World Religions Archives - Mama Bear Apologetics: Recent Episodes
World Religions Archives - Mama Bear Apologetics
I am a 21st-century, overstimulated, and exhausted mom. All I want is to take one measly hour to go outside in the quiet of nature and stretch with an adorable baby goat on my back. What could possibly be so wrong with that?
Okay, goat yoga is hilarious. And it’s kind of adorable. But seriously, so many of us crave a healthy way to care for our minds and bodies. With the promises of peace, stress reduction, physical fitness, and the ability to quiet your mind, it is no wonder that yoga has become so popular in the West. But is yoga an appropriate practice for Christians? How do we discuss this with our kids without being dismissive or judgmental?
In A Crash Course in Yoga, we discussed yoga’s spiritual roots and some of the symbolism found in the different aspects of the practice. The poses, the movements, the breathwork, and the meditation are all designed for attaining “enlightenment.” Enlightenment derives from Eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism. In yoga, enlightenment occurs as you gradually disconnect from your individual sense of self and “realize” that you and everyone else (and everything else) are one. But things get a bit tricky as yoga is appropriated into Western culture. Depending on the yoga instructor, your session could emphasize the spiritual aspects of yoga, but there’s also a good chance your class is just focused on health and fitness while using yoga poses for stretching and strengthening. Is it all evil? If not, is any of it evil? Is this just an area of Christian freedom and personal conscience? Can yoga be “taken back” for God? Can the exercise of Yoga poses be divorced from its spiritual roots? If my kid copies someone on TV doing “Warrior Pose” will she be attacked by demons?! Let’s ROAR.
Recognize the Message – What are the messages coming from pro-yoga Christians?1. All that matters is your intent
“We know that yoga is a spiritual discipline much like fasting, meditation, and prayer that cannot be owned by one specific religion.” – Holy Yoga1
Since yoga has been adapted as a practice by multiple Eastern worldviews, many people view it as something that can be adapted by any worldview. The idea is that yoga practice can be integrated with anyone’s personal beliefs about reality. Don’t intend to worship Hindu deities? Just think about YOUR God! Or don’t! Yoga is what you make of it.
- This is an area of Christian freedom
“Where the Bible is silent (and, if you were wondering, it doesn’t say anything about our modern-day yoga practices), I use my freedom and wisdom from Christ to determine what is consistent with my faith — just like I’m gonna use Extended-Side-Angle to strengthen my core.” – Alli Patterson2
Since the Bible doesn’t explicitly condemn yoga, the idea is that each Christian should come to his/her own conclusion. If–as a Christian–you are able to separate yoga from its spiritual roots in your own mind, then you should feel free to participate.
- Christians have special spiritual protection
“Consequently, believers in the Bible have no reason to fear yoga. According to the Scriptures, God encircles, encompasses, covers, and shields those who make Him their refuge. His presence, the anointing, is a kind of force field of protection making you inaccessible to the enemy no matter what the circumstances.” – Tonyah Dee3
No need to worry about yoga’s Hindu origins. Remember the first message “All that matters is your intent”? Well, if that’s true, and if you don’t even know that yoga is designed to worship ancient Hindu deities, then it would follow that you are safe from accidentally participating in idolatry. If your kid came home from school and showed you that she learned a “Lord of the Dance” move in gym class, are you going to panic that your child is now an idol worshiper? Plus, you have the Holy Spirit in you! He’ll make sure you’re always protected.
Offer Discernment – What truths can we affirm in yoga, and what lies do we need to expose?TRUTH #1: Our mind, body, and spirit are connected.There is no question that our mind and our body are connected. Just taking “the placebo effect” into account demonstrates this. According to an article published by Harvard Medical School, “How placebos work is still not quite understood, but it involves a complex neurobiological reaction that includes everything from increases in feel-good neurotransmitters (like endorphins and dopamine) to greater activity in certain brain regions linked to moods, emotional reactions, and self-awareness. All of it can have therapeutic benefit.”4 Therefore, what we believe can actually have a physical effect on our bodies.
Biblically, we know that our spirit is affected by both our mind and our body. Sin affects the spirit, since “the wages of sin is death.” When original sin came into the world, we were born spiritually dead–a spiritual separation from God. When we sin, we further disconnect ourselves from God. We know that we can sin with both our bodies (through actions) and our minds (through thoughts and unrighteous emotions [Matthew 5:21-30]). Further, our words and actions come out of our spiritual condition. Our mind, body, and spirit are indeed connected.
