Yoga

     A Yoga instructor once published in the local newspaper the benefits of Yoga. In that article she stated, "Yoga is not a religion." That is true. However, she never stated what it really is; it is a religious practice or a manner of religious worship. Many who use the Yoga religious ritual say, "I don't take the religious part seriously." Unfortunately, the instructor does, their gods do, and so does the God of Christianity! Syncretism is serious business.
     Do I care whether you stand on your head or not, or cross your legs in an uncomfortable position? It makes no difference to me. Then why write this? Because it does make a difference to God! My job is to use scripture is to inform, correct error, and instruct in righteousness (2 Tim 316).
     How can one practice righteousness? By not being unrighteous: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom 12:1). Christians are to do things acceptable to God.
     The western world did without Yoga for thousands of years. Why then must we all of a sudden have it? It is just another way that the Serpent can deceive. People always seem to do "what is right in their own eyes" (Deut 12:8). Righteousness is doing what is right in God's will. My question for the reader: Do you really believe that the practice of Yoga is God's will for you? Of course, that's between you and God, but be honest: Are you just being deceived?
     What is Yoga? It is physical, mental, and spiritual practices in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism; all tenets of religion from the Rigveda - a sacred text of Hinduism from the Vedas. Vedas are basically the "bibles" of Hinduism in that they are their sacred writings (paraphrased from Wikipedia; "Yoga", "Rigveda"; "Vedas").
     Yoga practitioners are indeed practicing the Hindu religion. Yoga instructors are essentially instructing Hindu doctrine, and gullible westerners sub-consciously tend to welcome the false doctrines of false gods while neglecting Holy Scripture. If Christians would study scripture they would not be deceived by cunning rationalizations!

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord. (Lev 18:1-5)

     There are two sets of instructions therein: (1) Do not do the things pagans do, and (2) Live according to the statutes of the Lord. Where are those "statutes"? Holy Scripture. What are the "ordinances" of the pagans?  Demonstrations of the faith of the believers of pagan religions. Yoga, then, is an ordinance of Hinduism. It would be of the same importance as Holy Communion and Baptism in Christianity!

     The practice of two religions is syncretism. Since the Jews were always deceived and practiced false religions, God commanded against that. It is of utmost importance because it is the First Commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exod 20:3). The literal translation of that is: Thou shalt not practice the things of other gods in my face. Yoga is doing just that. Syncretism could lead to apostasy! Then God added to the stone tablet for perpetuity: "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God" (Exod 20:5).

     Even if the Yoga was only physical, it would still be wrong in God's eyes! Scientifically and spiritually there are no forces within which need balancing; mankind has again been deceived! That seems to be a really easy thing to do.

     What do teachers of Yoga say about it? "Yoga is the union of the self and the Lord." (Kaundinya's Pancarthabhasya on the Pasupatasutra). Other branches of Veda have similar definitions, but basically Yoga is becoming one with the Lord. 
     Since Yoga is a Hindu religious practice, the savvy person should ask: Why practice Hinduism and whose Lord? The answer to "whose Lord" is Shiva, Vishnu, and Shakti. Yoga is the worship of at least one of those three major Hindu gods. For Christians, that is abominable and sacrilegious. It is worshiping Vishnu in the very face of the Lord! Who is God's "face"? Jesus Christ. Yoga is a violation of the Third Commandment as well: "Thou shalt not take the name (Jesus) of the Lord thy God in vain (minimizing his purpose)" (Exod 20:7). 

     The practice of the Doctrine of Christ is the only beneficial and essential thing God demands. Adherents to the Doctrine of Christ will have a long life because revering our Parent results in that (Exod 20:12). Who would have thought it? Honoring our father and mother includes honoring our Father in Heaven. Yoga is dishonoring our True Lord in favor of a false lord. 

     Let is examine the eight limbs or stages of Yoga (Yoga Journal; Mary Calico; paraphrased):

1. Ethical standards and sense of integrity. Their Golden Rule.
2. Self-discipline and spiritual observances.
3. The postures in preparation for meditation for spiritual growth since the body is the temple of the spirit.
4. Extending life by breath control.
5. Withdrawal from the external world.
6. Concentration on the Divine.
7. Meditation
8. A state of ecstasy transcending the Self and realizing a profound connection to the Divine.

     Let's look at stage eight firstly: "Self" is capitalized as is "Divine". Just as Christianity, Yoga is diminishing the god of Self in favor of the Divine God. There are at least two problems with that: (1) Their Divine is not Jehovah, and (2) We cannot get to regeneration (born again) by any other Name than Jesus. Yes, stage eight refers to what Jesus said: "You must be born again" (John 3:7). The goal or peak experience of Yoga is regeneration through a false god! Are you beginning to see the heresy in the practice of Yoga?

     Righteousness is living to God's standards. Stage one of Yoga is living to a set of standards. Again: Whose standards? 

     Self-discipline is also a tenet of Christianity (stage two). In Yoga, whose discipline and whose spirit are they to observe? The answer is obvious: their false gods!

     In stage three the postures are to prepare to meditate on their gods' wills and to grow spiritually. Whose spirit? A false spirit! Christians are not to bow down to other gods. Those postures are doing just that!

     Stage four is self-explanatory and seems benign but it is controlling oneself for what is to come.

     Stage five could be perilous. Withdrawal from this world into what world? Obviously the spiritual world of Hinduism. That is certainly a religious thing to do, albeit a false religion.

     Concentrate on the Divine (Stage six). Who is Divine? In Christianity Jehovah God called Jesus is the Divine, and the only one. Their multiple gods are hardly divine or even gods. If God, there only needs to be one because a True God has the power to create without help!

     Stage seven seems safe enough. Meditate. Again, meditate on whom? Christian meditation is thinking about and listening to God. With Yoga it is clearing the mind of all things and opening it up to spiritual suggestion; listening to Shiva. That is dangerous because there are evil forces out there, and many are disguised as Hindu gods. Hinduism has a staggering 33,000,000 gods. Holy Scripture calls them "legions" (Mark 5:9). If you practice Yoga you may be in extreme spiritual danger. Their own doctrine is a warning! Those gods just may devour the Christian just as roaring lions would do (1 Pet 5:8).

    "Ecstasy" in Christianity is when the Holy Spirit imbues the regenerated Christian (Acts 2). What happens in the eighth stage of Yoga? The Self makes a connection to the Divine. That is their reception of the Hindu spirits. For a Christian, that is being devoured by Satan. 

    Christianity has a single God and He is called Jesus. Hinduism has multitudes of gods and they are called demons in Holy Scripture. Yoga is the worship of false gods and the possible reception of demonic spirits. Yoga may endanger you to the extent that you just may die as God warns!

    If you think you are doing only the posture part, then you are deceived. "They" know what it is you are doing and so does God. You are in effect bowing down to their gods. You can be fooled but you can't fool God. Satan keeps trying and has introduced all manner of pagan religions into Christianity and the western world through so-called "science". Buyer beware!