Ummmmmm.......you can bend and stretch and pray to Jesus instead?
What about Zumba?
No.
That's where all the hot chicks were.
And nothing established your 'bona fides' as a sensitive, new age male like going to yoga class.
I thought the instructor was pretty hot too. She was maybe 50+ years old and named Lillian.
She'd be in her 90's now.
Does acupuncture work on Christians? Can a Christian get relief from pain that way, or only through prayer?
Some Christians even reject scientific medicine, which far too often results in agonizing death for their children. Some Christians reject the study of Oriental martial arts for self defense, as well, for fear that it is somehow “tainted”, by some variants once having a religious association.
You see the problem, here.
As people, we live in the world. And most of the people in the world have different ways of doing things than we do. This does not mean that they are wrong.
Christians can eat Kosher hot dogs. It is not contaminated with Jewishness, or is it?, yet if you eat it, its nutritional content will become part of your body.
The authors argument is that finding one’s spiritual center will somehow lead to a non-Christian outcome? Couldn’t a Christian instead used their heightened spirituality, by whatever means, to achieve a deeper connection with Jesus? If not, then why do you even have it in you?
Me, I like acupuncture and martial arts. Not so much yoga, as I get too many ouchy places. But any spiritual improvement I get in any direction, I’m pretty confident won’t interfere with what I am in a bad way. If it showed signs of doing so, I wouldn’t have much interest in it.
All yoga classes are different depending upon the teacher. My class is awesome physically and mentally. Being quiet is a good way to listen to God.
It’s nonsense like this that makes Christians seem like space aliens to regular people. It is entirely possible to do yoga exercises without knowing a thing about Hinduism or its teachings.
I did yoga classes years ago. It’s a perfect exercise and tones the entire body. I was a Christian, toned out the
“spiritual” messaging and used that time to pray. It was very beneficial.
I did not sense any evil presence. Perhaps some classes are that way. Mine wasn’t.
I’d fallen away from the exercises and would like to take classes again. The exercises are really good for someone with a physical problem also. You only do them to the point of discomfort...some you don’t do at all. It depends on your physical capabilities.
................and their divine is not the God of Christianity, they can and do connect with "others" masquerading as such and many will attest to their experience's. You may think you are only going thru the motions of Yoga, but if you are given a mantra you are evoking a false and counterfeit God.
Ok I just have to jump in here. Back in the 70’s, as a young woman, I became interested in yoga for exercise and relaxation. It was wonderful for these things, but over the course of several years, I became more and more interested in the Hindu philosophy that was at it’s root. My worldview did a 180 from basically Judeo-Christian to pantheism and New Age before I even realized what was happening.
The physical exercises, if done as yoga instructs, do affect the mind in a profound way. And I will say from experience that yoga opens doors to demonic oppression. When I got married, my husband told me I was having violent nightmares, which I never remembered. After I became a Christian and renounced yoga and Hinduism, I was spiritually harassed until I claimed the name of Jesus.
This may sound woo woo, but this was my experience. I’m currently taking a class from the professor mentioned in the article, Dr. Groothuis, and I assure you he’s no intellectual slouch - he has a PhD in philosophy. Hindu and New Age thinking has permeated our society more than people realize.
Oh, NO! Modern day Christians in the US should just sit there keep eating those mountains of lard-fried everything until their arteries clog all the way up and their hearts explode. Well, maybe just those Christians who are stupid enough to follow these fake modern day self-anointed idiot fake-Christian "leaders".
I browsed through this thread so far, and it seems to be mostly people arguing over who is Christian or not. The part of the article that struck me was the quote above. It seems very characteristic of "post-Christian America' to turn one of the major events in the Christian calendar into a generic community festival. The celebration of Christ risen -- the goal is to have fun with yoga, dancing, healthy eating....that seems to illustrate exactly the point the author is making.
No but we do Look to Christ and Glorify him with our practice by making him the center.
Remembering Christ created all things, Satan imitates them. Yoga is great for keeping the body healthy and strong without the use of weight and gyms.
Keeping him first and meditating on him:
Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (2TIM 2:7)
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Ps 19:14)
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Jos 1:8)
Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. (Ps 48:9)
I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. (Ps 77:12)
I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. (Ps 119:15)
Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. (Ps 119:23)
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. (Ps 119:27)
I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees. (Ps 119:48)
May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts. (Ps 119:78)
Many blessing to you.
I am a teacher for Christ Centered YOga here in San Diego, and experiencing his presence is something words cannot explain.