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| Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Theological Q&A > Techniques to seek "Jesus" - Zen, Yoga, and TM | Forum Quick Jump
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spenlake
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2004
Total Posts : 1050
| Posted 7/19/2004 4:24 PM (GMT -6) |   | Greg,
I meant what I said about praying for you in this time. May God bless you and your family and lead you out in His way and in His time.
I understand your point about guilt by association. I think, however, that there are limits. By this I do not mean association with sinners or people themselves. God loves sinners and came to die for them, proving that He really did love them (me). 2 John means something and there appears to be an aspect of "guilt by association" regarding "teachings" and not necessarily pagan sinners.
"For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds."
I acknowledge that I may not understand what this means. I have not heard many sermons on this verse. I do believe that it means something. If someone is claiming to be a Christian teacher and they teach something else, this may be an appropriate application. This would still not be "weilding the sword" of God or judgment but an appeal along the loving lines of James 5:19 "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." This is also against the backdrop of commands to judge the teachings of those who claim to bring us the word of God.
The "baby with the bathwater" is a poor analogy concerning bad teaching. Jesus used a different one, " Beware of the leaven." When you can eat the bread and spit out the leaven, this would be fantastic discernment and one that I would love to experience. You claim, I believe sincerely, that you don't advocate eastern mysticism, your writings, however, "confess" them and teach their techniques. This is my poor opinion of what the scriptures say and you have taught college students for eleven years about this. I am sure that your conscience is clean and that you have no lingering questions or concerns. Perhaps, however, you are simply wrong as Morton Kelsey was. At least I think that you believe that he was wrong...
God bless you in this time.
Spen Lake
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quest for truth
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Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 479
| Posted 7/19/2004 5:08 PM (GMT -6) | | Greg Boyd, you did a wonderful job addressing Spen. If I wrote a book that was being as attacked as Spen attacks yours I doubt I could remain as cool.
Spen, I am concerned for you, bro. You are way too hung up on legalism. I am going to pray for you while you pray for Greg. Hey, let's ALL pray for each other!
Spen, have you heard of the story of the wheat and the weeds. We leave the weeds with the wheat lest we "THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER."
I agree with Greg that there is MUCH we Westerners can learn from the Eastern religions, one being meditation. We are to MEDITATE on the Word both day and night.
God bless you Greg. I pray God is leading you through this valley back up to the mountain top. | | Back to Top | | |
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Truth Aficionado
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Date Joined Dec 2003
Total Posts : 1544
| Posted 7/19/2004 5:09 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by Sahid
Jesus quoted Moses, but I don't think He approved of murder. He quoted David, but I don't think He approved of adultry.
Spen quotes Paul/Saul but I don't think he approves of persecuting...hmmm. | | Back to Top | | |
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quest for truth
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Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 479
| Posted 7/19/2004 5:15 PM (GMT -6) | | | Spen, I need to vent a little more. I am so angry with you at this time because I feel that you attacked Greg Boyd during a time when he is being vulnerable and real with what God is doing in his life. I think you owe him an apology. It's one thing to attack his work (you do way too much) but another to attack a vulnerable area in his life that he is being open and real with. I am seriously going to pray for YOU. | | Back to Top | | |
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Truth Aficionado
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Date Joined Dec 2003
Total Posts : 1544
| Posted 7/19/2004 5:35 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by quest for truth
Spen, I need to vent a little more. I am so angry with you at this time because I feel that you attacked Greg Boyd during a time when he is being vulnerable and real with what God is doing in his life. I think you owe him an apology. It's one thing to attack his work (you do way too much) but another to attack a vulnerable area in his life that he is being open and real with. I am seriously going to pray for YOU.
QFT, you have to understand spen, here is what he said to Hobbes a while back.
quote:
Spen:
I appreciate a good tirade, as you have seen in reading my posts, I get worked up with my own.
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1Heart
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Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 7/19/2004 6:22 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by spenlake
The "baby with the bathwater" is a poor analogy concerning bad teaching.
Spen,
I also said I felt you had "thrown the baby out with the bathwater" - meaning: You cannot seem to find one good thing in this book on prayer. You try to attack one way, and when that angle is exhausted, you find another way. I haven't heard you say one positive thing about the book, or think to ask what impact it has had positively on the lives of believers.