TRUTH #2: Stretching and breathing are good.As believers, our bodies are a temple for Christ. We each only get one body on this side of heaven (at least I think so but since we’re basically living in a sci-fi movie these days, who knows?). Exercising, stretching, and breathing deeply are good for the body.
In fact, there is good scientific evidence to suggest that daily deep breathing exercises can reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone), anxiety, and blood pressure.5 Stretching also has a number of benefits, including reducing your risk of injuries, improving your range of motion in your joints, and just overall better performance in daily activity.6
TRUTH #3: We can do all things to the glory of Christ.Whether we are doing ministry, changing diapers, or doing our self-care routine, we can (and should be) glorifying the Lord. As we perform our daily tasks with the joy of the Spirit, in humility, kindness, and love, we represent Christ to the world. Even as we take care of our mental health and our bodies, we model for others how we are stewarding God’s creation well. If you want to meditate on Scripture or pray while you stretch or exercise, you can certainly do this as a way to honor Christ. All of this glorifies God.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).
LIE #1: The words and the poses don’t mean anything if you don’t want them to. When performing yoga postures or stretches, you are putting your body into positions that were specifically designed to worship or pay homage to false gods.7 You might not have any intention of worshiping these gods, but you are participating in the ritual nonetheless. Check out the YouTube thumbnail shown below and understand that this woman is supposedly committing her day to the Lord while doing a worship pose to the Hindu god Vīrabhadra.
When “holy yoga” uses the same flows and poses, whether or not you use the same names for them, your body is sending out a message. Just like words in a particular order mean something, poses in a particular order mean something.
LIE #2: I can be surrounded with an unbiblical worldview and not have it affect me.We’re not saying that every person who goes to a yoga class is going to become entrenched in the New Age or devote their life to yoga and Hindu spiritualism, although, some will.8 But each of us needs to have a humble view of ourselves and realize that we are vulnerable to the influence of false ideas whether we like it or not. Remember how intentions don’t always matter? Just because you don’t intend to be influenced by an opposing worldview doesn’t mean you won’t be.
Further, if Christians have divine protection from deception or from demonic oppression, why does the Bible repeatedly warn us against being deceived? (See Timothy 4:1, Colossians 2:8, 2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Lie #3: Yoga is a black and white issue. Let’s face it, it’s way easier to have a black-and-white answer. As worn-out Christian parents, we’re often tempted to just slap a “safe” or “dangerous” label on things and call it a day! Some people say “All yoga is safe if you refocus on God,” and others say “All yoga is dangerous no matter how it’s done!” But what we need to do is be wise without being legalistic. I think it’s safe to say that yoga in its purest form is not for the believer because it entails participation in the worship of self and of other gods. But neither does Satan own sitting on your knees and stretching your arms out (in yoga called “child’s pose”). Again, it’s not necessarily the poses and breathing; it’s the order in which they are done that conveys meaning.
Argue for a healthier approach(this section written by Hillary Morgan Ferrer)
As a general rule, I’m going to say that it is unwise to participate in something if you don’t know what you are participating in. If I had someone randomly give me a German phrase to go up and say to a police officer, I wouldn’t do it until I knew what I was saying. Likewise, don’t get a cool-looking Japanese tattoo if you don’t know what it means. You can end up with weird things permanently on your body. Furthermore, I have a friend who speaks fluent French. Upon going over to a girlfriend’s house, she saw a throw pillow that read “chair de grandpère.” The friend thought it meant “Grandpa’s chair.” It actually meant “Grandpa’s flesh,” which is not something I’d want on my throw pillow.
So, if we are going to participate in something that has meaning, we must make sure we understand the meaning of it first. If you as a Christian feel like you need some yoga for exercise and wellbeing, here’s a few thoughts on how to achieve the same goals in a healthier way:
Stop using the terminologyAs Christians, we need to remember that Jesus is, Himself, God’s Word. Words mean things. So if we aren’t trying to become yoked with the Brahman, stop using phrases that basically mean “A Christian yoking with the Brahman.” (Aka: Christian Yoga. It’s like Christian Satanism. No literally, it is like that.) Suggestion? Someone out there pleassssse create something called BÄS or something, which could stand for Breathing and Stretching. Pronounce it like “boss.” I’d totally go to a BÄS session! Even a hot BÄS session! And when doing poses, stop using the words that venerate Hindu warrior gods like Vīrabhadra (warrior pose). Don’t pay homage to Sita by doing tree pose. In BÄS, it can be stretching hurdler or flamingo pose. They are great for balance and inner thighs. No accidental worship required!
