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 a 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 … Continue reading The New Age Movement Has Infiltrated The Church