So, that is an example of throwing the "baby out with the bathwater" with regard to good teaching. But then, wait - why would you need to throw the baby out with the bathwater in good teaching?
What the expression means, as I understand it, is that there is often some good, and we can choose to focus totally on what we believe is wrong, and miss what is good. There is a "baby" that you've tossed aside, with what you perceive as bathwater. That "baby" is emphatic, fervent, Holy Spirit inspired prayer - which just happens to use our God given imaginations.
I would appreciate your saying that you would pray for Greg Boyd so much more, if you weren't attacking him at the same time. You have as much as called him a spiritist, and linked him with necromancy, and other things; and where you get these ideas, I have no idea. You seem to ignore the positive things that are shared about this work, and relentlessly attack it.
You were the one who so graciously prayed for our son first. I do not see grace here. If someone is going through their "dark night of the soul" which we all go through at one time or another; many times throughout our walk - why, oh why - would you choose that time; knowing full well that was happening - to continue an attack on that person's work. It is relentless, and IMHO only - cruel. It is not gracious.
I guess it angers me just a little as well. It is not personal, because I do not know you personally. But it makes me wonder. You didn't answer my question. Where is grace in all of this, because I don't see it. With one breath you are saying you'll pray (and the amazing thing is I think you mean it), but in another breath you continue your assault.
I have never seen anything on the board attacked so much, so vigorously, and so relentlessly. Those are just my thoughts.
I would be honoured to pray for Dr Boyd and his family as well. I don't see how this is helping Him any - do you?
Jo-Anne
"Sometimes all we can do is go back to the character of God, and drop anchor there."
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GregBoyd
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Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 1818
| Posted 7/19/2004 6:51 PM (GMT -6) | | Yo all,
I deeply appreciate -- honestly -- all the concern expressed for me in this "dark night of the soul" period I'm in. Come time, I may say more about it. I'll just say, its an unpleasant but very growing season. But...
I honestly don't think it fair to fault Spen for raising criticisms of my work at this time because I'm in one of those "funky" places. Books, ideas, proposals, etc... are fair game for public discourse any time.
Now grant it, I think the content of Spen's criticism are complete trash, the empty meanderings of a good mind sadly nfected with delusional self-serving religion. And grant it, I confess that this mindset feeds into the cynical view I've had to fight against fundamentalism. Its one of various reasons why I'm struggling now. Its certainly one of the reasons I limit my exposure to the board. But if I am in a place where I need to steer clear of religious poison, it is MY JOB to do it. It's not anyone else's job to pull back on their heart felt criticism to respect where I'm at.
THAT's the difference between virtual talk and reality. If someone came up to a person who was in a bad place and did what Spen does on the board, that would be grotesque. But on virtual chat rooms, its about ideas. So all is fair game.
All that is to say, I again appreciate the concern people have had for me. But on this one account, don't fault Spen. As truly as I think his basic mindset represents the antithesis of Kingdom thinking, I believe he is sincerely trying his best to stand for "the truth" and is not to blame for honestly sharing his thoughts, regardless of where I'm at personally, and regardless for how ill-conceived his criticism may be.
Blessings to ya'll -- including Spen.
Greg
"The responsibility is with the chooser -- God is blameless." Plato, Republic, 10. | | Back to Top | | |
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quest for truth
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Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 479
| Posted 7/19/2004 7:47 PM (GMT -6) | | Greg and Spen,
I fault Spen not in speaking his mind, and in his opinion truth, but I fault Spen in taking something Greg shared and using it in the same thread that he is critiquing (sp?) a book. I almost felt that Spen was insinuating that the reason Greg was experiencing this "dark night of the soul" was due to Greg allowing evil into his life through such things as imaginative prayer....
