Christianity.com: Can a Christian practice yoga to the glory of God?-David Powlison

Jews never practiced or were encouraged by God to use any of these things although it was practised at that time. Why the fascination in the "biblical" West now? We are being distracted by so many things from our pure devotion to Christ our Lord!

it's okay to take certain asana's as a form of exercise but there are certain positions which are designed to worship certain daities, god and godesses.I would personally before performing any asana would like to research about its background then only allow it in my daily routine of exercise.

That David Powlison is dead wrong- and it is unfortunate for him and those that listen to him-- he is misleading many people away from GOD's Truth contained in the Bible. The term "yoga" is sanskrit for YOKE or union it is a HINDU religious practise to unite the practitioner to the Hindu pantheon of gods = which are evil spirits in disguise. Yoga has been taught by Indian gurus for down thru the ages and has been sanitized and white-washed for the west. The same pagan gods that were written about in the bible are not fairy-tales and they didn't just "disappear" they have travelled along with civilization--- they are exactly the same-- Christ came to save the lost Luke 19:10 These new age occultism is "old age" witchcraft and pagnism re-packaged for modern times. From buddhism to wiccan, alternative therapy --don't kid yourself into thinking these are harmless. It doesn't matter ONE BIT as the one naive commentor said -- "what you believe" it MATTERS WHAT IS THE ROOT OF THESE PRACTICES--PERIOD!" The devil is working very hard these days to deceive as many as possible--don't let him succeed with you. People who think they can combine Christianity with these other practices are in great danger. Paganism & Occultism is infiltrating our pop culture and people need to be educated. Ignorance is NOT bliss.Ignorance or naivity offers YOU no protection in the spiritual realm nor your families. Please don't be fooled, and check your sources of info to get to the root. These are demonic doorways that are best left CLOSED! The Bible is our only authority on spiritual matters. Lord JESUS Christ is the only mediator between God and man. It clearly says Mathew:24 You cannot serve two masters...." 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. 2 Kings17:41 Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did. Repent, accept Jesus as the only way, as your LORD and Savior, get Baptised in Jesus name. Get saved, study Find a church that studies Holy Bible as the indisputable Word of God. Hebrews5:14..." even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/occult I recommend these books by Dave Hunt "The Seduction of Christianity " "Occult Invasion" and "America the Sorcerers new apprentice". all available on amazon.com.

I agree one Hundred percent of David Powlison about practising Real Yoga; But I differ about Homeopathy. Homeopathy which started in Germany in the Nineteenth Centuray today is worldwide. There are Medical Colleges that teach this kind of medicine and well qualified doctors who treat patients very effectively.

I don't believe so as yoga is a spiritual demonic act on the body. God says if you destroy the temple and you are then God will destroy you.

Yoga brings more stress and more depression in the long term. It also brings more slavery. Those who practice it prove that for themselves. More mental patients and more suicides and more number of slaves in the secular and paganized West. India never got rid of slavery. Putting oneself as the supreme being is insanity and a tragic disease.

Wow, Mr. Powlison so eloquently presented this challenge for a society which generally swallows its philosophies in super-size portions from the media or the streets. Without thinking! Thank you, David, for such a balanced and thoughtful presentation. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

Energy Is Physical. Not Spiritual. Cults have always worship the physical as if it were spiritual. When you warm one hand with another hand? That's transfering energy to one part of your body. from another part of your body. There's is nothing spiritual about it. It's Physical. Just because Cults SAY it's spiritual? Doesn't mean I shouldn't do it! It just mean their of a Cult. who doesn't know their right hand from their left.

Dave Fetcho, formerly of the Ananda Marga Yoga Society, has written, "Physical yoga, according to its classical definitions, is inheritably and functionally incapable of being separated from Eastern religious metaphysics."{27} What's more, yoga authorities Feuerstein and Miller, in discussing yoga postures (asana) and breathing exercises (pranayama), indicate that such practices are more than just another form of physical exercise; indeed, they "are psychosomatic exercises."{28} Does this mean that separating theory from practice is simply impossible with yoga? If one carefully looks through an introductory text on hatha yoga,{29} one will see many different postures illustrated. A number of these may be similar, if not identical, to exercises and stretches one is already doing. Indeed, if one is engaged in a regular stretching program, this is quite probable. This raises an important question: Suppose that such beginning level yoga postures are done in a context completely free of yogic philosophy. In such a case as this, doesn't honesty compel us to acknowledge at least the possibility of separating theory from practice? While I hate to disagree with scholars who know far more about the subject than I do, this distinction does seem valid to me. However, let me quickly add that I see this distinction as legitimate only at the very beginning of such practices, and only with regard to the postures. The breathing exercises, for various reasons, remain problematic.{30} But this distinction raises yet another question, for how many people begin an exercise program intending never to move beyond the most basic level? And since by the very nature of yoga practice, such a distinction could only be valid at the very earliest of stages, why would a Christian ever want to begin this process? It seems to me that if someone wants an exercise program with physical benefits similar to yoga, but without all the negative spiritual baggage, they should consider low-impact or water aerobics, water ballet, or simple stretching.{31} These programs can be just as beneficial for the body, without potentially endangering the soul. In my opinion, then, Christians would be. better off to never begin yoga practice.

9 out of 10 Hindus agree - "Yoga IS Hinduism." http://praisemoves.com/calt article "Why a Christian ALTERNATIVE to yoga?" -- written from the perspective of having spent 22 years in yoga before coming to Christ. There are more than "philosophical assumptions" involved, as this dear man calls it. Sadly, he is not aware of the spiritual forces linked to yoga -- they are powerful, and they are deceptive (and some will admit enticing and addictive -- "It FEELS good, so it must BE good, right?" For a season.).

I agree with Adam. I used to practice yoga at a time of my life that I had a lot of stress. The christian needs to ask the instructor what type of yoga is being teach and do only the non religious type.

Prana is defined as breath, in Gensis 2:7 we are told "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." So I believe it's proper to say we are filled with the breath of life. Diana Robinson once said "“Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God.” I understand there are many different methods and types of meditation as well as yoga, some are part of religious rites, some are aimed at controlling ones body or focusing the mind. Does that mean it's wrong for us to do yoga routines? To me, that would be the same as saying well "such and such food is used in another religion's festivals, that means I can't eat that food as a Christian. I agree with his point that some branches of yoga encourage a stoic view but that does not imply all do. I can speak only for myself in this matter, but through my practices over the past 20 years I have learned self control, something the Bible also tells us we must have. I look at yoga as exercise as well (which it is regardless of how you see it) If our bodies are to be as temples for God, that gives us a responsibility to take care of ourselves as best as we are able to, and for me, my daily yoga has taken away years of back pain and made it possible for me to move about freely. I guess in the end, if you feel you shouldn't or that it's not right for your family even, then I would advise against it.

No, the Eastern spirituality contradicts the Bible in every way. It starts from self and ends with demons. Weak Christians may practice yoga for thinking of health benefits, but it NEVER brings glory to God. Practicing yoga as exercises won't bring any Christian to hell but abstinence is the best policy for questionable activities.