“No matter how you try to slice it, and trust me I used to try, you can’t separate Hinduism from yoga and you can’t separate yoga from Hinduism.”
First, if you don’t know you need to know how we landed here. On Sunday I used the story of Simon the Magician (Acts 8:9-24) to lead into modern day mysticism and new age practices that are seeping into the church. That led into a brief notation about Yoga. And after church service, this is the topic that stirred the most feedback and questions. So I’m going to share some nuggets today.
Before I do I need to share my heart. I’ve retired from the business of trying to fix, change, or even convince people. The Lord will do that. (I almost don’t even want to share this article cuz it takes a lot of time and energy and I’m not sure I’m interested in having a lot of convos about it). 🤷🏻♂️
I am called to shepherd and disciple followers of Christ who want to Glorify God in all that they do. Part of that process is to pull others along in knowledge and understanding as we strive to walk in holiness together. This is what we call sanctification—to walk this life in the Spirit and not the flesh. It takes humility, self-denial and self-sacrifice.
Therefore, it’s important to know the difference between legalism and spiritual maturity. Legalism is works-based salvation. In other words, claiming that one must do something or else they aren’t going to heaven; or if they don’t do something then they aren’t either. For example, that would be like me saying if you do yoga you aren’t a Christian. Well, some people just don’t know. Once they do know…greater is the responsibility to walk away. As we mature in our faith, separation from worldly desires will continue to happen. “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16
So my challenge to my Christian brothers and sisters is to walk away from things that don’t honor the Lord. Whatever we do in life, we should want to say, do, participate, practice, and engage in things that glorify Him. Colossians 3:17
It’s clear from scripture that we are not supposed to have any other idols besides Him (Exodus 20:3). We aren’t supposed to intentionally participate in activities that point to false Gods (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). And we must be aware of the enemy’s sly tactics (1 Peter 5:8). You might say, “it’s not that big of a deal tho?” To which I’ll say, “that’s exactly what satan wants you to say.” He will give you bread crumbs and then lead you down the wrong path with more, and more, and more to eventually where you’ll be skipping church on Sundays to go to a yoga class because you think it’s a way to pray and worship! (By the way some churches do offer yoga classes, even for kids!) How many of you know the devil candy coats his poison so that it tastes sweet!?
✔️ I know you may have never heard this before.
✔️ I know that some people think yoga is just a great way to stretch.
✔️ I know that many don’t know it’s not the only way or even the best way.
✔️ I used to offer yoga in my own gym.
✔️ Christian friends brought it to my attention.
✔️ Research and the Holy Spirit led me to truth.
✔️No, you’re probably not going to hell cuz you just went to a yoga class last night. I’m sure you are a well-meaning Christian who loves Jesus. You may be hearing this word today because it’s time for you to burn the books! (There’s a story in Acts 19 where Christians kept being convicted by the Truth, that they eventually brought all their magic books (new age practices) to the public square and burned them and walked into more NEWNESS).
✔️ Thats why I believe if you are truly born-again, you will humbly receive this message and heed this gentle warning.
✅ Today, I’ll give you some nuggets about the meaning of Yoga straight from their philosophy and religious underpinnings.
✅ I’ll also share some video links. (There are so many testimonies).
✅ You pray and ask God what to do.
I am nobody and I know nothing!
Thanks be to Jesus,
Pastor Coach Theo 2:3 Ministries Church & FMU Witness
Keep Reading Below These Links
Yoga Articles
https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-yoga.html
Videos
Video: Yoga and Christianity: Why I stopped teaching yoga
Video: Dangers of the New Age
Video: From New Age to Jesus
As trainers, we promote breathing and athletic stretching. 12 years ago when I asked a yoga teacher one time to do this at our gym, she herself said, that’s not what yoga is about! It’s a way of life, she said. Pulling from the above article, Yoga is about tapping into oneness, consciousness, self-renunciation, affirmations, manifestations, and mantras. “Through this ultimate union of the self with the Divine, we experience lasting bliss, or bhoga, and liberation from suffering. These inner and outer practices all move toward a scientific method of meditation that enables us to perceive our unity with the ever present, ever conscious, blissful Spirit.” The teachings of yoga come from the most ancient Hindu scriptures. The progression is to push people to the path of wisdom, and it emphasizes discriminating intelligence to achieve spiritual liberation.
Think about it:
We are NOT supposed to dig deep to find ourself, we are supposed to escape reality, seek solitude, to discover union with the one true God. (1 Cor 6:17) Jesus didn’t often escape to secluded places for self-realization and inner bliss. He spent time alone with the Father. Luke 6:12-13
I’m all about changing the mind and digging up what’s lying deep in the subconscious, but we don’t do it by erasing our thoughts. We use scripture to “renew our minds” and work through the muddle and cobwebs with prayer and supplication. (Philippians 4:4-10)
The true meaning of yoga is union or yoked with. With who? Brahman, the “Absolute God of Hindus.” According to Hinduwebsite.com, Brahman is “a very mysterious Being. In Hinduism He occupies the highest place, as the creator and enjoyer of all creation. Ladies and gents, the only God we want to be yoked with is Yahweh. Jesus says “take my yoke upon you.” Matthew 11:29
Many of the mantras commonly used in yoga today are believed to have been composed by the sages, saints and practitioners of early Hinduism and Buddhism, though mantras are also found across other religious traditions such as Sikhism and Jainism.
Look up what their main vibration “om” means. “Om is both a sound and a symbol rich in religious meaning and depth. It is said to be the sound of the creation of the universe. It represents both the highest level of divinity and the path to enlightenment. Om is often used as a yogic chant to calm the mind, create a peaceful setting or achieve a higher level of consciousness.” God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen 1:1) “For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.” Psalm 96:4-5
Can you still do some of their stretches?
Well, first remember there are a lot of poses and stretches that are fundamental to general fitness in the first place. Doesn’t mean they are yoga stretches. For example, just because you hold a lunge position doesn’t mean you’re doing a yoga stretch. That’s a general fitness movement. There are many yoga stretches that are in the position of their gods, those you definitely want to avoid.
But in America, most people have no clue what yoga really means. Don’t you think we’re in the clear?
Again, I would argue, no. Hard truth according to the Apostle Paul, is that we are not to be children in our thinking. We are certainly to be children when it comes to our complete dependence upon God for salvation (Matt. 18:3), but Paul says when he became a man he put aside childish thinking (1 Cor. 13:11). In fact, in 1 Cor. 14:20 he says, to be “adult in your thinking.”
We are commanded to test the spirits (1 These. 5:21; 1 John 4:1). Lest we forget, “For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:14-15).
And Paul also says in 1 Tim. 4:16, “Pay close attention to your life and your teaching [i.e. doctrine]; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.” In other words, if a teaching/doctrine does not line up with the teaching of the Bible then it must be abandoned.
Those are my two cents for what they’re worth. Never listen to me. Take it up with our Father!
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