The New Age movement has exploded and continues to pervade the church. You may have heard the term New Age, but have no understanding of what New Age really is. You are not alone. This is a general lack of knowledge among the average Christian as to what the New Age movement or it’s theology is about.
The movement has been around, we are told, from about the 1970’s and boasts millions of devotees. New Age spirituality is not a unified cohesive group or organization but is rather an umbrella term that describes an amalgamation of spiritual beliefs and practices including: Reincarnation, channeling, spirit guides, hypnotism, witchcraft, meditation, shamanism, herbology, numerology and voodoo.
You can find an answer to the question, What is the New Age Movement? here.
Because this belief system is so pervasive, the best way to guard against deception is to filter everything you see and hear through the Word of God and with the discernment of the Spirit of God.
This is an exceedingly challenging task for a new Christian who does not yet know the Word with any depth of understanding. It is important therefore to be always studying the Word of God. Add to this trustworthy materials that can inform you and bring edification.
The subject is very deep and very wide, but you will find that YouTube videos by former New Agers can be invaluable in helping us understand what New Agers believe.
But why invest the time to Know?
The fact is that people are fascinated by anything mystical. This is one reason why they will go from church to church looking for miracles and prophets who can speak into their lives. Others are intrigued by the possibility of spiritual encounters and attaining secret powers.
Practitioners of New Age wizardry usually get their introduction into this dark world through such things as astrology, guided meditation, positive affirmations, visualization, yoga, tarot card readings, Ouija boards, horoscopes and the like.
They think that these are “fun”, innocent engagements, not realizing that they are portals down a rabbit hole of darkness and manipulation by Satan. Curiosity leads them deeper and deeper, enticing them with a promise of other worldly experiences and encounters with spirit guides.
Entrapments
These are entrapments and Christians ought not to participate in them. The Bible is very explicit about God’s feeling on the matter of divination and the occultic in the Bible:
Leviticus 20:6
‘As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.
Occult Practices – Deuteronomy 18:9-14 Occult Practices
9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.
New Age in the Church
The fact that some churches are now trying to preach culture sensitive messages instead of the uncompromising truth of the Word of God, so as not to offend, is cause for concern.
Many have relegated Christianity to one of the “many paths to God”. Others are attempting to make the Gospel message “less condemning” and are suggesting that all men are good. They have removed words like “sin” “sinner”, “hell” “repentance” and “Holy Spirit” from their doctrine and their hymnals and are teaching this new “faith” to good, ignorant Christians who do not read their Bibles nor take it’s teachings literally.
This is testament to the subtlety of Satan and the ignorance of many believers who have become his instruments. The average Christian is unfamiliar with things spiritual and so can easily fall into deception. The Bible tells us that “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . . (Hosea 4:6).
The Western church tends to have a very superficial knowledge and understanding of spiritual things and no teaching. We must begin to educate ourselves about the latest deceptions, because the days are evil. Satan goes about like a roaring lion, employing any means necessary to pull humanity into idolatry. He succeeds because we are like sheep who do not know or who underestimates the cunning of the wolf among us.
Know the Word
We cannot blindly follow spiritual leaders. We must delve into the Word of God for ourselves and ask Holy Spirit for revelation and clarification on matters that we do not understand.
A good practice as a new Christian is to make a note of questions that you have or that others have asked you. Research and record the answer to those questions.
We live in a multicultural, multi-religious society. We must know why we believe what we believe and be ready to give an answer (Peter 3:15).
The new age movement is extraordinarily successful because it is seductive but also because the teachings are so insidious that few Christians can identify the deception.
Alarm bells should go off then we hear people talking about being “spiritual” not religious; praying to the universe instead of to God; talking about being open to all faiths; subscribing to ideas about “my truth” and “your truth” (i.e., factual relativism – the doctrine that there are no absolute truths). These are all indications of a New Age leaning – whether consciously or unconsciously.
The Internet is replete with informative videos which can help us understand better this subtle deception.
Why Be Concerned?
We should be concerned because the Bible tell us to be careful least when we think we stand, we fall.
Be careful least we are following a lie into hell.
We should be concerned because the Bible say that in the last days there will be deception. “. . . evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” – 2 Timothy 3:13. There will be a falling away from sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:3) For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
We should be concerned because as men fall away, other believers are hesitant to reprove and rebuke for fear that they will be labelled “judgmental.”
However, we must judge between right and wrong, truth or falsehood. The Bible tells us to “try the spirit” (1 John 4:1-5); observe and assess the fruit because “By their fruit you will know them (Matt. 7:16).
A Call to Discernment
These are perilous times as the Bible describes it, exceedingly challenging times for those new to the faith. Without a knowledge of the Word or the Spirit of discernment, it is easy to fall into deception.
Pray earnestly for discernment. The Father sent us the Holy Spirit for such a time as this. We must cultivate our relationship with Him so that He can give us revelation, illumination, and direction. He is our guide.
We must be alert, knowing that there is an ever-lurking danger – the devil masquerading as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:15). Our heavenly father desires that we, walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (Eph. 5:15).
As Christians, the spiritual battle in which we are engaged is very real. We must remain alert to the devices of the enemy.
You may find this video very revealing here:
Prayer: Lord I pray for your protection. Keep me from falling into false teachings that distort your truth and shield me from deception that tries to lead me astray. Give me the wisdom to discern what is right and true. Convict my spirit when I go astray. You are the spirit of truth. Father, please lead me . I seek your divine protection over my life. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
You must be vigilant in keeping your foundations strong. A solder is always on guard.