You said “…One whose stance remains open and reaching and willing to be stretched, more like yoga than a sniper or a marine” and titled your article with the name a well-known yoga pose.
Is it safe to say that you’re a practitioner of yoga?
This is the first article of yours I’ve see , so if you’ve made known the answer to this elsewhere already, please forgive me — I just haven’t read it yet.
The invitation you presented here to lay down defensiveness and to lean in to loving like Christ is great.
I believe it was Watchman Nee who said this: "No one on earth could ever be more authoritative than Christ, yet He never defended Himself. Authority and self-defense are incompatible. The one against whom you defend yourself becomes your judge."
Comparing the openness, willingness, and outreach of Christ with a fundamentally demonic spiritual practice (yoga) is a bit of a... stretch... though.
Are you familiar with the origins of the practice? The spiritual consequences of engaging in it? You can find many, many testimonies online of the deliverances the Lord has brought former practitioners through (myself included).
My reason for writing to you is in hopes that you may consider how making a comparison between Christ and yoga could cause someone (believer or not) to fall into the grips of demonic oppression -- or that you may encourage someone to believe it is okay for a Christian to practice yoga (which it is not).
1 Corinthians 8 talks about idolatry (which yoga is -- the postures are worship postures toward various Hindu deities) and also how we (who are have "knowledge") ought to make decisions that will not cause others to stumble.
1 Corinthians 10:14-22 talks further about idolatry and how "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons."
Yoga is served at the table of the demonic. As those who belong to the Lord, we can not partake of it, nor do we need to.
Again -- the invitation you presented here to lay down defensiveness and to lean in to loving like Christ is great. But perhaps reconsider the point-making illustration to be one from His table.
I hope this lands well with His grace. God bless you.
I’ve thought of this so many times these past few weeks. Jesus does not need us to fight for him. That story of Jesus saying “do you not think I can call 12 legions of angels”. Great words Sarah.
This was so good Sarah! The statement that really hit me hard was - "God was not asking me to be his bodyguard." Oof. That is so true. It also reminded me when Bono from U2 sings, "stop helping God across the street like a little old lady." You also really encouraged me when you talked about how we have to be in close proximity to others and how that is needed for love to lead the way. And then holy cow, "We can be warriors for our collective repair." what an ending line. Pure fire my friend!
I hear the words of the old hymn “Am I a Soldier of the Cross?” and I cringe. All of the military references and images fall short for me, maybe it's my very sheltered Western eyes, but it seems to run counter to everything Jesus was and is. It's what confused many of the religious elites and devotees and it still is what confuses us today. This is a powerful reminder that They came not for retaliation, but for healing, wholeness, and a restoration of a shalom.
“God was not asking me to be his bodyguard.” WOW. So good.
You took me on a whole journey there... But of course lured me in with a yoga pose ;-)
Of course 😘
I love this so much! You brought words to how I have so often felt.
💙 I’m glad it resonated with you, ARB
This message resonated on many layers in today’s world. Beautiful.
I definitely grew up in a "defend the truth" type of Christianity too. This puts so well the journey that I went on. Thank you..
There is so good. I resonate with it on many levels. I appreciate this. 🧡
Hi Sarah,
Brief question:
You said “…One whose stance remains open and reaching and willing to be stretched, more like yoga than a sniper or a marine” and titled your article with the name a well-known yoga pose.
Is it safe to say that you’re a practitioner of yoga?
This is the first article of yours I’ve see , so if you’ve made known the answer to this elsewhere already, please forgive me — I just haven’t read it yet.
I have done yoga but not regularly. I was speaking more metaphorically here.
Ah, okay.
The invitation you presented here to lay down defensiveness and to lean in to loving like Christ is great.
I believe it was Watchman Nee who said this: "No one on earth could ever be more authoritative than Christ, yet He never defended Himself. Authority and self-defense are incompatible. The one against whom you defend yourself becomes your judge."
Comparing the openness, willingness, and outreach of Christ with a fundamentally demonic spiritual practice (yoga) is a bit of a... stretch... though.
Are you familiar with the origins of the practice? The spiritual consequences of engaging in it? You can find many, many testimonies online of the deliverances the Lord has brought former practitioners through (myself included).
My reason for writing to you is in hopes that you may consider how making a comparison between Christ and yoga could cause someone (believer or not) to fall into the grips of demonic oppression -- or that you may encourage someone to believe it is okay for a Christian to practice yoga (which it is not).
1 Corinthians 8 talks about idolatry (which yoga is -- the postures are worship postures toward various Hindu deities) and also how we (who are have "knowledge") ought to make decisions that will not cause others to stumble.
1 Corinthians 10:14-22 talks further about idolatry and how "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons."
Yoga is served at the table of the demonic. As those who belong to the Lord, we can not partake of it, nor do we need to.
Again -- the invitation you presented here to lay down defensiveness and to lean in to loving like Christ is great. But perhaps reconsider the point-making illustration to be one from His table.
I hope this lands well with His grace. God bless you.
So good, friend.
I’ve thought of this so many times these past few weeks. Jesus does not need us to fight for him. That story of Jesus saying “do you not think I can call 12 legions of angels”. Great words Sarah.
This was so good Sarah! The statement that really hit me hard was - "God was not asking me to be his bodyguard." Oof. That is so true. It also reminded me when Bono from U2 sings, "stop helping God across the street like a little old lady." You also really encouraged me when you talked about how we have to be in close proximity to others and how that is needed for love to lead the way. And then holy cow, "We can be warriors for our collective repair." what an ending line. Pure fire my friend!
I’m glad it resonated, Matt. 🫶🏽
So thoughtful and well written Sarah! Thank you for these words!
That’s kind of you to say, Matt. Thanks! I’m glad the essay connected with you.
I hear the words of the old hymn “Am I a Soldier of the Cross?” and I cringe. All of the military references and images fall short for me, maybe it's my very sheltered Western eyes, but it seems to run counter to everything Jesus was and is. It's what confused many of the religious elites and devotees and it still is what confuses us today. This is a powerful reminder that They came not for retaliation, but for healing, wholeness, and a restoration of a shalom.