It always boggles my mind how Christian’s, and forgive me especially women, so easily bend the truth about the world to create their own worldview. The woman who wrote this article exposes some Importent truths about Yoga.
After reading this I hesitate to even use the word in my title!
“Let me begin with the name “Yoga” and protest that if the class is just a stretching and strengthening class, why is it called “Yoga?” Why not call it “stretch class” or something else? Why “Yoga?” I believe it is because we are forgetting how subtle the adversary can be when getting us to accept anything that has its roots in paganism, idolatry, mysticism, humanism, the occult, or anything else that should be unacceptable to true Christians. The following is quoted from an online article titled “The Meaning and Purpose of Yoga”:
[Y]oga . . . states that our “true nature” goes far beyond the limits of the human mind and personality—that instead, our human potential is infinite and transcends our individual minds and our sense of self. The very word “Yoga” makes reference to this. The root, “yuj” (meaning “unity” or “yoke”), indicates that the purpose of Yoga is to unite ourselves with our highest nature. . . .
The process of Yoga is an ascent into the purity of the absolute perfection that is the essential state of all human beings. This goal requires the removal of our enveloping personal impurities, the stilling of our lower feelings and thoughts, and the establishment of a state of inner balance and harmony. All the methods of Yoga are based on the perfection of our personalities and may help to create a new world order. (source)
So what about the postures or poses, asanas. I couldn’t help but recall what my friend had said: “To me the Wheel Pose is just a backbend; to me the Plank is just a pushup.” O.K. . . . so why not call them “backbend” and “pushup?” Why, when I overheard this friend talking to another about these poses, did they not call them backbends and pushups, but instead called them by their yogic designation? I think this is once again the work of the adversary; subtle acceptance. Named after animals or aspects of human life, Yoga poses are symbolic of taking on all of the forms of life and unifying them by giving them expression in our one body. Once again, the idea is that all is one. [LT Note: And we must not forget that the Yoga poses are designed specifically to receive the kundalini spirit (serpent power) and to “activate the psychic energy centers” (i.e., the chakras). source]
My concern is that my friends are fooling themselves when they say “To me . . . .” That expression is prevalent in today’s so¡ciety where moral relativity is the norm. The idea that what is true and moral to me might not be true and moral to you is exactly what secular humanists embrace and promote. The idea that truth and morality can be different things to different people is totally opposite to the teachings of Jesus: there is ONE truth, ONE way, ONE path.
I must conclude that participating in and promoting Yoga for health only contributes to the doctrine of tolerance that is infecting the church and that it takes us perilously close to apostatical behavior. Another problem I see in the case of my friends is that some of them are leaders in local churches and that they might prove to be stumbling blocks to people who are considering answering Christ’s call or to new Christians who are not yet well established in the Christian faith. Such people may see these church leaders practicing or talking about Yoga and conclude that New Age concepts and spiritual practices are compatible with the Christian walk. I pray that those who are taking these classes for health will find better ways to shape and tone their bodies. I pray this for their sakes as well as for preservation of the reputation of the church.”
Read the whole article here.
Rainbow Trout 