The New Age Movement Has Infiltrated The Church
When you think of New Age, what comes to mind? Do you think about a mystical woman gazing into a crystal ball or a coven of witches meeting at midnight in the woods in the light of a full moon? Maybe you just think of that goth girl from your high school who wore a questionable amount of black eyeliner and a headband with cat ears on it. Either way, the New Age Movement is not only real, but it’s really in the Church. And it is well beyond time to identify it and kick it out of our churches.
A Brief History Of The New Age Movement
Historians trace the New Age Movement back to the 1970’s, but an argument can be made that as early as the late 1950’s to early 1960’s some prominent groups readily rejected Christianity and Christian morality. The increase in hallucinogenic drugs combined with an Eastern religion influence (e.g., Daoism, Hinduism) almost certainly helped to usher in New Age thinking.
In addition, music artists mainstreamed drug use and Indian spiritual thoughts and practices. There was also an increased interest in astrology in the 1960’s. Those who adhered to astrological thinking taught others, among other things, about the Age of Aquarius. This would be a time of love, enlightenment, and peace.
The Official Start Of The New Age Movement
A group of writers in the 1970’s created and circulated a magazine called the New Age Journal, and Mark Satin authored the book, New Age Politics, in 1979. Both of these publications popularized New Age, leading to what is widely considered the birth of the New Age Movement.
Academy Award winner, Shirley MacLaine, added to the “validity” of New Age when she wrote a book entitled Out on a Limb. She describes becoming a New Ager in the book. Some of her content focuses on predictable elements of New Age beliefs. For example, she discusses having participated in séances which is fairly run-of-the mill. However, she also describes having out-of-body experiences (i.e., astral projections) and meeting extraterrestrials.
Don’t quit your day job, Shirley.
What Is The New Age Movement?
Now that we know how the New Age Movement got started, let’s dive into what it actually is aside from Shirley MacLaine’s colorful understanding of the world.
Defining New Age is a little difficult. You won’t find a “Church of the New Age” in your neighborhood because it isn’t a denomination. In fact, there is no system or unifying doctrine under which New Agers can gather. The New Age Movement has no clear set of beliefs. Essentially, the one unifying belief could possibly be this. Do whatever works for you.
Common New Age Beliefs
Although the New Age Movement doesn’t have one set of defined beliefs, there are several commonly agreed upon ones. Though, I must note that there are exceptions, and each individual may even interpret and live out common beliefs differently from others. But we should expect that because New Agers just do whatever works for them.
1. No Absolutes.
The New Age Movement absolutely rejects absolutes.
This belief is founded on the idea that we should all create our own reality. Dare I say, “Live your own truth?” The attractive thing about creating our own truths is that we can get away with anything. Tired of only having one sexual partner even though you’re married? No problem! Your “truth” might be that monogamy means your heart belongs to one person while your body is open to many others. Goodbye cognitive dissonance, and hello to excusing our sin.
Of course, there is nothing Christian about rejecting absolutes and one truth.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6
Jesus is the Truth. He’s the only way. He is life. There is no option left in His words for substitutes and personalization of the Truth.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
Isaiah 5:20
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Luke 16:13
When I read the verses above, I see definite absolutes. There is good and there is evil. We are warned not to mix those two up. So, there must be a black and white definition concerning these things. Also, the two masters cannot be served simultaneously. Can there be two truths? Are we able to love and follow two opposing forces? Of course not!
2. People Are Divine
Not every New Ager believes this, but I think more do than realize it. Not many people say “I am divine” out loud, but their beliefs strongly suggest that is what is in their heart.
If you have ever heard someone say they can make things happen in their lives with their thinking (i.e., law of attraction) or can speak things into existence (i.e., Word of Faith), then you have encountered someone living as if she is divine.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
John 3:19
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Mark 7:21-23
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
Romans 5:6
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)
According to the Bible, it is impossible for human beings to be gods. This topic could be an entire book, but even in a few verses the absurdity of claiming we are divine is clear.
Mankind loves darkness. If you don’t believe that, then think about our obsession with Halloween and the need to defend it against criticism. Not to mention, when left to our own devices our natural tendency is to sin. The Scriptures even call us “ungodly” and point to our inability to understand spiritual things. We are so not divine that the Father had to send Jesus to save us because we are hopelessly lost without godly intervention.
