Yoga - idol

Just as with most things, there are two sets of arguments on Yoga and on how it fits to the Christian walk. I think, before we take a side, we need to identify the core issue where these two arguments arise from. The core issue here is whether an idol and a practice that is used to worship an idol has any demonic power to it. Understanding these would help us understand how far we should stretch this aspect that distinguishes the two arguments.

To the Western World, idol or worshipping idol is not familiar. So, let's start there. 

What is an idol? 

From my Hindu background, in which worshipping an idol is a big part of it, which is very similar to OT days, I see it as one or a partial aspect of God, worshipping of which keeps us from the fullness of God. It is like giving us a quick fulfillment that goes as quick as it comes, which makes us depending on it again and again. In a way, it's like the difference between joy and happiness. Some form of entertainment, like TV, would make you happy quickly, but it doesn't last long as the joy that would come from establishing a relationship with God. So, one can say the idols of the Western World are drugs, money and sex. 

That is why, there had to be millions of god in Hinduism. There is one idol or god for money (called Laxmi), one for education (Saraswathi), one for dance (Nataraj), one for power (Durga), one for fertility, one for destruction, one for truth, one for loyalty, one for renunciation, one for getting rid of bad omens........the list goes on. 

And, what you need to notice here is, there is a specific way to worship to specific idol. Please bare with me another important aspect here. The combination of a specific idol and the specific form of worship, limits you to being transformed in that one aspect of life, and keeps you from being transformed wholly. You can see the same with worshipping (love of) money. One could get rich, while it's not always guaranteed, but end up leaving everything else. 

Psalm 115:8 says "Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them."  

These concepts are something that I had to wrestle with before accepting the God of the Bible. When I was worshipping idol, didn't I love god? Yes, there is no doubt that I always loved God. And, please note that, the love on god is what drives all those to worship idols. Then, when it is my love for god that drives me to worship an idol in whatever form, why the God of the Bible HATED it? 

In fact, an idol and a specific form of worship geared towards a specific idol keeps us from the God who is complete and keeps us from being transformed into His likeness as a whole. 

Again, coming back to the difference between happiness produced by entertainment and happiness produced by joy, without God, we lack joy that lasts for eternity, but entertainment gives you a quick dose of happiness. One could keep craving for more and more entertainment and kept from looking beyond it. 

As you got some idea on idol and power of it, let's look at next topic. 

Source of the power of an idol. Is it demonic? or simply in the minds of people? 

There are two understandings on this as well.  

One - idols and practices of their worship have demonic forces, so we need to stay away from them. 

Two - there is no power to idols and practices, it is just in our minds, and as long as we have clear conscious, we don't have to worry about it. 

Seriously, one simple way to find it is to participate in one of those worships to personally experience of the power of it. My wife, who was born and brought up here in US and in the knowledge and understanding of the Word of God, came very close to it in her first visit to India, and can explain this to you well. 

But, here, let's look at what Bible says about it first. 

While one verse after another talks about how power less an idol is, like Psalm 135:15-17, let's not forget two points: one - why there had to be that many verses to keep reminding us over and over how powerless they are? two - why God did not simply ignore the topic of idol, but specifically told us neither to have an idol nor to use any of those pagan practices of worshipping (Exodus 34:17 and Deuteronomy 12:30-31)? 

Psalm 115:4-8 and Colossians 2:8 

Exodus 32:4 - the work of God in one becomes wasted. 

God didn't say idols are nothing but man made, so I don't care whatever you do with those. Instead, every time after they conquered a land filled with idols, He asked them to destroy all those completely. 

Let's not use passages like 1 Corinthians 8 and Acts 10 & 11 out of context. 

First, topic here is when someone offers you food that is sacrificed. But, let's ask ourselves if Paul himself would practice the act of sacrificing food, so he can win over the souls that are lost? Second, you may be practicing it with a clear conscience, but what about your weaker brother? Then, what about same Paul talking on the same issue in 1 Corinthians 10:27-28? Ultimately, when you read Paul's instructions in this matter carefully, even thought there is no power behind it, do not practice it. It is same as rest of the Bible on this issue. 

