Christianity And Yoga !

[Kabowd]

Romans 14 is talking about certain types of food to be eaten or not. Truly, in the Lord Jesus nothing is unclean in itself as it is sanctified by His Word which He said: "What comes into the mouth (food) does not defile a man but what comes out." That is what Paul meant. You cannot take this Scripture out of context to justify that Yoga is declared clean, treating it like a piece of meat. That is not wise.

What isn't wise is to assume that this chapter is solely about dietary laws. If you read any reputable biblical scholar, they will teach that Romans 14 is applicable far beyond labeling what we should and should not eat. You've missed the entire message if that's all you take it to mean. The crux of his entire message here is that nothing in itself is unclean, it's how you use it. And that for those who feel convicted about disputable matters (i.e. things not explicitly labeled as sin for all), then they should refrain from such things, but not judge those who don't (and vice versa). Don't accuse me of taking Scripture out of context. If any verses apply here, it would be those in Romans 14.

There are lots of satanic/demonic physical movements, to name a few: horoscope, palm reading, crystal-ball reading, or walking on/passing through fire, divination, witchcraft, omen interpretation, sorcery, casting spells, medium, calling of the dead, spirtising, etc. etc. (Deut. 18:10-12)

Even if I think I have a "pure heart", if I start to call the dead or read my palm to see my future or walk through fire in the name of Jesus offering it to God, will it make my actions holy because of my "pure heart"? Absolutely NOT! Will I not instead be sinning and provoking God? Yes, I would!

Not relevant. All of those things are explicitly declared as evil practices in Scripture, exercising and stretching is not. Talk about using Scripture out of context.

And who created the tonque and speech to end with?

Huh? I don't understand this question. And you avoided mine. Who created the human body?

The core of Paul's message to the Corinth Church in 1 Cor. 10, Tess (if you read the whole chapter) is TO FLEE FROM IDOLATRY, to turn away from the demonic sacrifices Gentiles make to demons (today we call it "Yoga, buddhistic rituals, virgin blood sacrifices, Marian-idol processions, and the like). Paul forbade the Corinth church to be sharers of these demonic sacrifices:

No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. verse 20

IDOLATRY IS WORSHIP WHICH MUST INVOLVE THE MIND. The people of Corinth were corrupt, yes, worshipping idols right alongside God. Your point? How does that compare to a believer who simply stretches and exercises their body while their mind is focused on the Lord?

Which contradiction? Romans 14 implies "we can eat all things (foods, meats) sold in the market for the "earth and all it contains is the Lord's". 1 Cor. 10 implies that "the things (acts, religious rituals, dances, songs, etc. offered to the false gods) the Gentiles sacrificed are offered to the demons and not to God which provokes God if Christians practice it. In other words, Romans 14 speaks about things to eat i.e., bread and meat while 1 Cor. 10 speaks about Gentile's demonic acts of sacrifices (not food), which is idolatry.

What you are doing is taking the things "rituals" sacrificed to demons in 1 Cor. 10 and make it one with the "food" sacrificed to idols/demons in Romans 14.

Ugh. I think I just covered all of this, but I get the feeling the point will be missed anyway. Your interpretation of both chapters is skewed, I highly suggest further study on Paul's writings (along with some good commentaries) to get a better understanding of what is being conveyed. I still want to know how a body movement in and of itself is considered "demonic" or unclean.....

[germanJoy]

What isn't wise is to assume that this chapter is solely about dietary laws. If you read any reputable biblical scholar, they will teach that Romans 14 is applicable far beyond labeling what we should and should not eat. You've missed the entire message if that's all you take it to mean. .

Romans 14: v1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

v2 One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.

v3 Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.....

v 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord for he gives thanks to God, and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

First of all, you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God to be able to understand the context of this Chapter. Secondly, any reputable biblical scholars would not commit the mistake of over-looking the bolded verb "eat" mentioned several times here which obviously you want to ignore by saying "Romans 14 is applicable far beyond labeling what we should and should not eat.

Paul opens this Chapter in verse 1 by relating that there are those who are weak in faith for not eating everything. There was a previous discussion among the brethren (considering the jewish customs and beliefs) whether one may eat things sacrificed to idols or not.

In verse 2 Paul confirms that there are those with faith who eats all things while there are those who are vegetarians (in order not to end up eating meat sacrificed to idols).

In verse 3 Paul instructs both (vegetarians and meat eaters) are accepted by God.

In verse 6 Paul again assures that he who eats and he who eats not do it for the Lord in thanksgiving.

If you are still not able to understand that this Chapter talks about freedom of "eating" (certain things that divides the brethren's points of view because the consideration was the "food" to be eaten is one "sacrificed to idols) and insist that this verse applies to freedom of exercising certain rituals like Yoga body movement, then I ask you to consult a bible scholar for help.