Spen, I apologize if you totally meant that you would pray for Greg with a sincere heart of concern. The gift of praying for one another is a beautiful thing indeed. | | Back to Top | | |
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Bobber
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2004
Total Posts : 199
| Posted 7/19/2004 8:33 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
I am against "imaginative prayer" not "prayer" because Dr. Boyd is teaching various techniques to improve one's imagination and infuse simple "prayer" with spirit inspired experiences. Dr. Boyd is not teaching simple prayer but additional techniques that he adds to prayer that he claims makes it more effective and provides deeper spiritual experiences that the Holy Spirit inspires. Why isn't simple prayer enough? It is shocking to think of how many Christians and godly men and women have been missing this technique that is claimed to be foundational for spiritual growth. [Spen]
Ha how ya doing Spen…first of all im not a member of Dr Boyd church in fact I don’t even agree with the open theism position in quite the same way they do, and my views on this I have shared on the board. I think much of these concerns you raise just simply do not hold water though. I would suggest to you there are ways by envisioning things that can help ones spiritual life. God didn’t use the imagination of man to help bring man into victory? What about Abraham. God took him out one night and told him to look to the stars, and he saw them by the thousands. God said so shall his seed be. So God used the imaginative process to enlarge his faith.
Every time he would see the stars he would see thousands or millions of descendents. Jesus used imaginative things to change some of his disciples inner image of themselves. He called two of them ‘Sons of thunder’ and Peter he called a rock. Many times when I pray I take the scripture which states, Come boldly to the throne of God to receive grace and mercy in time of need. Well what could possibly be wrong with me envisioning the throne of God and Jesus say walking towards me, looking at me and listening to me. That’s what I do anyway. Are you saying there’s never any one time you don’t or haven't done the same? I find it helps anyway. 
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Bobber
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Date Joined Jun 2004
Total Posts : 199
| Posted 7/19/2004 8:42 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
And just for the record, while I of course don’t' advocate eastern mysticism (or the other things Spen listed) as a prof of world religions for 11 years I'll say that there's a lot we westerners could learn from Taoism, Buddhism, etc... They aren't ALTOGETHER terrible. WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING. Not even you Spen. To learn, you have to remain a) open minded while b) discriminating. Don't throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. [GregBoyd]
I agree with you Dr Boyd in the way you state it They aren’t ALTOGETHER terrible and I know you mean that in a certain way but I would suggest and Im sure you might agree its an absolute crying shame that the body of Christ has to learn anything from Taoism, Buddhism or whatever other eastern religion. [not that we're against the eastern people butim speaking of false religion] Anything which would be true and is true that could be found in those other religions those things were taken from the genuine, God’s true way and perverted. Anyway like ive said before I don’t see eye to eye with the open theism position that you and others put forth but I have a different way of seeing things what ive labeled Classical Open Theism which mixes classical theism and open theism together. You know some times im almost tempted to think that some of your followers think of me as an absolute nut but hey I still look upon you all as my precious brethren in Christ. By the way I listened to various of your sermons that are online from your church web site with my MP3 player. Ya many of them were very good and I enjoyed listening to them…thanks for you and your people for putting them on. Have A Good And Wonderful Day
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1Heart
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 7/19/2004 9:20 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by GregBoyd
Yo all,
I deeply appreciate -- honestly -- all the concern expressed for me in this "dark night of the soul" period I'm in. Come time, I may say more about it. I'll just say, its an unpleasant but very growing season. But...
I honestly don't think it fair to fault Spen for raising criticisms of my work at this time because I'm in one of those "funky" places. Books, ideas, proposals, etc... are fair game for public discourse any time.
Now grant it, I think the content of Spen's criticism are complete trash, the empty meanderings of a good mind sadly nfected with delusional self-serving religion. And grant it, I confess that this mindset feeds into the cynical view I've had to fight against fundamentalism. Its one of various reasons why I'm struggling now. Its certainly one of the reasons I limit my exposure to the board. But if I am in a place where I need to steer clear of religious poison, it is MY JOB to do it. It's not anyone else's job to pull back on their heart felt criticism to respect where I'm at.
THAT's the difference between virtual talk and reality. If someone came up to a person who was in a bad place and did what Spen does on the board, that would be grotesque. But on virtual chat rooms, its about ideas. So all is fair game.
All that is to say, I again appreciate the concern people have had for me. But on this one account, don't fault Spen. As truly as I think his basic mindset represents the antithesis of Kingdom thinking, I believe he is sincerely trying his best to stand for "the truth" and is not to blame for honestly sharing his thoughts, regardless of where I'm at personally, and regardless for how ill-conceived his criticism may be.
