Are These Mystic Practices OK?

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

I am trying to find out what the view is from fundamentalists in different circles. Please, only fundamentalists vote.

 

[desmalia]

Regarding yoga: the positions are not specifically bad, but the mental and spiritual practices of are.

 

[gratefulgrace]

I am not sure what constitutes a fundamentalist but I say no to both. there are lots of great ways to exercise besides yoga poses and I don't think we should ever empty our minds but fill them with the word of God. gg

 

[sealacamp]

Well I have to opt for what Grace said.

Sealacamp

 

[JSGuitarist]

I don't feel at ease with either and couldn't do them with a clear conscience I think.

 

[Vince53]

An evil tree cannot produce good fruit. There are other exercise programs, so you don't need yoga.

 

[milliemom]

I am not sure what constitutes a fundamentalist but I say no to both. there are lots of great ways to exercise besides yoga poses and I don't think we should ever empty our minds but fill them with the word of God. gg

Dave Hunt of The Berean Call has written an excellent book called "Yoga and the Body of Christ". It is well worth reading as it gives an insight to all the other things that are going on in various churches where a new gospel is being preached.
Also, I would suggest that a Christian fundamentalist would be a person who obeyed God in all things. The only way we do that is by reading God's Word. However, I could be wrong. My own position is the Word of God, the Bible says it, I believe it, that's the end of it.

 

[Armistead14]

Yoga is just a form of exercise, to imply it is something evil in itself is silly.
It's like Paul debating with Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians over eating pork. The Jewish Christians still practiced common customs that the Gentiles did not. Paul made it clear, neither the Jews for eating it or the Gentiles for not eating it partook of sin. Both were blameless. The sin is in the mind. Paul even made it clear that pork dedicated to Pagan God's was OK to eat as long as believers didn't accept the pagan practice. The meat was clean, only the mindset is evil.

Being a fundalmentalist doesn't mean you have to be a legalist. Of course I'm not into labels. I believe in the fundalmentals of Christ. Sadly, labels only divide the body of Christ.

Many elderly and disabled people use yoga to great benefit. As long as your mind doesn't partake of some evil practice, there is no evil. Many hospitals use Yoga. It is one of the best exercises without causing harm to the body, such as lifting heavy weights when done properly. Many churches have Yoga classes.

When we declare something evil for the sake of it or because others misuse it is legalism and silly, just as Paul said all the arguing over the eating of meat was silly. What some people will come up with.

As for repeating phases, it depends. Christ and Paul said repeating the same thing over and over held no benefit when done in front of man. Many churches repeat the same thing, the same prayer over and over and over as if in repeating it holds power...Repeating it over and over holds no benefit if done for man. Now it one wants to repeat phases over to himself, let him think on the things of the Lord, things that are pure. One may do that why meditating in Yoga, fasting or alone prayer. Learning bible verses would be a good thing to repeat over and over.

 

[BigNorsk]

Yoga if simply practiced as a form of exercise, which some do, would be fine. If the Yoga practiced includes the mystical practices that is built in by many practitioners, no.

The chanting is hard to know where to draw the line. I'm not comfortable with it, which is one of the things I don't like about some charismatic songs. They too have the chanting built in as a part of them. It's not the chanting that's really the problem, it's what does it produce. Again if the chanting is part of a false religion, then of course no. The major problem I have with the charismatic use of it is that people think it's the Holy Spirit and not their induced state of mind producing things like glossalalia.

 

[FreeinChrist]

I agree that Yoga as just exercise for stretching and some strength is okay. Chanting a phrase to clear the mind...that makes me very hesitant.

Now if the way to focus the mind is to quote scripture....that interests me.

 

[gratefulgrace]

Yoga is more than just exercise, it is a pevasive religious mindset. I have done yoga and like I said it offers me no more physically than other forms of stretching and strengthening exercises. You have to agree that it is heavily promoted as the best almost miracle form of exercise not just one of many other equally valid types. It is trendy and hip and subtly promotes the eastern philosophy behind it opening our culture up more to that. That said I have Christian friends who do yoga and I am not judging them, I just have to say that this is how I believe the Holy spirit is leading me.

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

I'm glad there have been a number of votes and comments. It helps me to understand where the different groups of fundamentalists are coming from. From my experience fundamentalists don't discuss this topic all that much so it certainly is a learning experience.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Yoga for exercise is healthy and fine. Chanting to clear the mind...hmm. Never heard of that. I do try to still my mind and calm it before prayer sometimes in various ways. As long as you're not doing any odd mythical practices, I'm sure meditating is fine and even healthy spiritually and mentally.

 

[gratefulgrace]

The problem is with the understanding of what it means to meditate. The Biblical concept is diametrically opposed to the eastern mysticism concept of meditation. http://www.how-to-meditate.org/breathing-meditations.htm/ Here the emphasis is totally on SELF not God and his Word as stated in Psalms and many other parts of the Bible. It is really very hard to separate the exercise from the religion when you are doing poses that are actually postures of worship to false gods.

Psa 1:1¶Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

 

[nChrist]

There's nothing legalistic about avoiding the practice of Eastern and New Age Religions. Christians simply need to make informed choices. Look before you leap. Yoga can be MUCH more than just exercise, and the contention is in the "MUCH more".

 

[ReformedChapin]

For yoga it really depends on how your practice it. If you are just using the stretches then I don't really see a big deal about it. As far as mantras it also depends the reason why you do it. I tend to repeat lots of stuff to try to memorize it but not for some mystical sense.

 

[JCFantasy23]

The problem is with the understanding of what it means to meditate. The Biblical concept is diametrically opposed to the eastern mysticism concept of meditation. Breathing Meditations | How to Meditate Here the emphasis is totally on SELF not God and his Word as stated in Psalms and many other parts of the Bible. It is really very hard to separate the exercise from the religion when you are doing poses that are actually postures of worship to false gods.

Psa 1:1¶Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

This is a good post and with good information.
For me meditation is about clearing the mind and quieting it, "emptying it", before prayer and such. I do this because my mind can get kind of chaotic and daydream when I'm trying to concentrate on prayer. I'm sure there are many meditative practices out there, some unhealthy or pagan-related.

 

[desmalia]

For yoga it really depends on how your practice it. If you are just using the stretches then I don't really see a big deal about it. As far as mantras it also depends the reason why you do it. I tend to repeat lots of stuff to try to memorize it but not for some mystical sense.

Well exactly, it's not about emptying the mind, but filling it.

 

[gratefulgrace]

For yoga it really depends on how your practice it. If you are just using the stretches then I don't really see a big deal about it. As far as mantras it also depends the reason why you do it. I tend to repeat lots of stuff to try to memorize it but not for some mystical sense.

I find your post kind of scary. Mantras are sanskrit prayers to false gods. How can this be good for a Christian?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantra

 

[gratefulgrace]

This is a good post and with good information.
For me meditation is about clearing the mind and quieting it, "emptying it", before prayer and such. I do this because my mind can get kind of chaotic and daydream when I'm trying to concentrate on prayer. I'm sure there are many meditative practices out there, some unhealthy or pagan-related.

I think David talks about "stilling and quieting his soul before God" perhaps this is what you mean.

Psalm 131:2 NIV
But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

I thinks this is important in our worship of the Father. When we come in quietness and reverence we are prepared to receive from Him.

The scripture the Lord gave me in church today while worshipping was a blessing to me as we often have many troubles and concerns that load us down. God promises us the peace of God and it is a peace that does not fade away. I believe all other forms of worship and meditation only bring a false peace.

Mat 11:28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Mat 11:29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mat 11:30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."