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YOGA FEATURE
MEDITATION OR IMAGINATION?
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Yoga, Meditation, Books said the sign above the table while two friendly looking women invited students and shoppers to buy a book promising to bring peace, healing, and wholeness and even prosperity to lunchtime hopefuls on a sunny April day. So where does this ‘stretch your body and stretch your mind’ thing originate?
Yoga and its practice is taught in ancient Indian texts from which three major religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism) have their origin. The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Yoga is 'Yoke'. Yoga can therefore be defined as a means of uniting the individual spirit with the universal spirit of God. Yoga is, in fact, based on the worship of unholy spirits that manifest in extraordinary and dangerous ways and its roots are in Kundalini energy—which, literally defined, means an awakening of the "Serpent Power." The bible tells us to 'believe not every Spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God.' Every Spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of anti-christ." Christ is the test! In a word YOGA is 'anti-Christ.' The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) explains, using ancient Hindu texts, “yoga consists of four types, translated to: devotion, knowledge, action, or concentration. These types of yoga act as paths to the goal, moksha.” The words moksha, nirvana (nibbana) and kaivalya are sometimes used synonymously, because they all refer to the state that liberates a person from all causes of sorrow and suffering. Nirvana starts with the premise that there is no Self, moksha on the other hand, starts with the premise that everything is the Self - Confusing! I wonder what they think of selfies! Yoga, or mārga, in Hinduism is widely classified into four spiritual practices. The first mārga is Jñāna Yoga, the way of knowledge. The second mārga is Bhakti Yoga, the way of loving devotion to God. The third mārga is Karma Yoga, the way of works. The fourth mārga is Rāja Yoga, the way of contemplation and meditation. So like all religion YOGA in what ever form it is found is all about me, self and what I can do. Yet like all religions the one thing it does not have an answer for is death and sin. There is only one power over death that the world has truthfully witnessed and that is Jesus Christ. He defeated death because He was the sinless Son of God and therefore is the centre of meditation for the christian. Jesus Christ is the standard by which everything and everyone is measured and so every human being falls short! We all have sinned. There are only two powers operating in this world, the power of darkness in which YOGA is found and the Kingdom of God of which Jesus Christ is the great Saviour of the world and the one who will reign King of Kings. If you live for YOGA you will be hugely disappointed in Eternity for it will do nothing to remove your sin which is the great obstacle to peace with God. In fact if YOGA is your chosen way to God it will actually land you in Hell because that is the destination of Satan himself and be not deceived - He wants as many to go with Him there. YOGA is one of His many tactics that look nice, feel good and indeed may give you peace of mind for a few hours in time and even relax your body but it will never give you peace with God which can only come through Jesus Christ and His blood shed on the cross. If you take time to read the bible it says “there is a way which seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25 Sorry all Yoga fans but it just doesn't go the distance for Eternity! Jesus Christ does! He said “I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” John 14:6. Choose Christ not Yoga and you will receive Eternal Life today. You will be saved. ...And you will never thirst again! J. Black |
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40,000 searches are processed by Google every second! We are a nation that is searching. For what? The most popular words include Facebook, Youtube, Gmail, weather and Amazon. Searching for meaning in life is evidence we are more than atomic molecules in a randomly created universe. We are souls seeking for truth and happiness which is often defined by getting what we want and hearing what we like! But truth means we must accept things that are not always the way we want. An unpleasant diagnosis from the doctor may be true therefore we must seek a cure. But where does our search for happiness end? Any news feed will show the world’s desire to pursue it’s own way has resulted in a corrupt world searching for answers in politics and scientific theories that never answer the big questions. The bible deals with the big issues! The Gospel is good news but it’s diagnosis is painful and that is why many turn away. God tells us that we all have sinned and despite outward differences every heart is the same, going it’s own way not Gods. God’s standard for measuring ‘good’ is Jesus Christ. He is sinless. Jesus said if we reject Him we will die in our sins and cannot go where he is, - Heaven. God hates sin but loves the sinner. The Gospel is not a man-made religion. Religion focuses on what WE can do to be right with God but the Gospel places ALL value in what Jesus Christ did when He died for our sins and rose from the dead. Repentance means turning from my sin and placing my faith in Jesus Christ. Then God forgives me and saves me. I will never be in Hell and sure of Heaven. It’s time to repent! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Acts 16:31 Hebron Gospel Hall, 32a Banbury Rd, Bicester Free Bible 0771 895 7238 Gospel Service - Sun 6.30pm |