As we’ve said before, the devil doesn’t own words, but it is unwise to say certain words in certain orders because they mean something. If you don’t understand what the words or the poses mean, don’t use them. I’m not going to chant “Salue le grand serpant qui se déguise en ange de lumière le plus puissant! Viens en moi et donne-moi le pouvoir de tes démons pour accompli tes œuvres” and justify it with “I don’t speak French, but this sounds pretty.” Because what I’m literally saying here is “Hail the great serpent who disguises himself as the most powerful angel of light! Come into me and give me the power of your demons to do your works.” I’m not intending anything nefarious, but I probably shouldn’t say that no matter what language it’s in. And that doesn’t mean that I can’t use the words light, angel, come, or power, but saying those words in that order means something, whether I intend them to or not.
Stop using the order of posesJust as with words, the order matters with what your body does. Don’t do a Kundalini flow if you’re not trying to awaken your 10 sacred bodies. Don’t do the order of the sun salutation unless you are wanting to worship the sun. Stretch and breath and pose–but for the love of all that is holy, just stop doing them in the flows that represent Hindu worship! If you don’t mean it, don’t say it – with your body or otherwise.
Meditation is about filling, not about emptyingYes, interject God into your calming stretches. Use the time to breathe deeply and ponder on his love. Pray while you stretch your calves. It’s okay to quiet your mind without emptying it!
This is not a chew-and-spit situationThe chew-and-spit method is for discerning the good and bad within media and ideas. However, we don’t go practicing other religions to see which parts of it overlap with Christianity. Want to study it to see what they are saying? Sure. Nothing wrong with studying other world religions. Practicing other world religions? No. Not the same.
And as many practicing Hindus (especially those in the East) will tell you, yoga is not separable from Hinduism. Christian baptism is not synonymous with a bath. The Lord’s supper is not synonymous with “a snack.” Yoga isn’t synonymous with breathing and stretching, no matter what the western world is trying to say. Stop appropriating Hinduism. It’s straight-up rude to Hindus.
In the end, Mama bears, this is a wisdom issue, not necessarily a sin issue. Please do not take this article and use it to beat every Christian you know over the head as if they are sinning unless they give up yoga like yesterday. Yoga is unwise, but it is also hyperfundamentalist to heap laws upon laws within Christianity. Use this information to put a pebble in the shoe. Use this information to help people make good, informed decisions and to be more intentional in their Christian lives. Use this information to inform your own practice, but allow the Holy Spirit to convict.
Reinforce Through Discussion, Discipleship, and Prayer1. Ask yourself these questions: * Do you think the enemy cares about your intentions? I recommend you watch our podcast episode where Amy Davison interviews Krista Bontrager, and they discuss ways in which we (or our kids) can unintentionally invite the enemy to oppress us. * Can we really just impose our own meaning onto an ancient Hindu ritual? If so, where does that stop? At what point does practicing a ritual that is intended for worshiping other gods cease to have meaning? For those who know what these rituals mean, what do they see when they see you – a Christian – doing this ritual? What do others see when they observe you doing yoga? Do they see you worshiping the one true God? Or is their perception that you are worshiping other gods or attempting to connect with your “higher self”? What do your kids see? More important than that, when we are performing a highly choreographed ritual, what do the beings in the spiritual realm see? * What does God mean when He tells His people to be “set apart”? Is He only talking about what’s going on in your own private mind? In Leviticus, God tells His people not to follow the practices of the surrounding nations by saying, “Do not do as they do” (Leviticus 18:1-2). In 2 Corinthians we are told not to be yoked with unbelievers. Remember, the word yoga literally means “yoke,” and the purpose is to be “yoked” to the oneness, or the “Supreme Reality.” Scripture says, “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16). As our bodies are temples, should we be using them to form poses that at the very least pay homage to idols? 2. Make “What you do with your body matters”9 a household phrase and repeat it until your kids roll their eyes when they hear it. It’s a great mantra because it applies to many situations. 3. Take turns with your kids making hand gestures (like a high five, thumbs up/down, praying hands, arms folded, etc.) and make up a brand new meaning for them. After the laughter dies down, discuss how it would work out for you out in the world when you decide to assign your own meaning to widely recognized hand gestures. 4. Model humility by praying with your kids that the Lord will open your eyes to anything that does not bring honor and glory to Him. We should all regularly ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of areas in our life where we are unaware of disobedience to Him. 5. Prepare your kids in case they are asked to participate in yoga in school (or elsewhere). Make a plan according to your family’s convictions. For example, whichever pose the class is doing, find a similar pose that will stretch the same muscle or focus on a similar balancing act. This is where “studying yoga” could actually be beneficial. Figure out which poses they are going to do and in what order, and come up with an alternate order with different stretches that stretch the same things. Also, this is a great time for Scripture memorization. When the yogi asks the kids to have an “intention” like in the breathing in and breathing out, pick a good verse and have your kids focus on that in the breaths. 6. Have a discussion with your kids about friends and family who might be participating in lifestyles or practices that are off-limits for your family. Another phrase you can repeat is, “You don’t know what you don’t know,” and explain that not everyone is aware of the spiritual aspects of what they are doing. Talk about how patient and gracious the Lord is with ALL of us, and that we will likely learn about our own blind spots over time.
