Before continuing part two, I recommend a read or re-fresh of part one to put you back in the story—to find out why pantheon is more than an ancient Roman temple and how worldview affects our approach to yoga. Part two continues with a wake-up call, some invitations, and why Jesus’ physical body is so important.
If what I presented about yoga (seriously. . .read part one) didn’t at least pause your practice, allow me to gently stretch your mind from another position.
I Didn’t Know I Was Sleeping
Wake-up calls come in many forms; notorious for sleeping through alarms, my mom’s chirpy songs, tickles or bed bouncing could usually rustle me on school mornings.
On those rare days I didn’t budge after multiple tries—threatening the punctuality of my siblings—she’d playfully douse me with a little water or rip the covers off and yank me from my comfort.
Waking up may come as a shock, especially if we didn’t know we were asleep. I’ve had multiple wake-ups over the years; the most recent being the pandemic. I went from owning a business, about to be hired as a staff pastor in Phoenix, Arizona, to writing for women about self-image idolatry in Los Angeles!
What I share below may be a chirpy wake-up or a splash of cold water. Either way, my advice is given freely, so do what you feel the Holy Spirit leads you to do with it. And if you still happily do yoga after reading this, I bless you and promise not to be out front picketing.
Only Two Kingdoms.
The kingdom of God was the main topic of Jesus’ proclamation and ministry. I describe it as a real realm teeming with angels and heavenly creatures, where King Jesus always gets His way: no pain, tears, or death. The kingdom of Satan, on the other hand, (also real, but tiny in comparison to God’s power) is located on the Earth, in the atmosphere directly above, and hosts dark angels (also called demons).
No fear, Jesus already conquered Satan’s kingdom by His death and resurrection; now Satan’s fight is against us. Since he still occupies God’s rightful property, we’ve been authorized to take it back with the man Jesus Christ as our model.
Demons are real spirits that oppress and torment people, giving voice and energy to the idols and gods of the world (like the yoga god Shiva and the pantheon).
The Apostle Paul tells us, “. . .our struggle is not against flesh and blood. . .”(Ephesians 6:12, NIV) The real battle isn’t visible, so we need to spiritually armor-up.
Sometimes we imagine there’s a neutral zone between kingdoms where Jesus is just a nice add-on to our lifestyles, a guru or life-coach, but there’s no power of transformation in this.
When people feel enslaved by their lifestyles, they seek freedom and hope. Where can they go when the church is engaged in the same practices?
I shared this neutral-zone-Jesus for years with unsaved neighbors and friends. By relating on their turf, casually engaging in some of their practices, I hoped my faith-light would shine and (like moths to a flame) compel them to seek Jesus.
No moths came to my flame. It dwindled while I waited. For a season, doubts stacked up like Tetris bricks, and desire to pray or engage the Bible lagged. Discouraged and confused, I’d wonder why loving people in Jesus’ name wasn’t enough to effect change, all the while, dabbling in sin and selfishness.
I’m not alone; many Christians with good intentions who attempted to relate to the unbelievers within culture, now resemble the unbelievers they pursued in love. The long-term fruit hasn’t been good. I’ve seen this with many personal friends participating in yoga. It’s why we need a wake-up call.
As we grope to co-exist in unity with the lost but without righteousness (in God’s order and way), light diminishes and salt becomes tasteless.
Jesus never laid aside His holiness for the sake of unity. He embodied both in Himself. That’s why we need Jesus!
So what can be done about it? Well, as believers, we always have options. Here’s what I do:
Either alone, or in community, I grab my Bible and journal then invite the Holy Spirit to speak. I ask what He wants me to know about {insert topic here}. I then write down what comes into my head, whether words, pictures, memories, etc. Next, I ask what He wants me to do about it, then write what comes to mind. After listening, I try to do what He said. He wants to talk to us.
Listen to the Holy Spirit, but here’s my best advice about yoga:
Find an Alternative.
