Coconut said:
In my years of witnessing this truth firsthand, we in this most christianized nation tend reject everything that did`nt originate with us, or we did`nt think up first, as pagan lol. Its one of my pet doctrinal peeves
Coconut, I'm relieved that you homed in on this as the important element. I was afraid my foot-in-mouth personal comment obscured what I hoped to convey. :embarasse
The link you posted is interesting in that it includes topics of philosophy and Chinese culture that would surely give any Christian pause. Yet of primacy, when it comes to cultural associations, is that we as Christians do not fall into the trap of the very legalism that Jesus came to destroy.
When I was in college and tripping over my own feet in a modern dance class, my teacher recommended I take ballet or Tai Chi to develop physical centering. First I took ballet; not quite easy for an adult to begin, so then I took Tai Chi. Thus, my first Tai Chi learning was in a college physical education class. The teacher taught a physical skill, that is all. I had already had academics on world religions, including dialogues with people of various origins, so cultural backgrounds were familiar enough to me, but none of that was part of the Tai Chi instruction. I was and am a Christian who, like many others of you, has been educated with a variety of ethnic exposure. I believe after reading every post in this thread that we all have the same common concern - to avoid what could be idolatry or sorcery in association with anything unfamiliar. Nevertheless, you never know if missions work will lead you to a culture where it will further your effective witness to have a clear knowledge of an alien background.
There has been in this thread mention of the I Ching and Taoism as related to Tai Chi. All aspects of Chinese culture can be traced to have its origins in the I Ching. The I Ching arose millennia ago as the handbook for living, incorporating what is now called Taoism. Taoism is an atheist philosophy that relies on the premise there is a supreme way of the universe. The I Ching was based upon observing forms in nature and extending them to a system for living. Again, this goes back thousands of years. In fact, in 213 B.C., there was the great Chinese book-burning and the I Ching is the only book to have survived. Everything derived from Chinese culture is at root non-Christian, I Ching inspired. It is an atheist society and indeed to this day, the government of China squelches not only Christianity, but any mention of God.
By contrast, the United States is arguably the youngest country in the world, founded by Christian forefathers for the purpose of religious freedom. Our culture is first European influence superseding Native America, and now is an incorporation of about every type of culture the world knows. The way in which Eastern cultures and their "inventions" come to the West is often as a product of peoples' worldly desires for the exotic, mystical, and supernatural. Teachers can fuse whatever elements they want into their own agendas for learning. For example TonyB, has experience in England linking this subject to religious practices that draw away from Christ. Calluna in and I in the U.S. have experience with Tai Chi from the fitness aspect.
Relating this topic to a model from Biblical history, The Olympics were born of the very pagan culture that the New Testament writers knew firsthand. Even the name for the athletics event is from Mt. Olympus, the home of the Greek gods. Do we object to these sports competitions, because of their origins? No, that would be unthinkable. Can we take physical conditioning disciplines from Eastern countries apart from cultural philosophy? Using this model, there is no reason why not.
Were you to go to China, you would see groups of people outside, taking their morning constitutional by practicing Tai Chi. I have seen videos of this, and most often, it is their fitness routine, similar to if you start your day at the gym or with an aerobics class. If one were to witness the Lord to such folks, I believe Jesus would not have you tell them that they need give up that physical activity in order to be born again and follow Him.
Coconut said:
With what you said regarding Tai Chi in mind, I did a little research and found this statement:
"In the third century, (the earliest ancestors of tai chi) the physician Hua-tu'o created a system of excersise to aid digestion and circulation, based upon the movements of animals and birds. The effect of this system was to move every part of the body." - TAICHIDO website
This quality of nature models as an aspect of ancient physical discipline always reminds me of Biblical advisories mentioning God's creatures:
Proverbs 6:6-8 advises "Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest." (NKJV)
Jesus stated in Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."(KJV) The serpent is an image of sin, yet the Lord speaks of it as a metaphorical model.
We are warned, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1Peter 5:8 NIV)
Conversely about the lion, there is the reference to Jesus, "Then one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.'" (Revelations 5:5 NIV)
Whether the lion in our lives is the enemy or Jesus can be determined only by that on which we focus. The most powerful advisory in this thread is something we all agree; ultimately, Holy Spirit guidance is the only answer for any potential action.
Fightngwormwood, I so very much appreciate the clear and complete overview you posted. You have expressed with the scriptures that I originally felt the Holy Spirit spoke to me regarding the topic. (And unbounded thanks for your prayer!)
One might note that Tai Chi is lauded by medicine because it works every part of the body, yet is accessible even at the most meager level of physical fitness. Be that as it may, as Nigh mentioned, it is physical exercise that is the value, and if you are able bodied, please do find something to make the most of your "fearfully and wonderfully made" physical fitness potential, whether swimming, dancing, stretching, walking, or jumping and running around with your kids.
Sleepy, thank you for this thread. You might not have gotten a definitive answer to your question, but if there are members here at Talk Jesus whose advice you trust above others, then that is your most valid basis for decision.
"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6b NIV)
