New Agers And The Bible - Part Two

Many of the conscious-altering techniques used by New Agers are occultic and forbidden by the Bible.
God condemns the use of divination, sorcery, witchcraft, magical spells, mediums and spiritualists.

"When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn the ways of the nations there.
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination
or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells or who is a medium or spiritist
or who consults the dead.
Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices
the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you."
(Deuteronomy 18: 9-12, NIV)

New Agers teach that morality is relative.

Since all is One there is no difference between good and evil, right or wrong.
For the New Ager there is no such thing as evil.
Some New Agers even deny that Hitler's actions were evil.

Walsch writes: "The real issue is whether Hitler's actions were 'wrong.'
Yet I have said over and over again that there is no 'right' or 'wrong' in the universe.
A thing is not intrinsically right or wrong. A thing simply is."

Some New Agers would even assert that evil comes from God.
Writer Benjamin Creme states in The Reappearance of the Christ and Master of Wisdom:
"Of course, yes, the forces of evil are part of God.
They are not separate from God. Everything is God.
There is nothing else in fact but God.
The forces of evil on this planet received their energy from the cosmic astral plane."

The Bible certainly refutes those statements.
The sense that there is a distinction between right and wrong is universal.
New Agers try to explain evil by denying its reality.
But in order to deny the existence of evil they must also deny the validity of goodness.

They not only deny the Bible which condemns certain actions as wrong, but also their own consciousness.
They believe that there is no difference between right and wrong is not logical because it contradicts itself.
The New Ager claim it is right to believe there is no right or wrong.

But if there is no right or wrong, how can it be right to believe that there is no right or wrong?
Both the Bible and the experiences of life support the Christian teaching that there is a distinction
between good and evil, right and wrong.
Also, the Bible clearly teaches that God is not the source of evil (James 1: 13).

New Agers teach that Jesus is not the only Christ.
They teach that Jesus was one of several great teachers who obtained the Christ Spirit,
which they described as self-actualization of one's deity.
As Walsch states: "Many have achieved such consciousness.
Many have been Christed (sic), not just Jesus of Nazareth."

Some New Agers also teach that the church has corrupted the teachings of Jesus.
They teach that Jesus traveled to India and studied Hinduism before beginning His public ministry.
He was rejected and crucified because of His Hindu teachings.
("Where in the world did they ever come up with that." -- Dr. White)

When New Agers use the term Christ to refer to a divine consciousness or spirit, they give it
a meaning not found in the Bible.
Christ is a Greek term that means "anointed one."
The New Testament uses the term to designate Jesus as the promised Messiah of the Old Testament.
Jesus warned His followers to be on guard against false teachers who would proclaim
false Christs (Matthew 24:24-25).

The New Age view of the Christ Consciousness is one of these false Christs.

The Jesus of the Bible is unique.
He is God's one and only Son (John 3: 16).

New Agers teach that the universe is evolving.
They believe that our world is going to undergo a transformation to a higher level.
They also believe that this change will be brought about by a shift in human consciousness
toward New Age paradigms.

A new world is coming, but it will not be a leap to a higher level.
It will be the coming again of Jesus Christ.
God, on His time schedule and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate conclusion.

Jesus Christ will come again in glory.
The unrighteous will be sent to hell and the righteous will dwell forever in heaven with the Lord.
(1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Philippians 3: 20-21; 2 Peter 3: 7)

Here are some guidelines in sharing Jesus with New Agers.

Tell the New Ager about your personal relationship that you have with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Express the difference that God has made in your life.

Ask the New Ager to explain to you what he or she believes about God and Jesus Christ.
Listen to what he or she answers for not all New Agers believe the same things.
So, begin your witnesses from where they are.

With a loving attitude share with New Agers some of the contradictions of their beliefs.
Many New Agers do not realize the implication of pantheism teaching that God is impersonal.
Also, many do not realize the implication of their belief in karma and reincarnation
because there are no innocent sufferers.

Since New Agers deny our experience of reality, it is difficult for New Agers to live as if what
they believe it is true.
Lovingly and patiently point out the inconsistencies between what they claim to believe
and how they actually live.

For instance, many New Agers are offended with the gospel message that faith in Jesus Christ
is the only way of salvation.
They claim that there is no right or wrong way to God and they believe
that we are wrong to claim that there is.

So ask the New Ager if there is no right or wrong way to God, then how can you claim
that our gospel is wrong?

Remember that God loves them and would have them trust Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.
Follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit for He will convince the New Agers of their need for Jesus.

It would be better to refrain from saying, "I believe..."
It is always better to say that "the Bible says..."

Ask the New Ager where they believe they will go when they die.
Then ask what will happen to them when they reach enlightenment or perfection.
Many New Agers will have to admit that they don't want to lose their identity or be absorbed into
an all-consuming consciousness.

Never get frustrated if you're witnessing is not immediately successful.
Most New Agers will need to hear the gospel more than once before they will place their trust in Jesus.

Always emphasize the words of Christ.
New Agers are more open to the teachings of Christ than they are to other Bible writers.
Always encourage them to read the Bible.

Remember, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Rom. 10: 17)

Adapted from several sources