TLEM
True Light Educational Ministry
Then
you will
know the Truth and the Truth will set you free ( John
8:32)
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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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