Christian Yoga? It's a Stretch...(Is Yoga Demonic? Yes, it is.)

[specsaregood]

Now you're just playing dumb

So the physical body?

Who was he speaking to?

 

[eduardo89]

So the physical body?

Who was he speaking to?

I'll let you figure that one out yourself. I believe this might help.

 

[specsaregood]

I'll let you figure that one out yourself. I believe this might help.

thanks for the help, i was more interested in your interpretation but if you dont feel like sharing that is fine as well.

 

[TER]

(I hope this makes sense as I am trying to hurry. My children are waiting for the next round of lessons since they just finished lunch. I might reread later and see if I can add clarity when I have time...)

You make great sense my friend. Take care of the more important things and we will catch up later.

 

[eduardo89]

Who was he speaking to?

He was speaking to us all. Anyone who wishes to be saved must accept Jesus as their Savior.

 

[specsaregood]

He was speaking to us all. Anyone who wishes to be saved must accept Jesus as their Savior.

And what do you base that upon? Who was he physically speaking to at the time?

I'm not "playing dumb" or even busting balls. I'm asking as to how you come to these beliefs and interpretations. I was not raised in a christian household, so perhaps these things are elementary to you but they are out of my knowledge base.

 

[wannaberocker]

I hope I follow a different Christ than one you and other people here talk about. You peach with your mouth and your hands through words and type, but the words are not resonating with your actions. You are pushy, judgmental, rude, and condescending; all negative traits the Christ I believe in would look down upon. Your reply to most is "You do not understand the Scripture," or "your knowledge is limited." The scripture is one thing. What you and other Christians need to realize is hardly anyone has the time to pick up the Bible and read it, so their first real dose of Christianity comes from the actions of so-called Christians.

That being said, within this thread you have said or done nothing that makes me want to look any closer for your 'Christ.' You have done your Christ a great disservice.

This is not a Me Vs You issue. The discussion is about what is the "Truth" regarding Christ. You claim that the scriptures are irrelevant. Yet, you still claim to be a follower of Christ. So based on your rejection of Scripture, i have to ask you the questions "who is Christ"? "what is his message"? and "Where can that message be found"?


You also seem to claim that all path's lead to God. Yet, Christ explicitly rejected that view in his messages. So the issue here is how does one overcome the contradictions and still claim to be a follower of Christ?

What i am trying to point out is that the "Christ" you proclaim to follow does not exist in Scriptures. The Christ that is all about being "Nice" and "loving" just like a fuzzy security blanket, does not exist.

The Christ of the scripture was like Roaring Lion. THat Same Christ of the Scripture would smack down the Pharisees so hard when they tried to Misuse Scripture. That Christ from the Scriptures was in many cases extremely "Rude".

 

[eduardo89]

And what do you base that upon? Who was he physically speaking to at the time?

I'm not "playing dumb" or even busting balls. I'm asking as to how you come to these beliefs and interpretations. I was not raised in a christian household, so perhaps these things are elementary to you but they are out of my knowledge base.

He was physically speaking to the Apostles. It was his of "farewell" to them at the Last Supper. I believe it is Peter who asks Jesus where He is going, Jesus responds that He is going to the Father. Thomas asks Him how they can follow Him there and Jesus responds to them that by knowing Him, they will know the Father. He is telling them that through Him they will reach Heaven. This means that if they have faith in Him, if they know Him, if they love Him, if they follow in His path, they know the Father.

 

[specsaregood]

He was physically speaking to the Apostles. It was his of "farewell" to them at the Last Supper. I believe it is Peter who asks Jesus where He is going, Jesus responds that He is going to the Father. Thomas asks Him how they can follow Him there and Jesus responds to them that by knowing Him, they will know the Father. He is telling them that through Him they will reach Heaven. This means that if they have faith in Him, if they know Him, if they love Him, if they follow in His path, they know the Father.

So what he said could be interpretted as applying to the group he was speaking to.
You said:

It is already so simple that anyone can understand it.

And yet it doesn't seem descriptive enough to arrive at the singular conclusion you have come to. What he said is the reality and the truth to those people; but not necessarily to others. Mind you, I'm not disagreeing with you. i'm just batting around obvious questions. I doubt I'm the first to have thought them up.

 

[eduardo89]

So what he said could be interpretted as applying to the group he was speaking to.

I don't think you could arrive at that conclusion. Especially because a few lines later he says this, which obviously applies to everyone

John 14:23 Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.

Especially if you read the preceding line where Jude asks Him why He reveals Himself to the Apostles and not everyone. Jesus replies that anyone can achieve salvation through Him.

 

[wannaberocker]

So what he said could be interpretted as applying to the group he was speaking to.
You said:

And yet it doesn't seem descriptive enough to arrive at the singular conclusion you have come to. What he said is the reality and the truth to those people; but not necessarily to others. Mind you, I'm not disagreeing with you. i'm just batting around obvious questions. I doubt I'm the first to have thought them up.

There is a reason we should not just read 1 or 2 verses. But rather try to read the whole gospel. As Ed pointed out, if we go on to the next few lines, it becomes clear that Jesus intends the message to be for all and not just those who immediately sit before him.

 

[specsaregood]

There is a reason we should not just read 1 or 2 verses. But rather try to read the whole gospel. As Ed pointed out, if we go on to the next few lines, it becomes clear that Jesus intends the message to be for all and not just those who immediately sit before him.

I'm not so sure. The first line is exclusive. But then the 2nd quote is inclusive.
I'm gonna write up an example of what I mean in a bit; but gotta do something first.

 

[dannno]

I think Christ's own words are clear:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

The question, I guess, is whether that is supposed to mean that you are supposed to try and live like Christ or whether you are merely supposed to "believe" in him.

