John MacArthur verses Doug Pagitt of Solomon’s Porch on the topic of Christians practicing Yoga.
Christ Alone Wyoming
Proclaiming the Truth of Christ-Centered Theology
John MacArthur verses Doug Pagitt of Solomon’s Porch on the topic of Christians practicing Yoga.
Christ Alone Wyoming 
Here’s a link to a video I found a while back. Gives you a glimpse inside Pagitt and his “church”:
http://ateam.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2007/2/8/2719683.html
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Great video. MacArthur never misses a chance to preach the Gospel when you put him on TV.
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I think Doug Pagitt is thinking balanced here.
MacArthur is off-base, in my view.
Take all the activities we “accept” and consider somewhat “normal” living…
Go home, fill your mind with nonsense on TV, watch ads that bring out lust, indulge yourself with donuts, spend yourself into oblivion to cover up your….. etc., etc….
But don’t empty and center your thoughts in a workout that can actually help your body to build up its endurance; help your heart in proper breathing, or train yourself to focus while your body is being tested and built up. There might be a “spiritual” connection.
There’s a spiritual connection to everything.
Why single this one out? It can used for such benefit.
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Bill,
So because sin is easy and ubiquitous, yoga is OK? All sin is wrong, and we must avoid it.
Thanks,
Bill
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confusing.
who said yoga is sin? I believe it is more than just “ok”, it has benefit. I was simply making a comparison, asking why this would be singled out over any other area of life someone like yourself might take issue with.
perhaps my scenario wasn’t clear.
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Yoga is not good, it is evil because it is system devised as a pathway to “god” and comes not from the LORD but rather the heathen who are violently opposed to him. It is darkness which we are commanded in Scripture to have no fellowship with.
Yet we have been so blinded in the leavened and lukewarm church that we think we can treat Yoga (i.e. Hinduism) like a buffet. Here, we sit down with plate in hand and pick out what we like and avoid what we do not like. All the while thinking that we, by our subjective viewpoint, can avoid any harm by being such a conscientious consumer.
Unfortunately, such cannot be done for Yoga is opposed to Jesus Christ no differently than outright atheism. Actually, probably even more so. Here is a snippet showing all who desire the truth about what Yoga is really about.
So please people, stop redefining Yoga per your personal view about what you would like it to be. You cannot do this any more than those who try to redefine Christianity to suit their personal preferences. Yoga is all about union with god; this is what the asanas are all about. It is anti-Christ to the core.
For me, I started with Yoga all so innocently (as so many do) to help with chronic pain that often times caused me much difficulty. And so I bought a few books, a couple of CD’s and dove right in. First it was the exercises that seemed harmless enough like the sun salutation. An innocent enough exercise or so I thought until I learned it is a move specifically designed to pay homage to the sun.
Other asanas are so designed and I’m not going to look at them all. In addition to the asanas there was the mediation and deep breathing. Here, I was aided by a CD from Dr. Weil and another one from a name I cannot remember. All as I sought to follow the Yoga disciplines in emptying my mind and just relaxing.
But as I did so I truly found myself being opened up mentally to evil in ways I find hard to explain. It was not good. I can explain it like someone who opens up the doors of his house, walks outside and tells all the passers by (good and evil) that the doors of his house are now open and no one is at home. This is the way it feels when you really press into deep meditation and empty your mind.
By God’s grace I was not long into this when I was convicted that I needed to flee from Yoga as fast as I could. And so I did and rid myself of all of it and never looked back.
Today – I do exercises and stretches but none of them involve Yoga. I’d rather be crippled over in pain and restricted in a bed than to ever dabble with Yoga again.
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This is unfortunate. To presume that a particular series of stretching exercises ( commonly referred to as Yoga ) is inherently evil / un biblical – seems lazy at best.
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Clearly there are functional distinctions between healthy Yoga movement(s) and mystic Yoga philosophy
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Ought Christians to practice Yoga movements ? Sure.
