Is Yoga Wrong for Christians?
When I travelled to India I expected to see idols, but I had no idea the vast amount of idols and the variety in which they were crafted. They came in all shapes, sizes and colors. They weren’t hidden in a corner, but stood front and center in stores, restaurants, along the highways, statues erected sometimes as high at 50 feet. If I wasn’t traveling with Indians I may have thought the idols and statues on billboards were meant to advertise a tourist trap ahead, not a deity.
I toured the Mysore Palace. There were portraits from the Wadiyar dynasty that ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 to 1950, but there was also framed art portraying stories of their gods. They depicted warriors in battle, celebrations, families, and many scenes which were unclear to me. What was clear were odd figures, fictious, that to them, were real. I expected statues and objects, but not in narrative art portraying stories similar to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
This noble family also had their idols in statues erected throughout the palace hallways. It was as though no matter where they went in their home they could stop, say a prayer, and go on their way. They ensured all corners of the palace were covered to pray and offer a sacrifice, or receive a blessing should the need arise. Unlike the living God who is omnipresent and I can say a prayer at any moment, at any spot on the entire planet.
During my time in India we drove past several neighborhood festivals and carnivals. The neighborhood would hold a celebration in honor of their god. These tangible products; their idols, are embedded in the culture and the landscape of India.
It didn’t take long to identify how the idols were positioned. It was here I realized each yoga pose represents a specific Hindu god. I’ve done yoga a few times and I was apparently naive and uneducated on the practice of yoga.
When I did yoga, I knew enough to not meditate. Christians would always say “just pray,” but honestly, I was so focused on getting the pose accurately, I was praying or meditating. Here I was in India, looking at hundreds of portraits, statues, figurines of their idols, each representing all I knew of a yoga pose and then I wondered, to many Christians, yoga is “just a pose, right?” Is it just a pose?
This is one of those areas where each individual should seek the Lord for guidance. “Search my heart O God…” and ask the Lord directly, “do you approve of me partaking in this, Lord?”
For me personally, I don’t want to be legalistic, but after going to India, experiencing the demonic hold the country has through idol worship, I don’t want to align myself with this practice. Here is why I will no longer do yoga.
The Bible says in I Corinthians 10:20-22 “And I don’t want you to participate with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?”
In the Old Testament, idols represented war and fertility, a god to sacrifice children to, or a guardian of deities. There are three main gods in India and I find it interesting Hindu’s recognize them as their trinity:
Brahma, who creates the universe
Vishnu, who preserves the universe
Shiva, who destroys the universe.
“The true meaning of yoga is union with the Divine.”
Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash
I believe anything that is rooted in idol worship should be taken seriously. Many Christians will say they don’t believe in Hindu spiritualism or meditation in the way a Hindu spiritualist does, however, if you are placing your physical body in a position that is designated to a specific idol of worship, can you meditate with a clear conscience; a mind that is surrendered heart, body, and soul to the Lord Jesus Christ during your time of exercise?
“The true meaning of yoga is union with the Divine.” Yogapedia.
Yoga Synergy states their exercises are about enhancing life force, energy, and vitality, The Yoga Synergy Sequence practice “is believed to make up all of creation, including the human body – which, upon death, dissolves into these five elements of nature, thereby balancing the cycle of nature set in motion by the creative force of the universe.” Yoga Synergy
Overall, the yoga philosophy is one of the six branches of the Vedas, which are considered to be one of the world’s oldest scriptures. Yogapedia Do you want to “sit at the table with demons,” that are rooted in any scripture that is not the Word of God. Even the demons know the word of God “and shutter.” Should you not shutter in the presence of the enemy? James 2:19
Think of these things…
If we are connecting our five senses during yoga, can we truly shut our minds off from what yoga represents and pray to Jesus? I can no longer see a yoga pose without seeing what I now know is a specific idol; a tangible idol of worship.
Be careful who you align yourself with.
Be cautious who the instructor is. What are their religious practices and whatever they are opening up their spirit too during their time of meditation, you are opening yourself up to in the spiritual realm during that time as well. I know the Lord is asking me to separate myself from this form of exercise because it’s more than just exercise.
I would never put a statue of Budhha in my home. I don’t want people to think I worship any god but Jesus and I don’t want to do anything to “rouse the Lord’s jealousy.” Would I place a picture of an old boyfriend in my home for my husband to view? Never! Would you? Ndebele Doll Dream
Ask yourself…
Are there ungodly practices that pervade your society and culture that you align yourself with? What situations and practices do you see around you that are easy to rationalize and align yourself with that are not according to God’s Word?
Flee from the worship of idols
I Corinthians begin with Paul stating “flee from the worship of idols.” What meal are you enjoying in the company of demons? Below are some additional areas I thought of since my time in India where one might be feasting or nibbling at the table with demons:
Jesus vs. God/god? Have you ever omitted Jesus from your vocabulary so you don’t sound “churchy” because you want to draw people into your church? We’ve moved three times over the last five years and in our search for a new church, we’ve reviewed several church “About Pages.” There were several churches that omitted “Jesus,” as their God on their website and listed only God. There are many gods, but only One and His name is Jesus, Son of God. If church leadership doesn’t say “Jesus,” beware.
Abortion: How do you align yourself with this debate? People kill and take life in many forms, but think of this: “...seven things the Lord hates … hands that kill the innocent.” Proverbs 6:17 Abortion Dream
“I’ll just take one bite…” That’s what Eve did.
What about the causes the world is pushing that are contrary to the Word of God? The Ten Commandments is law that God breathed into existence. It cannot be altered. Man can revise the Constitution, but not God’s law. Sin is sin, lawlessness is lawlessness. When there is lawlessness, and justice is not applied, mayhem ensues. Chaos is part of Satans schemes, not God’s. Look to scripture for your final decision-making when it comes to how justice should be applied.
Have you watered down the Truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Should Christians align themselves with the ideologies and practices contrary to the Word of God so as not to offend or appear intolerant? Would you buy your Christian friend an idol for their birthday? Do you affirm gay marriages in the sake of loving them? We love the murderer, but I don’t affirm murder, ever, not even for abortion. “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.” Luke 6:22 2 Timothy 3:12 John 15:18
Just one bite …
“The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.” Genesis 3:6
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
