OMG!! A nut-job leading nut-jobs...
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A pastor of an Assemblies of God megachurch recently took aim at yoga, saying it has "demonic roots" and warning Christians to avoid the popular activity.
Pastor John Lindell told the attendees of James River Church in Ozark, Missouri — which has a congregation of about 10,500, according to a 2016 report — that the positions in yoga were "created with demonic intent to open you up to demonic power because Hinduism is demonic."
Lindell delivered a paranormal-themed sermon the Sunday before Halloween. Among other things, he warned congregants about the spiritual dangers of fortune-telling, Wicca, a form of paganism, and finally, yoga.
First, he addressed yoga poses.
"They were designed, they were created with demonic intent, to open you up to demonic power because Hinduism is demonic," Lindell said.
Lindell said the sun salutation, a common sequence of positions in yoga, is meant to worship Surya, the Hindu sun god.
"To say the positions of yoga are no more than exercise are tantamount to saying water baptism is just aqua aerobics," Lindell said.
During meditation, he said, people clear their minds. Sometimes they chant a mantra, which can incorporate the names of Hindu gods, Lindell said.
He said it's "spiritually dangerous" for people to empty their minds.
"Yoga is diametrically opposed to Christianity," he said. "....Christians should stay away from yoga because of its demonic roots."
Lindell said he was coming from a place of concern for people's spiritual well-being.
Stop doing yoga, he told his congregants, and they don't have to be afraid.
"I can't say the same if you keep doing it," Lindell said.
(Sounds like a threat to me.)
Toward the end of his sermon, Lindell said he hopes people consider his words.
"I don't do it to make anybody mad. If I made you mad, that's unfortunate," he said. "But I have a responsibility before God as the shepherd of souls to say I told you the truth."
The congregation applauded.
1 comment:
fucking idiots!
Post a Comment