If you do a little research, I think you’d be surprised just how much influence paganism has had on Christianity. Nothing wrong with that, after all many of the early Christians were originally pagans.
If you check Acts out, there are several passages that mention if you heal in Jesus’ name, it’s a-ok. I’m para-phrasing of course. I can provide chapter and verse if you’d like.
In your martial artist example, obviously you are harming someone; a Reiki practitioner is doing quite the opposite. Apples and oranges my friend. Over the many centuries much has done in “God’s name”, I suppose it’s ultimately up to him, you used his name justly and who didn’t.
Acts 16:16-18 (New International Version)
16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.
17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
What exactly did this girl do wrong? She had spirit guides or demons that Paul casted out.
Acts 19:13-16 (New International Version)
13Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15(One day) the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
Here are well meaning Jewish people who did not know Jesus casting out demons in Jesus name. But, in the end the demons kicked their butts. Why did God allow the demons to kick their butts? Because the text is not saying “it is ok”.
Acts 8:9-24 (New International Version)
9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into[a] the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
Why was Simon’s desire to have the power of “laying of hands” wrong and evil? Because he desired to have the power of laying on of hands!!! In short, the passage is saying IT IS NOT OK.
Above when non-apostles tried to lay hands on people to cast out demons or to heal, things went bad for them. Below, laying of hands had two meanings, one the apostles healing someone or casting out a demon, and two the church ordaining someone for service like in Acts 13.
