Today, perhaps more than ever we need to be alert/aware at what is going on around us and be ready to defend the gospel as the only source for truth, knowledge, comfort and life's answers. The article below is from the GodQuestions.org website which looks into what the Christian view of Yoga should be. As many may already know, Yoga is becoming a popular topic in many different arenas today which include the medical field and it is even finding its way into the church. Why is it a big deal and why should I be concerned about it? See the answer below.
Question: "What is the Christian view of yoga?"
Answer: For many Christians in the West who don't understand the history behind it, yoga
is simply a means of physical exercise and strengthening and improving
flexibility of the muscles. However, the philosophy behind yoga is much more
than physically improving oneself. It is an ancient practice derived from India,
believed to be the path to spiritual growth and enlightenment.
The word
"yoga" means "union," and the goal is to unite one's transitory (temporary) self
with the infinite Brahman, the Hindu concept of "God." This god is not a literal
being, but is an impersonal spiritual substance that is one with nature and the
cosmos. This view is called "pantheism," the belief that everything is God and
that reality consists only of the universe and nature. Because everything is
God, the yoga philosophy makes no distinction between man and God.
Hatha
yoga is the aspect of yoga which focuses on the physical body through special
postures, breathing exercises, and concentration or meditation. It is a means to
prepare the body for the spiritual exercises, with fewer obstacles, in order to
achieve enlightenment. The practice of yoga is based on the belief that man and
God are one. It is little more than self-worship disguised as a high level of
spirituality.
The question becomes, is it possible for a Christian to
isolate the physical aspects of yoga as simply a method of exercise, without
incorporating the spirituality or philosophy behind it? Yoga originated with a
blatantly anti-Christian philosophy, and that philosophy has not changed. It
teaches one to focus on oneself instead of on the one true God. It encourages
its participants to seek the answers to life's difficult questions within their
own conscience instead of in the Word of God. It also leaves one open to
deception from God's enemy, who searches for victims that he can turn away from
God (1 Peter 5:8).
Whatever we do should be done for
God's glory (1 Corinthians 10:31), and we would be wise to heed the
words of the apostle Paul: "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and
right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about
things that are excellent and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8, NLT).
May we be diligent by abiding in God's Word alone and be like the Bereans descibed in the book of Acts: "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11
