As a born again Christian who lives to love Jesus and follow God through His Spirit, I find it increasingly difficult to stomach they catty discussions that permeate the Christian Blogosphere, think tanks, and message boards.
Whether it be MacArthur disciples blasting (I need to find the link) my former church ROCKHARBOR as selling universalism and pantheism to others who blog and post on the internet and label Francis Chan as a heretic because he decides to step down from leading his church.
So in that tension of being in the "Now" but "Not Yet", and with a first hand knowledge of the power of Transformation and the Resurrection, I bend a little bit, to let my reaction, commentary, critique, and hopefully some humor enter into those "conversations".
Let me first say that I don't tend to identify myself with any denomination. My views are somewhat reflective of the Churches and Pastors that I have been influenced by, but are not endorsed by or for doctrinal statement from any Church I have attended, will attend, have worked for or will work for.
Nor do I have any special letters before or after my name to indicate that I have been trained in a particular school of thought. In fact the only diploma I have is from High School.
I would consider myself somewhat of a recovering Evangelical or better yet Gospel fundamentalist. Some would call me Post Modern or emergent, emerging or something of that nature, but thats when labels get just silly. I just consider myself someone who is trying to love Jesus, let Jesus love me, and let the evidence of that be in the way world sees me and influences the way I react and see the world.
My goal isn't to be divisive or argumentative, though that is nearly unavoidable, but rather to find a common understanding of being a Christ Follower and living in this world, and the tension that creates.
I will document my travels, my meetings, my experience and my reactions in my blog.
And on to this:
So it then should not surprise me to come across this new Albert Mohler critique of yoga that seems to be causing more of firestorm which at the end of the day begs a few questions.
As I write this a Ed Stetzer tweets that he has had way too many conversations about yoga today. I will try to break down the confluence of the issue:
The main breakdown I believe in doctrinal belief is definitions of terms and the cause and effect of those actions that are defined by those terms.
What something means to you, it may certainly not mean to me.
Example? Punk Rock music. Is it a musical style, of way of life, or a sticker you buy at your local Hot Topic? Early Punk Rock was more of scene according to some. The musical styles were vast and wide.
From speed be bop pop like the Ramones, to reggae rock socialist inspired The Clash, to vampire influenced The Damned. Modern Punk Rock seems to be indicated and identified by chord structures, tempos and lyrical them. So in 1979 Weezer could've been punk and in 2010, not so much.
Family. Who do you include in your family? Your immediate family? Your extended family? Some would be apt to include friends, their community, their team, their fraternity. For those of us that don't have extensive blood related family that meaning can be entirely different.
But is linguistics really at the center of all of our misunderstandings?
"When Christians practice yoga, they must either deny the reality of what yoga represents or fail to see the contradictions between their Christian commitments and their embrace of yoga." - Albert Mohler
In his critique of yoga along with his book review and conversation with Stephanie Syman, Dr. Mohler paints some valid pictures of Yoga and its use as a "New Age" transcendentalist form of renewing your mind, body and soul.
And then goes in his Q and A's with Professor Douglas Groothui from The Denver Seminary. It can then be construed that the gist of the conversation is that you can not do yoga and be a Christian.
Whats a Christian? That could be debated.
Dr. Mohler then proceeds to explain in a follow up post in replying that none of the responses in defense of yoga do not provide any biblical basis or "theology" to back up their defense of its practice.
Although its interesting to note that in none of the previous posts from Dr. Mohler, here, here, and here there is no scripture that is quoted as a basis for this idea that yoga is counter-Christian.
So my questions do not center around the idea of whether Yoga is Christian like or un-Christian like. Although it may seem to where this topic was trending.
I am fairly certain being that I have never practiced yoga, that with in the practice of yoga there can be certain aspects that can lead people down a wrong path of spirituality and open doors to spiritual realms that most are neither prepared nor equipped to combat.
I can also say that it is an interesting discussion that may have some valid points on both sides of the fence. This is not saying that I am grey in my doctrinal beliefs.
You see the practice of yoga can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people.
If you are a Christian, and you are in yoga chanting gregorian chants to enlighten yourself and following the white light for healing, I am going to have to suggest that there may be some danger in opening doors to things that you don't know about, nor are you equipped to handle.
However you may be someone who has done yoga for 20 years and that spiritual journey has led you to asking questions about this faith that I so embrace and live for.
Its my belief this comes down to one of those personal grey areas of decision. Like drinking beer or using color metaphors.
If I say its raining, you may say its drizzling. My wife may say its pouring.
I may say its time for shorts, you may say its freezing.
I prefer to ride my bike, you may prefer to run.
We all have a different perspective based on our life experiences, our spiritual maturity, and how we are currently engaging our faith and seeking the Truth, the Light, and the Way.
