Southern Baptist Church Continues
to Promote Hindu Paganism
Website contains over 40 references to Yoga
by Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
November 1, 2007
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron
(1 Timothy 4:1-2; NASB).
"Welcome to the
website of Salem Avenue Baptist church, located in Rolla, MO. We are
glad you have chosen to visit our site, and hope that your time here is
enjoyable, and informative. After you have found the specific
information for which you are looking, please take some time and browse
through our ministries and photo pages; you will find that SABC is a
loving, caring, active church, with a number of dynamic ministries all
designed to honor Christ, and bring others to know Him as Savior" (
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
While Salem Avenue Baptist Church may be a loving, caring church, browsing Salem Avenue's website could be hazardous to the spiritual health of the unwary believer, because as of this writing, the website contains over 40 references to the Hindu pagan practice of Yoga.
Mixed messages and black eyes
On August 16, 2007, Christian Research Service (CRS) published the article, "Southern Baptist 'Kids' Bowing to Yoga." Among other things, the article pointed out that Salem Avenue had incorporated Yoga into its recreational program. While most of the article exposed the other side of Yoga and the dangers of performing Yoga postures, only a small portion of the article was devoted to Yoga at Salem Avenue Baptist Church. Moreover, the article was based on current, irrefutable documentation found within Salem Avenue's own website.
Most importantly, the article included numerous Scriptural references pertaining to how God views professing believers' participating in a pagan practice.
During e-mail correspondence with Christian Research Service, a member of Salem Avenue stated in part that:
You are right, churches should avoid all apperances of evil and the last thing we want is to confuse anyone with a "mixed message." ...I will look into getting any refeences to yoga removed from our churches website because we truly, in no uncertain terms advocate yoga in any form. This is indeed a black eye for our church and your dilegence has helped bring it to light. For that, I say "thank you" on behalf of the church.
On October 8, 2007, CRS wrote a brief, hard-copy letter to Salem Avenue's new pastor, Dr. Mark Johnson, and included a copy of Dave Hunt's book, Yoga and The Body of Christ. The letter contained contact information and opened a door for comments or questions from Dr. Johnson.
Ten days later on October 18, CRS called Salem Avenue to speak to Dr. Johnson and confirm the arrival of the book. Dr. Johnson wasn't available, but the book had arrived.
In all fairness, Dr. Johnson was in transition, and wasn't scheduled to assume the role of pastor until Sunday, October 21. Nevertheless, having heard nothing from Dr. Johnson, CRS wrote the following e-mail on October 31:
Dr. Mark Johnson, Pastor
Salem Avenue Baptist Church
1501 E Hwy 72
Rolla MO 65401
P: (573) 364-4442
F: (573) 364-5915
Dear Dr. Johnson:
This is a follow up to the attempts I have made to contact you, including the phone call today.
There are over 40 references to Yoga on Salem Avenue's website. Weeks ago, I provided to you a free copy of Dave Hunt's book, Yoga and The Body of Christ.
In preparation for an upcoming article, I would appreciate a statement from you concerning Yoga at Salem Avenue Baptist Church. Please feel free to e-mail or call.
Thank you, Dr. Johnson. I look forward to your reply at your earliest possible convenience.
In an October 31, 2007 e-mail reply, Dr. Johnson stated the following:
Let me assure you that Salem Avenue is an orthodox, bible-believing, Christ-preaching Baptist Church . Our only concern is to reach people for Christ. We have changed the name of our Monday night exercise class to strech’n’flex and it is an outreach to the community to try to reach them for Christ. There are no components of eastern mysticism or spirituality being taught in our church. We love Jesus and preach and teach the Bible.
This will be my last word on the subject. Surely you have better things to do with your time than to harass churches that are only doing the best job they can to try to reach people for Christ.
While it is important to note that Dr. Johnson's letter mentions nothing about the book or the 40-plus references to Yoga on Salem Avenue's website, the fact remains that until all references to Yoga are removed, and until Salem Avenue repents and renounces Yoga publicly, they will continue to send a 'mixed message' to the body of Christ. Indeed, the "black eye for our church" the member referred to above is the result of Salem Avenue's lack of discernment and failure to Test all things and try the spirits (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22; 1 John 4:1).
Furthermore, there is a vast difference between the word "harass" Dr. Johnson used, and exposing sin in the church. God commands Christians everywhere to reach out in love and earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 3), warn and guard the flock (Acts 20:27-31), and expose the unfruitful works of darkness publicly (Ephesians 5:11).