3. Religious Pluralism
You may not be familiar with the term, but you undoubtedly have experience with the belief. Religious pluralism teaches that we all can have our own truth, all paths lead to God, and there are no wrong answers.
We’ve all encountered this with other Christians. These believers will often focus on someone’s sincerity and intention. Although a person may believe something contrary to God’s Word, religious pluralism would give her a pass because she is sincere and means well. It doesn’t matter she worships a Jesus of her own design because it is what’s true for her. She’s going to Heaven because her path is just as valid as anyone else’s.
The reality, however, is that not all people are children of God. So, yes, it matters a great deal whether or not we believe genuine biblical truth or some fallacious set of beliefs.
On a personal note, I see religious pluralism at the heart of ecumenicalism, and that is one of the major reasons I avoid it. No Christian ought to join in the Lord’s work when we aren’t even serving the same Lord.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
1 Timothy 2:5
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Matthew 7:21-23
The Bible doesn’t hide the ball when it comes to how many paths lead to Heaven. One. Just one. We must know Jesus as our Savior, and we can’t put our trust in another god masquerading as Jesus. The Jesus of the Bible is our way to forgiveness from our sins and reconciliation with the Father. Full stop.
Matthew even goes as far as to record Jesus’ words describing people who thought they were “good with God” being turned away from Him. What a terrifying thought!
One path leads to Heaven, and the rest lead to damnation. That may not be a popular stance to take, but it’s the truth. Heed Jesus’ warnings, and seriously contemplate where you stand with God.
4. Law Of Attraction
Women love the Law of Attraction, and incidentally, it is one of the more obvious New Age Movement practices in the Church. This idea became mainstreamed by the book, The Secret. Explained simply, the Law of Attraction teaches that like attracts like. So, if you have bad things in your life, then it is your fault because your stinkin’ thinkin’ brought bad things. In contrast, positive thinking brings good things to you.
The most popular practical step to help people attract what they want is to make vision boards. It looks a bit like a fifth-grade presentation made on a cardboard project display board. Picture an gymnasium filled with projects for the annual science fair, and you’ll understand what I mean. People, often women, put pictures, words, drawings, and whatnot on these vision boards and place them somewhere they will be viewed easily and often. This way, the more they see the things they want, the more they can envision them being reality.
It isn’t surprising how the New Age Movement arrived at thinking people are divine. I mean, imagine truly believing your thoughts can change the world around you. Frankly, given the unpleasantness my wicked heart is capable of conjuring, I am glad thoughts can’t control the world around me. That would be a frightening prospect. It’s also unbiblical.
“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”
Psalm 115:3
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”
Job 42:2 (ESV)
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9
The New Age Movement’s Law of Attraction would have you believe you are in control if only you focus your thoughts on what you want, but verse after verse tells us only one is sovereign…God. If you want to be rich but that’s not God’s will, then you won’t be rich. He gets to be in charge, not you.
5. Pantheism
We can define pantheism as not making a distinction between the Creator and the creation. Pantheists believe that God is the sum of all creation and the forces within it. So, they might tell you that God is all we see around us including the cosmos, wind, or mountains. This belief reduces God to an impersonal deity and denies the exclusivity of divinity to one God.
“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:”
Colossians 1:16
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
Psalm 19:1
“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
Isaiah 55:12
Believers need to understand that God created everything, and He, Himself, is not creation. He is quite separate from His creation, actually.
When I watch a beautiful snowfall as it gently covers the evergreen trees near my home I appreciate God for the beautiful display. Simultaneously, I recognize that He isn’t “in” the snowfall or evergreens.
Multiple Bible verses poetically describe creation as acknowledging Him as the Creator distinct from itself. For example, the mountains and hills in Isaiah 55 obviously view God as a separate entity. Otherwise, they are singing to themselves…
6. Monism
Monism is a spiritual understanding of the world which is intrinsically tied to pantheism and claims that God and the universe are an essence or energy. There is often a focus on how we are all the same and one with the universe. Monism focuses on harmony, unity, and oneness.
Think about this worldview for a moment. Where do evil and sin fit into the equation? They don’t.
