The New Age Movement

 

"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

         The New Age Movement is a religious worldview that is alien and hostile to Christianity. The New Age Movement is not new; it is actually a revival of ancient pagan religious practices, traditions, and concepts. The New Age Movement is a religious and social movement comprised of various groups and individuals who share beliefs in various combinations of Gnosticism and occultism.  Most New Agers do not speak of themselves as New Agers, but often speak of themselves (falsely) as spiritual free thinkers not connected with a denomination,  religion, or belief system.  The New Age in general borrows theology from pantheistic eastern religions and borrows practices from Nineteenth Century western occultism. The term “New Age” (also “Aquarian Age”) describes groups that exhibit one or more of these beliefs:

 • Everything is one and all reality is part of the whole; everything that exists consists of one and the same reality or essence.

 • Everyone and everything is God and God is in everything.

 • Man is God or part of God.

 • Man lives forever through reincarnation.

 • We can create our own reality through transformed consciousness or altered states of consciousness.

       In the Twentieth Century, the New Agers (as they are now called) to become extremely zealous in their efforts to deal with Christianity and Christian values, especially since WWII. Their efforts have included attempts to make evangelism a crime, legislation against Christian activities and Christian organizations, and attempts to require Evangelicals to accept unbelievers, heretics, sexual perverts, and other infringements on doctrinal beliefs and standards within their organizations, and they have manipulated news and entertainment media, religious radio programs and religious telecasts, and public education. 

Have they had any successes in America? Yes: Among other things, the growing acceptance and popularity of reincarnation, channeling, astrology, monism, pantheism, the theory of evolution, and the pagan worldview, widespread rejection of the Holy Bible and Christian values as old-fashioned and irrelevant, and men became either effeminate or adopted a macho facade while women became masculine and assumed male roles. 

How should Christians respond to the New Age Movement? It is important that Christians counter falsehoods by declaring the truth using scriptures and logic (and not opinions). Relativism, inaccurate historical events which they accept, and their worldview need to be disproven, and the Scriptural identity and description of God, Jesus, and the gospel need to be clarified in contrast to New Age beliefs. Showing and proving the accuracy and reliability of the Holy Bible is essential. It is also important to recognize individual New Agers as individuals. A New Ager is deceived but being a New Ager doesn't necessarily mean that he is evil; for example, many New Agers have goals that Christians should also work toward but for different reasons. Individual New Agers are at various stages and levels of experimentation and New Age teachings. Intercessory prayer is essential. Christians should also be encouraged to participate in community affairs and take a stand on important issues to counter the influence of the New Age Movement.

 

 

For information about cults, the occult, and the New Age Movement visit:

Watchman Fellowship