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I first warned about "Adult Christian Coloring" in November 2015 in an essay that also covered Bible Art Journaling. I'd written--
People, Mandalas are HINDU. They are not, nor will they ever be Christian. They represent something sacred to the unsaved. Something sacred to the unsaved is an IDOL. We are back to the Second Commandment I opened this essay with. Don't believe me? See mandalas defined-
That is where Bible art journaling leads. It's a diversion. Just as Catholic labyrinths were re-branded as Protestant prayer walking, just as occult channeling was re-branded as "hearing from God", just as mystical "contemplative prayer" was re-branded as "Protestant contemplative prayer", just as Hindu Yoga was re-branded as 'Christian Yoga', just as Wiccan pentagrams were re-branded as "circle making"...". Remember enneagrams? Those have Sufi roots. Prayer beads emerged into Christianity from pagan roots. Bible art journaling is already melding with Hindu Mandala coloring.
In June 2013 I'd also warned about mandalas, that time, in the form of prayer circles.
Here is Todd Friel from Wretched.tv on Adult Coloring Books, a 7-minute summation concisely explaining why Christians should not engage in that activity.
Christianity is meant to be distinct, and contain set apart people. (Deuteronomy 7:6-11). The Levitical Laws were to visibly demonstrate this, and nowadays in New Testament times our pursuit should be toward holiness and purity in individual lives and in corporate church lives. We are set apart. (1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 4:3, 1 John 4:4-5).
However with lack of discernment, so many Christians are allowing rituals from pagan religions to filter in. Labyrinthes, prayer beads, Mandalas, Yoga, Contemplative Prayer, Circle Making- it boggles the mind. Yet the acceptance of these non-Christian practices causes one to say- Why 'Christian' No Longer Means What It Used To, as Sunny Shell wrote last month--
Dear precious sister, give up childish ways. As Todd Friel said, adult coloring books are a child's activity, where we learned motor skills and how to color within the lines.
As we grow, we move to adult activities such as killing the flesh, carrying our cross, and persevering in prayer. Put away childish things, and "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)
HUMOR/SATIRE
Local Woman Confident Her Margin Art Improves Book Of Hebrews
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People, Mandalas are HINDU. They are not, nor will they ever be Christian. They represent something sacred to the unsaved. Something sacred to the unsaved is an IDOL. We are back to the Second Commandment I opened this essay with. Don't believe me? See mandalas defined-
Definition of mandala: Mandala (Sanskrit Maṇḍala, 'circle') is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Indian religions, representing the universe. The basic form of most mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. In Hinduism, a mandala (yantra) is a two- or three-dimensional geometric composition used in sadhanas, puja or meditative rituals. It is considered to represent the abode of the deity. Each yantra is unique and calls the deity into the presence of the practitioner through the elaborate symbolic geometric designs. According to one scholar, "Yantras function as revelatory symbols of cosmic truths and as instructional charts of the spiritual aspect of human experience". (source)Do you really think it's innocent to color a mandala just because some money-grubbing, undiscerning author re-packaged a pagan activity by pasting a line from a beloved hymn over the top of it and adding "Christian" to the title?
That is where Bible art journaling leads. It's a diversion. Just as Catholic labyrinths were re-branded as Protestant prayer walking, just as occult channeling was re-branded as "hearing from God", just as mystical "contemplative prayer" was re-branded as "Protestant contemplative prayer", just as Hindu Yoga was re-branded as 'Christian Yoga', just as Wiccan pentagrams were re-branded as "circle making"...". Remember enneagrams? Those have Sufi roots. Prayer beads emerged into Christianity from pagan roots. Bible art journaling is already melding with Hindu Mandala coloring.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In June 2013 I'd also warned about mandalas, that time, in the form of prayer circles.
Here is Todd Friel from Wretched.tv on Adult Coloring Books, a 7-minute summation concisely explaining why Christians should not engage in that activity.
Christianity is meant to be distinct, and contain set apart people. (Deuteronomy 7:6-11). The Levitical Laws were to visibly demonstrate this, and nowadays in New Testament times our pursuit should be toward holiness and purity in individual lives and in corporate church lives. We are set apart. (1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 4:3, 1 John 4:4-5).
However with lack of discernment, so many Christians are allowing rituals from pagan religions to filter in. Labyrinthes, prayer beads, Mandalas, Yoga, Contemplative Prayer, Circle Making- it boggles the mind. Yet the acceptance of these non-Christian practices causes one to say- Why 'Christian' No Longer Means What It Used To, as Sunny Shell wrote last month--
As I consider how the Bride of Christ is shamefully defiling herself with vain and worldly philosophies, rather than cleansing and strengthening herself with the Word of God, these words from our heavenly Father come to mind, "Folly is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him" (Prov 22:15), "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways." (1 Cor 13:11),
Dear precious sister, give up childish ways. As Todd Friel said, adult coloring books are a child's activity, where we learned motor skills and how to color within the lines.