As much as I’d love to hold hands and sing “Kumbaya” with everyone, this is totally unscriptural. We have not been instructed to live as one with all people. Live in the world and love others? Yes. But we are to be different.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? … Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
2 Corinthians 6:14, 17
“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
John 15:19
The New Age Movement teaches all people can stand together with one voice, but reality is quite different. There are those who know the Lord and those who don’t. Those two groups have wildly different worldviews, interests, and allegiances. Moreover, biblical teaching identifies the importance of separating from the world and not partnering in too intimate a way with unbelievers.
7. Holism
Holism teaches that all things are interconnected, and there is a deeper a reality we cannot see that binds everything together. The world cannot be understood by looking at the individual parts because they are all part of a greater whole.
Holism leads people to look deeper for hidden meanings in things that have none. Rather than look at the Scriptures for what they plainly say, these folks would often rather try to unlock some nonexistent mystery.
One interconnected whole also allows for the belief that multiple paths lead to Heaven or whatever destination after death the person in question believes to be true. Again, however, we can see the New Age Movement veering away from God’s Word.
We’ve already looked at verses which tell us that Jesus is the only way to Heaven and we are not to be wholly united with the world. Those involved in the New Age Movement, though, twist Scripture to say what it doesn’t or throw it out in order to accommodate their beliefs, such as holism. Let’s remember the Lord’s warning about such practices before adopting New Age beliefs into our Christianity.
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Revelation 22:18-19
8. “The Beyond”
This is my catch-all category. It also happens to be the category that most people think of when they hear “New Age Movement.” I’m referring to things like tarot card readings, séances, astrology, channeling spirit guides, Wicca, the Enneagram, numerology, psychic readings, karma, chakras, reincarnation, Eastern practices of meditation, and even yoga.
In various ways, this element of the New Age Movement focuses on spiritual enlightenment, reaching out to something beyond this realm, or engaging with the forces of nature. The influence of this kind of thinking is evident in our media. Movies, shows for children and adults, and books often focus on these popular topics. Go to your local library’s young adult section, and I guarantee the theme will be vampires, witchcraft, zombies, and spirits. Of course, there will also be a romance involved because it is still young adult fiction, after all.
To me, it’s like an obsession with Halloween that has gone too far and has now permeated our culture and churches. But who cares what I have to say about it? Christian, we need to know what God has to say, and then we should obey His Word.
God has some strong language against these influences and practices in the Old Testament.
“If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.”
Leviticus 20:6 (ESV)
“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 19:31 (ESV)
The New Testament doesn’t validate these practices either, though.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (emphasis mine)
Galatians 5:19-21
“Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
Revelation 22:15 (ESV)
So, what does God expect us to do if we get wrapped up in the occult and false spiritual traditions? Destroy it. Repent and rid your life of that sin.
“And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.”
Acts 19:19 (ESV)
Signs That Your Church Has Embraced The New Age Movement
1. A Word Of Faith Influence
One big indicator that Word of Faith teachings are affecting your church would be if your church leadership is influenced by the likes of Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyer, or Joel Osteen.
Teachers from the Word of Faith Movement are what we often call “heath and wealth” preachers who share the “prosperity gospel.” Essentially, they teach that all true Christians have a divine right to good health and wealth. They also believe in our ability to speak our wants into existence so long as we are faithful enough.
Kenneth Copeland is a great example of a Word of Faith preacher. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he famously taught that Christians could simply blow Covid away.
If you find your church talking about speaking things into existence, the power of your words, “faith-force,” or how much God wants you to be happy and have stuff, then get out now.
2. New And Direct Revelation
Church leaders seem to be the most likely candidates for special revelation in the New Age Movement, but it can be anyone. If someone tells you that they received a special word from God, then you should consider moving on. It might just be Nancy who’s a little kooky, but it is real trouble if it’s coming from the leadership or other members with a platform.
Revelation 22:18-19, which I quoted earlier, reveals a closed canon. All God will reveal to us about Himself this side of glory is in the Bible. He most certainly can and will reveal Himself today, but it won’t be new information. Anything that doesn’t match up with biblical truths is false teaching.
3. Praying To Angels
The New Age Movement hasn’t cornered the market on praying to beings that we shouldn’t or needn’t pray to. Catholics, for instance, pray to Mary and the saints which is completely unscriptural. New Agers, though, seem to have a tendency to focus more on angels.
