What is the Danger of New Age Contamination of Christian Spirituality?

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Nancy

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A pastor by the name of Andrew Farley was directly instrumental in my truly becoming born again. Many call him a false teacher and the same things that are said about Joyce. It's funny because I never had the Christian station on my radio, that I left on for my dogs while I was at work. I come home to hear this guy speaking and was shaking my head as, I did not ever expect to hear such wonderful things of God on the rock n roll station!!! That was over 4 years ago now, and I have never changed that station...till this day, it remains on WDCX-which is one of our few Christian radio broadcasts. Many awesome teachers on there. I used to hear allot of J Vernon McGee on my way to work in the morning, love that guy (God rest his soul) as well as many others on there. Have you heard of Chip Ingram? He is another of my favorites among many more on there...oh how He works!

PS...how the station was on there is a mystery to me as the station i used to have on all the time was pretty far from the dial...
 

Truth

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What is the Gospel? How do you define that? It was preached before the Crucifixion. It is also said to be preached by an angel from Heaven.

Many respond when asked, What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? Well it is the Death, Burial, and the Resurrection. As you stated, you can not find that being Preached anywhere, up to, and really after the Crucifixion!!
This Topic is a must need, within the Body! For I believe it is the Foundation for all and any Assembly of Believers.
A good place to start is in Deuteronomy 18! Key verses - 15,18, & 19. God is very stern about His Prophecy about His Son!!
Verses 20-22 are the method by which we should discern who we should not put any trust in, They my lead us into New Age Doctrine's?
 
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Giuliano

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Many respond when asked, What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? Well it is the Death, Burial, and the Resurrection. As you stated, you can not find that being Preached anywhere, up to, and really after the Crucifixion!!
This Topic is a must need, within the Body! For I believe it is the Foundation for all and any Assembly of Believers.
A good place to start is in Deuteronomy 18! Key verses - 15,18, & 19. God is very stern about His Prophecy about His Son!!
Verses 20-22 are the method by which we should discern who we should not put any trust in, They my lead us into New Age Doctrine's?
Can it be the "Death, Burial and Resurrection" when those things hadn't happened yet, or it is something else? Another question is why is it called the "everlasting gospel" in Revelation? Does that mean the Gospel has always been the same, from Genesis to Revelation?
 
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Nancy

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Can it be the "Death, Burial and Resurrection" when those things hadn't happened yet, or it is something else? Another question is why is it called the "everlasting gospel" in Revelation? Does that mean the Gospel has always been the same, from Genesis to Revelation?

I would say that the "everlasting Gospel" was always there...it is threaded through the genealogy from Adam to Noah. Just take the first name meanings in Hebrew, in order as to whom begat whom then, read it like a sentence...If you start with "God" rather than Adam, there is a Hebrew meaning to the word God which also means simply, "The God"...very interesting stuff here and, NO MAN could have possibly rigged it. And, as has been said allot lately, "The Old Testament concealed, the New Testament revealed...the Hebrews BC were exercising faith in their Savior to COME so...I'd say the whole Gospel is threaded throughout the OT. Too many people just like to set that OT on the back burner when it is so full of pearls, if only we would study diligently and be open to His simple Gospel, boy does He ever open it up to us!
 

Giuliano

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I would say that the "everlasting Gospel" was always there...it is threaded through the genealogy from Adam to Noah. Just take the first name meanings in Hebrew, in order as to whom begat whom then, read it like a sentence...If you start with "God" rather than Adam, there is a Hebrew meaning to the word God which also means simply, "The God"...very interesting stuff here and, NO MAN could have possibly rigged it. And, as has been said allot lately, "The Old Testament concealed, the New Testament revealed...the Hebrews BC were exercising faith in their Savior to COME so...I'd say the whole Gospel is threaded throughout the OT. Too many people just like to set that OT on the back burner when it is so full of pearls, if only we would study diligently and be open to His simple Gospel, boy does He ever open it up to us!
So what would you say it is?
 

Nancy

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So what would you say it is?

