As we walk with the Lord, every day we are faced with decisions about which direction to take. Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to join with my friends in a Tai Chi class for seniors. It’s proponents claim it to be beneficial for good balance and the prevention of falls. This all sounds innocuous enough. Right? But is it?
At first I wanted to join my peers and be a part of this group, but something nagged at my mind. I believe the Holy Spirit made me uncomfortable with the idea, so I decided to look into what Tai Chi really is. I needed to make a decision based on more than just what the pretty flier told me and the enthusiasm of my friends. So, I did some research which I will share with you.
What is Tai Chi?
“Tai Chi is an eastern religious practice that comes out of Taoism. Taoism is an ancient tradition of philosophy and religious belief that is deeply rooted in Chinese customs and worldview. Taoist ideas have become popular throughout the world through Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, and various martial arts.” (source) http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/taoism/
From: GotQuestions.org
Question: “What is the Christian view of Tai Chi (TaiChi)?”
Answer: Tai Chi is more specifically called Tai Chi Chuan, which can be translated as “supreme ultimate force.” Tai Chi is a martial art, though it’s often called a “moving meditation” since the movements are done slowly and deliberately, and it is taught more as a meditative and health-enhancing practice than as a martial art. Though its origins are unclear, the foundation of Tai Chi is the Taoist belief in a universal energy called chi (also spelled qi or ki depending on the language of origin). Chi is believed to be the binding life force in the universe, existing both externally and internally, moving through invisible channels in the body called meridians.
Taoism teaches that strengthening and reinforcing one’s inner chi will bring good health and long life as well as spiritual benefits. Certain breathing techniques, meditations, and bodily movements are taught to cultivate and enhance the chi. This belief is the basis of Tai Chi. There is no supreme God or Creator in Taoism; all originated from the Tao, which is an impersonal principle or source of creation.
Yin Yang Symbol
From the Tao came yin and yang, two forces that manifested in creation. These forces appear opposite but actually are in a state of constant flux, merging with each other. The chi flows more harmoniously when yin and yang are balanced; this balance is brought about through special diets, herbs, exercises, breathing techniques, and bodily movements. Tai Chi, therefore, has a worldview at odds with the Christian worldview. Tai Chi is based on a Taoist spiritual view of the body and the chi, and how to enhance the chi, a view incompatible with how the Bible tells us we were made—in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
Jesus Christ created and holds the world together, not the Tao or an invisible force called chi: “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17). Doing Tai Chi, even for physical purposes, is paying homage to a spiritual belief system at odds with God’s Word. (source) http://www.gotquestions.org/Tai-Chi-Christian.html
Can we Divorce the Spiritual Aspect of Tai Chi and use it just as an Exercise?
That question comes up right away when considering Tai Chi. Here is a quote from Hank Hanegraaff, the Bible Answer Man, in an article published on his web site:(emphasis added) http://www.equip.org/perspectives/christian-martial-arts-should-christians-practice-the-martial-arts/
CHRISTIAN MARTIAL ARTS- Inseparable from Eastern Religion
“It is clear that some martial art forms cannot be divorced from their Eastern origins. For example, Aikido, Ninjitsu, and Tai Chi depend heavily upon a force called “ki” (or “chi”) which supposedly pervades the whole universe. Since Christians worship one God who created the universe, and do not believe in this universal “chi” force, it becomes difficult — if not impossible — to reconcile these martial art forms with Christianity.”
Since Tai Chi involves Taoism which is Eastern Mysticism it cannot be reconciled with Christianity. When we do Tai Chi we are to align our energy with the universal energy force or “chi.” It is like trying to mix oil and water.
What Direction Can I Find From the Bible?
First of all God, in the Bible, tells us not to believe every thing that comes along as being from God. There are many false teachers in the world today and we need to be very careful what we follow. It is easy to follow the crowd, but we are to test the spirits to see if they are from God. Well, I can see from my research that the spirit in Tai Chi is not from God. It is anti-Christian. Therefore, I should not get involved.
1 John 4:1 NASB Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
I remember as a child some of my friends would join a certain group, or take part in something, and I wanted to also. I wanted to be part of the crowd. Sometimes I would ask my mom with the argument that “all my friends are going, why can’t I?” My mom knew more than myself, (of course, I didn’t think so) and she protected me from doing things that would not be good for me. It is like that with Christians. We want to do what everyone else is doing, but God has given us certain guidelines to follow and we need to go to Him and find out if we should do them or not. I’m thankful for the Bible and the instruction He has given us. He is the perfect parent!
Ephesians 5:11 NASB Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
The devil would like nothing more than to get us sidetracked from our Christian walk. Do you realize in practicing Tai Chi there is a supernatural aspect to it? Here is another article called, Yoga wasn’t bad enough. Now we have tai chi, as the dark supernatural continues to invade our exercise time.