Blessings to ya'll -- including Spen.
Greg
I appreciate your graciousness. That is an example of "taking the high road." Sometimes we need a reminder to take the high road. Who'm I kidding? We often need a reminder.
I appreciate Spen's challenge for me personally, but I must confess - what I objected to is his talking about your "dark night of the soul" and assaulting your work in almost the same breath. Yes this is virtual - but the people are flesh and blood. It is another way of communicating in our technological age. I'm glad it's available, or I would not have a place to explore and learn about open theism - BUT, I try to remember that these are people, not just ideas.
Spen, I'm sorry if I offended you. I still believe this has been a relentless, unfounded critique, and I wonder what it's really all about, and when or if it will ever end for you. I hope, sincerely, that you can move on, and allow God to use this work to further His Kingdom as it was intended.
God bless you and your family Dr Boyd. I know He is drawing near to you all.
Grace and peace to you Spen. I may not agree with you, but you are still my brother.
Jo-Anne 
"Sometimes all we can do is go back to the character of God, and drop anchor there."
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spenlake
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Date Joined Jan 2004
Total Posts : 1050
| Posted 7/20/2004 1:42 AM (GMT -6) | | Greg,
Thank you for your kind words. I believe that you know that I don't consider you more "bad" than me, just wrong. I also understand that you reciprocate. God has raised you up as a pastor and teacher and I do pary that His will shall be done on earth and that His words and teachings will flow from your pulpit, that the gospel will be preached boldy as it ought.
Returning to the topic, you state,
"And just for the record, while I of course dont' advocate eastern mysticism (or the other things Spen listed) as a prof of world religions for 11 years I'll say that there's a lot we westerners could learn from Taoism, Buddhism, etc... They aren't ALTOGETHER terrible. WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING. Not even you Spen. To learn, you have to remain a) open minded while b) discriminating. Don't throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater."
I have raised reasonable and honest questions regarding Kelsey in this post. What don't you agree with? What are the limits of what he states is acceptable and what you consider "eastern mysticism?" There must be some limits to the "means" or a ouija board would be acceptable. I don't believe that it is wrong, as some on this site have stated, because it is a graven image. Why couldn't a preacher on TBN claim that they have found the long-lost recipe for the "lot" in some cave? They could create a ouija board using the 12 stones from the ephod and verses and terms from the Bible. The very inheritance of the 12 tribes was based upon the lot. Now, in our times there is the spiritual inheritance that is just waiting for us to move into the spiritual promised land. All we have lacked all these years is the lot. There are enough passages to create a presentable case to a gullible public and someone would make a lot of money before they went to hell. Why is this wrong?
You state that I must live in fear of each word or fault, lest I be damned. Unfortunately, this is not the case as I wish it would be. The fear of the Lord is a good thing and is often lacking in my life. I do think that the passage that commands us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling means something, though. While I agree with you that we may have errors and enter heaven, there are also those who believe error and are damned.
Sincerity is not a shield or "get out of jail free" card. If you disagree with Kelsey's views on spirituality, what would happen to those who embraced them and found spirituality in the ways that he taught and promoted? I have no reason to believe that Kelsey was anything but sincere, was this enough to overcome the spiritual errors that he was promoting and have Jesus welcome him into heaven?
You may snigger that someone would question your experiences when you relate your spiritual Jesus bringing you into conversations with the dead. I think your explanation is weak and lacking. While necromancy is not a scriptural term, "consulting the dead" is one that is used. Spiritism is also another that is used. If, as some on this site have said, it is only spiritism if we go through a "medium," then the medium is not sinning when participating in spiritual experiences involving the dead and may even be encountering God. Perhaps that is the riddle of the Old Testament, instead of going to forbidden mediums, God has always wanted us to each become one ourselves. I somehow don't think that this is true.
Maybe in this time you could just look into and assure yourself once again as to what is biblical spiritism and why you aren't practicing it.
Spen Lake
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spenlake
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Date Joined Jan 2004
Total Posts : 1050
| Posted 7/20/2004 4:27 AM (GMT -6) | | Greg,
If I follow your teaching, how do we know we are safe? Is it based upon a feeling and experience?