I take it at the simplistic forward meaning that it is a Gospel that will last forever. He will be praised and given Glory due Him for what He willingly did, for us. That I think will last forever and ever. This "everlasting gospel" will be preached again, to give man yet another opportunity to repent...and I see this is something that will or is already, happening now, that precedes the wrath, bowls, vials...the Everlasting Gospel is eternal, unchanging and Truth...not sure where to go from here, lol.
 

Giuliano

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I take it at the simplistic forward meaning that it is a Gospel that will last forever. He will be praised and given Glory due Him for what He willingly did, for us. That I think will last forever and ever. This "everlasting gospel" will be preached again, to give man yet another opportunity to repent...and I see this is something that will or is already, happening now, that precedes the wrath, bowls, vials...the Everlasting Gospel is eternal, unchanging and Truth...not sure where to go from here, lol.
But what is it? When the disciples were preaching it before the crucifixion and resurrection, what were they saying?
 

Nancy

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But what is it? When the disciples were preaching it before the crucifixion and resurrection, what were they saying?

They were saying "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at Hand". Truth IS everlasting, and the Gospel is total Truth and will last forever to His Glory. Many did not receive Him before as well as after the Cross...God is so very long-suffering that all men should come to His Son that He is allowing the world to go on as it always has, giving unbelievers more time to repent and turn toward Him.
After the Cross, the Gospel still say's "Repent" and to "believe" in the One Who died and Rose from the grave. The big difference (to myself, anyhow) is that the Holy Spirit resides inside of us rather than outside of us. He is still The Holy Spirit and God never changes.
 
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Giuliano

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They were saying "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at Hand". Truth IS everlasting, and the Gospel is total Truth and will last forever to His Glory. Many did not receive Him before as well as after the Cross...God is so very long-suffering that all men should come to His Son that He is allowing the world to go on as it always has, giving unbelievers more time to repent and turn toward Him.
After the Cross, the Gospel still say's "Repent" and to "believe" in the One Who died and Rose from the grave. The big difference (to myself, anyhow) is that the Holy Spirit resides inside of us rather than outside of us. He is still The Holy Spirit and God never changes.
Thanks for that. I think you still have it more complicated than it actually is.
 
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Truth

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Can it be the "Death, Burial and Resurrection" when those things hadn't happened yet, or it is something else? Another question is why is it called the "everlasting gospel" in Revelation? Does that mean the Gospel has always been the same, from Genesis to Revelation?

There is only one True Faith, From Beginning to End, God! the same yesterday, today, and Forever! I think you are on to something that most will ignore!
 
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Look, I really like the Bible and I am a born again Christian, but the Bible is not perfect. There is shocking injustice and cruelty, violence and murder in its pages, and discrimination of women, oppression, of women, a lot of pain and suffering. A law of the old testament, there are several laws, far many than just the 10 commandments, says that if a virgin who is not engaged to be married must marry her rapist if she is raped. If she is engaged, the rapist is put to death. But if the girl is not engaged, the rapist must pay her father a sum of money, the bride price, and marry her, and they cannot get a divorce. Also, if a man and woman are married, and the man is not satisfied on the wedding night, because she does not 'bleed' like a virgin, the girl is put to death. Some girls are born without a hymen, it does not always work that way, sometimes its more like a ring than a curtain to be pierced. And what about the man? Should he be expected to be pure too? No! men got away with doing anything they wanted, as long as they were not gay or did not have relations with another man's wife.

There is a story about a man in Exodus who God orders to be stoned to death for gathering wood on the Sabbath, how petty and cruel. And what about genocide? When the Israelites were taking over the promise land, they massacred the people already living there, commit genocide. They were ordered to wipe out every living thing, old people, women, children babies, everything. Modern day Christians throw a fit over abortion like its the worst thing in the world, yet God ordered that all the babies and young children in these towns and cities by killed without mercy.


The Jews kept disobeying God and practicing idol worship. How stupid were they!

I like the New Testament. Jesus is kind, loving, and merciful. How many Christians actually obey His teachings? How many people love their enemies, don't hit back when people hit them, forgive all the time, give away money and expensive possessions, help out weaker people whether they are a brother, sister or not, has patience with unbelievers, does not judge and condemn sinners, yet he tries to tell the sinners about the gospel and let them know God loves them, how many people refuse to drink alcohol or use drugs or have extra-marital or pre-marital sex, how many refuse to watch dirty movies, watch their thoughts and tongue not to say bad words or take the Lord's name in vain, how many obey the ten commandments and do not work on Saturday go to church not just on Sunday but wedsnday, How many constantly pray and read scripture and study to learn knowledge so they can be better equipped to follow Christ?