Any church wasting prayer on what God created rather than focusing prayer on Him is out of God’s will. There is only one mediator.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
1 Timothy 2:5
“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”
Hebrews 8:6
4. Focusing On “Spiritual” Over Biblical
Have you heard this from a Christian before? “I’m not religious; I’m spiritual.” We can have a valid conversation about religious people who don’t know the Lord, but referring to oneself as spiritual is usually a red flag.
Churches and Christians that focus on being spiritual don’t generally use the Bible as the guide to faith. Instead, they use their feelings and lean on Eastern practices and ideas such as meditation and karma. I’ll openly admit that I find different belief systems very interesting and enjoy learning about them, but I know where to find truth. Any faith that draws from outside of God’s Word for answers is rooted in lies, and the New Age Movement is rife with falsehoods.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
2 Timothy 3:16
How Did The New Age Movement Get Into The Church?
I think women brought in a great deal of New Age thinking, and a lack of male leadership allowed it to fester in the Church. Pastors across this country allow women’s ministries to function as if they are not under pastoral authority. The female ministry leaders choose materials for “Bible studies” based on a charismatic speaker/writer and what sounds good. I’ve witnessed women more excited about hearing what Beth Moore has to say than what God has to say.
The New Age Movement is similar to a death by a thousand cuts. I don’t believe we can identify one deathblow. It is more like small compromises and questionable influences creeping into our churches that is turning believers away from biblical Christianity and in a full embrace of New Age thinking.
Here’s a very recent example from Beth Moore and Russell Moore identifying themselves by their Enneagram numbers.
The love for the Enneagram among Christians is saddening when you research it, and two hugely popular Christians throwing around their Enneagram numbers like this only normalizes it. If you would like to know more about concerns regarding the Enneagram, I recommend starting with Melissa Dougherty’s video on the subject.
Other “harmless diversions” Christians give themselves permission to participate in are astrology/horoscopes, numerology, and yoga. Although they believe they can separate themselves from the spiritual influences associated with these things, the New Age Christian churches tell a different story. I’d also add essential oils to this group. No, I have no problem with them, but some Christian ladies end up obsessed with them and creating idols out of Young Living or doTERRA. They speak about essential oils as if they are the cure to all the world’s problems.
Let’s not neglect to mention the books Christians read. Authors like Beth Moore, Lysa TerKeurst, and Joyce Meyer offer a myriad of materials that lead women away from the gospel and focused on self.
The worst offender, in my opinion, is Sarah Young. Her Jesus Calling books have become somewhat of a small empire, yet they were written by determining God’s Word wasn’t enough and waiting for direct revelation from Jesus that she wrote as if she were Jesus speaking. Nonetheless, churches are filled with women who adore these books. In fact, my husband and I received a copy from an ultra-ultra-conservative (i.e., legalistic) pastor as a gift because he saw it at a Christian bookstore and assumed it must be fine.
The other big influence in churches that has led to an invasion of the New Age Movement is diversity. Women in the Church want to be open and inclusive. They know a nice guy at work who is married to a man, and he can’t possibly deserve Hell… Those personal experiences paired with the culture pushing churches to be allies lead churches to making compromises. These compromises are very compatible with New Age thinking. So, it’s hardly any surprise we are seeing New Age thought in our churches as we witness a willingness of believers to accept identity politics and sexual cultural norms.
Has The New Age Movement Really Infiltrated The Church?
According to Pew Research, New Age thinking is prevalent in American Christian churches. For context, the study focused on four common New Age beliefs: astrology, reincarnation, psychics, and “spiritual energy can be located in physical things.”
6 out of 10: the number of all American adults who believe in at least one New Age belief
*8 out of 10: the number of Christians who believe in God as the Bible describes
*6 out of 10: the number of Christians who believe in at least one New Age belief
55%: number of all American men who believe in at least one New Age belief
70%: number of all American women who believe in at least one New Age belief
How can there be no discernable difference between unbelievers and Christians when it comes to accepting New Age ideas? And, how in the world can 80% of Christians believe in God as He’s described in the Bible while yet 60% of Christians still hold New Age beliefs? It’s concerning, y’all. The New Age Movement isn’t coming to your church. It’s already there.
