My brother is a pastor at his church (I think Episcopalian) and is a big time evangelist who STRONGLY advocates Sola Scriptura.
He is also nuts.
The other day he posted that yoga=devil worship — then went on at length about a bunch of arcana that most people who use yoga as exercise and relaxation never even heard of nor care about.
Really.
Anyone help me talk him down before he taints evangelism? Or do all y’all agree?
It depends on the Yoga instructor. Most people think of yoga as a physical exercise, but it can also go deeply into Indian spirituality. My wife was going to take a class in it at her place of employment (a university - this was years ago) mainly for physical exercise, but she ended up dropping out because of all the Indian mysticism.
Anyone help me talk him down before he taints evangelism? Or do all yall agree?
Jer 23:36 But stop using this phrase, ‘prophecy from the LORD.’ For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
Jer 23:37 “This is what you should say to the prophets: ‘What is the LORD’s answer?’ or ‘What is the LORD saying?’
BUT, be sure to read before and after the above. AND be sure you read enough of the
Bible to know what the Lord is saying regarding the matter.
The constant challenge to all prophets (go look up the definition of prophet) is what does the Lord say on the matter. If you don’t do this you are stuck with what you and I think.
Of course he's right...Obviously he has researched it where you haven't...
It’s my understanding that the different yoga positions are prayer positions associated with the different Hindu deities and that by assuming the position, youi are indicating to the Hindu deity (read demon behind the deity) a receptiveness to that deity/demons influence in your life.
Apparently yogis in India deny that yoga can be separated from the religious aspect of it.
There’s one Christian man who is opposed to yoga and his name is Curry Blake and he has some you tube videos out about it.
Other than that, all I can find is sites that justify it and rationalize how it’s really OK for Christians to do it and offer *Christian yoga*.
I wouldn’t pooh-pooh your brother. I would fully expect the enemy to portray those opposed to yoga because of the spiritual aspect as kooks.
I don't know about your brother but his take on yoga is correct.
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 that 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 high-level spirituality.
More at this link.
https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-yoga.html