Yoga (Christian flavored or not) may seem harmless to you and your friends, but it’s opening your body, spirit, and mind to demons of the gods associated with the asanas (specific poses)—chock-full of deception, confusion, and sexual overtones.
Adding Hindu mantras or Chakra energy work is a misstep, too. Welcoming different energies in yoga is just code for welcoming spiritual beings. The spirit-beings connected to yoga are demons.
If you’re willing to lay it down, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Without telling her, my neighbor understood knowledge of Jesus isn’t the same as closeness. She knew something of her life would have to be dropped to know Jesus personally. In the past, I may have joined her yoga studio in hopes of relating to her and being a Christian witness. I’ve learned an important lesson through the experience:
We are commissioned to make disciples of all nations, not missionary-date the world.
When we dabble in the world’s forms of idolatry, even with pure motives, our bodies tell a different story than our speech. People watch what you do more than listen to what you say.
Make Your Practice Private.
Maybe you’re someone who’s convinced yoga is a Romans 14 disputable matter—just one of the many current cultural clashes worthy of the picket-lines.
You say, “Merry, I love Jesus, the fruit of His Spirit pours out of my life, I regularly pray for strangers and see them delivered of demons and healed of their diseases, but I still can’t wait to roll out my mat and bend over—I love the way yoga makes me feel!”
That’s fair.
Even though I may not agree, if your faith allows you to practice yoga freely with no doubt as you worship God, I bless you to do what you have faith for. We all will give our own account, and only God knows what’s in our hearts.
As you’ve read, many find yoga a stumbling block, so like Paul to the Romans, I appeal to your love, kindness, and humility in Christ. I ask if you would be willing to practice yoga only in private for the sake of Christian brothers and sisters in the larger body around the world, and the lost who are watching.
Only One Body.
The Father showed His love by sending His only son to die on our behalf. Jesus showed His love by surrendering His will and body. Love looks like something. How we use our mouths and bodies is an overflow of what’s in our hearts.
Here are some ways we can glorify His body while using our own:
Keep Worshipping Jesus
Like plants need sunlight, we need to get filled with the light beaming from our King. During your next prayer or Bible reading time, if able, take your body and bow or lay it before Jesus. In this place of closeness, raise your hands in surrender, or put them out as if you welcome His gifts. Worshipping Jesus with our bodies is natural wellness. Why do we need yoga?
The Psalms are full of bodily expressions of worship—lying prostrate, bowing, dancing with all your might, shouting, crying, laughing, meditating, the list goes on. Why not try them as the Psalmists recommend?
Thank Him for what He’s done for you, tell Him who He is to you—enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise! The Holy Spirit is our access into God’s presence, and when we can see His beauty, surrender becomes our joy.
Trying to save a broken world with the world’s broken tools doesn’t work. Our help comes from the maker of the world.
Here’s another way we can glorify His body while using our own:
Keep Taking Communion
Christians around the world practice two main sacraments: baptism and ongoing communion. Symbolically receiving Jesus’ body and blood through communion, we not only obey Jesus’ command, but proclaim He is a real human man who died, resurrected, lives right now (still marred by His crucifixion), and is coming back to Earth the same way He left.
Where yoga gets ethereal or hard to pin down, and other spiritual practices get so cluttered with their intellectual ascension of Christ consciousness, Jesus uses the bread and wine as a very down-to-earth way to connect us to Himself mentally, physically, and spiritually. Mentally (by meditating on His act of love), physically (by consuming real food and drink), and spiritually (by exchanging our offenses for forgiveness and mercy ). You probably won’t sweat (unless you guzzle the wine), but partaking in communion is definitely a beautiful wellness habit—especially done with other believers.
Jesus, the head of the Church, is bringing His body together in unity, love, and holiness for the sake of the lost. Surrendered to Him, we begin to move in partnership with the Spirit and one another.
Let’s give a spiritual welcome from the body by taking communion, and being in communion, with the person of Jesus Christ.
