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A Call to Stay Biblical and Please the Lord
In these last days, when deception is subtle and darkness often appears as light, we who follow Jesus must ask serious questions about everything we allow into our lives. One such question is:
Can a Christian practice yoga and still remain pleasing to God?
Let us seek a clear answer not from the culture or our comfort, but from God's Word and the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
🧘♂️ The Truth About Yoga
Yoga is not merely stretching or exercise. It is a spiritual practice rooted in Hindu philosophy, designed to awaken spiritual energy (kundalini), attain "union" (yoga) with the divine, and escape the cycle of rebirth through self-realization. Its postures, chants (like "Om"), and meditations are spiritually symbolic acts—each with religious significance.
Even if presented in a modern, fitness-friendly format, yoga retains its spiritual roots. It is never spiritually neutral.
📖 "What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what communion has light with darkness?" — 2 Corinthians 6:14
📖 What the Bible Teaches
Though yoga is not named in the Bible, the principles of Scripture speak directly and powerfully about involvement in anything spiritually impure:
- Worship belongs to God alone - We cannot mix holy worship with pagan practices (Exodus 20:3-5; Deuteronomy 12:30–32).
- Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit - Every physical act has spiritual significance (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
- We must test all spirits - Not every spiritual experience comes from God (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21).
- God calls us to be separate from the practices of the nations (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Romans 12:1-2).
- Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, making deception subtle (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
- We are warned against vain philosophies that are according to human tradition and elementary principles of the world (Colossians 2:8).
The Bible teaches that practicing rituals rooted in false religions—whether knowingly or unknowingly—invites spiritual confusion and compromise with our exclusive devotion to Christ.
🙏 Why Should Christians Reject Yoga Completely?
- Because God is holy and calls us to live in holiness, separate from all defilement (1 Peter 1:15–16; 2 Corinthians 7:1).
- Because Christ demands exclusive lordship - mixing Christ with other spiritual practices violates the First Commandment and constitutes spiritual adultery (Exodus 20:3; James 4:4; Matthew 6:24).
- Because no spiritual practice outside God's revealed Word can lead to true life, peace, or spiritual growth (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- Because we are commanded to flee from idolatry in all its forms, including practices that honor false gods (1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21).
- Because our conscience must remain pure before God - participating in practices we know have pagan origins defiles our conscience (1 Timothy 1:19; Hebrews 9:14).
It is not enough to remove the chants or rename the poses. A practice born in idolatry cannot be sanctified by Christian language or intent. Paul's teaching about meat offered to idols shows us that the spiritual origin and associations of practices matter deeply to God.
📖 "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons." — 1 Corinthians 10:21
📖 "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." — 1 Corinthians 10:14
🕯️ A Call to Purity and Devotion
Dear brothers and sisters, do not be deceived by cultural trends or comfort-driven spirituality. Scripture calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross (Luke 9:23), not entertain ourselves with the world's practices. We are called to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24)—not in mixture, compromise, or convenience.
The Bible warns us that in the last days, many will have "a form of godliness but deny its power" (2 Timothy 3:5), seeking spiritual experiences apart from God's revealed truth.
Let us be a people set apart—holy, pure, and pleasing to the Lord in body, mind, and spirit, remembering that "friendship with the world is enmity with God" (James 4:4).
✅ What Can We Do Instead?
Instead of imitating the world's ways:
- Fill your heart and mind with the Word of God through meditation on Scripture day and night (Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8).
- Strengthen your body through simple, wholesome exercise—activities that do not carry spiritual baggage or pagan associations.
- Use physical activity as a time of worship, prayer, and gratitude to your Creator, offering your body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).
- Practice biblical meditation - focusing on God's Word rather than emptying the mind (Philippians 4:8; Psalm 119:15).
- Train your body for godliness, remembering that "bodily training is of some value, but godliness is of value in every way" (1 Timothy 4:8).
- Seek the peace that comes from God alone through prayer and supplication (Philippians 4:6-7).
✝️ Final Encouragement
The Lord Jesus Christ gave His life to redeem us completely—body, soul, and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). He purchased us with His precious blood that we might be "a people for his own possession, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:14). Let us not offer our bodies to the patterns of this world but present them as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship (Romans 12:1–2).
Remember that "we are not our own, for we were bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Therefore, we must glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits, which belong to Him.
If we truly love Jesus, we will not ask, "How close can I get to the world and still be saved?" but rather, "How can I live in a way that brings maximum glory to God and demonstrates my love for Him?" (John 14:15, 21)
Reject yoga. Reject compromise. Choose holiness. Please the Lord in all things. For "whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
🛡️ Disclaimer
This article is written for the purpose of guiding fellow Christians in their spiritual walk based on the teachings of the Holy Bible. It is intended to encourage believers to live a life of holiness, devotion to Christ, and biblical discernment. The content is not meant to offend, insult, or criticize any individual or religious community. We respect the freedom of all people to follow their own beliefs, just as we seek to follow ours in accordance with the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to profess, practice, and propagate one's religion peacefully.
With love and boldness in Christ,
Vijaya Babu Kancharla
A servant of God, longing to see His Church holy and without spot