John MacArthur, Christians, and Yoga

Christian Research Service's Responses on Pulpit Magazine

 

I wonder how is it possible that Christians can use the

same techniques that Buddhists and Hindus use to

reach their gods without, in fact, reaching their gods

(Ray Yungen, For Many Shall Come In My Name). 

 

To the Reader: Dr. John MacArthur is the pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, president of The Master's College and Seminary, host of the nationally syndicated radio show Grace to You, a prolific author, and the Editor-in-Chief of Pulpit Magazine which, according to its blog, is both magazine and blog ( http://www.sfpulpit.com/about/ ).

 

According to the Pulpit Magazine blog, on Tuesday, September 11, 2007, "John MacArthur was asked by CNN to participate in a live discussion on the topic of yoga and Christianity, for a segment of Prime News with Erica Hill. The other guest in the discussion was Doug Pagitt, a pastor in Minneapolis and a recognized leader in the emerging church movement" ( http://tinyurl.com/2vtpbv ).
 

During the discussion, Doug Pagitt defended the practice of Yoga and, in a September 13, 2007 reply on Pulpit Magazine's blog, Pagitt stated: "I thought I was certain and clear. I find nothing troubling abut yoga. Seems pretty clear to me" ( http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/09/13/john-macarthur-doug-pagitt-and-yoga/ ).

 

Pagitt's church, Solomon's Porch, offers a weekly "Women's Yoga and Prayer" class, led by Pagitt's wife, Shelley ( http://tinyurl.com/25fluo ). Additional references to Pagitt's promotion of Yoga include:

 

"Shelley led yoga each morning and as a prayer response to a video about aids in Africa" ("the dougpagittBlog: A Personal Weblog from Doug Pagitt,"

http://pagitt.typepad.com/pagittblog/2004/03/emergent_conven.html, March 15, 2004).

 

"There will still be seminars and sustainable life forums (which by the way I have not read many bloggers comment on – there were sustainable life forums on eating, finances, yoga and the like)" ("the dougpagittBlog," http://pagitt.typepad.com/pagittblog/2004/05/emergent_convne.html, May 26, 2004).

 

"I am flying home from CBA [Christian Booksellers Association]. The prayer room worked really well from my perspective. KP and I (with help from John Raymond) set-up 9 stations of Body Prayer. (which some publisher will come to their senses and realize what a good book this will be). I know there was at least one complaint about it being Yogaesque. It really wasn’t all that yoga like, but there are some people who have a severe allergy to such things and one had a reaction" ("the dougpagittBlog," http://pagitt.typepad.com/pagittblog/2004/06/coming_home.html, June 29, 2004).

 

"These are very flexible people, they are in full on yoga stretch" ("My Presby Friends," http://pagitt.typepad.com/pagittblog/2007/02/my_presby_frien.html, February 21, 2007).

 

"The kid's doing yoga stretches and body prayer with Doug and Shelley by the lake, I think" ( "the dougpagittBlog," http://pagitt.typepad.com/pagittblog/2007/06/the-emergent-ga.html, and a photo at http://pagitt.typepad.com/pagittblog/IMG_2748-1.jpg, June 21, 2007). 

 

"Headline News has added a segment called To The Point and will be discussing Yoga and Christianity on Tuesday, September 11. I mean what else is there to talk about" ( cache, http://tinyurl.com/3derog, September 10, 2007). 

 

After a careful review of the MacArthur/Pagitt interview transcript and video, Christian Research Service wrote this Letter to Dr. John MacArthur, and made numerous attempts to contact him afterwards. As of this writing there has been no reply from MacArthur.

 

Since September 13, 2007, Pulpit Magazine has posted numerous responses from its readers (both pro-Yoga and against), including responses from Christian Research Service. The transcript and video of the interview with John MacArthur and Doug Pagitt, and all of the responses, may be reviewed at http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/09/13/john-macarthur-doug-pagitt-and-yoga/ .

