Yoga Classes at Christian Churches

[Workman]

9 hours ago, Arrabon said:

I think another question is why are churches renting out space and time to the people doing these classes?

Arrabon

I was thinking the same thing.  Even if it was just an exercise class minus the yoga part, I would question it.  I also have qualms about 50% of the main service consisting of musical entertainment.  I've always resented that part of the service being called the "worship service".  Our whole life, nay, our entire being is "worship".  

[appy]

This topic is brought up every now and then. And the answers are usually an equal mix of “its ok” or “it is NOT ok”.

The way I see it is that in trying to call poses by a different name does not exactly change its purpose and character. More of an attempt to find a compromise because it is deeply connected with Eastern religions. And the reality of it is... is that it cannot be fully extricated from its spiritual roots, in the minds of unbeliever's and this thought has not changed since it was introduced in western societies. If an individual has to intensely meditate, in order to maintain a pose for an extended time, it is no longer a mere pose.

[other one]

2 hours ago, appy said:

If an individual has to intensely meditate, in order to maintain a pose for an extended time, it is no longer a mere pose.

Even if one is focused on the Lord.

Meditation is simply a tool....   whether it is good or bad depends on how it is used and for what.  Just how does one open themselves up for a relationship with the Holy Spirit?    And just as a screwdriver (which is a tool) it can be used to tighten up a screw so as to avert disaster in some cases, or you can stab someone in the heart with it and take a life.

But we are warned to test the spirits we come in contact with.   Some are people with the spirit of the antichrist in them, but my personal experience is that sometimes it is directly with that antichrist spirit itself.

[Starise]

This will be seen differently by Christians and non Christians. This is because the carnal man does not grok the things of the spirit and they are foolishness to him. To them it's simply exercise and body stretching. That's really how they see it. In order to convince them otherwise you first have to convince them of a spiritual world which many of them deny. This is why when some Christian comes along disputing it they don't see what all the fuss is about. Unfortunately there are carnally minded people all over the place. To them it's just people laying on mats trying to relax, yet even the Hindu expressly say you can't separate the Hindu from Yoga.

Only the spiritually minded will see the deeper implications. Carnal Christians pushing the envelope will not care to look further in order to keep the peace. To their future discredit they will deny the seriousness of it.

What could possibly be wrong with it? It's an invitation for an entity come come fill this man sitting there who has opened himself up while at the same time emptying himself. And they do just that. No it's not anything like the exorcist, the head doesn't spin around, they don't usually float in the air while spewing profanities or vomit green pea soup. Not that this couldn't happen later on.

It happens way more subtle than that usually. Just a spiritual influence, a spiritual attachment, an unseen controlling force that really would like to live in your body, so it might make you feel good initially or make you think you have some hidden power. Think it sounds far fetched? There are plenty of people who have been there or are there now and will attest to it. At some point you realize it's no longer entirely you that's in you but by then it's too late unless you or they turn around and try to pull away from it. Then you might see things get more ugly. Does it happen to everyone? Probably not, at least not unless you become more immersed in it. It's going to continue to seem innocent to a bunch who have no idea, yet who knows? You might be one of the unlucky ones. You might get a 'catch' on the very first session.

I would agree with the others here who have said that many so called churches are more like community centers with a church name tacked on. My expectation for those places would be to see things like this because either the building is full of carnal Christians or non Christians who think they are godly people.

It's a confusing world out there where churches aren't really churches sometimes. One has to 'pray and weigh' the church and be very discriminate in where they attend and what they allow their children to partake in. Who cares what the class or school or teacher thinks? This is about remaining pure in a sinful evil world where the candy man is really the big bad wolf. If you don't police yourself and your children no one else will.

[appy]

@other oneWhat point were you wanting me to get? I pointed  out in my post that the fact that yoga is more than merely stretching and exercising, as many people maintain.

[other one]

8 minutes ago, appy said:

@other oneWhat point were you wanting me to get? I pointed  out in my post that the fact that yoga is more than merely stretching and exercising, as many people maintain.

Meditation is a tool to contact the spirit world.....     there are two sides to the spirit world....   and you can use meditation to contact either side....    thus we are to test the spirits whether they are in people or directly from the spirit world...    and people interface with both kinds every day whether or not they realize it.

We should be teaching people how to discern which is which instead of having them ignore or fear both.

[appy]

I am NOT in favor of yoga, nor was I ever in favor of it. I do NOT agree with it. The bible teaches us that we draw closer to God through the reading of His Word and through prayer, not yoga poses or "meditating". I am NOT ignorant that demons are deceptive.  I do read my bible. I am well aware of Paul telling us to put on the full armor of God, and why. But that is not the only time scripture speaks of  the spiritual battleground.

[Starise]

The definition of the word YOGA ties it tightly to eastern Hindu religion. Very difficult to separate. Even Hindus themselves say you can't separate yoga from Hindu. 

Maybe some people are going around using the term in a different context and joining that with Christian belief? The term itself is clear though.

If we are comparing how Christians meditate and invite the spirit of God to use us, this is a very different thing than Hindu meditation. 

So no, meditation in the Christian definition of it isn't bad since the things we meditate on are good things and totally different than the demonic entities Hindus open up to. I think it's a real stretch to attempt to compare the two in any strict sense. I don't see Christians as borrowing anything pagan ....ever. We have nothing to do with any of it.

[David1701]

On 7/19/2021 at 10:58 AM, appy said:

This topic is brought up every now and then. And the answers are usually an equal mix of “its ok” or “it is NOT ok”.

The way I see it is that in trying to call poses by a different name does not exactly change its purpose and character. More of an attempt to find a compromise because it is deeply connected with Eastern religions. And the reality of it is... is that it cannot be fully extricated from its spiritual roots, in the minds of unbeliever's and this thought has not changed since it was introduced in western societies. If an individual has to intensely meditate, in order to maintain a pose for an extended time, it is no longer a mere pose.

Yes. 

I remember, when I was four years old, in kindergarten (1968), a teacher got the whole class of young children to sit in a yoga pose, close our eyes, relax and imagine ourselves slowly coming out of our bodies, drifting upwards, then out of the building, across the countryside (I found out, years later, that this is called "astral projection" and is not only occult but dangerous).  This, together with fairy tales, got me interested in the occult, at a young age; and I was only delivered from it, when the Lord saved me, at the age of 21.

Yoga in church buildings?  No, no, no!

[Your closest friendnt]

1 hour ago, David1701 said:

Yes. 

I remember, when I was four years old, in kindergarten (1968), a teacher got the whole class of young children to sit in a yoga pose, close our eyes, relax and imagine ourselves slowly coming out of our bodies, drifting upwards, then out of the building, across the countryside (I found out, years later, that this is called "astral projection" and is not only occult but dangerous).  This, together with fairy tales, got me interested in the occult, at a young age; and I was only delivered from it, when the Lord saved me, at the age of 21.

Yoga in church buildings?  No, no, no!

The benefit of the stretching exercises won't harm anyone. 

We need exercises and we need stretching exercises. 

The stretching exercises in yoga are the best. 

Take the benefit of the exercises without any spiritual quest.