LifeWay Removes Yoga Meditation Music

But Continues Promoting Yoga

by Bud Press, Director

Christian Research Service

July 13, 2007

Two weeks ago, Christian Research Service reported that despite the Southern Baptist Convention's warnings against the New Age Movement and Yoga, both LifeWay's online bookstore and LifeWay.com were promoting Yoga (refer to LifeWay's Fitness Expert Promotes Yoga ).

Since then, Yoga Zone; Music for Meditation CD has been removed from LifeWay's online bookstore. However, Branda Polk's article, "Develop an Intentional Exercise Plan," which promotes Yoga, remains online at Lifeway.com.

Polk, a featured writer for LifeWay.com and the Baptist Press, states in her article that, "The third component of an intentional exercise plan is flexibility exercises... Flexibility training or stretching can be performed everyday and can be as simple as bending, reaching, and stretching at home, to taking yoga or a stretching class at a fitness center" (click HERE, emp. added). 

Along with Polk's article, other writers on Lifeway.com's website share a different perspective on Yoga. Here are excerpts from their articles:  

-- "New Age and pagan influences-yoga (which means literally 'yoked to the Hindu gods), and labyrinths, which originated as a pagan tradition-are seeping into the church and being billed as Christian practices, [Ann Tatlock] said, and writers can help people understand the serious concerns about those practices" ("Persevere To Tell The Story, Christian Writers Urged," emp. added).

-- "Meditative systems that clear the heart but cannot refill it with substance have no power. In Eastern religions, many devotees of yoga cleanse their minds but leave them empty. Soon their minds refill with the same sort of congestion they had just swept away. Inwardness seeks someone to preside over the clean and the quiet" (Calvin Miller, "Journey Toward Holiness," emp. added).

-- "Other weight-loss plans that haven’t worked: The 'Vision Dieter Glasses' were supposed to make food look less appealing. The mini-fork system was designed to help folks take smaller bites. One group applied yoga practices to remove the need for eating altogether!" (Andy Cook, "A Faith that Works," emp. added).

And in his informative article, "Dealing with the Demonic," Dr. Jimmy Draper (former president of both the Southern Baptist Convention and LifeWay), warns that,

"Our society is ripe for demonic activity. Our preoccupation and even 'flirting' with the occult invites demonic oppression. Even the seemingly innocent and careless use of occult tools is tragic. Things like the use of a Ouija board, astrological horoscopes, witchcraft, and even yoga are dangerous and provide openings for the demonic into unsuspecting lives" (emp.added).

Dr. Draper and others on LifeWay.com discourage the practice of Yoga and  expose Yoga as "pagan" and "dangerous" and "demonic. Yet, LifeWay.com provides Branda Polk with an open door to promote Yoga to immature Christians, whose senses have not been trained to discern good from evil (Hebrews 5:14; 2 Timothy 2:15). 

One says Yoga is right, but another says Yoga is wrong. Is it any wonder why so many Christians are in such a state of confusion?

Branda Polk's promotion of Yoga, coupled with LifeWay's compromise, has the potential to mislead and deceive untold numbers of immature Christians worldwide. When the innocent and the unwary are encouraged to participate in pagan practices, the chances of their being seduced into paganism increases with each passing moment.

A prime example of paganism's seductive power is found within the walls of Germantown Baptist Church, where Polk conducts Pilates classes, and where discernment is at an all-time low. Germantown is immersed in Yoga--from Beginner Yoga to advanced Yoga Certification, including "Mommy & Me Yoga," where innocent toddlers are introduced to that seductive power before they can walk!

Consequently, when Yoga (and other forms of the New Age Movement) gains acceptance in a Christian church, it spreads like a disease into the congregation, then to other churches. If the disease isn't stopped in its tracks, it will spread into the Christian denomination. 

Accordingly, a shepherd who can't distinguish the difference between a sheep and a wolf should be put out to pasture. 

Frankly, a pastor who can't discern the clear-cut difference between "Christian" and "Yoga," is likely to allow other forms of deception into his church. He has no business occupying a pulpit, much less shepherding a flock of Christian sheep. He, too, should be put out to pasture. 

Quite frankly, a denomination official who is aware of the disease and wolves in the churches, but shrugs his shoulders in compromise, should be stripped of his title and put out to pasture--along with the shepherd and pastor.

While that may sound politically incorrect and seeker-insensitive, Southern Baptist pastors and denomination officials need to awaken to the fact that paganism in the church is serious business, and that the spiritual welfare of people is at stake. And if pastors and officials can't, won't, or refuse to deal with it, they need to be replaced.

Dr. James Merritt is a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Here are a few excerpts from his 2001 SBC Presidential Address concerning heresy, Biblical truth and authority, autonomy of the local church, and defending the faith:

The Southern Baptist Convention has a Position Paper on the Autonomy of the local church. While local church autonomy may prevent a popeish, papal-like power from ruling over Southern Baptist churches, SBC officials, pastors, and laymen need to be reminded that autonomy does not supersede the authority of Scripture.

When asked about "Christian Yoga" and compromise within the church, Sandy Simpson, Director of Deception in the Church ministries, explained that, 

"The teachings of yoga, martial arts, contemplative prayer and other New Age concepts are now 'par for the course' in many denominations. Whether you call it 'yoga' or 'Christian yoga,' it's foundation in mysticism and asceticism remains. The positions of yoga are worship positions to false gods. The philosophical basis for yoga is one of aseticism tied to false religion rather than Biblical prayer or meditation on God's Word." 

"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" ( http://www.beliefnet.com/story/187/story_18706_1.html ).

And all Yoga instructors stress the importance of doing the Yoga postures correctly.

So, who is to be believed, a "Christian Yoga" instructor or a Hindu guru? Neither. Dave Hunt explains:

Finally, Jesus Christ delivered a sober warning to those who compromise the faith and intentionally deceive, mislead, and 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). 

A millstone weighs hundreds of pounds. As some of the folks at LifeWay swim back-and-forth between removing Yoga and recommending Yoga, they would do well to heed Jesus' warning.