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Yoga and Spiritual Warfare, Why Christians Must Reject Pagan Spirituality
Show Summary
Many Christians today view yoga as harmless just stretching, breathing, or a way to relieve stress. But yoga is not spiritually neutral. Its poses, philosophy, and origins are rooted in Hindu worship, idolatry, and counterfeit spirituality. In this episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins is joined by Doreen Virtue to examine yoga through the lens of Scripture and to explain why Christians must reject attempts to “Christianize” pagan practices.
Drawing from Doreen’s background in the New Age and her book Yoga and Spiritual Warfare, Dave and Doreen walk through what yoga actually is, why it cannot be redeemed, how it relates to spiritual warfare, and why coming out of deception is an act of love for God and neighbor. This conversation aims to help believers test every practice by the Word of God and cling to Christ alone.
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Episode Highlights
What We Discuss
- The State of Theology findings and the rise of universalism in the church.
- Why many professing Christians now believe God accepts worship from all religions.
- What yoga actually is according to Hindu texts and historic practice.
- Why “holy yoga,” “Christian yoga,” and “praise moves” cannot redeem pagan worship.
- The spiritual meaning of yoga poses, chanting, meditation, and Kundalini.
- Why stretching is good, but yoga is not spiritually neutral.
- How yoga and New Age ideas reshape our view of God, truth, freedom, and self.
- Why coming out of deception matters and how discernment is an act of love.
Key Scriptures
- John 14:6 — Jesus as the only way, truth, and life.
- Romans 6–8 — true freedom, sanctification, and putting sin to death.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 — glorifying God with our bodies.
- Romans 1:25 — worshiping the creature rather than the Creator.
- Exodus 20:1–6 — the first and second commandments and idolatry.
- Jude 3 — contending for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
- 1 Peter 3:15 — giving a reason for the hope within us with gentleness and respect.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 — destroying arguments that oppose the knowledge of God.
Resource Mentioned
- Yoga and Spiritual Warfare by Doreen Virtue (also available on Kindle Unlimited at the time of recording)
Takeaways and Reflection Questions
- How have you seen yoga or New Age practices normalized in Christian spaces?
- Are there “neutral” practices in your life that need to be tested by Scripture?
- How does Scripture define true freedom compared to the world’s definition?
- What would it look like for you to lovingly warn others about counterfeit spirituality?
- How can you grow in daily discernment through regular time in God’s Word?
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