Merely believing in him is the lazy man's way out, imo. I mean, ya, nobody is going to be perfect, but maybe it is more about intention.

 

[eduardo89]

The question, I guess, is whether that is supposed to mean that you are supposed to try and live like Christ or whether you are merely supposed to "believe" in him.

Merely believing in him is the lazy man's way out, imo. I mean, ya, nobody is going to be perfect, but maybe it is more about intention.

How do you live like and follow Him without believing in Him?

 

[wannaberocker]

The question, I guess, is whether that is supposed to mean that you are supposed to try and live like Christ or whether you are merely supposed to "believe" in him.

Merely believing in him is the lazy man's way out, imo. I mean, ya, nobody is going to be perfect, but maybe it is more about intention.

I don’t think one can "believe" in Christ and still be Master of his or her own life. A heart that is centered in Christ tries to do the Will of the Father.

As Jesus pointed out in Matthew 7:21 ""Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

The verse speaks to those who proclaim Christ. Yet reject him by their life and actions.

 

[MRoCkEd]

The question, I guess, is whether that is supposed to mean that you are supposed to try and live like Christ or whether you are merely supposed to "believe" in him.

Merely believing in him is the lazy man's way out, imo. I mean, ya, nobody is going to be perfect, but maybe it is more about intention.

"Then they said to him, 'What must we do, to be doing the works of God?' Jesus answered them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. '"
John 6:28 - 29

As for "living like Christ," as in keeping the commandments, that is a sign that you are saved.

 

[jmdrake]

Easter is historically a pagan holiday, but look at the huge banner his church's website is using to advertise it: http://marshill.com/

Clearly Mark Driscoll and his church are pagans?

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Jeremy again.

Sorry but this is a nonsense thread. Okay. Let's take the "Because Yoga was initially part of a Hindu religious ritual so it's by definition evil and demonic" to its logical extreme. So all mixed martial artists today are demonic? You see from Yoga you get kung fu and from kung fu you got Japanese martial arts such as jujitsu and from jujitsu you got Brazilian jujitsu and Brazilian jujitsu is one of the core arts of most mixed martial artists. Because it's demonic? No. Because it's effective. And guess what? Lots of Brazilian mixed martial artists do yoga because they've found it effective in improving their ability to to Brazilian jujitsu. It's not just the stretching but its the stamina from the breathing and the holding of the poses. And yes, I've heard Christians claim that Christians can't do any kind of Asian martial art and still be Christian. And I say that's total bunk. Are there aspects of Asian martial arts that you probably shouldn't get into if you are a Christian? In my opinion yes. But that's up to each Christian to figure out.

What does Paul say about Christians and idols? Well people in his day were worried if a Christian could eat meat offered to idols. Here's his response.

1 Corinthians 8

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Bottom line, I wouldn't do yoga in a Christian church that might cause someone else who was weak to stumble. But it's clear, to me anyway, that doing yoga doesn't affect one's Christianity any more than eating meat offered to idols.

 

[lilymc]

​

Excuse me, but it is not I who have claimed that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life, and the Son of God Who was sent to save the world. it was He Himself Who claimed it. I am only a follower of His.

Exactly! And it really comes down to believing and trusting Jesus or not. And I want to say that I know there are many good people with good intentions who disagree with my earlier post (about not mixing religions). But I genuinely think that each of us needs to look at what the scriptures are saying as a whole... and IF we profess to be followers of Christ, we can't completely throw out certain doctrines and choose which parts of the bible we want to believe. In the scriptures, God is VERY clear about not being like "the world" and not following false 'gods' or false/misleading doctrines.

I can understand why non-Christians would want to pick certain things out of the bible to believe, and reject what they don't like. But if we do profess to be Christians, I think it's more of an "all or nothing" deal. Especially when it comes to foundational teachings, such as the teaching that there is only one God (Is 45:5, 1 Kings 8:60, Eph 4:4-6 Acts 4:12 and tons more) and to "test the spirits" because there is an enemy out there who wants to mislead people from God/truth. Btw - I know that people will reply that Christians also "cherry-pick" and don't follow all the teachings. True, but there's a difference between missing the mark - as in failing to be obedient or at times forgetting certain things and being led by one's human nature instead of God - and choosing to completely disbelieve/reject/throw out entire doctrines. All of us miss the mark, but if someone rejects certain foundational doctrines, that person needs to make a choice. As the scriptures say, "Choose this day whom you will serve...."

 

[tttppp]

It is already so simple that anyone can understand it.

It can be condensced into two sentences

Matthew 4:10, "You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve."

And

John 14:6, "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

What does that have to do with anything? It might as well say "I am God, worship me." You can hardly base a religion on that.

 

[jmdrake]

Well I know what Mark was referring to, but you don't really need to know the exact details. Mark is exaggerating and maybe he's forgetting that the film is fictional. Christianity Today gave the movie an almost perfect score too. And I believe Relevant Magazine said the exact opposite of Mark- that Christian themes can be found in it.

In the Lord of the Rings world, the creation story is very different than Christianity. But J.R.R. Tolkien intentionally filled his stories with tons of Christian themes. And then there's C.S. Lewis... the most famous modern Christian author who also created the fictional world of Narnia. Although I'm not entirely sure if he goes into details about how the world was created like Tolkien did.

But yeah... if Mark is okay with Tolkien, Lewis, and Easter, he should also be okay with Avatar and Yoga stretches.

C.S. Lewis detailed the creation of Narnia by the Lion Aslan in the book "The Magician's Nephew". It will be interesting to see what Disney does to that book. They were pretty true to the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, but they butchered Prince Caspian as well as the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. They were still fun movies to watch though.