Alexa CramerAlexa is a homeschool mom of two. She became obsessed with apologetics after a season of doubt that nearly stole her faith. Alexa has a background in film and video and will willingly fight anyone who doesn’t agree the DC Talk is the best band that ever graced the earth.
1 https://holyyoga.net/what-we-believe/2 https://www.crossroads.net/media/articles/can-christians-do-yoga3 https://yahlight.com/what-is-yoga-phobia/4 https://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/the-power-of-the-placebo-effect5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9877284/6 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/stretching/art-200479317 See “A Crash Course in Yoga,” https://mamabearapologetics.com/a-crash-course-in-yoga/8 Read Ruth Burgess’s story: https://www.thetruelight.net/wp/ruth-burgess-story1/9 Hillary Ferrer and Amy Davison, Mama Bear Apologetics: Guide to Sexuality (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2021), 246.The post ROARing Through Yoga appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
I suspect at least a portion of you already have your minds made up about yoga, but you clicked on this link because you wanted to see what we had to say about it, to know if Mama Bear supports it or not. Am I right or am I right? This is one of those topics that can be divisive. Those who are against Christians practicing yoga accuse them of synchronizing with the culture and other world religions. Those who see it as an area of Christian freedom, practice yoga themselves, or who couldn’t care less if other Christians practiced it, are exasperated by what they see as legalism surrounding this topic. Then, there are the mamas who are genuinely unsure where they should land on this issue or how to guide their kids through it. As yoga is increasingly being taught in public schools,1 Mama Bears should be equipped to think through this ancient practice with wisdom. So let’s talk.
This is going to be a two-parter. In Part 1, we’ll begin with some information about yoga that you might not be aware of, like its symbolism, philosophy, and spiritual ramifications. We’ll especially focus on what yoga is, and where the conflict lies in our list of things you need to know. In Part 2, we will use the Mama Bear Apologetics ROAR method to practice discernment as we think through the information covered in Part 1.
What exactly is yoga?Yoga originated in India and is steeped in Hinduism but the practice has been adapted by several other Eastern worldviews, including Buddhism and Sikhism.2 All that to say, yoga has evolved, and there are various types and subtypes of yoga practice. While researching, I noticed multiple ways in which people seem to interpret the purpose of yoga. For example, some people believe they can attain supernatural powers such as levitation or clairvoyance,3 while others reject that idea in favor of a less fantastical view in which one achieves “enlightenment.”4 So, it’s pretty safe to say that we as Christians can reject these overt aspects of yoga. Duh. No brainer. However, how is it being presented to us in Western culture?
Hatha Yoga is the type of yoga we modern Westerners typically think of. It’s the kind of yoga where you put your body into poses and breathe deeply. So while you may associate this kind of yoga with breathing through downward dog, we need to recognize that it is much more than that. Remember: yoga is a philosophy about reality, not just physical exercise. In fact the physical poses are intended to more deeply entrench you into the philosophy. Regardless of how a person practices yoga, we cannot ignore that the underlying philosophy is present, and that matters. We must acquaint ourselves with the worldview yoga is promoting.
