Don't Mix Other Faith Practices Into The Christian Faith Series

Q WHO HERE KNOWS WHAT EVANGELISM IS?

Of course you do: one of this church’s stated goals is to tell other people about Jesus Christ. We try to accomplish this goal in all sorts of ways. Personal one on one contact. Corporate events such as car washes or BBQ’s, etc.

Master Moy decided to do a little evangelism of his own: Evangelism, not in the name of Jesus, but in the name of Taoism. Tai Chi and its promise of health and happiness is the bait:

Just like you and I would invite someone to the church BBQ with the goal that they will want to learn more about Jesus. Master Moy invites you to take up Tai Chi with the hope that yin yang symbol that you see plastered up on the wall and the very name “Tai Chi” will get you to dig a little deeper.

The occult and Witchcraft, Hinduism, Taoism, etc. They all have their evangelism tools at their disposals.

Each of these religions and ways has great promises and gifts to offer:

-Halloween: you’ll get a big bag of candy.

-Harry Potter books essentially promise to make readers of your children (sarcastically: who can fault that)

-Yoga and Tai Chi: promise you better physical health

But what is the cost: Compromise, spiritual defilement, a faith and belief system that is no longer pure.

Remember what the scriptures say in Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”

IV. WHAT ABOUT THE QUESTION OF SECULARIZATION

Some folks say “but that’s not what Yoga or Tai chi, or Halloween, or Harry Potter or Pokemon mean to me. I’m a mature Christian, I have liberty, all things are permissible for me (a mistake the I Corinthians made in ch. 6, 10), I have separated the religious components of those things from the practice aspects”

Others may be legitimately asking: is their a way to secularize these practices so that they become morally and spiritually neutral and acceptable.

Can a leopard change his spots? No

Likewise I don’t believe there is any way to make Halloween, Tai Chi, Yoga, Harry Potter spiritually neutral: by their own definitions they are not.

However, on the flip side:

If you want to get healthy: start eating right, start exercising, do some stretching

If you want some candy: go to the store and buy some.

If you want to have a costume party have one

If you want your child to be a better reader, read with him and make it fun

Yet note this: the minute you call your costume and candy party Halloween, the minute you start to call your stretching exercises Yoga, the minute you start your child into a book called Harry Potter, you have crossed the line because, Halloween is a religious practice, Yoga is a religious practice, Tai Chi with its yin and yang symbol and the concept of chi running through your body, is a religious practice, and Harry Potter is all about Wizards, witches, and witchcraft.