A fatal turn around?

Talitha Tetelestai · Guest

I know it's not really a cult, but something that is infiltrating the church so thought I'd share this here:

I was listening to a radio broadcast today, talking about various things, and the subject of yoga came up.

A lady phoned in who said she and her husband had been deeply into the new age, they had even taught their 3 year old to practice yoga, but had been set free by the Lord.

When they first joined the church they were really welcomed, and there were lots of others who had similar testimonies.

She said that now they found that those who had welcomed them all those years ago had themselves been ensnared again by this eastern mysticism, they were falling for it hook line and sinker,there was n othing anyone could say to them to dissuade them from this course, and she and her husband were now being ostracised for refusing to join in.

Any thoughts?

Elaine · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 1712 Location: Derbyshire

Hello,

Newage-ism (and occult etc.) is far more wide spread in churches than it would seem on the surface.

There are lots of reasons, but the main reason is lack of teaching from the "pulpit" on such matters, imo.

I have first-hand experience of what it is like to be the one not joining in, and it's not pleasant :(

With love in Christ,

Elaine.

Talitha Tetelestai · Guest

Me too Elaine, its highly unpleasant, and you feel like a traitor almost for not joining in.

ruth · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 1032 Location: Essex

I also have met people who think there is nothing wrong with yoga. They say "we don't go into the religious side of it, it is just exercise"
Where would you draw the line? I know of a church that a relative of mine went to where the vicar stopped renting out the hall to all groups who were not "christian". It caused a lot of disharmony and some people left the church.
My question would be should a church let it's hall out to groups who teach yoga? After all is the church not compromising if they teach that something is wrong yet then allow a group to use their hall :idea:

jtheb · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 1451 Location: second childhood

At a previous church I asked the minister whether we could discuss freemasonry at the mid weekly meeting. He said that if he did we might lose too many members.

Elaine · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 1712 Location: Derbyshire

"We would loose too many members.......blah blah blah"

This seems to be almost a standard excuse for a "lazy" leadership, and a lack of faith, trust and obedience to God.

The reason I say lazy, is because I know of some leaders who have never heard of some of the more "dodgy" stuff (whether it's new age of WofF) and the congregations are confused as to what's allowed (through lack of teaching) and so get mixed up in "wrong" things. This is down to laziness, and maybe a leader who has been "out" of mainsteam society too long :? (Probably a good name would be The Ivory tower syndrome :roll: )

Sometimes it is down to a lack of total obedience to God (as in "that was then (bible times) we know better now").

If a leader is worried that they will upset so many people, maybe he need to take a good long look at the congregation and his/her self.

Sorry to go off on one, as you can probably tell, this is a subject close to home :(

With love in Christ,

Elaine.

Talitha Tetelestai · Guest

I have a great booklet on the C of E general synod report on Freemasonry somewhere.

If anyone wants it I'll dig it out for you.

jtheb · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 1451 Location: second childhood

It was a big church with a number of rich members. I imagine he knew that there were a number of masons in membership.
He afterwards became an area superintendant for the baptist union.

I have some lengthy notes I made on the subject of freemasonry if anyone is interested.

jtheb · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 1451 Location: second childhood

Teaching in our fellowships in IMO not well done.

We run a bible study at our fellowship and a common comment is "I never knew that was in the Bible" "I wish we had been told that"

It worries me.

keepingthefaith · Guest

We have those sort of Bible discussion to poetress, I missed our study on revelation which was taken verse by verse, i dont know if they have finished yet, maybe not so when i feel like facing the people there without blubbering i'll go back, i was really looking forward to that book in particular as we have people willing to speak up and say what they think which leads to a very uplifting and rewarding time.
here is the URL to my church

http://www.cbaptist.org.uk/

keepingthefaith · Guest

yes your right M.C.Nige

Talitha Tetelestai · Guest

Amen, KTF, thats what I meant about the bible on the post I wrote in the thread about the bible.

Not sure I put it too well though.

victoria plum · Guest

I would be interested to know exactly what is wrong, from a Christian perspective, in bodily exercises such as yoga. I've often been told the same, that it is wrong, but I cannot see it. If we were concentrating on a 'person' who was not God, I would understand, but exercises to tone the body and deep breathing to relax I cannot see as wrong.

jtheb · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 1451 Location: second childhood

I don't see anything wrong with excercise etc.

The problem with yoga is its philosophy and the joining oneself mentallly with the universal force or mind.

Losing oneself into "nirvana" is a wrong aim.

victoria plum · Guest

Yes but surely you don't have to do that? I haven't really tried yoga but many years ago I had a book (lynn somebody or other) about yoga and it didn't say anything about that.

I think yoga is something you can take as far as you want to, or feel comfortable with.

Perhaps if people took the basics of yoga and called it something else (which is probably done already), Christians wouldn't get so upset about it.