Pt. 3 Christian Yoga, a Long Stretch to God

 Colossians 2:1-4: Paul Writing to the Colossians and those in Laodicea, “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words” (Also Ephesians 5:6.)

As Christians we are to find all that we need in Jesus Christ. Yoga is indeed a spiritual/religious practice. One cannot play semantics with the word and redefine its religious practice from Hinduism and cross it over to Christianity. Yoga is decidedly incompatible with Christianity, even with a Christian flavor. Paul explains to the believers,  “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.”’

Romans 6:19: “now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness”

Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

To be a sacrifice to God is to be given over to Him fully. Not mixing our worship, our walk with other religious ways. Not to be conformed to this world-means to its influences, philosophies or religions.  We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. This is done by knowing and living out God’s word, not adding to His word other practices that claim to be non religious but are indeed are spiritual.

 If you think you can adopt other religious/spiritual practices and not have it affect you adversely, think again, God says it will. Our example is none other that what God spoke to Israel- Deut. 12:30-31: “take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.'“You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way.”

 Matthew 15:8-9: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

The last part of this verse is certainly applicable to incorporating yoga, something God did not command --this offering of worship has a defect and is unacceptable to God. Even if you think your heart is on worshipping him in the pose God knows where these poses originated from, He knows what these poses actually are.

If you change the outside of a Ford to make it look like a Ferrari it’s still a Ford. It’s the same principle in adopting Yoga. You can call it Christian but its still the same practice found in Hinduism and Buddhism.

The Muslims worship in a certain manner face down, facing Mecca- could we now adopt this practice, face Mecca and say we are worshipping God while we do this? If we take this concept to other religions then one can stand before an idol or burn incense as in Buddhism and claim they worship the true God doing this.

In Jesus’ discussion with the Samaritan woman about the water that gives life he said, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). This means we need the Holy Spirit and the word to worship God correctly. The Holy Spirit does not use other religious practices that are not written in or of the truth. It is wisdom that we do not seek alternative Christian practices found in other religions because the Bible exhorts us to have a PURE devotion to Christ. The examples we have in the Old and New Testament are too numerous to ignore.

 Lev. 10:11: “ that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses.” The same instruction is for us in the New Testament, 2 Peter 3:2: “that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior.” Jude repeats his exhortation (1:17-19) “But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.”

Since yoga is an ancient practice associated with and practiced in Hinduism and Buddhism, can we honestly walk with Jesus Christ and use it? What does light have to do with darkness? Did the Holy Spirit teach this, did He give this, did He command this; does He approve of this? Ask yourself- honestly, are you being led by the Holy Spirit? Would He lead you to another religions practice that He did not give?

The Bible says  “Those who hate reproof love ruin” Why? Because “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits” (Proverbs 16:2).

Eastern spiritual practices are to have no place in the church. This is really about 'inter-spirituality':  the assimilation of values and spiritual practices of other religions into the Church. Synthesizing all the beliefs. Which does two things; it introduces the church to other foreign and false spiritual beliefs and practices and removes one from a pure devotion to Jesus Christ. This is the influence of a progressive religious unity to bring together all faiths. One can trace this influence to those who are promoting interfaith and want this unity to take place. This is nothing to be naïve or indecisive about. For if you accept this you WILL eventually accept other practices as well. This then becomes the first step on the road to departing from the faith.

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