Final Thought
The New Age Movement is easy to miss. We all notice the big, showy displays of New Age practices (i.e., fortune telling, Wicca), but we have been asleep at the wheel as the smaller, less threatening elements crept in the door with our congregants. The New Age Movement snuck in with a popular devotional, a Richard Rohr book, or a quiet prayer to an angel for help later that morning.
We didn’t see it coming, but it’s not too late to flush it out. Like anything else, if it contradicts God or comes between us and God, then we need to kick it out of our lives. Examine your bookshelves, downloads, hearts, and lives. What needs to go? And speak up if you are concerned for another believer caught up in the New Age Movement. Never be afraid to stand up for what’s right.
Do you have any experience with New Age thought? Tell us about it.
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Karen Eckard
Thank you so much for this article! I had been searching for some resources to confirm my suspicion that the church was being infiltrated by new age practices, especially with the doTerra fad all these women are following. Your article was so informative and Biblically grounded, and very helpful to what I believe the Lord had been showing Me all along. God bless you as you sound forth the truth while others may skirt and flirt. And you are right about women bringing it in, after all, the woman was deceived in the beginning.
Julie
Karen, I’m so happy this post could be a help to you! This is exactly why I write posts like this one. I really appreciate your kind words. God bless!
Andrew
I’ve been reading a lot of books lately about universalism in order to try and understand how and when that began infecting the Church in my lifetime (relatively of course), and in doing so I just finished “A Time of Departing” by the late Ray Yungen who attributes that to the reemergence of New Age and certain Eastern/Desert Father contemplative prayer practices. That’s how I came to find this article.
Given all of that, and the fact that I agree with the assessment that women have generally been the primary instigators of this (along with weak men like Adam who go along), I want to bring up another book I read recently that will add some more depth to all of this. It’s called “The Church Impotent: the Feminization of Christianity” by Leon J Podles. I was blessed to get it on interlibrary loan from my local library.
That book, as well as Yungen’s, and everything else I’ve been reading (in order to learn why we have all -denominations- debased the Lord’s salvific love down to a bunch of erroneous “unconditionals (love, forgiveness, mercy, etc.) have really helped in making more sense about how it all came about. Given that, I thank you for your contribution as well.
I tell people who will listen that if the Lord’s covenental love was absolutely unconditional then hELL would be empty and Jesus would be a liar (for telling us otherwise). Peace be with you!
In Christ,
Andrew
Julie
Thanks for the book suggestion!
Joyce Fletcher
A LOT of sincere Christians subscribe to the belief that their words have the ability to create their reality. They base this on Prov 18:21. It seems to me that this is an extension of the New Age belief that we are gods and our thoughts create our reality. Is this really what this verse is saying? Some even believe that because God spoke the world into existence and we are made in His image, we have the same power to create by speaking. Never mind that the situations they are trying to create through words or prevent by not speaking certain words don’t pan out.
This is unrelated, but I have wondered if some pastors’ emphasis on sowing a (financial) seed to get (financial) growth is scriptural. Is this a product of New Age thinking?
Julie
Hi, Joyce. So, the verse you’re referencing says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” This verse is is pointing out the power of our words. We all know that some words can build us up and make us feel loved and important. Meanwhile, others can tear us down. Some people, especially teens, are so emotionally injured by bullying and hateful words that they attempt to end their own lives. Words matter. However, this verse is not saying we can speak things into existence. As you’ve noticed, people who believe they can do this can’t even prove they can!
Some people take the “image of God” to mean we are a carbon copy. Thus, we can do all that He can. But what is an image? Look in a mirror. That’s your image. Does it have all the qualities you have? Of course not! Look at a penny. There’s Lincoln, but it’s not the same as the former president himself. These folks are twisting the definitions of words, expressions, and verses to manipulate others. It’s awful. But there are plenty of believers and unbelievers who have fallen for the lie, and I pity them and pray they figure out they are involved in a false religion.
As for the sowing a financial seed messaging, I believe that’s just a manipulative tactic to get money from people in the church. God never promises money or wealth. In fact, Jesus tells the rich man to give up all he owns to follow Him. Not everyone needs to be poor, but the focus of any Christian should be on eternity, not building wealth on Earth.
Thank you for your comment. It really made me think, and your questions are important ones!