I don't do all these things myself, i do most of them and try to do all of them. I know I need to meditate upon God's grace more often. i want to love people more. Although I criticize the Bible I still try to understand it, I believe there is a lot of good and wisdom in the Bible. It may not be 100% perfect, but neither am I, neither are you. God is perfect, he is found as tiny kernels of truth within other religions, which lead to the Christian fath. he is found within the people we love, within nature's beauty, the intelligent civilizations fantastic cities with grand architecture and art, people love and wisdom. The things we do to honor God with the talents He gave us.

Not all 'new age' is bad. It has driven a lot of hypocrisy out of the church. Hypocrisy drives many people away from the church. Trump fans are big hypocrites. Trump is an evil lying megalomaniac that is destroying America. No true Christian would ever support him, or vote for him, he is evil and spoiled always demanding his way, he is full of hatred and poison. We must beware he is like the pharisees who had Jesus killed.
 
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Prayer Warrior

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I use to live in one of those quaint villages !! Lol
Yes, your right - but surely many of the things you mentioned, like Freemasons started way before the new age stuff started to come into play. ( long before the 60's ) - can't say i heard the word ' new age ' until the 80's ( in church circles ) Although there has always been alternatives to Christianity- you see that in the New Testament, thinking about that, they existed before Christ. I think media, and modern platforms ( entertainment ) has played a major role in increasing the problem.
Rita

Hi, Rita, you and I have never "met," but i enjoy reading your comments!

Freemasonry is based on the Egyptian mystery religions, which would be considered pagan. If you read the writings of Freemasons, you will see this. I believe that mysticism was central to these religions, and it was these mystical beliefs that evolved into the modern New Age movement.

From Wikipedia: Ludwig Feuerbach defined the paganism of classical antiquity, which he termed Heidentum ('heathenry') as "the unity of religion and politics, of spirit and nature, of god and man",[43] qualified by the observation that man in the pagan view is always defined by ethnicity, i.e. Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Jew, etc., so that each pagan tradition is also a national tradition. Modern historians define paganism instead as the aggregate of cult acts, set within a civic rather than a national context, without a written creed or sense of orthodoxy.[44]
I've said this in others threads, but I believe that mysticism in general is a counterfeit for the gifts and work of the Holy Spirit. IOW, I believe it's from the devil, not God. Also, I believe that some form of mysticism will be the one-world religion of the anti-christ because every major religion has a mystical sect, including Judaism and Christianity, unfortunately.
.
 

Prayer Warrior

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Look, I really like the Bible and I am a born again Christian, but the Bible is not perfect. There is shocking injustice and cruelty, violence and murder in its pages, and discrimination of women, oppression, of women, a lot of pain and suffering. A law of the old testament, there are several laws, far many than just the 10 commandments, says that if a virgin who is not engaged to be married must marry her rapist if she is raped. If she is engaged, the rapist is put to death. But if the girl is not engaged, the rapist must pay her father a sum of money, the bride price, and marry her, and they cannot get a divorce. Also, if a man and woman are married, and the man is not satisfied on the wedding night, because she does not 'bleed' like a virgin, the girl is put to death. Some girls are born without a hymen, it does not always work that way, sometimes its more like a ring than a curtain to be pierced. And what about the man? Should he be expected to be pure too? No! men got away with doing anything they wanted, as long as they were not gay or did not have relations with another man's wife.

There is a story about a man in Exodus who God orders to be stoned to death for gathering wood on the Sabbath, how petty and cruel. And what about genocide? When the Israelites were taking over the promise land, they massacred the people already living there, commit genocide. They were ordered to wipe out every living thing, old people, women, children babies, everything. Modern day Christians throw a fit over abortion like its the worst thing in the world, yet God ordered that all the babies and young children in these towns and cities by killed without mercy.


The Jews kept disobeying God and practicing idol worship. How stupid were they!

