I sort of felt like i should touch on it since there are so many people who come here via search queries about Christians and Qigong.
My first encounter with tai chi or taiji was not too long ago, maybe around 2 years ago. This was after I had been restored from my wondering UFO/reincarnation/New Age relapse, and sometime before starting this blog.
In my experience of doing taiji, i never felt any "energy" or spiritual power as people do with Yoga or Qigong. Since that was the case, I thought tai chi was merely exercise or a fighting style. My thought was something like, "tai chi must be OK since it's not 'religious like Yoga.' Yoga is tied to Hindu worship, whereas tai chi, i don't see that kind of link." I learned and practiced the entire tai chi chuan short form, and the applications for self defense.
I have not practiced tai chi for quite some time by this point, mainly because i am not sure if my earlier thoughts were correct. I am not sure that I should do it, and the Bible does not include a "thou shalt not do tai chi" command. So i err on the side of caution.
In looking at tai chi, I do not have a bone to pick with China, the Chinese or Chinese culture, so long as that element of culture is not an occult practice or originated from the occult. I would (now anyways) avoid any practice which has occult ties, regardless of cultural origin. If the movements in the hokey-pokey or playing tiddlywinks had origins in a satanic/occult ritual, i wouldn't do those either. Call me paranoid, but it's better than getting demonic oppression and sleep paralysis.
Trust me on that one.
That's my personal bias and experience.
Like many mysteries in the world, there is no solid foundation for the true origins of tai chi. Google it, you'll find dozens of conflicting stories. In light of this, discerning if tai chi is OK for Christians or not is made all the more difficult.
One origin story i read in a book suggested that a wiseman had a vision of a bird trying to eat a snake, and when the bird struck the snake withdrew. From this he developed tai chi. There are many more.
Got questions has a great overview here:
http://www.gotquestions.org/Tai-Chi-Christian.html, and i unintentionally duplicate some of what they have, then go down a rabbit trail.
Without a solid origin to pin it to, we should instead look at the claims people make about tai chi, and make our best guess from there.
To start, tai chi chuan is defined as "supreme, ultimate power", or usually something similar. As a Christian, this alone should raise a flag as God, and God alone is THE Supreme Ultimate Power. And God has manifested Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
John 1-4
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Ephesians 1:19-21
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
It doesn't get anymore supreme than creating the universe.
Moving on, one of the most popular claims about tai chi is that it's good for health. A number of health benefits are claimed, from stress reduction, to arthritis relief. The slow, continuous flowing movement is probably one reason why. Some even claim it can make you live longer.
http://news.health.com/2010/11/24/tai-chi-may-provide-arthritis-relief/
But how does tai chi actually affect our physical state? How can it improve our health?
Aside from the slow movements and stretching, the true power of tai chi comes from chi. Manipulating chi is the end goal of tai chi, it seems to accomplish this through the movements, breathing and presumably mental state. We've dealt with chi in the qigong article, and we'll get around to it again shortly.
"Tai chi chuan is just one of many categories of qigong, but its chief distinction lies in its martial art application."
"Admittedly, the longer and more complex the tai chi form, the more beautiful. The extended length of the longer sequences also give the practitioner more time to generate more powerful intrinsic chi energy."
"After all, tai chi is a study of health, balance and longevity, using yinian (yin-yang) to generate and manipulate the chi energy. Since chi is integral to health, longevity, healing and personal, spiritual growth, the longer one practices the tai chi form, the more effective the practitioner becomes at generating chi and benefiting from it."
http://www.chikung-unlimited.com/Tai-Chi-Chuan.html
The above connection between tai chi, and cultivating chi seems inseparable. When i learned it, we were told to make sure we maintained certain hand positions lest we "drop our chi."
Another quote.