If you say yoga helps you engage your faith, I have to assume that you are not endorsing all eastern beliefs that contradict with being a Christian.
Yoga can be practiced with out compromising Truth.
My problem in the identification as yoga as something that is unChristian like, is that once we start to name activities as unchristian like or begin to point out things that can be construed as evil and not in congruence with scripture of the Teachings of Jesus, we continue a Amish-like perpetuance of the view of an exclusionary Gospel. While there is a reality in this, its that perception that is portrayed to the world which is damaging. We don't have to be an all inclusive hipster Christianity.
But we can't be induced into believing things like Big 10 football is of the devil (I think there is some truth to that).
There are certainly things that are evil and the Bible is clear on that.
You can take out yoga and replace it with: fantasy football, weightlifting, music, television, relationships, automobiles, surfing, Ohio State football, almost anything. Its a broad stroke, a denunciation of any verb or noun ad infinite item: Insert here.
There is a perception in the understanding of what it is you are talking about.
That perception formulates those thoughts and expressions.
Some of those expressions will be sinful and need repentance.
But it is completely possible and feasible to quote somebody, participate in an activity with out endorsing what that activity or person believes. In scripture Paul quotes Epimendes and Aratus in Acts 17. I think I can go out on a limb and say that Paul did not endorse Greek Hellenism or the worship of Zeus.
What this condemnation view leads to, is a separation and pharisee type judgement on those who practice things differently than we do.
We know the cross is foolish to those who are perishing. Why must we be intentional about making it look more foolish?
The very essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that is an invitation to an eternal relationship that was bought for with blood and resurrection, and ascension of Jesus to Heaven with promise that he will return to restore all things as in a new Heaven and new Earth. (Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:14, 8:40,58, 11:33; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 5:8-10; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:8)
It was not an invitation to argue the 5 points of Calvinism, or whether or not there is a pre tribulation rapture.
Our invitation is to a salvation. It is a salvation that comes though the Grace and Mercy of Christ alone.
Its an invitation to a knowledge that there is a power and majesty that is greater than anything of this world.
We seem to get caught up as Christians in the semantics of laws, theologies, and absolutism as ways of defining our boundaries.
How do be a good father. 10 Steps to be a good steward with your finances. Whether or not you should practice yoga. Worship with hands up or down.
Some of these things are good and needed. Boundaries are healthy. It is important we understand our theology, it helps understand our purpose and is the basis for what we believe and it translates in the way we live that out. Laws create societal boundaries that keep order in place.
But if our primary purpose as believers is "make disciples of all nations" as commanded in Matthew 28:19, is it not important that we understand culture and interpret are reactions the way that Paul did as he was engaging societies and beliefs that completely ran contrary to the ideas later expressed in his epistles, and the Gospel for that matter?
Boundaries, laws and theologies (denominations) can become oppressive. Which is entirely against what the Bible teaches that the Gospel is. Where the Gospel is there is freedom. Freedom in accepting that invitation to salvation. Freedom in denying that invitation. Freedom in finding ways to embrace and learn about different ways of engaging and meeting God.
Following Christ is a new freedom to be experienced. That can be explained and evidenced by the expressed freedom through which we live in. True Christians would have no problem or feel threatened by engaging in yoga for fitness or to better understand its meanings. While those seeking a universalist non Gospel Centric journey through the New Age techniques of yoga may encounter spiritualism that runs counter to what following Jesus is about. With living in a tension of this present age, the way that freedom is experienced should be tempered and moderated with in our communities by those more mature and experienced. Not so as to create division but to create unity.
A lot of times it seems that modern Evangelical thought is spiritual parenting from the pulpit.
We have to be accountable to our communities and the Holy Spirit to be our guidance. We have to have leaders. Our leaders have to be humble in the authority they wield.
Being good stewards of the Grace which has been so freely given to us, we must also extend that Grace to those that do not know what they do. This Grace is not expressed as an acceptance to a lifestyle that runs counter-Gospel anti-Christ like, but with love and understanding that the world offers many truths and many lies, an many times lies are more clear than truth through certain world views. Because we have been blessed with Grace we can not take a moral superiority to those that have not found or accepted that Gospel of Grace yet.
But it is our job to live in a way that would compel them to ask about the Grace we have received, to invite them into that conversation, and to let the Holy Spirit do for them what he did for us.
Somethings are completely unacceptable in the Christian lifestyle and need to be rebuked or repented from.
If the SBC feels that yoga is inappropriate for members of their denomination. I have know problem with that.
But I do have a problem with someone questioning other's salvation and motivations based on their understanding of ancient stretching exercises.
Yoga is not one of those hills I am going to die on.
Besides I have seen people do pilates and the machines that engulf them that is truely EVIL.