The crux of his entire message here is that nothing in itself is unclean, it's how you use it. And that for those who feel convicted about disputable matters (i.e. things not explicitly labeled as sin for all), then they should refrain from such things, but not judge those who don't (and vice versa). Don't accuse me of taking Scripture out of context. If any verses apply here, it would be those in Romans 14

v14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

v15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died..

v17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

v20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.

v21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

v23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and whatever is not from faith is sin.

To correctly understand the crux of Paul's message in verse 14 (bible scholars follow this procedure), you need to connect it to the following verse. This tells us that the "nothing" mentioned as "unclean in itself" is the "food" which hurts the brother whom you will destroy if you judge him with his eating or not.

Verse 20 confirms this that "food" is referred here as "all things are clean" as you see above bolded. And the reason was stated all things are clean but are evil for men who EATS and gives offense. Again, it refers (the all things as clean) to EATING AND OR FOOD.

Up to the last verse, "eating" not from faith is still mentioned. So Tess open your eyes and see that this Chapter is all about "eating", specifically referred, underlined and bolded.

Not relevant. All of those things are explicitly declared as evil practices in Scripture, exercising and stretching is not. Talk about using Scripture out of context.

I was laying down a principle of understanding the fact that not because "nothing is unclean (which you take out of context to justify your "Yoga" exercies)", we are now free to indulge into any "unclean" activities like divination, sorcery, etc. (By the way, if you are resourceful you will find many christian websites that teaches "Yoga" is a demonic exercise as supported by Scriptures. This is a comprehensive thesis and if you want, I will ask the permission of the authors to publish it here.)

There is actually no problem in stretching exercises unless one takes yoga positions believing that they are normal stretching exercises and non-religious, but in fact they are worshipful poses to Hindu gods. I am not denying the fact that stretching is helpful for blood flow which is good for our health. But there are many other ways offered not connected to any religion especially Hinduism. From a Hindu view, practicing yoga is not a physical exercise for the body but spiritual. To join this "spirituality", either you take only the physical aspect or not, you become a partaker of the demonic spirit behind it. This religion teaches that by doing the "spiritual exercise, yoga" you will discover that you are god.

Huh? I don't understand this question. And you avoided mine. Who created the human body?

What are we suppose to do with the human body He created? Honor Him or dishonor Him? The choice is yours.

IDOLATRY IS WORSHIP WHICH MUST INVOLVE THE MIND. The people of Corinth were corrupt, yes, worshipping idols right alongside God. Your point? How does that compare to a believer who simply stretches and exercises their body while their mind is focused on the Lord?

If it has nothing to do with the Yoga positions of Hinduism which you should know best being a partaker, if it just merely stretching and exercising which most christians do anyway, then I don't see anything wrong with it. The point Tess is, if you were once a Yoga/Hindu believer, you need to RENOUNCE/REMOVE/RID YOURSELF OF/TAKE OUT the/from the demonic garment of Hindu practices, from its tiniest to its greatest effects in your ENTIRE BEING. That is the only way to be totally set free from the strongholds, the curses, the demons assigned to the false worship of these false gods/religion.

When the Israelites were told to burn their idols, they had to burn even the gold in it. In the same way, if you were a demon worshipper and you become a christian, you need to burn the whole demonic aspect (spirit, soul, and body) of worship and turn away from it FOREVER and worship God alone with Jesus Christ our High Priest, Lord God and King in the power of the Holy Spirit!. That is TRUE WORSHIP. :-)

Ugh. I think I just covered all of this, but I get the feeling the point will be missed anyway. Your interpretation of both chapters is skewed, I highly suggest further study on Paul's writings (along with some good commentaries) to get a better understanding of what is being conveyed. I still want to know how a body movement in and of itself is considered "demonic" or unclean.....

I did my study, I exposed verse by verse the context of this Chapter. Now, it is your turn. Do you consider "Yoga" done under the shelter of Hinduism demonic or not? If you are able to answer this, I'll tell you why it is unclean.

Edited May 13, 2006 by germanJoy

[RGR]

Bumping to bury troll posts

[Guest]

I forsook yoga along with lots and lots of other things I had been doing when I returned to my Lord.  When entering the Kingdom of Heaven, so many earthly things seem utterly disposable for the sake of Adonai ("my Lords").  Meditation is mentioned in Christian sources, such as "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale.  Better to do it that way and replace yoga with stretching or pilates: http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-pilates.html, at least for me.

[The_Patriot21]

April 29, 2006.

[missmuffet]

As a Christian I do not support Yoga.Yoga originated with anti-Christian philosophy.It encourages people to seek life's questions with their own consciousness.As a Christian we turn to God for our life's questions.

[MorningGlory]

I forsook yoga along with lots and lots of other things I had been doing when I returned to my Lord.  When entering the Kingdom of Heaven, so many earthly things seem utterly disposable for the sake of Adonai ("my Lords").  Meditation is mentioned in Christian sources, such as "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale.  Better to do it that way and replace yoga with stretching or pilates: http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-pilates.html, at least for me.

 

 

I can see NO reason to bring back this eight year old thread.  Why did you not just start one of your own?