Yoga–Dangerous or Harmless?

Two years ago I listened to a lecture about the history of Yoga and why, in one missiologists opinion, Christian’s are wise to avoid all forms of Yoga.  More recently, this issue came to up again.

From The Huffington Post, via Out of Ur:

While yoga is not a “religion” in the sense that the Abrahamic religions are, it is a well-established spiritual path. Its physical postures are only the tip of an iceberg, beneath which is a distinct metaphysics with profound depth and breadth. Its spiritual benefits are undoubtedly available to anyone regardless of religion. However, the assumptions and consequences of yoga do run counter to much of Christianity as understood today. This is why, as a Hindu yoga practitioner and scholar, I agree with the Southern Baptist Seminary President, Albert Mohler, when he speaks of the incompatibility between Christianity and yoga, arguing that “the idea that the body is a vehicle for reaching consciousness with the divine” is fundamentally at odds with Christian teaching. This incompatibility runs much deeper.

Read the entire article.  It’s a good look at Yoga and Christianity, but from the Hindu perspective.  I think it makes sense, in light of the Barna Report on our Theological Illiteracy.

Why should a Christian study doctrine?

At the link, below, you’ll find N.T. Wright talking about Hell.  It’s a great example of why Christians ought to take seriously the need to know what we believe and why we believe it.  Fr Wright makes the point that Hell, as we conceive it, was a middle ages invention.  Yet, Chrysostom wrote:

This is no trivial subject of inquiry that we propose, but rather it concerns things most urgent, and about which many inquire:  namely, whether hell fire has any end.  For that is has no end Christ indeed declared when he said, “Their fire shall not be quenched, and their worm shall not die.”

Clearly Chrysostom is teaching that Hell is 1) Real, 2) Eternal, 3) Involves some sort of fire (which, I believe, he took as God’s Wrath).  Now, you might ask, “When did this Chrysostom guy live?”  To which, I would respond, “Around 347-407 AD.”

Hmmm.  That doesn’t sound like a middle ages invention to me.

Ur Video: NT Wright on Hell | Out of Ur | Conversations for Ministry Leaders.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

Intellectuals generate ideas and ideas matter, whether those ideas are right or wrong, and they matter far beyond the small segment of society who are intellectuals. Ideas affect the fate of whole nations and civilizations.

via Thomas Sowell : Intellectuals and Society – Townhall.com.

Dr. Sowell makes a good point, albeit politically.  This kind of thinking is why I believe teaching and preaching right doctrine is so important.  Ideas matter, and for the Christian right knowing precedes right living.  In order to us to live as Christ intends, we must see the world, sin, mankind and everything as He sees it.  That only happens through teaching the rights ideas.

I see this as one of the great deficiencies of the Evangelical church.  In my limited experience doctrine is briefly taught in a membership class, occasionally referenced from the pulpit and sometimes covered in a small group.  We need Christians who are steeped in Scripture, know what it is they believe, why they believe it and are contemplating how those beliefs change the way we live.