I like the New Testament. Jesus is kind, loving, and merciful. How many Christians actually obey His teachings? How many people love their enemies, don't hit back when people hit them, forgive all the time, give away money and expensive possessions, help out weaker people whether they are a brother, sister or not, has patience with unbelievers, does not judge and condemn sinners, yet he tries to tell the sinners about the gospel and let them know God loves them, how many people refuse to drink alcohol or use drugs or have extra-marital or pre-marital sex, how many refuse to watch dirty movies, watch their thoughts and tongue not to say bad words or take the Lord's name in vain, how many obey the ten commandments and do not work on Saturday go to church not just on Sunday but wedsnday, How many constantly pray and read scripture and study to learn knowledge so they can be better equipped to follow Christ?

I don't do all these things myself, i do most of them and try to do all of them. I know I need to meditate upon God's grace more often. i want to love people more. Although I criticize the Bible I still try to understand it, I believe there is a lot of good and wisdom in the Bible. It may not be 100% perfect, but neither am I, neither are you. God is perfect, he is found as tiny kernels of truth within other religions, which lead to the Christian fath. he is found within the people we love, within nature's beauty, the intelligent civilizations fantastic cities with grand architecture and art, people love and wisdom. The things we do to honor God with the talents He gave us.

Not all 'new age' is bad. It has driven a lot of hypocrisy out of the church. Hypocrisy drives many people away from the church. Trump fans are big hypocrites. Trump is an evil lying megalomaniac that is destroying America. No true Christian would ever support him, or vote for him, he is evil and spoiled always demanding his way, he is full of hatred and poison. We must beware he is like the pharisees who had Jesus killed.

Wow, I would be afraid to diss God like you have in this post. Really!

You're calling God "petty and cruel!"

There is a story about a man in Exodus who God orders to be stoned to death for gathering wood on the Sabbath, how petty and cruel.
 

Berserk

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This thread is instructive in at least 4 ways:
(1) It illustrates how muddle-headed many Fundamentalists are about what is encompassed by the expression "New Age movement."
(2) It illustrates how Fundamentalists simplistically use "New Age" as a vague dirty word to slander godly ministers that they don't like or disagree with, or think go beyond biblical mandates and teachings.
(3) It illustrates a widespread Evangelical ignorance of the limited and incomplete nature of biblical revelation. Claims of biblical inspiration do not include a claim of revelatory completeness. Many ethical (e. g. abortion) and doctrinal questions (e. g. the inspiration of the New Testament canon as opposed to the Old Testament) are not explicitly addressed in Scripture and are therefore hotly debated and thus inspire denominational multiplicity.
(4) Many important how-to questions are left unanswered in Scripture and lead to the charge of New Age contamination when believers try to fill in the how-to gaps: e. g.
(a) How should I pray and meditate? Jesus offers the Lord's Prayer as a content model for prayer, but says little about the emotions and methods of the life of prayer and meditation.
(b) Paul tells us to display "the fruit of the Spirit" and to "zealously strive for spiritual gifts," but does not offer specifics on how to seek them.
(c) The Bible repeatedly tells us that we need faith for effective Christian living and effective petitionary prayer, but offers little explicit advice on how to acquire this faith and how to overcome the honest doubts and skepticism that pose barriers to this faith.

Mere borrowing or application of pagan and occult practices to the Christian faith does not in itself make those practices wrong or non-Christian. In my next few planned posts I will illustrate how Gospel tradition borrows from the occult and pagan world.
 
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Enoch111

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It illustrates a widespread Evangelical ignorance of the limited and incomplete nature of biblical revelation.
Now you are showing your true colors. Which means that your opinions are of little or no value to Christians who believe that the Bible is SUFFICIENT for every Christian, and for all things pertaining to life and godliness. This is not evangelical ignorance, but you are showing unbiblical arrogance by making such a statement.
 
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Berserk

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Now you are showing your true colors. Which means that your opinions are of little or no value to Christians who believe that the Bible is SUFFICIENT for every Christian, and for all things pertaining to life and godliness. This is not evangelical ignorance, but you are showing unbiblical arrogance by making such a statement.