The Worldview Behind YogaYoga is intended to “yoke” you… but to what?If you want a clear-cut explanation of the intention of yoga, just look at the name. The word yoga literally means yoke or union. By and large, the purpose of yoga is to unite yourself (or fully realize your union) with the “Divine Consciousness,” the supposed eternal power that permeates everything in reality and which encompasses all knowledge (of like, everything!). The worldview behind yoga assumes that your inner self is divine, that everything that exists emanates from one impersonal force (Brahman), and that therefore your divine self and this force are connected. Your perception of who you think you are is merely your “ego” and the goal is to gradually detach from it so that you can know your “higher self,” realize your connection to all things, tap into the omniscience of the “Divine Consciousness,” and reduce suffering.
It’s all about Chakras (pronounced shock-rahs)Have you ever heard someone say they need to “balance their chakras”? It’s easy. Just shake your hips because they don’t lie. Oh wait, that’s Shakira… Chakras, on the other hand, are referred to as “energy centers” in the body. They are supposed points in your body in which a mystical (and mythical) divine energy, called Kundalini energy, moves through. Kundalini is often portrayed as a snake and is believed to be “coiled” at the base of the spine, and moves up the spine when activated. (That doesn’t sound nefarious at all? What could possibly go wrong with balancing a snake energy in your spine?)
The aim in yoga is to activate and balance your chakras because you want your sweet little Kundalini snake to be balanced in each area. This is one of the goals of the yoga postures and movements – to direct this energy throughout your body. As your chakras become activated, the Kundalini moves up your spine through each “center.” Many who teach the chakras warn that Kundalini can be dangerous, but not for the reasons that you think. They say that if you get too much “energy” in a particular chakra, it will become unbalanced and negative (and sometimes dangerous) effects can manifest, such as headaches, depression, rage, and hallucinations.5
If your kid watches the television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, you should be aware of an episode in which a guru teaches the main character how to open his seven chakras. You can watch the scene here.
The postures are intended to facilitate worshipIt is often stated that the yoga poses (called asanas) were designed to worship Hindu gods. The truth is that some of the poses are, and some aren’t. According to Marcia Montenegro of Christian Answers for the New Age, “The poses themselves are often depictions of Hindu deities, and the hand positions mimic the hand positions seen on the statues of Hindu gods.”6 Other postures are simply inspired by things found in nature. Let’s look at a few common poses:
Sun Salutations
You may recognize sun salutations as a series of poses which are often used as a warm-up exercise at the beginning of a yoga session. What you might not be aware of is that these poses were designed to worship the Hindu god Surya, which is a personification of the sun (cough pantheism). This asana is also called “Surya Namaskar.” “Namaskar” is a formal word for “namaste,” and similarly means “I bow to you.” Therefore when you perform Surya Namaskar, or sun salutations, you are doing poses designed to bow to the sun.
Warrior Pose
This pose represents the Hindu mythological god Virabhadra. Get ready for this one… In Hindu mythology, Virabhadra is a creation specifically for the manifestation of the god Shiva’s wrath. Shiva (one of the primary gods of Hinduism) made Virabhadra out of a lock of his own hair and commanded him to take vengeance on his dead wife’s father by cutting off his head and destroying everyone else with him.7
Tree Pose
Here is a pose which is supposedly meant to symbolize becoming “rooted,” balanced, and grounded. But it’s also meant as an act of worship to the Hindu god Vishnu. Further, from my research I understand that trees are considered sacred in Hinduism and are often associated with specific deities. Basically, tree worship is a thing.8
Breath control is about alignment more than oxygenIn yoga, breath is important. Remember, yoga is designed to bring your consciousness into oneness with the “Supreme Reality” or Brahman. Pranayama, or the practice of breath control either during still meditation or while performing asanas (yoga poses), is therefore designed to prepare your mind to enter into a meditative state in order to accomplish that goal of oneness with the divine.9
Can we ignore the spiritual aspects of yoga?So far, we’ve gone over some of the very basics of what yoga was designed for. Of course, more questions remain. Are the philosophy and spiritual ideas so deeply ingrained in yoga that they cannot be separated from the practice? A pro-yoga Christian blogger writes, “I personally don’t believe simply putting my body into a triangle shape means I subscribe to an entire belief system. I just think it stretches my inner thighs really well.”10 She makes a point! But, Mama Bears, let’s not stop there. Because of yoga’s spiritual roots, we would be wise not to be so dismissive in our evaluation of whether or not to partake. If we are to grow in spiritual maturity, we are told to have our “powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14).
Join us for the fun part in “ROAR’ing Through Yoga” where we will engage our critical thinking and work to discern truth from error, good from evil.
