystal, and God’s glory is often compared to more than any crystal could possibly be worth.
One place in the Bible where the glory of God (and our faith) is compared to be worth more than jewels of fine gold. These jewels, as we know from artefacts we have found today, would have many times contain crystals (such as jasper) which would have increased their value – just like we find fine jewels today
The Bible also tells us that belief in amulets to have any supernatual power is not in line with our faith in the Lord. Crystals do not have any special powers, exccept for measurable physical properties like the way they reflect light (or how hard and soft they might be).
Any value that we might imagine crystals to have is attached to Earthly things like market demand, which certainly will have no impact when we are in Heaven!
Crystals and the Bible
While the Bible makes several important references to crystals, the Bible also cautions us against the belief in any amulets or idols that do not come from the Lord. In other parts, the Bible issues us with clear warnings about greed – and says that one cannot serve both the Lord and money as two masters.
The Bible is clear about the fact that crystals are beautiful and bright. Even in Biblical times, certain people had their wealth in assets – such as crystals or the stock markets of the time. Today, some of us faithful might also possess things that can be counted as material wealth. This is not called a sin, but gluttony and greed are clearly called wrong in the eyes of the Lord.
More specifically, crystals (no matter their value) cannot be a replacement for faith.
The Bible tells us that what we eat (and what we own) have little impact on how close our relationship is with God. Faith and prayer bring us closer to the Lord; kind words are good to the Lord, and charity pays the message forward. Greed and gluttony, in any material forms, are not what get us closer to God.
Are Crystal Amulets a Sin?
The Bible and several messages tell us enough about wealth, and what it means to share versus what it means to be greedy. Greed and gluttony are sins, and if you are not helping your fellows when you are able to, this is taking more than you need to sustain yourself.
It is okay to own a crystal because of its value, as long as it does not take you away from the Lord. But the Bible warns us against the sight of crystals as amulets, and tells us in many parts that amulets and idols will take us further away from the Lord.
The Bible tells us of many groups, foreign to the Bible’s people, that believed in amulets and idols at first. The Bible also goes on to tell us that their amulets were handed over or destroyed, once they came to accept the Lord.
Are Diamonds a Sin?
Wealth is not a sin in the Lord’s eyes, but the Bible tells us that greed is a very important sin to keep in our minds as we think and act. Greed is when you have the ability to help those in need, but choose not to so you can hoard more of it for yourself.
Do diamonds take away from your faith in the Lord?
This is something that most faithful people will have to answer for themselves.
