What does the Bible say about burning sage?
The Bible offers detailed insight into the role of sacred burning practices in worship and consecration. These practices, often involving incense and sacrificial fire, were carefully prescribed by God for use within the covenantal worship system of ancient Israel. While the burning of incense was central to the priestly ministry in the tabernacle and temple, the Bible does not mention the specific practice of burning sage. However, understanding the biblical theology surrounding fire, incense, purification, and ritual symbolism allows for an informed perspective on whether practices like burning sage align with biblical worship or diverge from it.
Sacred Burning in the Bible’s Worship System
In the Mosaic covenant, sacred burning was embedded in the rituals of the tabernacle and later the temple. For example, in Exodus 30:7–8, Aaron the high priest was commanded to burn incense on the altar every morning and evening as a continual offering before the Lord. This act was not incidental; it symbolized the prayers of Israel ascending to God, as confirmed in Psalm 141:2: “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Revelation 8:4 reiterates this imagery, where the prayers of the saints rise like incense before the throne of God.
The burning of incense had a practical function as well. In Leviticus 16:12–13, during the Day of Atonement, incense was used to create a cloud of smoke within the Holy of Holies, shielding the high priest from direct exposure to the divine presence resting above the Ark of the Covenant. The Bible teaches that God’s holiness is overwhelming to human beings in their fallen state, and this ritual both protected and sanctified the worship experience.
Other forms of sacred burning included animal sacrifices and grain offerings, which were consumed by fire on the altar as a sign of dedication to God (Leviticus 1:9, 17). The burning of the red heifer, detailed in Numbers 19:1–10, produced ashes used for ceremonial purification, especially in cases of contact with death. These practices communicated that fire and burning, in their biblical context, were never merely symbolic or therapeutic. They were expressions of divine prescription, pointing to deeper theological realities—atonement, purification, and communion with the holy God.
Burning Sage: A Non-Biblical Practice
While incense burning is clearly outlined in biblical worship, burning sage as a spiritual or cleansing practice does not appear in any biblical text. Its absence from Scripture is not a mere oversight; rather, it reflects the specific way God revealed worship to His people. The Bible consistently emphasizes that worship and sacred ritual must be conducted according to God’s instructions. Innovations or additions to prescribed worship were often met with divine disapproval. Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, offered “unauthorized fire” before the Lord and were immediately consumed by divine judgment (Leviticus 10:1–2). The warning is clear: sacred fire and ritual, if detached from God’s command, become profane.
Today, the practice of burning sage is often associated with spiritual cleansing, warding off negative energy, or seeking peace. These ideas are rooted not in biblical theology, but in indigenous spiritualities and New Age philosophy. While they may use similar language—purity, cleansing, protection—the underlying worldview differs sharply from the Bible’s monotheistic and covenantal framework. In Scripture, spiritual protection comes from God alone, not from material objects or rituals lacking divine institution. Psalm 91, for example, attributes spiritual safety to dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, not to external practices or herbs.
The Gospel and the Sufficiency of Christ
One of the most important theological truths emphasized throughout the Bible is that all purification, spiritual authority, and protection are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The incense, offerings, and temple rituals of the Old Covenant pointed forward to Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11–14). The burning of incense was a shadow of the intercessory work Christ now performs as our great High Priest. In this light, burning sage appears not only unnecessary but potentially distracting from the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the believer’s behalf.
The gospel proclaims that cleansing from sin and protection from evil are found through faith in Jesus, not through ritual acts disconnected from Scripture. Ephesians 6:10–18 describes the armor of God, equipping the believer to stand against spiritual darkness. Every element—truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the Word of God—is grounded in spiritual union with Christ, not in human-devised rites or materials.
For believers today, the temple is no longer a building made with hands, but the gathered church and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, Ephesians 2:21–22). Worship is no longer tied to specific locations or burning rituals but is characterized by spirit and truth (John 4:23–24). The believer’s confidence rests in the risen Christ, whose blood cleanses and whose Spirit empowers.
Eschatological Fulfillment and Spiritual Purity
In light of biblical eschatology, practices like burning sage raise deeper theological questions. Revelation envisions the complete restoration of creation in Christ, where the final temple is not a structure but the presence of God Himself among His people (Revelation 21:22). In that day, the healing of the nations will be symbolized by the tree of life and the river flowing from the throne of God (Revelation 22:1–2), not by human-initiated rituals. This future vision reaffirms that all spiritual healing and peace come directly from God and His redemptive work.
When Christians engage in or borrow rituals from non-biblical traditions—particularly those involving spiritual cleansing or protection—they risk implying that Christ’s work is insufficient or incomplete. From a covenantal and kingdom-oriented perspective, the people of God are to live in anticipation of the full realization of God’s promises. They are to embody the truth that Christ’s death and resurrection are the definitive answer to sin, defilement, and fear.
Discernment and the Role of Conscience
While the Bible does not explicitly prohibit burning sage, it also does not endorse or include it in the worship life of God’s people. As such, discernment is needed. Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8–10 provide principles for handling matters not directly addressed in Scripture. Believers are called to act with a clear conscience, avoid causing others to stumble, and make choices that reflect trust in Christ rather than reliance on external rituals.
The question is not merely whether a practice is culturally meaningful or emotionally soothing, but whether it is consistent with the gospel. Can it be done in faith, with thanksgiving, and in submission to God’s revealed will? If not, then the wise and faithful response may be to abstain.
Conclusion: Returning to God’s Prescribed Worship
The Bible presents a consistent pattern: God defines how He is to be worshiped, how His people are to seek purity, and how spiritual warfare is to be engaged. In this framework, the practice of burning sage does not appear as a part of biblical faith and may lead believers to depend on practices foreign to the covenantal relationship God has established through Christ.
Incense in Scripture had a sacred and divinely appointed role. But it was never for personal experimentation, nor was it a tool for self-directed spiritual cleansing. That role now belongs to Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice cleanses the conscience and grants peace with God. The believer’s path to spiritual peace and purity is not through herbs or smoke but through faith, prayer, and obedience to the Word.
In an age where spiritual confusion is increasing and ancient practices are being revived without discernment, the church is called to uphold biblical clarity. Christians are to trust the sufficiency of Christ, the power of His Spirit, and the authority of His Word. Practices like burning sage, however culturally meaningful, must be tested by Scripture and held up to the light of the gospel.
Verses about sage:
Exodus 30:34-35, "The Lord said to Moses, 'Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.'"
Leviticus 10:1-2, "Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord."
Isaiah 1:13, "Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly."
Jeremiah 10:2, "Thus says the Lord: 'Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them.'"
Acts 19:19,"And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver."
