Is It Wrong for Christians to Do Yoga?

Ask the Pastor with J.D. Greear

This week on Ask the Pastor, Pastor J.D. answers a question that has actually been asked by two listeners, Lillian and Jesse: “Is it OK for Christians to do Yoga?”

A glimpse inside this episode:

In this week’s episode, Pastor J.D. explores the historical roots of yoga in Eastern religions and how it contrasts with Christian meditation. He emphasizes the importance of individual conscience in making decisions about practices that may have spiritual implications while also introducing a framework for categorizing theological issues and highlighting the need for unity in the church while allowing for personal convictions.

• Yoga has historical roots in Eastern religions like Hinduism.
• Christian meditation differs from Eastern meditation in purpose.
• Believers should wrestle with their own conscience regarding yoga.
• Not all practices with pagan origins are off-limits for Christians.
• Unity in the church is more important than strict conformity on disputed matters.
• The framework of essential, important, and indifferent matters helps navigate faith issues.
• Personal convictions should guide individual practices like yoga.
• Jesus’ authority supersedes the origins of certain practices.
• Engaging with differing opinions requires patience and understanding.
• Practices should honor Christ and align with biblical principles.