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Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Is Yoga Compatible with Christianity?

Short answer:

Yes.  I believe it is completely compatible.  I have my own experience of my faith deepening immensely when I began my practice sincerely and there are so many other faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints and Christians of other denominations who have found the same deepening of their faith due to their own personal practice.

Long Answer:

I believe wholeheartedly that it most definitely is, but unfortunately some do not understand the strength yoga can provide spiritually and they say no to its compatibility, their reasoning being that:
"The practice of yoga is based on the belief that man and God are one. It is little more than self-worship disguised as high-level spirituality." (Source)
I strongly disagree.  For example:
  •  Look at the word "Atonement" more closely = At - ONE - ment: 
"The literal meaning of the word "Atonement" is self-evident: at-one-ment, the act of unifying or bringing together what has been separated and estranged." Jeffrey R. Holland
  • The definition of "yoga" comes from the same root as "yoke" and means "union," specifically union with God.
And there are numerous accounts in scripture to help us understand:
  • Psalms 82:6 - "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High." 
  • Luke 17:21 - "For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
    A pair of rounded wire-frame eyeglasses lying on top of a Bible, which is opened to Acts chapter 27 and marked with a maroon ribbon.
  • 1 John 4:16 - "...God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 
  • John 10:34 - "Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?"
  • John 17:11 - "That they may be one, as we are."
  • John 17:22 - "And the glory which though gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one."
I want to point out our egocentric notion of what "Christianity" means with a few quotes:
"... non-Christian faiths teach many truths too ... God raises up wise men and prophets here and there among all the children of men, of their own tongue and nationality, speaking to them through means that they can comprehend; 'not always giving a fullness … of the gospel of Jesus Christ; but always giving that measure of truth that the people are prepared to receive.'” - R. Lanier Britsch
The world’s religions are not just corruptions of an original message but rather the product of a purposeful plan of God to reach all of his children, meeting them exactly where they need to be met. While some of the truths in other faiths may be the product of the original gospel passed on, many had brand new beginnings in meetings between the founder and his God. Falling into this category would certainly be Nanak, Zoroaster, Abraham, Muhammad, and Baha’u’llah. God seems to have given them new messages designed to raise the people of their day to new spiritual heights.” – Roger R. Keller, Light and Truth: A Latter-Day Guide to World Religions.
Now we stand in the full blaze of the restoration of the Gospel.  If people in other spiritual traditions and philosophies even without the restored Gospel, obtain such marvelous manifestations as those recorded in the world’s spiritual literature, it may be that many of us have hardly begun to plum the riches and powers of the restored Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” – M. Catherine Nelson
And finally...Fear not:
  • "Fear not the reproach of men." - Isaiah 51:7
  • "God hath not given us the spirit of fear."- 2 Timothy 1:7
  • "Fear not little flock; for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." - Luke 12:32

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Yoga is consistent with Christian teachings and in alignment with Christ-centered values and beliefs, such as taking care of the body and growing closer to God.  There are also reasons why people with no religious affiliations are drawn to it.
"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.  We are spiritual beings having a human experience." - Pierre Tiehard de Chardin


When one uses yoga and meditation as a tool to grow closer to God, self-worship is not a part of the picture.  In fact, it is a sacrifice, a personal commitment which develops self-discipline and builds character.  I can see how the adversary does not want that, so I guess there will always be the naysayers.