"The same cautions as expressed with all other life energy therapies apply to Tai Chi. The religious nature and goals of Eastern therapies should not be forgotten. In attempting to introduce people to the universal energy field - and help them become unified with the Universal Consciousness - these practices can be the door to the occult realm."
http://www.drwalt.com/blog/?p=3898
As we've discussed on a previous occasion, chi is basically believed to be an energy field, and all living things are said to possess it. I believe it's also supposed to be kind of just everywhere. Obi-Wan's explanation of the Force to Luke in Star Wars is the best example. George Lucas basically ripped it off.
It has another name as well, and that's pantheism. Chi is pantheism as much as Carl Jung's definition of the collective unconcious seems, or "universal conciousness." Both are unBiblical, and therefore not compatible with sincere Christians.
We know the idea of a collective mind connecting all of our mentalities, or an impersonal Force/energy field "binding" everything together isn't true, because Jesus Christ is the one.
Colossians 1:14-17
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
And in Isaiah 34:4 & Revelation 6, the heavens are rolled up like a scroll, and afterwards (in Revelation) people are cowering from the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
I won't get into this "energy field" idea much more, as it's been covered in the qigong and Yoga articles i've done here, as well as what Edgar Cayce was tapping into. The summary is basically that it's a bad idea for human beings to try to tap into this energy field. Call it the Akashic records, chi, reikii or Brahma humans have no business with it. Doing so will put a person in touch with spirit beings. Spirits that are demonic. Of course the Bible tells us this.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
God didn't give us this rule for no reason, it was for our protection. He knows these demonic beings hate us, and that's why he forbade us to practice witchcraft and associate with them. Manipulating chi, whether it be through tai chi, qigong, reiiki or whatever will only open us up to satan's minions. In this respect, tai chi is essentially witchcraft.
Apart from this obvious connection to contacting the spirit world via chi, can one do the exercise without the spiritual connotations?
For a while, i really wanted to say yes. Especially since i never felt any energy, or spirit contact. But as Gaz Parker told me (when i was being stubborn in continuing tai chi) just because i didn't feel anything was no indication of the spiritual dangers i was partaking.
Looking back, i think he was right.
Allow me to speculate here. Firstly, everything we do in this life has an impact somehow in the spirit world. Just as things going on in the spirit world affect us. (Ephesians 6)
As an unbeliever, everything we did was a dead work. Good deeds (because we sought to good apart from the one who is good, God). Bad deeds. It didn't matter, unsaved we belonged to satan, and our works, good or bad, were done in rebellion against God. (http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/001sin8.htm). (Hebrews 6:1). These dead works probably had an effect in the spirit world.
Similarly, when we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, He works through us, and our works serve to His glory. When we pray,God moves. All in the unseen spirit world. Revelation 20 outlines the final outcome of these dead works.
All that to say, doing tai chi is a dead work.
Secondly, as i corresponded with Gaz, and Chris White about starting this blog, i had an episode of sleep paralysis. Was it caused by tai chi? Perhaps. Maybe i had allowed the entities a foothold into my life through tai chi.
Having seen that tai chi is but one method to contact the spirit world, i know that i won't be doing it again. Knowing this, do you want to continue it, a dead work?
Has tai chi caused you to encounter spirits? If so, i pray in the name of Jesus Christ that you will be set free. You can be set free FOREVER by praying telling Him that you accept Him as Lord and Savior, and repent (change your mind, turn away from) of your sins. Accept what He did on the cross, that it paid for your sins, and believe He rose again. Give Him your life, and He will be with you forever.
Further reading:
Someone who says you can separate the act from the spiritual aspect: (though i don't agree with the author's logic, especially since it's not a Christian view.
http://www.dotaichi.com/Articles/ReligionandtheMartialArts.htm
And one that indicates they cannot be separated.
http://www.heavenlymanna.net/christianArticle.php?article id=112
Natural explanation for "altered conciousness"
http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001662.cfm
A Muslim's story about tai chi and demonic encounters. I haven't read all of it, so pray up. I also don't know if the author's had any other things that would invite demons, so take this story for what it's worth.
