To the Saints – a Call to Arms

“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” (Psalm 37:1-2)

 

Christians, satan’s minions are at it again, now striking us here in the NY/NJ area. It is in the midst of these disquieting times that we are called to be Biblical voices of reason. As others panic and search desperately for solutions, let us be the calm and fret-less ones that they can turn to. Our hope, our peace, and our joy is in Jesus Christ and we must bring Him into any circumstance as the calming Agent. This is our calling and this is our duty.

We shall not cave in. We will get up, go to work, and function as we normally do. Terrible things will always happen, but we will not be terrorized into silence or dormancy. According to my Bible, these tribulations make the obedient Christian stronger! We have the choice to cower or tower. Let us choose wisely. 

Believers and unbelievers together are negotiating the same troubled waters, but let the faithful continually proclaim the ease of Christ’s yoke and burden. Yes, we face the same pain, grief, and challenges, but Christ’s way is easier and lighter. Let us never be caught saying that being a Christian is difficult, when it is the faithless who are having the most burdensome times of it. In Christ Jesus we have the easier and lighter Way; we must be a reflection of Him in trying times. In the face of death we are fearless for one reason only: we have a hope rooted firmly in Jesus and all His promises. In troubling times it is crucial we share this hope. Share these words if you agree!

 

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive [d]and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

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No Such Thing as Harmless Yoga

Last night on Pastor’s Perspective the topic of yoga came up again. The question was asked if it was okay for the high school football coach to use yoga as part of the team’s stretching program.

Here’s the problem with incorporating yoga (albeit seemingly innocuous and void of Hinduism), into a training regiment: if and when those boys are introduced to the real thing later in life, they will likely surmise, “Oh yeah, yoga! I remember that – it’s harmless! Coach Smith taught us that.”

Oh yeah, yoga…Coach Smith taught us that.”

Many may initially suspect that this coach’s yoga is of the harmless variety, however I submit that it is not harmless, as he is setting these boys up for a disaster, regardless if he realizes it or not. His intent is (likely) not the issue, but rather that yoga is being portrayed as something harmless to a group of young, impressionable boys and some will inevitably take the bait when it’s reintroduced at a later stage of life.

If this yoga program cannot (or won’t) be removed from the school, then parents need to instruct their children that authentic yoga is satanic and that a sanitized version of these rituals only serve as an introduction to this evil practice. The fact that a coach, teacher, or sports figure is okay with it sends the wrong message to these youths and that memory will remain embedded until yoga is reintroduced to them down the road.

Case in point:

From what I can see, Russell Wilson (QB, Seattle Seahawks) is a Christian and I sense the yoga he does has been stripped of all it’s Hindu attributes. Based on what the Bible has to say, he should not be doing it. Nevertheless, the problem is that the thousands upon thousands of kids (and adults) who look up to and admire him, don’t necessarily know that fact. All they perceive is that Russell Wilson does yoga, he is a Christian, and therefore yoga is okay. This picture of Russell Wilson screams, “Yoga is cool.” Yoga is not cool, it is evil.

The Bible says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and to never “put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” (Romans 14:13). Therefore, that is what we should do. If yoga, or anything else has an appearance of evil and it poses a risk that someone else might stumble, we are commanded to not do it. It’s really that simple.

*I am not knocking my brothers at Pastor’s Perspective program or Russell Wilson. It is just important that we recognize the seriousness of this issue and do whatever is necessary to correct it. I chose to talk about it in a public forum for the purpose of awareness.

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