 

Responses from Christian Research Service:

 

September 16, 2007 at 1:07 am:

After reading the comments, especially of those who promote Yoga as a harmless exercise, the question that must be asked is: If Yoga is harmless, what harm would there be for a Christian to practice Christian Astrology? Christian Goddess Worship? Christian Kabbalah? Christian New Age? Christian Shamanism? Christian Reincarnation? Christian Tai Chi? Christian Wicca? Christian Witchcraft? or Christian Zen Buddhism?

 

Believe it or not, these belief-systems do exist. They are on the internet. They exist because people believe they are valid forms of practice and worship.

And what about Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses? Can one be a Christian and uphold the practices and teachings of the Latter-Day Saints and the Watchtower Society?

 

All of the above are self-proclaimed forms of Christianity, but they aren’t Christian. While they pay lip-service to Jesus Christ, sadly, their hearts are far from Him (Matthew 15:7-9).

 

While discerning Christians would balk at the mere thought of practicing a “Christian Wicca” ritual, or have their palms read by a “Christian Psychic,” or seek physical healing from a “Christian Shaman,” professing Christians openly welcome the Hindu pagan practice into their homes and church recreational programs–mainly because the one promoting Yoga says it is merely a harmless exercise.

 

Christians, don’t believe it! Once Yoga establishes a foothold in a Christian church, it opens the door for other forms of the New Age Movement to enter. Regardless of how it is packaged, Yoga is self-worship (”Self-realization”). Self-worship is idolatry.

 

“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14).

 

Yoga postures are specifically designed to worship Hindu gods.

 

“Little children, guard yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

 

Yoga and its postures are vain, worldly traditions of men, and are to be avoided.

 

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ”  (Colossians 2:8).

 

Those who promote Yoga have been influenced by Yoga instructors or by materials promoting Yoga, such as books and videos. But God’s holy word plainly warns:

 

“For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east, and they are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they strike bargains with the children of foreigners” (Isaiah 2:6).

 

Christians, for Jesus’ sake, don’t allow the false teachers of our day to woo and cuddle you into a practice that God despises. Guard your hearts. Stand strong in Jesus Christ and for the truth of His word (Acts 20:27-31; Jude 3).

 

September 21, 2007 at 1:29 am:

Many professing Christians who practice Yoga maintain they do not worship the Hindu gods or revere the animals and insects found within the Yoga postures. However, like it or not, every professing Christian who practices Yoga is mingling with Hinduism, has learned the Yoga postures from Yoga sources, and is serving the pagan idols produced by Hinduism. Of this God informs and warns:

 

“But they mingled with the nations and learned their practices, and served their idols, which became a snare to them” (Psalm 106:35-36).

 

During a “Christian Yoga” class, one need not literally bow down and worship the Hindu gods while performing the Yoga postures, because learning the practice of Yoga is, in-and-of-itself, serving the idols of Hinduism. And serving idols, whether directly or indirectly, will become a snare to the believer.

 

Professing Christians who practice Yoga have learned the ways of pagans and are fellowshipping with pagan idols. Of this the Scripture commands:

 

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11).

 

What Christian in their right mind would want to even chance the worship of a pagan god?

 

Those who promote “Christian Yoga” are causing weak Christians to stumble and second-guess God’s holy word. While there are those who are quick to portray Jesus holding a lamb with one hand and gesturing a peace sign with the other, Jesus was crystal clear on the fate of those who cause the innocent to stumble:

 

“It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble” (Luke 17:1-2).

 

While “Christian Yoga” instructors maintain that practicing Yoga and its postures are nothing more than simple exercises to bring Christians “closer to God,” it should come to no surprise that B.K.S. Iyengar (who is billed as one of the world’s leading Yoga teachers), maintains the same thing:

 

"If you do yoga postures correctly (no cheating allowed), the practice can bring you closer to God."

 

As Christians, we know that Jesus Christ is God Himself in human form, second Person of the Trinity, and our Lord and Savior. But who is B.K.S. Iyengar’s god? It certainly isn’t the God of the Bible (see 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 and Galatians 1:6-9).