Acts 10 & 11 is about God blessing Jews and Gentiles, whoever believes, receiving the Holy Spirit alike, and it is about receiving gentile believers equally. It is not about receiving a ticket or license to practice ways of other religions. 

Again, the fact that the Bible had to remind us the idols and pagan practices have no power over and over again itself shows what kind of a snare they are. They themselves might not be demonic forces, but demonic forces use them very well. That is why God always asked them to be destroyed completely. 

A quick response to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hy-website/YogaandChrist.pdf : 

I was born and raised in that Indian culture and religion, and now I'm married to and live in this US culture and follows Christian religion. I was part of the Cru, especially on the International part of it, in which we learn and experience adopting to the cultures and ways to reach out people from various cultures more effectively. 

So, I see his point of view, and agree to several things he says. But, to the extent of his wife wearing articles of hindu idols? to the extent of using coconuts in the worship which has a very deep meaning in the religion that they are coming from? 

I'm not a theologian and I didn't go to a seminary, but I can tell you this. While, as I chose not to compromise in the ways and concepts, my parents, even though they struggled to the point of hating the God I chose to believe in to start with, ended up receiving Jesus and became a part of Church, everyone I met who came to Christ from Hindu background but did what his or her parents asked him to do in the name of loving them does not have his/her parents received Jesus yet. Instead, few of them ended up moving from believing Jesus being the only way to Him being one of the ways. I can give you names and details of them if you think I am making it up. 

In India, just because a person started believing in Jesus and coming to the Church, doesn't mean he or she is saved. Because, Jesus is viewed as one of the gods by many, and, if you act like you accept and respect their gods, they sure do the same. In fact, we faced similar situation right here before. But, as Autumn said that, in the end the way of God wins, and not bending but sticking to the principles and ways gave us the credibility to the level of asking to pray for them during their hardships. I can share with you more details in person.   

Let's not fall into the temptation of quick routs and short cuts. Our God is not a god of quick routs and short cuts. While blending into the culture and ways of certain group to reach out to them is important, we should not ever compromise to the level of causing more confusion to either the other non-believer or a weak brother in Christ. In the end, it is that parson who needs to chose and there has to be a clear distinguish between what he has to chose and what he already follows. 

We, in the flesh, tend to idolize everything. Sometimes, we do that with the Great Commission as well, and take it to too far, into our hands, and end up doing it outside God's principles. Even though our intention is right and even seems like producing fruit right away in the starting, it ends up causing a lot of damage in the long run. History is our evidence. 

A quick response to Holy Yoga 

It was just yesterday that this book was brought to my attention. I got a copy of it online and started reading it. With kids and many other things that keeping me busy and distracting constantly, I could only finish Introduction part of the book so far. There is a saying in India. When cooking rice, you don't need to test the whole rice, but by testing one grain, you can tell if it is cooked or not. Just from the introduction, with many notes and Bible references I wrote, I'm sorry to say but I call it heresy. 

Nothing in related to Yoga seems changed, except using the name Jesus. Either the name Jesus or a verse from the Bible itself is not a "mantra", that chanting or saying it over and over again would produce any miracle. Meditating on the Word is different from using the Word to meditate in eastern way. Verses like 1 Corinthians 6:20 and the way the holy yoga (batman :)) presents the body to serve the LORD are different. While Bible calls us to offer our body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2), the holy yoga wants to make sure of making body healthy, relieved from pain and connected to mind first. I feel bad for Paul for not knowing this technique as he was suffering and pressure from a lot of pain from the persecution (2 Corinthians 11:23-29), but went to God to heal him instead, and accepted even when God said my Grace is enough instead (2 Corinthians 12). In fact, which prophet in the Bible was effected by weak or deteriorating body? 

Those are my quick thoughts, and I'm still planning on reading the whole book and writing a response (may be chapter by chapter as I read) in a separate post.

Meanwhile, I shared my knowledge and experience on Yoga and Meditation in a separate post here: http://challengestochrisianwalk.blogspot.com/2015/10/yoga-what-i-learned-and-experienced.html