How should Christians view Tai Chi (TaiChi)?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Tai Chi is taught as a meditative or health-enhancing form of martial art in which practitioners perform slow, deliberate martial arts movements. Tai Chi Chuan is the full name and is sometimes translated as "supreme ultimate force." Tai Chi is usually taught and practiced as a form of meditation, mixing thought and breath patterns with physical movement. One cornerstone of Tai Chi is the Taoist chi, qi, or ki —names for the universal energy that adherents say is the binding life force in all the universe. This force is said to move externally and internally through invisible channels in everyone's body, termed meridians.

Tai Chi is thought to strengthen the inner chi, therefore producing good health physically and spiritually. Tao teaches there is no personal God, only a source or principle of creation. It teaches about yin and yang forces that work together to balance the chi. It is clear that Tai Chi and its spiritual underpinnings are not Christian. Because Tai Chi has its origins, beliefs, and practices in Eastern mysticism, the Christian view of Tai Chi is to avoid practicing it.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Genesis 2:7 emphasizes that life comes from God alone: “Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” This indicates that life and vitality are directly derived from God's creative power, not from any internal energy.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus Christ is the one who holds the universe together; there is no chi to balance: "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:16–17).
• First Thessalonians 5:21–22 advises believers to "test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." This encourages Christians to critically evaluate beliefs and practices, ensuring they align with biblical truth rather than accepting unbiblical concepts like chi.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

First Thessalonians 5:21–22 tells us to "test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." This calls for a careful evaluation of practices that may seem innocuous but carry spiritual implications contrary to our faith, such as Tai Chi. While Tai Chi promotes slow, deliberate movements and meditation, its foundation and reasoning for its practices is rooted in Taoist beliefs about chi as a life force, which contradicts the biblical understanding of God as the sole source of life and health. While we seek ways to maintain our physical well-being, we should prioritize methods that align with truth and rely on God's guidance and power for our health, steering clear of practices like Tai Chi that originate from unbiblical worldviews.

UNDERSTAND

• Tai Chi is rooted in Taoist beliefs about chi, which contradicts the truth that life and health come solely from God.
• Christians are called to evaluate practices carefully, as 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 advises against engaging in activities that may appear harmless but have unbiblical spiritual implications.
• Instead of Tai Chi, Christians should seek health methods that align with their faith and rely on God for strength and guidance in their well-being.

REFLECT

• What personal experiences have you had with practices that seem harmless at first but might actually conflict with biblical truth?
• How can you discern between beneficial health practices and those that might have unbiblical foundations?
• How can you prioritize physical well-being while ensuring that your choices align with God’s Word?

ENGAGE

• What specific elements of Tai Chi’s philosophy conflict with biblical teachings about the nature of God and creation?
• How does understanding the origins of a practice like Tai Chi impact our decision-making as Christians?
• What alternatives to Tai Chi can we explore that promote health without compromising our faith?