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NEW AGE MOVEMENT/OLD AGE LIE
The New Age Movement (NAM) is rapidly sneaking into
our society and churches. The main reason for this
success is the misunderstanding of what it is, and
where it comes from.
Presently there is no one group or human leading
this movement. It is primarily a network of
different groups or individuals with some common
beliefs. You can divide these into two distinct
expressions of the movement, the occult and the
humanistic. The occult expression teaches the
reincarnation, communication with the spirits and
the worship of self. While the humanistic teaches
developing unlimited human potential and an ethical
system centered in responsibility only to one's
self. There is considerable over lapping of the two
expressions. Both expressions have existed almost
since the creation of man.
"What has been will be again, what has been done
will be done again; there is nothing new under the
sun... It was here already, long ago: It was here
before our time" (Eccl 1:9-10).
There are some basic principles held in common by
all the camps of the New Age Movement.
They teach that God is not a person but rather a
force. In this teaching, God is all things and
therefore we are god.
They teach some form of reincarnation. This may vary
from a normal occurrence to being selective on the
part of the spirit wishing to return.
Since we are all god, there is no death. Therefore,
those who have departed have simply moved over into
another dimension. This dimension is usually here on
earth with us. Since they exist on earth only in
another dimension, communication with the other side
is possible. This communication may vary from
direct, to channeling through a familiar spirit, or
spirit writings.
The question whether or not a Christian should speak
out against the New Age Movement is best answered by
Douglas Groothuis. In his book, Unmasking the New
Age, he makes the following statement.(1)
"Christians are partially responsible for the rise
of the New Age. When and where Christians retreat,
the enemy advances." Dr. Carl Raschke, of the
University of Denver, refers to the New Age Movement
as the spiritual version of AIDS. That is, it
destroys the defenses, the immune system, the
ability of people to cope and function. (2) The
basic beliefs of the New Ages are that God is a
force, and we can all evolve to becoming gods. This
goes along with their beliefs in reincarnation and
denial of death. They claim that those who die
simply move over to another dimension here on earth.
Thus communication with the dead is possible. Many
believe in familiar spirits or gurus to lead them.
Some of other the New Age teachings include the
following.
Holistic medicine - Here different groups use a
variety of methods. They vary from the use of
crystals to self- hypnosis or yoga. Many will
actually state that they are using lost Old Eastern
techniques or methods. Those are simply New Age
using old lies.
Astrology and other variations of magi - Again these
will vary from reading the stars to the palms of
your hands. Some have reverted to the tarot cards or
combinations of these various concepts.
UFO and extraterrestrials - The groups following
these beliefs vary from how we started to how we
will end. Some claim God is really a UFO pilot or
crew member. Using this approach they then explain
every Biblical miracle through UFO technology and
involvement.
Worship of self - This is a humanistic expression
covered to some degree above. The intent is on
developing unlimited human potential and ethical
systems centered in responsibility only to one's
self. This is the group that usually end up with God
being merely a force and man evolving to becoming
God.
Yogi and meditation - Here most of the groups teach
emptying the mind to find ones inner self. Some
groups will carry the meditation into drug use to
help empty the mind for a cleaner inner self
understanding.
Many New Ages will follow a variety of the above
teachings. This is why they have not united into one
main organization at the present time. While you may
consider these as ridiculous, they are moving into
our communities and churches at a rapid rate. They
can be stopped only if we stand up against them. We
must stop this growth. The growth of the Christian
church depends on us.
Christians must stand up against the New Age
Movement. The best way to do this is to prove the
New Age is nothing more than old lies.
REFERENCES
Groothuis, Douglas R. Unmasking the New Age, Downers
Grove, Ill. InterVarsity Press, p174. 1986
Raschke, Carl Denver Post, May 3, 1987
Anderson George,Joel Martin, Patricia Romanowski, We
Don't Die, Berkley Books, New York, 1989, pp
243-244.
SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL READING
Tracts by T.L.E.M.
What About Reincarnation
What About Communication with the Dead
What About Yoga
What About Demons
What About Tarot Cards
What About Horoscopes
BOOKS BY OTHER SOURCES
Unmasking the New Age by Douglas R. Groothuis.
InterVarsity Press, Illinois, 1986
A Crash Course on the New Age Movement by Elliot
Miller. Baker Book House, Michigan, 1989
The Seduction of Christianity by Dave Hunt & T.A.
McMahon, Harvest House Publishers, Oregon, 1987
For Additional Information Contact
True Light Educational Ministry
P.O. Box 310
Shirley, NY 11967
Telephone (631) 395-4646
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TLEM