Jesus Christ is our greatest, living testimony of love and compassion. Yet, He offended virtually everyone 2,000 years ago--and He still does (refer to Matthew chapter 23).
Sometimes, truth hurts. If pastors would take the time to listen and thoroughly evaluate the information at hand--as opposed to resorting to silly innuendo and childish ad hominem--ministries such as CRS wouldn't have to make phone calls, write letters, send books, and write articles exposing the utter senseless idiocy of Yoga within the Christian church!
Paganism angers God (Exodus 20:3-5; Deuteronomy 4:15-20). Paganism in the Christian church is an open invitation to judgment from God:
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)
Again, the article, "Southern Baptist 'Kids' Bowing to Yoga" was published on August 16, 2007. Now, over two months later, Salem Avenue continues to promote Hindu paganism on its website--through photos and in its monthly newsletter, the Salem Avenue Baptist Church Messenger.
Do the math: Salem Avenue's references to Yoga:
1.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
2.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
3.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
4.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
5.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
Heather (Payne) Perdue a licensed Yoga instructor will be teaching a free Yoga class on Monday evenings at 6:00 in our Fellowship Hall. Men and Women are encouraged to come and learn the benefits of Yoga to your health. Wear loose clothing, bring a mat or towel and be prepared to stretch! Emp. theirs).
6.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
7.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
8.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
9.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
10.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
11.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
Avenue Baptist Church Messenger newsletter, January 3, 2007, Volume 37, Issue 1; contains two references to Yoga).
12.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
Avenue Baptist Church Messenger newsletter, January 17, 2007, Volume 37, Issue 2; contains three references to Yoga).
13.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
The YOGA stretch class on Monday evening is now directed by Carol Baker. For a great stretch and a non jarring workout bring a towel or mat and wear loose clothing to the Fellowship Hall on Monday evenings at 6:00. [For Your Information, p. 2]
14.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
15.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
16.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
17.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
18.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
19.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
20.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
21.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
Avenue Baptist Church Messenger newsletter, June 20, 2007, Volume 37, Issue 12; contains three references to Yoga).
23.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
24.
http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
The above references to Yoga on Salem Avenue's website is a clear-cut demonstration of how deceptive pagan influences are, and how easy it is for professing Christians to be conditioned, desensitized, deceived, and blinded into thinking that an occultic, pagan practice such as Yoga can be Christianized. As with other Southern Baptist churches, Salem Avenue has fallen prey to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
Nowhere in Scripture--from Genesis to Revelation--does God advocate, encourage, promote, or support the believer's involvement with Yoga or any other pagan religious practice. Yoga is a cult of self-worship, and self-worship is idolatry, of which God commands the believer to avoid (1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21).
But they mingled with the nations and learned their practices, and served their idols, which became a snare to them (Psalm 106:35-36).
It bears repeating: There is no such thing as "Christian Yoga." Yoga and its postures are rooted in Hindu paganism and cannot be Christianized. If you are a professing Christian who practices Yoga, you have departed from the faith; you are paying attention to lying spirits; you are promoting doctrines of demons.
Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds (2 John 1:9-10).
God only knows how many innocent Christians have been deceived and misled by the spiritually corrupt within Christian churches. Instead of sitting back and watching the flowing river of paganism run rampant through the body of Christ, Christians should be courageous and speak-out against it.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God (2 Timothy 1:7-8).
But if no one will listen, Jesus commands,
Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city (Matthew 10:14-15).
Finally, Salem Avenue Baptist Church maintains that,
We here at SABC believe that the Bible is God's Word, fully inspired and infallible. That means that whatever the Bible clearly teaches, we believe. The Bible is the final and ultimate authority in all spiritual matters (What We Believe, http://www.salemavebaptistchurc
h.org/believe.html ).
God's word is fully inspired and infallible, and is the final and ultimate authority in all spiritual matters. The Bible "clearly teaches" the believer to stay completely away from all forms of paganism, including Yoga.
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).
The question is, When will Salem Avenue Baptist Church trust in what the "Bible clearly teaches," repent publicly, and remove all traces of Hindu paganism from its website?
Related articles and information:
Southern Baptist Convention, Yoga, and the New Age: Articles, News Releases, and Recommended Reading
© Christian Research Service 2007