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Should Christians subject themselves into an anti-Christ Yoga training environment ?
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No
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Thank you for the background. It probably is helpful to many.
your quote:
“please people, stop redefining Yoga per your personal view…”
So…. your interpretation is truth, and others (like mine) is a personal view.
Am I getting that right?
I disagree with the views you present here. And I feel free to call yours- “views”.
I am a Bible believing follower of Christ. I read the scriptures and prayerfully try to divide the Word as you do.
I do think we are lukewarm.
But, I assume, not in the areas you are looking at.
Jesus came to proclaim: justice, mercy, care for the poor, the least- greatest…. the kingdom of God.
I agree. I think we are often blinded, by taking our eyes off of what Jesus saw, and focusing it elsewhere.
“We sit down and pick out what we like on the plate?” I am going to guess — you use the word “we”… but are saying based on the thoughts expressed in this blog by “me”.
I agree. We all do it, at times.
But the tone you write that with sends a subtle message of superiority… that you have a special line on the truth that others are missing. I don’t think you mean to convey that.
Do you?
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MacArthur is RIGHT ON – well said JMac
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i was once a student of yoga and meditation.what started out to be a way to stay fit turned out to be something much deeper. iwas an avid student of lao tzu writings. after a time i began practicng the art of feng shui.. the more i delved into these arts the more experiences i had that were much less than positive.ibelieve because i was raised up in a home that taught godly values i was not blinded by the lying spirits that are loosed when people practice these arts. in short with spiritual eyes i was allowed to see-believe or not but its the truth- these filthy demon spirits. i can desribe them as being black and about 1 ft. in length with eyes and a mouth. in my spirit it was revealed to me that these spirits are involved in each and every occultic practice and false religion albeit there are a variety of sizes and shapes and purposes.i thank ALMIGHTY GOD and his wonderful son JESUS through his blood i was set free from sin and the oppression that they caused in my life. i strongly advise anyone who is into any of these vile practices to get out JESUS CHRIST WILL set you free.a christian most certainly should avoid with all their heart and soul stay with the life-giver JESUS CHRIST OUR BLESSED LORD AND SAVIOR.
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Bill,
My comments are not directed at anyone in particular but Yoga in general and Christians partaking in it. Many do so ignorantly as I did so I hope they might come to see the truth about it and come out of it.
Re. interpretation of Yoga I did no such thing. I defined it as it is defined (realizing more can be said about it); anything contrary is incorrect and a re-definition. No different than if one were to say Christianity to me is the belief that all religions are one and that Jesus is only one way to the Divine for all paths lead to the same end.
You wrote: “I am going to guess — you use the word “we”… but are saying based on the thoughts expressed in this blog by “me”.” – Incorrect. It is meant as a generality as to what I see in “Christiandom.” I include me in the we as I have done the same myself.
Re. you writing that the “tone [I] write that with sends a subtle message of superiority” is an inaccurate assessment. Do I believe I am speaking truth in this area, yes, if not, why would I write? Does this mean I feel I’m superior to others; hardly. Does passion or boldness = superiority? Is this how you would categorize anyone who speaks or writes as such?
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Nope. Just think it’s better to call it out when it seems that way. If I felt it, others might have as well.
I am sure you believe you are correct on this… of course… or you wouldn’t spend the time to be part of this blog and inform others of your convictions.
I believe my take on this is correct as well.
I rarely do yoga. My wife does regularly, and teaches it. She is a believer/a follower of Christ. There are certain aspects of the practice she will not be part of. The rest I’ve described are simply beneficial in so many ways, and do not go contrary to Jesus’ life, His Word, or the scriptures as they relate. If christians could take the good, they might actually learn practices that have redemptive qualities: like meditation that can focus on our Lord. How many followers of Christ know the fist thing about the practice of stillness, and meditative thought?
So, we each believe opposite on this subject.
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From listening to the whole video (even with having to suffer from listening to Doug Pagitt), John MacArthur knocks it out of the park with his answers.
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