Alexa CramerAlexa is a homeschool mom of two. She became obsessed with apologetics after a season of doubt that nearly stole her faith. Alexa has a background in film and video and will willingly fight anyone who doesn’t agree the DC Talk is the best band that ever graced the earth.
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4831047/2 Sikhism is an Indian panentheistic religion in which salvation entails becoming one with god when we detach from from any earthly desire or attachment.3 https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/laghima4 https://fractalenlightenment.com/41321/yoga/uncovering-meaning-siddhis-can-yoga-give-superpowers5 https://chakrapractice.com/what-is-kundalini-syndrome/#What_Are_the_Dangers_of_Developing_Kundalini_Syndrome6 https://www.christiananswersnewage.com/article/christian-yoga-an-oxymoron7 https://beyogi.com/virabhadra-rise-warrior/8 https://www.hinduscriptures.com/vedic-culture/nature-worship/siginificance-tree-worship/7592/9 https://www.christiananswersnewage.com/article/yoga-training-not-just-exercise10 https://www.crossroads.net/media/articles/can-christians-do-yogaThe post A Crash Course in Yoga appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
SummaryIn a Crash Course to the Israel-Palestine Conflict Part 1, Hillary, Amy, and guest David explained the terminology, the history of the Israel-Palestine Conflict, and the evidence showing how Israel has belonged to the Jewish people. In this episode, Hillary and Amy shift from history to the importance of why we stand by Israel. They clarify that supporting Israel doesn’t mean that the believer endorses every action, but that they stand by the nation and its people in solidarity with the covenant of God. They also debunk the idea that the New Testament church is a replacement for Israel, showing that God’s covenant with the Jewish people still stands today.
Next, they identify how college campus protests in support of Palestine are social-justice-focused in nature and completely shut down thoughtful discussion. Here, we listen to social media activists tell anyone who doesn’t support Palestine to be silent and support any method the “oppressed” (aka Hamas) use to achieve their goal of overthrowing Israel and establishing an Islamic theocracy. Parents are offered practical tips to help their children think well, identify faulty reasoning, and questions to discuss when they encounter activism.
Lastly, Hillary and Amy evaluate the question we’ve all wondered: Couldn’t Israel and Palestine work together as a two-party state? Here they go straight to the Hamas Covenant/Charter to show how dividing a cookie in half might work between toddlers, but dividing Palestine isn’t an option under Islamic-driven Hamas. This highlights the importance of understanding the stakes. This battle isn’t just about territory, it’s a spiritual battle playing out between God’s chosen people and those who wish to wipe them off the map.
Main Points Covered* Why should Israel matter to Christians? Shouldn’t we stay out of politics for the sake of the gospel? * What is happening on college campuses with all the youth protesting and supporting Palestine? * Why can’t we negotiate a two-state solution?
People and Resources Mentioned* + Jeremiah 31:35-37 + Psalm 89:35-37 + Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 17-21, 24 - 1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew…. - 11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! - 17if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root[c] of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. - 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. + 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 + Our episodes on Social Justice Part 1 | Part 2 + The Mama Bear Apologetics Book + Instagram Video Referenced + 1967 Arab League Summit Document + Hamas Charter/Covenant
Unfamiliar Vocabulary Supersessionism (Replacement theology): Supersessionist theology argues that Christians have replaced Jews as the people of God, and often refers to a contested translation of Jeremiah 31:31—32 in Hebrews 8:8-9. * Theocracy: A theocracy is a state that is governed by a government that derives its authority directly from a religion * CORRECTION from Part 1: The Edomites* were descendants of Esau.
Quotable Quotes“Sometimes what kids think the problem is, it’s not about that problem. It’s a spiritual issue going on. There are two spirits at war, and we are caught in the middle.” – Hillary Morgan Ferrer
“What we are interested at looking at here isn’t necessarily what the average man is doing to the average man. It’s what the people in power think is fair and just and acceptable to do to the other nations.” – Hillary Morgan Ferrer
What we are interested at looking at here isn't necessarily what the average man is doing to the average man. It's what the people in power think is fair and just and acceptable to do to the other nations.
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“This is an apologetic issue for kids because when we look at God’s covenant and His promise, it proves and models His faithfulness.” – Amy Davison
This battle isn’t just about territory, it’s a spiritual battle playing out between God’s chosen people and those who wish to wipe them off the map.
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adminWe are all in this together, so sometimes our posts are a bit of all of us.
