New Age Infiltration of the Church

Lately I have become concerned about the ‘new spirituality’ that is creeping into Evangelical Christianity. Nearly every day I am coming across Christians who are delving into New Age and Eastern Mysticism and claiming that they are compatible with the Christian life. In fact some are even teaching them through their various ministries as vehicles to grow closer to God.

From Yoga and mantra meditation, to Reike, Homeopathy, Labyrinths and guided imagery visualization, acupuncture and even dream readings. Some Christians are even claiming that Jesus used some of these techniques in his healing ministry.

What has happened to the gift of discernment in Christian circles today? How have such obvious ‘occult’ practices slipped into our circles and at times even into the pulpits?

What is even more amazing is that it is becoming more acceptable to practice these things than to develop a personal relationship with our Lord. I am finding that Christians who know Jesus and know how to hear from him in their personal walk and prayer are being branded as ‘fanatics’ and even ‘oddballs’. Christians who operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit shunned, yet ‘New Age’ Christians doing yoga and Reike don’t even raise eyebrows.

It is hard to understand why Christians who have personal, direct access to the Father through our Saviour Jesus need to find ‘alternative’ methods to gain a closer walk. The Cross of Christ, His life and death, His victory over sin and the access it gives us to God is all that we need to grow ‘into Christ’. God speaks to us where we are. In the everyday things of life He speaks. He changes us as we face the challenges of life, He doesn’t require us to achieve ‘higher states of consciousness’ He doesn’t require us to ‘centre’, to empty our minds or to walk intricate twisted pathways to gain an audience with Him.

Many New Age practices require the need to gain special wisdom and insights to be functional. How is this different from Gnosticism? Can’t people see that these practices are ‘works of the flesh’ they appeal because it relies on ‘mans wisdom’ and abilities not on the all sufficiency of Christ Jesus.

We have all that we need to grow closer, to speak to Him and to hear from Him (God) in Jesus and in the scriptures. What we do need to grow is faith, an active prayer life, an attitude of listening all through our day and the belief that Jesus still works in us today through the gifts mentioned in the Bible. Remember that Jesus said ‘do not pray as the pagans do, with many words (vain repetition of words)’ , rather go into your prayer closet and speak to Him.

When are our Lutheran pastors going to address these practices? When is someone going to stand up and stop this idolatry, this ‘New Age’ Gnosticism and heresy? From the pastors and ministry leaders I have spoken to it seems never, as many do not even understand what the practices are, why they are wrong or even the responsibility that leaders have to warn and teach the congregations. Even more alarming I have found many leaders to be actively embracing these practices and sharing them around.

In the end there will be no difference between the Church and New Age religions we will become a ‘carbon copy’ as we bow to these ‘foreign gods’ and become spiritual prostitutes, replacing the power of God through Jesus with cheap and nasty imitations.