On the contrary, I am far better trained in Scripture than you are. I know Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek as well as other relevant ancient languages and am thoroughly immersed in the culturally relevant Jewish and Greco-Roman background literature. I have a Masters degree in Theology from Princeton and a Harvard doctorate in New Testament, Jewish backgrounds, and Greco-Roman backgrounds, and have been a pastor and theology professor for many years. Yet I am an Evangelical Pentecostal and a retired United Methodist pastor who has experience in street and door-to-door evangelism. So it is not "arrogance" but established competence that motivates me.

On the other hand, you apparently are deficient in reading comprehension. You wrongly assume that because I recognize the incompleteness of biblical revelation, I also regard the Bible as insufficient for faith and life and you are apparently not sufficiently into the Word to recognize the many ways biblical revelation is "incomplete." Thankfully, the ministry and gifts of the Holy Spirit are still available to guide us in the ways we must fill in the gaps of our spiritual knowledge.
 
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Giuliano

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Look, I really like the Bible and I am a born again Christian, but the Bible is not perfect. There is shocking injustice and cruelty, violence and murder in its pages, and discrimination of women, oppression, of women, a lot of pain and suffering. A law of the old testament, there are several laws, far many than just the 10 commandments, says that if a virgin who is not engaged to be married must marry her rapist if she is raped. If she is engaged, the rapist is put to death. But if the girl is not engaged, the rapist must pay her father a sum of money, the bride price, and marry her, and they cannot get a divorce. Also, if a man and woman are married, and the man is not satisfied on the wedding night, because she does not 'bleed' like a virgin, the girl is put to death. Some girls are born without a hymen, it does not always work that way, sometimes its more like a ring than a curtain to be pierced. And what about the man? Should he be expected to be pure too? No! men got away with doing anything they wanted, as long as they were not gay or did not have relations with another man's wife.

There is a story about a man in Exodus who God orders to be stoned to death for gathering wood on the Sabbath, how petty and cruel. And what about genocide? When the Israelites were taking over the promise land, they massacred the people already living there, commit genocide. They were ordered to wipe out every living thing, old people, women, children babies, everything. Modern day Christians throw a fit over abortion like its the worst thing in the world, yet God ordered that all the babies and young children in these towns and cities by killed without mercy.


The Jews kept disobeying God and practicing idol worship. How stupid were they!

I like the New Testament. Jesus is kind, loving, and merciful. How many Christians actually obey His teachings? How many people love their enemies, don't hit back when people hit them, forgive all the time, give away money and expensive possessions, help out weaker people whether they are a brother, sister or not, has patience with unbelievers, does not judge and condemn sinners, yet he tries to tell the sinners about the gospel and let them know God loves them, how many people refuse to drink alcohol or use drugs or have extra-marital or pre-marital sex, how many refuse to watch dirty movies, watch their thoughts and tongue not to say bad words or take the Lord's name in vain, how many obey the ten commandments and do not work on Saturday go to church not just on Sunday but wedsnday, How many constantly pray and read scripture and study to learn knowledge so they can be better equipped to follow Christ?

I don't do all these things myself, i do most of them and try to do all of them. I know I need to meditate upon God's grace more often. i want to love people more. Although I criticize the Bible I still try to understand it, I believe there is a lot of good and wisdom in the Bible. It may not be 100% perfect, but neither am I, neither are you. God is perfect, he is found as tiny kernels of truth within other religions, which lead to the Christian fath. he is found within the people we love, within nature's beauty, the intelligent civilizations fantastic cities with grand architecture and art, people love and wisdom. The things we do to honor God with the talents He gave us.

Not all 'new age' is bad. It has driven a lot of hypocrisy out of the church. Hypocrisy drives many people away from the church. Trump fans are big hypocrites. Trump is an evil lying megalomaniac that is destroying America. No true Christian would ever support him, or vote for him, he is evil and spoiled always demanding his way, he is full of hatred and poison. We must beware he is like the pharisees who had Jesus killed.
There may be things in the Bible that are hard to understand. I would urge caution about condemning what we may not understand.

The man who gathered sticks could have done it more discretely. He did it openly and flagrantly. He wouldn't have been stoned unless two or more people witnessed it. He showed his contempt for God and all Israel by flouting that law openly. Don't think then that it was only because he broke the Sabbath. It was also about how he did it.