Is sincerity all that is required to be safe?
Kelsey went so far as to state that he believed Carl Jung was an "unconscious Christian" even though Jung was explicit in his rejection of Christianity. I assume that you disagree with this? The quotes that I took from Kelsey were not "off topic" but reflected his views on prayer. Apparently, based upon your post here, you disagree with Kelsey's views that I quoted. Why? What are your limits?
In your reply to me you speak to both sides in the same statement, "And just for the record, while I of course dont' advocate eastern mysticism (or the other things Spen listed) as a prof of world religions for 11 years I'll say that there's a lot we westerners could learn from Taoism, Buddhism, etc... They aren't ALTOGETHER terrible."
You claim not to advocate eastern mysticism and then you claim there is much we can learn from Taoism, Buddhism, etc. I am guessing that there is some limits that you have created to differentiate between that which "you don't advocate" and that "which we could learn from." What is this line and limit? How do you define it and on what basis? I am struggling to give your statement a sympathetic reading and I do wish to give you the benefit of the doubt and ask you directly how these two statements mesh and support each other.
Spen Lake
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quest for truth
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 479
| Posted 7/20/2004 4:54 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Quest,
I believe that I have attacked his work and teachings. In what area have I attacked him personally. I agree with you that this is not a forum for that. Help me to see my sin so that I may repent.
quote:
Dr. Boyd is stepping down at Woodlund Hills as he goes through his personal "dark night of the soul." I honestly pray for him that he can let go of this spiritism and return to the gospel and its power to bring resurrection life. May God bless him and give him grace to embrace the simplicity and power of the gospel.
My prayers are with him, his family, and his congregation.
You refer to his personal life by referring to his personal "dark night of the soul" and then in the same paragraph throw in that you pray that he can "let go of his spiritism and return to the gospel" Perhaps it's just me but I felt you were indirectly saying the reason he is experiencing the "dark night of the soul" was due to his theology being off from the gospel. To me this seemed to be an indirect attack on him in a personal area he is currently dealing with. If this be the case then you need to repent and ask for forgiveness lest you be like Job's friends.
Let me know if I am off in my interpretation. Thanks. | | Back to Top | | |
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quest for truth
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 479
| Posted 7/20/2004 5:14 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
You may snigger that someone would question your experiences when you relate your spiritual Jesus bringing you into conversations with the dead. I think your explanation is weak and lacking. While necromancy is not a scriptural term, "consulting the dead" is one that is used
Spen, Greg isn't conversing with dead people -- I don't understand where you're getting that. Greg is watching a video of a PAST experience with Jesus. Together they are editing the video to make it a true script by removing the lies and hurt. When THEY are finished he watches a new video that brings restoration and healing. He is praying that God will be present throughout the whole process of restoring the video -- he isn't interacting with spirits or the dead to do this. Where are you getting this? | | Back to Top | | |
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quest for truth
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 479
| Posted 7/20/2004 6:33 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
I do disagree with his teachings and, to the extent my disagreement is in accordance with God's, I do pray that God will use these experiences to bring him to the truth and change
I like "to the extent my disagreement is in accordance with God's" because I believe NONE of us have it all together and I am sure Greg Boyd would be the first to admit that. We are ALL in process to becoming in the likeness of God (if we are open to God's leading). I believe it is important to pray for one another and to pray that God will work in each person's life AND then leave it at that with no specifics. We are NOT in a position to judge nor critique how God must work since we ourselves are in process. Trials come to all of us. The "dark hour of the soul" comes sometimes with little explanation of why.
Let's pray for one another as the Spirit of God leads.
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funkytown
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Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 7
| Posted 7/20/2004 8:42 AM (GMT -6) | | | I asked Jesus into my heart when I was five years old. I do yoga every day and I haven't experienced any conflict with my Christian convictions. In fact, part of the reason I started doing yoga was to help me clear my mind and focus on what matters most—“to live is Christ”—as Paul would say. Peace. | | Back to Top | | |
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funkytown
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Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 7
| Posted 7/20/2004 10:41 AM (GMT -6) | | S: Would you think that Transcendental Meditation might also be helpful and appropriate as well?
F: Maybe. I haven’t really looked into it.
