More on the New Age Movement

 

FILING INFORMATION:

2002057

Subject:  new age

Preached Originally: 11/10/02 – Rapid City, SD

 

Introduction:

A.    Last wk we discussed:

1.    main themes of NAM.  It is a collection of eastern influenced though systems – correct thinking and correct knowledge.

2.    one basic belief:  evolutionary godhood.

a)    man is divine and able to create his own reality.

3.    one basic belief: global unity.

a)    man with man – economic unity & religious unity.

b)    Man with nature – god is all and all is go.  Nature is a party of god.  The earth is an object to be worshipped.

c)    Man with god – all will realize they are divine.

B.    NA attempts to absorb all religions, cultures, and governments.

C.   Here are a few more things about the NAM.

 

I.  NA teaches one can have mystical experiences with God; Nature; and Self

A.    Various means that this is done:

B.    Imagining – told to imagine your own reality.

C.   Transcendence – going beyond the limits of time.

D.   Sleep deprivation – this is done to induce a mystical experience.

E.    Focusing – to experience all of reality as unified & not as a collection of disparate objects.

F.    Avoidance – all communication with the outside world is stopped; so one can reinterpret the world w/o its influence on you.

G.   Identification – trade places mentally w/a dog; cat; canary; animal in the zoo.

H.   Reflection – an exercise to help view the year to come.

I.      Star Gazing – this done to “induce a sense of objectivity about life and a feeling of connectedness to the cosmos.”

 

II. What it does not do.

A.    Does not teach man is a sinner.  Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:3

B.    Does not teach man is dependent upon God for all things – Isa. 43:7; Js. 1:17

C.   Does not teach that punishment is eternal.  Rev. 14:11

D.   Does not teach that the wages of sin is eternal separation from God.  Rom. 6:23; Isa. 59:2

E.    Does not teach that Jesus is the only way to God.  Mt. 11:27-28; John 14:6

F.    Does not teach that Christianity is the truth – 2 Tim. 3:16

 

III. New Age Terminology.

A.    New Age Bookstore – see many books that focus on self.

B.    Special words heard:

1.    holistic; holographic; synergistic; unity; oneness; harmony; transformation; personal growth; human potential; awakening; networking; energy; consciousness.

2.    words are prevalent in new age conversation; writings.

 

IV. The New Age View of Christianity.

A.    God is an impersonal force – is not directly involved in our lives.

B.    God is all; and all is God.   God is not the creator of all – but part of all that exists.

C.   There is nothing that is not God.

D.   There is no sin; only incorrect understanding of truth.

1.    knowledge = salvation; not Jesus.

E.    Hell is an experience on earth; it is not real; it is a state of mind.

F.    Jesus was one of many sharers of divine truth.

1.    Christ is a consciousness – a form of the higher self.

2.    it is something possessed by all because everyone is divine.

 

V.  The New Ave View of Man.

A.    Since all is god and man is a part of all, then man is god.

1.    Pantheism.  Creeping into mainstream America. 

2.    Isa. 44:24 – God not a part of creation – He is separate from it and made it.

3.    Gen. 1:26 – Man is not God – he is a creation.

B.    Man has infinite potential.

1.    based on an inflated self worth & nothing more than self satisfying indulgence into pride.

2.    Same sin as Satan used on Eve.  Gen. 3:1-5.  Be like God.

3.    Man = one with universe.

a)    Blur difference between man & creation.

b)    Gen. 1:26 – man made in image of God – the universe is not.

 

VI. The New Age View of Salvation:

A.    Salvation = getting in tune with the divine consciousness.

1.    In tune = harmony w/reality & whatever is perceived to be true.

B.    Since the NAM doesn’t acknowledge sin or sinfulness there is no need for a redeemer like Jesus.

1.    Salvation is simply the realization of our divine nature.

2.    I’m not a body.  I am free.  For I am still as God created me.  Salvation of the world depends on me.

3.    It is a form of knowledge; of achieving correct thought.  Therefore we need to be saved from ignorance, not sin.

4.    Salvation – is self achieved through understanding your natural godlikeness and goodness, combined with proper knowledge.

 

Conclusion:

A.    NA Movement not biblical teaching by any means!

B.    It is a false religious system authored by Satan.

C.   Should be avoided; guarded against; and destroyed.

D.   I N V I T A T I O N