NEW AGE
This essay was written about ’93 while we were living in Sedona, Arizona, the New Age capital of the Southwest. One of the best features of the New Age movement may be the name. People have always liked new things. This religious philosophy appeals to educated and other folks, young and old. It has a modern liberal church “God is Love” emphasis. Then it brings in elements of many major religions, and Native American traditions can be a big part.
Well, what’s wrong with the Bible? True, the liberal theologians of this 20th century have dismissed much of its doctrines and miracles, and it’s surely not fashionable to believe it, but any honest study of religion should logically include the Bible of history. (Go into a New Age bookstore and ask for a copy and see what response you get.) The New Age consistently looks for spiritual truth and light elsewhere, to the nearly complete rejection of the Bible. Why is that? See Isaiah 8:20.
What’s wrong with historic Christianity? Maybe there is a lot of confusion when one looks at the "Belfast boogie" - Protestants and Catholics blowing each other up, or the 500 or so U.S. denominations. Maybe the religious complexity just comes with the territory of a modern world such as ours. At any rate, the OLD standard religion is well expressed by the historic Apostolic Creed. Why does the New Age deny it line by line? Who is behind that?
What’s wrong with Christ? He inspired Christmas, Easter, and even our calendar dates from His birth. He claimed to be God. He rose from the dead. Logically, the record of His life and teachings should be intensely valuable to anyone considering ANY religion. The New Age ranks Jesus with Buddha, Mohammad, Confucius, and others who have rotted in their tombs. They also usually stiffen when the name of Jesus is mentioned. Why is that? “I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” II Corinthians 11:3
Here’s a couple references that seem to apply to the New Age. “A man or woman who is a medium or a spiritist shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned . . .” Leviticus 20:27 NAS. (That doesn't mean they are moving to Colorado.) “Those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons predict what shall befall you. Behold, they are like stubble, the fire consumes them: they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame.” Isaiah 47:13-14. “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared.” Timothy 4:1-2
My conclusion is this: Many people want to avoid the human sin problem, and have spirituality on their own terms, without the reproach of Biblical Christianity. New Age fills the bill. But according to the Word of God, it’s counterfeit and has no power to redeem man’s unregenerate soul! There is only one way. “Jesus said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” John 14:6 Now either that’s true or 1) He was a liar, 2) language has no meaning. Neither 1 or 2 are possible. Since life is a schooling and/ or separating process for eternity, when we go for religion that is not legitimate when compared with the OLD standard, maybe we are demonstrating to God what He needs to know. Life is intended to be a Divine challenge. And of course, none of this would make any difference anyway if there was no Hell to shun or Heaven to gain. An old divine once said, “No road to perdition has ever been more thronged than that of false doctrine. Error is a shield over the conscience, and a bandage over the eyes.” Choose Jesus, He is alive. See also link 97 "Was Jesus God?" For an in-depth analysis of New Age and its spiritual darkness see, "To Hell and Back", Thomas Nelson 1993. Research & perspective from a career cardiologist, Maurice Rawlings M.D. Available thru Amazon.com
Many other Titles: www.gospelnotes.org * * F. J. Stone * *
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