As believers, we don’t want to be legalistic, passive or permissive. My tendency with most debatable topics is to say, “It’s not a big deal,” or “I’ll let people deal with this before God, and I’ll stay out of it.” I have recently realized that this only works if I don’t care about the impact my life has on others. When a controversial topic comes up, I have a choice. I can be permissive, passive or judgmental, or I can be Biblical. I am becoming more and more convicted that I need to respond Biblically even though my inclination is to be passive. The Bible has proven over and over again to be rooted in love and in what is best for others, so I don’t need to shy away from its teachings. 

I’ve been asked to reevaluate my nonchalant approach, and I have realized that I need to start taking a stand on controversial topics. 😜 I don’t really like having a stance, at least not public ones, but God has been calling me to be braver.

I’d like to explore one topic as an example. For years, I have been very casual about this topic. It’s because I have many friends who participate, and I don’t want to come across as judgmental. I’m actually not judgmental at all. I’ve even tried it. I have heard people debate about it for most of my life. I’ve always stayed out of it and just minded my own business. I thought that as long as I am grounded in the Word and do the right thing, it doesn’t matter what I say to others. My thought has been that because it doesn’t affect me, I can have a very cavalier attitude about it.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!

Now that I’m being asked to take a stand, here’s where I’ve landed on the Yoga subject.

Yoga is a controversial subject for many appropriate reasons. It’s rooted in Hindu practices and the worship of many gods. The word Yoga actually means “union”. The idea is to be united to gods or with nothingness. The Bible says to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, not the emptying of our minds. We are also commanded to have no other gods before the only true God. All other gods are man made, the true God made us and is worthy of our singular praise. 

Another facet of yoga is that a purpose is to align your chakra. According to one article:

The practice is based on a far eastern view of the spiritual, as well as physical, makeup of the body. The exercises have been created to ​‘open up chakras’. These seven chakras are spiritual energy centres in the body. Through these, the kundalini – the latent ​‘serpent power’ coiled at the base of the spine – passes through a person as they move toward greater enlightenment. Each chakra is also linked with a certain Hindu deity. 

Poses are given to align Chakras, apparently. Until recently, I didn’t know that. I knew each pose was associated with a god, but I just figured that if I did any form of Yoga, I’d pose to Jesus and be fine. 

Does the Bible address Yoga?

In the last several years, every time I read through the Bible, I am struck by what God says about different kings. The ones who pleased him completely struck down the high places (and all the idols associated with those high places), the ones who didn’t please him either ignored them or dabbled a little..or A LOT. I feel like I’ve been the one who has ignored those high places. 

In 2 Kings 18:4 it says, 

Hezekiah destroyed the high places. He broke the memorial stones and cut down the Asherah poles. At that time the Israelites burned incense to the bronze snake made by Moses. This bronze snake was called “Nehushtan.” Hezekiah broke this bronze snake into pieces.

I find it interesting that Hezekiah was one of the very few kings who did what was right in God’s eyes by completely destroying the High places. Interwoven with that was a snake… for me, this touches so closely to chakra. I want to break that snake to pieces, not dance (or exercise) around it.

Additionally, Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 are very clear about not practicing anything that could cause others to stumble. 

But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 1 Corinthians 8:8-12

How does this apply to people I love?

We don’t know from where a person has come or from what they’ve been delivered. If I’m a role model for someone who used to do Yoga, they saw that it was wrong and then I cause confusion by practicing it myself, I lead them astray. I want no part of that. By practicing “Christian Yoga”, we may inadvertently promote something that is going to either lead someone astray or move them away from Christ. If I participate in something, I give permission to all parts of it whether I desire to or not. 

If I do “Christian Yoga”, I send a message that Yoga is okay. I may intentionally avoid classes or videos that say “Namaste” (I’ve read it can mean: “I bow to you”, “I bow to the gods in you” or is just a greeting). I may avoid anything having to do with clearing Chakras or posing to gods. But I am a role model to someone out there, and if they catch wind that I do Yoga, I give permission for them to enter that world. I open doors to things that aren’t good. I’m learning that it’s not about me, it’s about others. I want to be intentional to avoid things that could lead others down a misleading path or cause them to believe I am promoting anything other than Christ.

Where Do I Land?

I am not promoting being judgmental. I’m not promoting being passive. I am not promoting being permissive. I’m promoting loving others well by leading them to Jesus who is the Word of life. I’m promoting leading them to his words in the Bible. I pray that I become more brave to take a stand when someone’s faith and life are at stake, no matter the topic. I pray that I please the Lord above my reputation. That can be hard for me, but I am committing to that.

https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/should-christians-do-yoga