 

Indeed, there are counterfeits that mimic the real Jesus Christ. And the “Jesus” of “Christian Yoga” is not the Jesus of the Bible.

 

Christianity was founded by and is about Jesus Christ. But what about Yoga? The answer is found deep within the roots of Hinduism:

 

“I am that God (Siva) who sets everything in motion and who, absorbed in Yoga and enjoying the highest bliss, is always dancing. He who knows that knows Yoga. Kurma Purana (2:4:33)” (”The Religious Science of Sanatana Dharma/Hinduism”).

 

Thousands of years ago, Isaiah warned:

 

“For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east, and they are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they strike bargains with the children of foreigners” (Isaiah 2:6).

 

Yoga’s gurus, instructors, and promoters are deceived and are deceiving others. Their task is to introduce (”strike bargains”) with Christians, infiltrate the Christian church, and turn Christians away from the true and loving God. Whether from the north, south, east, or west, Yoga is a pagan, demonically inspired influence from a foreign country.

 

So called “Christian Yoga” is only one form of the New Age Movement that is testing the metal of Christians to find their weaknesses. Once the metal loses its temper, and Yoga is welcomed into the life of a Christian, other forms of deception are sure to follow.

 

“Christian Yoga” is laying the foundation for something darker and more sinister. In other words, we “ain’t” seen nothing yet.

 

Finally, Christians should never assume something is Christian just because it claims to be Christian. “Prove all things,” the Apostle Paul writes. “Test the spirits,” writes the Apostle John. “See to it that no one misleads you,” Jesus said. If something claims to be Christian, put it to the Biblical test.

 

While there are many who maintain that Yoga is harmless and can be intermingled with Christianity, Yoga–in any shape, form, or fashion–is alien to the faith, foreign to Scripture, and an in-your-face form of evil. It must be rejected.

 

September 22, 2007 at 1:45 am:

The pro-Yoga comments on this blog clearly demonstrate how deceptive pagan influences are, and how easy it is for a professing Christian to be conditioned, desensitized, deceived, and blinded into thinking that an occultic, pagan practice such as Yoga can be Christianized.

 

Indeed, we are witnessing fine-tuned deception at its very best.

 

Time and time again, God warns the believer to avoid practices that originate in the occult and paganism. Yet, many professing Christians continue to avoid God’s warnings by relying on their feelings and emotions, side-tracking the issues, and twisting Scripture to suit their own needs.

 

Sadly, they are playing into the hands of the one who overshadows, possesses, and darkens the doors of the New Age Movement; the one who the Apostle Paul warns us about in 2 Corinthians chapter 11.

 

Contrary to popular belief, the New Age Movement has been around for thousands of years. In fact, in Acts 19:18-20, we see an example of the occult and paganism Paul encountered, and how it was dealt with:

 

“Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.”

 

Think about it. Occultists’ repenting and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then attending an old fashion book-burning bar-b-que. No doubt, it was a sight for sore eyes.

 

Paul also dealt with those who outwardly professed Christianity, but were counterfeits on the inside:

 

“But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you” (Galatians 2:4-5).

 

Well before Paul began his ministry, the Prophet Jeremiah encountered false prophets, who had their own blind followers:

 

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?” (Jeremiah 5:31)

 

That is the question each of us must answer. When all the dust has settled, what will we do? We can act as children and be pushed and blown back-and-forth by every wave and wind of false doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). Or we can stand strong for Jesus Christ and the truth of His word, reject the religious scam-artists and gimmicks designed to shipwreck our faith (Romans 16:17-18), and defend the faith–once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

 

When we are tired, stressed-out, and over-worked, we can turn our backs on Jesus Christ and bow to the wind-tossed waves of pagan religious practices. Or we can humble ourselves in repentance at the feet of the Savior, and bow to the One Who said:

 

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

 

We have a choice. I choose to follow Jesus Christ. What will you do?

 

September 23, 2007 at 6:41 pm:

“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25).