As we grow, we move to adult activities such as killing the flesh, carrying our cross, and persevering in prayer. Put away childish things, and "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)
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Further Reading from The End Time
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Further Reading/Listening from others
Berean Research: Adult Coloring & Meditation, What Every Christian Should Know
Local Woman Confident Her Margin Art Improves Book Of Hebrews
Thank you Elizabeth. I read your blog everyday. As I've written to you before this is where I learned of Pastor John MacArthur. And now this! My sister in law gave me one of these coloring books just last week for my birthday. And I didn't know! Thank you for this post. I certainly don't want to grieve the Holy Spririt, I'm throwing it out!
ReplyDeleteCelida
wow, what timing! I'm so glad you found a benefit from the article. Be sure to follow up with prayer for wisdom and the scriptures. Blessings, sister. :)
DeleteI recently received a flyer in the mail from a very poplar local church dept ting smiling people who had obviously participated in a "color run". The color powder throwing thing is Hindu as well I believe. Churches are endorsing so many pagan practices so regularly it's becoming a real problem.
ReplyDeleteThere are a actually coloring books that don't display mandalas, but animals and plants instead. Also many adults who do coloring have reported they can sleep and concentrate better because of it.
ReplyDeleteSeriously sometimes this christian crusading against everything new gets annoying. Perhaps do better research next time before you condemn just for the sake of condemning.
I agree with you that coloring is a relaxing pasttime, as are painting, drawing, and crafting. Many people engage in these activities to their benefit as a leisure activity. There is no problem with that.
DeleteHowever the problem comes in where the activity is touted as being worship. Or when it's touted as being an activity that will bring one closer to God. That's the problem. Because they don't.
As far as crusading against anything new, well, the religion is old and it is what it is. If it's new, it should be looked upon as suspicious. Fad driven Christianity doesn't save. Here is a good sermon on the flaws of a fad-driven church which explains very clearly the issues with accepting any new things that come along. It's based on 2 Timothy 4:2-5
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in...
https://www.gty.org/resources/Articles/A280/The-Flaws-of-a-FadDriven-Church-Part-1
Did you know that there are mandalas in old Christian churches... it’s called a rose window, you should look it up. Did you also know that Christmas trees used to be part of a pagan religion and now they are a staple of Christmas Day? I truly believe that a persons heart is what matters. If someone is a Christian and they want to color a mandala then by all means, go ahead. But if you want to color a mandala because of some enlightenment or connection to the universe, then no that is a bad idea. There is so much fear that we put on things that don’t really need to be fear based.
ReplyDeleteHi Kendyl,
DeleteThanks for your comment. I agree with you that if someone wants to color a mandala, that is their business, but they should know that what they are doing is not an innocent activity but has meaning to satan. One can easily be drawn in. God takes a serious view to idols and ritualistic activity.
You may truly believe that a person's heart is what matters, but you would be wrong, according to the Bible. God said the heart is deceitful above all things, who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9). Our heart's inclination is toward evil, totally, all the time. (Gen 6:5).
That's why it's dangerous to dabble in other religion's activities. The Bible says women are more susceptible to evil and falsity, and thus we should guard ourselves carefully. (1 Tim 2:12-14).
Now, If someone wants to color a mandala knowing what they are doing and feels they can withstand the pressure of the sin crouching at the door and not succumb to it, fine. We don't judge. But we should be careful though, because the Bible says our activities don't just involve us, but involves others too:
1 Corinthians 8:9-10
"Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?"
The article has nothing to do with "fear". It has to do with living according to how Jesus wants us to live, and how best to glorify Him.
PS: just because a rose window based on mandalas are in 'Christian' churches does not mean they are acceptable to God. Many of the rose windows that were based on mandalas were in Catholic churches, which are not Christian and are just as false as the Hindu religion from which mandalas came.
DeleteSo I have on bible I use for art journaling but I don't do it very offer like Maby once a month. I find in depth bible study to be more enjoyable and I always come always closer to God and have learn something. Bible art journaling not so much, I don't know how someone can replace real bible study with art journaling, it baffles me. I can say when I do art journaling, I don't walk away having learned anything or feeling closer to God. That's why I don't art journal much. When I do my in depth bible study I do mark my Bible, its just how my brain works(underlineing, highlighing). I was looking in coloring book but I think I'll stick with crocheting for now!
ReplyDeleteI don't think bible art journaling or coloring is wrong however,I do think that we should not replace real bible study with a coloring page or art journaling. Also know what you are coloring,, coloring a flower is one thing but coloring something we know is part of a pagan practice is different. Like yoga say what u want, but the action of doing yoga is doing a pagan ritual. The other day I saw a the Nativity set glowing for Christmas with the yin and yang sign above it. I'm like really! As Christians we need get in the bible and do some real studying.
ReplyDelete