The post Episode 90: A Crash Course in the Israel – Palestine Conflict Part 2 appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
When we started our series on Islam what seems like ages ago (here’s a link to the crash course), I promised that I’d address the most pressing questions you and your kids have about the religion. I received many questions from you in the comments on the website and through social media, and this article […]
The post 28 of Your Most Pressing Questions About Islam Answered appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
Did you know that before Amy was a Mama Bear, that she was almost a witch?!?! Yeah, I didn’t either, until we had a conversation last July at Hillary’s house. Thank You God for pursuing her and wooing her back! I can’t imagine where Mama Bear would be without her. We’re changing things up for […]
The post MBA Episode 56: A Conversation with an Almost Witch: Amy Davison Shares About Her Experiences with Wicca appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
[For those of you who might be new to my world religion series, the purpose of this series is to help Christians be better informed about others’ beliefs in order to have more productive conversations. As you engage with others on these topics, be sure to do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).] […]
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“…I do not think a religion ought to be judged on the basis of some of its followers. The actions of some Christians do not necessarily say anything about Christianity, and the actions of some Muslims do not necessarily say anything about Islam. … what matters are the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of […]
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In my first article about Islam (read it here), I gave you a crash course in Islam, but in order to have a full understanding of Islam, we should spend some time discussing its founder and prophet, Muhammad. You’ve probably heard of him, but who was he exactly? He was a very complex man, discussed […]
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Writing about Islam can be difficult because there is tension between being honest about its history while still being respectful to those who practice it. I want to make sure I’m giving you a good foundation for understanding Islam so that you can answer any questions your kiddos might have about the religion and its […]
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Up until about six years ago, I couldn’t have told you what a progressive church looked like. If you had asked me, I maybe would have told you that it was a liberal church, but that would have been about the extent of it. And then, in 2018, I heard former ZOEgirl member, Alisa Childers, […]
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Since writing my first article on the New Age (you can read it here), I’ve heard from people who had more questions about their own practices and whether or not they should stop doing what they are doing. For example, one reader reached out to me to ask about yoga. We’ll tackle the topic of […]
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“When a child comes in, I believe that it’s a ‘multi-personhood,’ and it knows it, its consciousness knows it, and it has a nuclei in the center of its consciousness that is the repository of all experience and all knowledge. And when you look in the eyes of your baby and you feel this sense […]
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It’s Saturday morning, and as you’re getting some cleaning done (and by “cleaning,” I mean binge-watching The Great British Baking Show on Netflix in your pajamas), you hear the dreaded knock on your door and peer out. Judging from their conservative clothes and the Watchtower magazines in hand, you quickly conclude you’re about to engage […]
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Lindsey Medenwaldt Lindsey Medenwaldt is Mama Bear’s director of ministry operations and our resident expert on world religions. She is a perpetual student, so in addition to her M.A. in Apologetics and Ethics from Denver Seminary, she has a J.D. and a Master’s in Public Administration. She’s been married to another apologist, Jay (aka, the […]
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At the outset, I want to say that I have never been a Jehovah’s Witness (JW), and no one in my family is/was a Jehovah’s Witness. This is important because JWs are not permitted to read anything by ex-members of the church. Therefore, any JW who has stumbled upon this article should feel free to […]
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In our previous article about Judaism, we explored the basic differences between Christianity and Judaism. This week, we’re going to take that a bit further, so get ready to learn! Before we jump into the questions, keep in mind that although this list is long and in depth, it is in no way exhaustive of […]
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When you think about Judaism, what comes to mind? When I was growing up, we had a menorah in our house that we’d light for Hanukkah even though we weren’t Jewish, and I remember Adam Sandler’s famous song about all the famous people who are Jewish (which we included at the bottom!) As a child, […]
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Before we start diving into world religions, it’s important that we have a firm grasp of what Christianity teaches. It is fairly common knowledge that when federal agents train to spot counterfeit money, they study the real thing first. The theory is that if the agents become very familiar with genuine money, they will be […]
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I cannot count the number of times that I’ve had someone tell me that “all religions basically teach the same thing.” Really?! Do they? This is a difficult assertion to refute if you don’t actually know what other religions teach. When I met Lindsey Medenwaldt, I was ecstatic to learn that her passion was […]
The post Ever Wondered, “What do Other World Religions Actually Teach?” Good News! We’re Going to Have a 20-Part Series on it! appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.