S: What about Zen and a mantra such as "Jesus is Lord" repeated over and over until your mind loses the conection with the words themselves and you reach a zone of internal silence?
F: I don’t know that much about Zen. I don’t use mantras either. But I have used litanies to help me refocus on Christ‘s work in me and in the world.
S: What are your "Christian convictions" regarding approaching God that you refer to above?
F: I believe that when I asked Jesus to come into my heart, he answered. He is always with me and he will never forsake me. He is not fickle like the rest of us, who give up on those we disapprove of. When I am wrong, I believe that he will go to great lengths to bring me back to the way, the truth, and the life.
S: As long as one is sincere, can we choose to approach God by any means we choose?
F: No. It doesn’t matter what we do or don’t do or how sincere we are about it—Only Jesus can get us to God.
S: What is the measure that we have indeed found God's peace and not the "peace, peace where there is no peace" of the false ones?
F: Only Jesus can give us God’s peace. (“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives” John 14:27.)
S: Is a feeling or inner experience of peace sufficient to assure us that we have peace with God?
F: No. | | Back to Top | | |
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Truth Aficionado
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Date Joined Dec 2003
Total Posts : 1544
| Posted 7/20/2004 11:10 AM (GMT -6) | | Are you currently a member, or ever been a member, of the People’s Temple? | | Back to Top | | |
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funkytown
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 7
| Posted 7/20/2004 11:19 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by sparknheart
Are you currently a member, or ever been a member, of the People’s Temple?
No, but I was once a devoted fan of the Village People. | | Back to Top | | |
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1Heart
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 7/21/2004 9:22 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by spenlake
quote:
Originally posted by funkytown
I asked Jesus into my heart when I was five years old. I do yoga every day and I haven't experienced any conflict with my Christian convictions. In fact, part of the reason I started doing yoga was to help me clear my mind and focus on what matters most—“to live is Christ”—as Paul would say. Peace.
Would you think that Transcendental Meditation might also be helpful and appropriate as well? What about Zen and a mantra such as "Jesus is Lord" repeated over and over until your mind loses the conection with the words themselves and you reach a zone of internal silence? What are your "Christian convictions" regarding approaching God that you refer to above?
As long as one is sincere, can we choose to approach God by any means we choose? What is the measure that we have indeed found God's peace and not the "peace, peace where there is no peace" of the false ones? Is a feeling or inner experience of peace sufficient to assure us that we have peace with God?
I think we need to be careful that we do not easily dismiss, or assess and judge something because it is different than our own experience, or the way we worship Christ. It is good to ask questions though, and I appreciate your questions Spen. They bring clarity.
I also appreciate Funkytown's answers. It is obvious that he/she is confident in their relationship with Jesus Christ, and this is all about relationship.
God is infinitely creative in the ways that He speaks to us, in how He created us, and I believe that we can trust Him to lead us (as FT said); to steer us back to the One who is "the way, the truth and the life."
But, I do believe we need to be cautious, perhaps even question -as Spen has done; to check and make sure that we are consistent with the Word of God, and the picture of the Father that we see in Jesus Christ.
I don't see anything wrong with some aspects of yoga - the asanas (sp?); if it helps you focus on Him, worship Him, meditate on His Word..."day and night, and we shall be like trees planted by rivers of living water..." Meditation is a good thing. Transcendental is something else. I agree with Spen. We need to be very careful. The enemy is far more deceitful than we realize. He can make a good imitation look like the real thing.
Do I sound like I'm riding the fence here? If I do, it's because I believe that we need to be as open as possible to the Spirit, while being true to the Word. The lines get fuzzy...things are not as black and white as we would like to think (I think).
Have a good night, and God Bless. Welcome Funkytown. I don't think I've seen you here before. BTW...I used to do the yoga asanas myself...many years ago, when I could do them! I enjoyed it. I also taught a nursing class using one of the breathing techniques (covering one nostril, breathing in through the other, then exhaling very slowly through pursed lips...very relaxing...a "cleansing breath" I think it was called. And, before I was a believer I was going to go to Transcendal Meditation and get my mantra, but I didn't have enough money (Thank you Lord!)
'Nite
Jo-Anne
"Sometimes all we can do is go back to the character of God, and drop anchor there."
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