1 Peter 5:8 NASB Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Isn’t it true that today there is much evil that is called good? And, there is good that is called evil! Oh, my, we have to be on alert all the time. How do we measure things? Well, we can either listen to the world or we can listen to God. Keep your Bible handy!
Isaiah 5:20 NASB Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Another good scripture comes to mind. When you put a little bit of yeast into the flour mixture in just a little while the yeast has permeated the whole lump of dough. That is how we make such good tasting bread. But, in the spiritual realm a little bit of false teaching will quickly spoil everything else that is said. We must be very careful and discern the truth.
1 Corinthians 5:6b NASB Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
We cannot allow ourselves be destroyed because we don’t know. Today we have many resources available to us and there is really no excuse for ignorance. We need to stay in the Word, and search out answers to anything that comes up that we are not sure about.
Hosea 4:6a NASB My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
God tells us what we must do!
2 Corinthians 6:17 NASB (17) “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.
We are not to be conformed to the world, but we are to seek to live in a way that is honoring to the Lord. He calls us to holiness.
1 Peter 1:14-16 NASB As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, (15) but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; (16) because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” (emphasis added)
Here is part of Paul’s prayer for the people in Colosse. And it is my prayer for you.
Colossians 1:9-10 NASB For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, (10) so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
After doing this research I came to the conclusion that doing Tai Chi is not honoring the my wonderful Savior and Lord. It is dabbling in the occult and would not be something He would want me involved with. I’m thankful that the Holy Spirit made me feel uncomfortable and got me to really look into this. I hope what I’ve learned will be helpful to you.
hatchcreek.com Bible blog 
Chi is not a spirit, it is a bioelectric physical energy. It is not demonic, it is a force God(Yes, I am christian) created to keep all the other forces in sync. No doubt, it can be used in demonic ways, as many have misused it. But in and of itself, it is no more demonic or evil then that tree over there, or that rock. And you definetly need to be careful, and use discernment, but when is that not the case?
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your comment seems very commonsense , however I have a problem, every time I practice Chi qong i feel healthier but I also seem to be in a bad mood easily afterwards
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Marianne, If it were me I’d take that to be a warning and I would not do it anymore. Blessings.
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I hope I didn’t sound too belligerent in my last post but I have a little addition. I just wanted to say from what I know, Tai chi is a concept of ying and yang. The interaction of ying and yang, black and white, light and dark, heavy and light, hard and soft gives you tai chi. When this concept is applied in a martial arts, it becomes tai chi chuan. The chuan I believe means fist. The concept of tai chi is what makes computers possible. The interaction of 0’s and 1’s used in programming results in a variety of applications. zero would be ying and the number one would be yang. The same concept when applied to chinese medicine gives rise to treatments such as acupuncture. From a biblical perspective, tai chi would be the interaction of good and evil gives rise to tai chi. Tai chi is the study of the interaction of opposites. I hope this helps.
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Thank you Bonlou for starting this excellent discussion.
Acupuncture is based on taoist principles. It balances the chi in your body by targeting meridians or pathways for chi. It is recognized as a legitimate therapy by the World Health Organization. Does this fall under satanic influence as well?
I believe tai chi can be a beautiful way of worshipping the creator by ‘playing’ our part in nature.
I used to practice tai chi a lot in the past and my body functioned so well from being relaxed that I could feel my heartbeat. I was able to take my pulse without placing my hand on any part of my body, but by just ‘listening’ to the sensation of my heartbeat. I am sure if I continued with the same diligence, I may have been able to experience the subtle ‘pulse’ of chi that everyone talks about. I have taken up tai chi again (though not daily like I used to) and it always makes me feel good. I am more relaxed and energized at the same time. With this good feeling, I can then attend to living a full and meaningful life.
The concept of chi is new to western culture and we are still learning about it. Who knows, one day it may be added to the four fundamental forces that govern the interactions of matter in the universe (according to modern physics) – gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force, and strong nuclear force.
The bible speaks the truth, but if we cling to every letter, we might be led astray. As the bible says, “he has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
Tai chi provides so many believers who are in pain, relief and an improved life. These are people who know nothing about taoism, but practice to benefit from the stimulation, relaxation, and many other health benefits tai chi offers (which I believe is ultimately a blessing from God). If their intention was to honour satan, I think that would have been made apparent quite quickly.
As a christian, God has “not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (or self control in some translations). In everything, we should seek guidance and discernment. As long as our heart is the right place and we are led by the spirit of truth, we should be covered by God’s grace and need not fear. Just like a previous poster said, anything can be used for good or evil. Even the bible can be distorted for evil. If the reason for learning tai chi is to pursue power to satisfy your vanity, that is wrong. Even some people praise and preach the word of God to satisfy their vanity.
If God is our provider and healer, why go to the doctor when you are sick. Islamic civilization contributed a lot to medicine, does that mean as a christian you shouldn’t get medical help because of it has islamic roots? Islamic principles encourage almsgiving, does that mean I shouldn’t give money to the poor because it is encouraged by the Quran? Even meditation is considered by some as heathen and unchristian, because of the its association with some eastern religions or disciplines. Meditation however, is very much an integral part of christian worship. It is a tool that can be applied in many areas of life, it just depends on how it is used. If I wanted to curse someone, I could focus my mind and attention and induce a hateful disposition. But, I can also meditate on the goodness and love of God and grow.
