Oh holy yoga!

This is an interesting article that I ran across in the Seattle Times:

Link: Yoga 'demonic'?.

This is another example of how I disagree with Mark Driscoll in an extreme way.  It's interesting, because when I was taking classes to become a missionary associate with the Assemblies of God, the entrance counselor told me that I should meditate for 20 minutes 2 times per day (because I scored high on the anger portion of the personality test...I know, me with extreme emotions...weird! ;-).   The meditation technique they taught me consisted of picturing one item in your mind, and trying to block everything out...which is exactly how I was taught to meditate in yoga.

I've been practicing yoga (inconsistently) for about 3 years now...and I LOVE it!  The deep breathes soothe me, the stretches nourish my muscles and the state of mind helps me focus and calm down.  When I take the time to breath in yoga I take the time to focus on the systems that God put in place in my body.  I'm more aware of my muscles and my lungs, my heart and limbs...just thinking about it is soothing.

While I practice yoga I pray, and it has become one of my favorite times with God.  Our lives move so fast these days, that slowing down for 1 hour is a great opportunity to listen to God speak.  I almost always leave my session feeling closer to God than I did when I went in.

Furthermore, I don't see ANY scriptures in the Bible that talk about Yoga and don't understand how such a line can be drawn in the sand against something that isn't specifically mentioned.  I will continue adding to this post the more I study about it.

Afterthoughts after I watched Mark Driscoll's video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhcoBLdM8CQ

Mark did not quote ONE scripture during this video.  How can you make such a decision without any scripture?  He says, 'that (in yoga) you don't go out to God, you go into self, and it's not about connecting to God. It's about connecting to the universe through meditation'.  It says in the Bible:

 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Col 2:16)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

If the Word is in you, and God is the Word, then God is in you.  If God is in you....why can't you look internally to speak with God?

 I will sing to the Lord all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to Him,

as I rejoice in the Lord.

(Psalm 104: 33 & 34)