 

To recap, what began this particular blog-thread in the first place was John MacArthur’s interview on CNN. In the opening stages of the interview, CNN Prime News anchor Mike Galanos asked MacArthur:

 

“Alright, let’s say I do decide to try yoga, head to the local gym, give it a shot. What am I opening myself up to spiritually that could go against my Christian faith?”

 

MacArthur replied with:

 

“Well that would depend on how the yoga is conducted. If it’s just purely exercise, and you’re a strong Christian, it probably wouldn’t have any impact on your faith. But in the big picture, why would Christians want to borrow an expression from a false religion, from pantheism (god is everything, you’re god, everything is god), when we believe there’s only one true God (the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ). Why would we need to import that? If you want to exercise, exercise. But why borrow a term that has been part of a false religion for centuries?”

 

Granted, MacArthur’s statement correctly termed Yoga as being a part of a “false religion” and “pantheism.” However, my concern is with the first sentence:

 

“Well that would depend on how the yoga is conducted. If it’s just purely exercise, and you’re a strong Christian, it probably wouldn’t have any impact on your faith.”

 

What did MacArthur mean by that? Was it just a slip-of-the-tounge? Whatever the case may be, the statement is not only disturbing, it has the potential to mislead gullible and innocent Christians into thinking that as long as they steer clear of the religious aspects of Hinduism, the use of Yoga postures as a method of exercise is acceptable.

 

If, by chance, you think I am grabbing at straws or trying to make a mountain out of a molehill, go back and review the posts from professing Christians who attempt to Christianize Yoga. Read the posts from those who love them enough to try and reason with them.

 

This is not a public denouncement of John MacArthur, but rather an urgent call for clarity and correction. He needs to set the record straight immediately and publicly.

 

October 1, 2007 at 10:11 am:

R. Coward wrote:

 

“I would have to say I would answer the same way, I want nothing to do with yoga, however if some mature brother who was of mine were to happen into some EXCERCISE CLASS that was using yoga stretching exercises I probably wouldn’t be worried that it would open him up to something SPIRITUALLY DANGEROUS (as the question implied).”

 

Mr. Coward, please take a moment and look at what you stated. In one breath you want “nothing to do with yoga” and that you would not recommend Yoga. But in another breath you state, “…however if some mature brother who was of mine were to happen into some EXCERCISE CLASS that was using yoga stretching exercises I probably wouldn’t be worried that it would open him up to something SPIRITUALLY DANGEROUS…”

 

That’s like saying, “I totally avoid poisonous snakes, but it’s okay if my friend fools around with them because he has done it for years.”

 

Experienced or not; mature or not, people are bitten by poisonous snakes every year. Therefore, the best way to avoid being bitten by poisonous snakes is to stay completely away from them.

 

What we, as Christians, should say is, “Yoga is an integral part of Hindu paganism. Yoga is DANGEROUS to the SPIRITUAL welfare of the believer. Stay completely away from Yoga, period!”

 

R. Coward wrote:

 

“And, I would add our God is a holy God, a consuming fire, false religions are not something we should see how close we can play next too without getting burned.”

 

Excellent point! False religions carry with them their own baggage of gimmicks, scams, tricks, deception, and man-made gods (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)–all of which is overshadowed by Satan and his minions:

 

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

 

So called “Christian Yoga” is in-your-face syncretism (an effort to blend Christianity with Hindu paganism). While many professing Christians say, “Uh, I don’t have a problem with it,” God commands Christians to leave it alone.

 

Telling Christians that as long as Yoga is used as “purely exercise, and you’re a strong Christian, it probably wouldn’t have any impact on your faith” (as John MacArthur clearly stated), is the same as telling a friend its okay to fool around with poisonous snakes.

 

The bite of the snake that overshadows Yoga poisons its victims with spiritual destruction. It is the same serpent that tempted Eve in Genesis chapter 3.

And to this day, thousands of years later, the serpent continues to slither into the hearts and minds of the unwary–laughingly hissing the praises of so called “Christian Yoga.”

 

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20-21)