In the book of Acts, chapter 10, it tells of how Peter had a dream where he didn’t want to eat certain animals because they were considered unclean according to jewish law. A divine voice reprimanded him and said not to call God’s creation unclean. I believe everything is a gift from God which can be used for good or evil. Again, a reminder of the passage in the bible that tells us not to ruled by fear but by power and love and self control.
How specifically is tai chi an eastern religious practice when it is used for health and not as part of a religious discipline. Taoism teaches following the way; the ‘truth’ or principles of the universe. As a christian, your tai chi practice could be a way of honouring God by enhancing the chi, the universal energy which he created, to improve on your wellbeing. Just because tai chi is based on taoist principles doesn’t mean you are practicing the religion of taoism. To give offerings is a religious practice in many religions, yet it is still done in christianity. Even before God brought the people of Israel together as a nation, the pagans were giving burnt offerings to their idols. Should the jews have abandoned that practice because the pagans used it? Quoting Thessalonians 5 21-22: But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” I think this is good advice for a christian approaching tai chi.
Even yoga, that some vilifiy as being unchristian because of its link to Hinduism, was designed exclusively to develop a strong body. After developing a strong body, the practitioner was then able to sit and meditate for long periods of time. So if a christian, a muslim and a hindu all practiced yoga, it would be so they could have strong bodies to attend to their various and separate spiritual duties. How is doing the downward facing dog pose or a backbend opposed to christianity? Because of its origin? What if after developing a sound body I can serve God better, am I still damned for doing yoga? We should be cautious as christians, but don’t underestimate the power of God’s love and live in fear.
Like one church minister said, ” Tai chi is nature, it makes me appreciate the beauty of nature and appreciate the work of God more.” Ironically, the reason I stumbled on this article was because of the correlations I was seeing between tai chi and its taoist principles and the bible. I was looking for more evidence of the similarities. One way of describing tai chi is, relaxing and letting the body’s natural “God given’ abilities awaken. Every time the instructor urges students to relax more and more, I think of the saying: let go and let God. Let go of whatever way you think your body should be or do and let it be and do as it was created to be (free of emotional baggage crystallized as muscular tension). If tai chi is a manifestation of the grand ultimate, then let christians use tai chi to express the beauty of life given by the Grand Ultimate Creator.
As a seeker of truth, I would appreciate your feedback.
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Happy Monday,
I would like for you to ask your self a question. What did God breath in to when he created man? Are elements found in the clay? When they work together in the right way it really elevates your health. This is not satanic.
If it was satanic, then why doesn’t all who practice taiji run around in the streets foaming at the mouth and then scream curses at the world. And at the same time knock down a huge building?
I am very upset with other church goers who have to belittle other cultures. At the same time I believe that there are taichi schools who have perverted the martial art to promote demonic ideas. Usually they are seen upfront. But what about the true taiji people who practice this as a martial art. And I mean martial art only. I trust in Jesus only for salvation. I also trust that there are so many church people who have an elite group. And this elite group is their idea of God appointing them as apostle and therefore everything they believe is the way it is.
If you would consult the scriptures and then taoist texts, you will find that the Bible is the only source for true salvation. The taoist texts are people who observed the creation looking for God, but have not found him even though they are coming close. They see his creation and actually the creation cries out that God Created the heavens and the Earth.
Personally I am sick of over dressing hypocrites in some of the churches I have attended and this is one reason that helped me on my way out of the church.
I have recently found a church to attend and it is a Bible believing church. This is so awesome.
We are going to be responsible for not sharing with taoists. They are on the right path, and the wrong path at the same time.
In other words, they are worshiping the creation, but they are really looking for the creator, God.
I do agree with you about getting in to real trouble with evil spirits. There was a woman who supposedly taught taiji and is actually studying other things. I did experience some kind of demonic presence around when I went to her classes and stopped going.
But as I was in her class, it was not like studying chen taiji at all. Chen taiji is only taught as a martial art. So there is a difference. Just like in the church. There are false churches and real churches. There is false taiji and real taiji.
In summary though I have to say I agree with you 100percent on your stance.Taoist philosophy can not save you and can lead you into real trouble but, couldn’t we use this to show them that God is the only God by using the Genesis account of God breathing into man. It is a profound proof of the account because the chi is actually the charge left in our physical bodies. If we did not have any of this energy in our body, then we would be dead.
The same with the Holy Sprirt. When we are born again we get the Holy Spirit.
We do not become God, but we are again given life. But this time , it is real life.
In Christ’s Love,
Mike
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[…] apparently not compatible. I made a curious choice to google “Jesus tai chi” and the results spewed back at me […]
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