Q12. Answer
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First of all, let’s try briefly to outline what New Agers actually believe.
One of two basic tenets of the New Age Movement is “Evolutionary Godhood,” claiming that man’s basic nature is actually divine and good, and that through “spiritual evolution” he can attain “Godhood”. This is called the “Christ principle”.
They say there are no moral absolutes; that there are innumerable and diverse paths to “Godhood;” and every man’s reality and path are equally valid. All people will thus spiritually evolve and attain to “Godhood,” conjoining in unity of purpose, love, and development.
They claim a superior “cosmic consciousness” or “cosmic overview” and therefore have a spiritual tolerance for all religions or “truth systems.” This they call “harmonization.”
Their God is entirely impersonal, and benevolent, condemning no one.
Their other basic tenet is that this Evolutionary Godhood leads to Global Unity, itself consisting of three elements: man with man: man with nature; and man with God. All people should therefore unite around the love of nature. Some New Agers worship God as the ancient Greek god Gaia, as the “Mother Earth” personification.
They claim this all will issue into one world order economically and spiritually with one world leader.
Now for our response:
So what’s new about New Age movement? For thousands of years men have invented gods. They worshipped “gods they did not know, new gods, new arrivals” (Deuteronomy 32: 17). The Greeks in Acts 17:23 had an altar dedicated to “The Unknown God”. The ancient cultures created gods. Man in the modern era is doing so still! Truly there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
Most New Agers believe in reincarnation in some shape or form. Many engage in occult practices which they justify as promoting “spiritual evolution.” Such things, of course, are not new; but they are completely contrary to God’s Word; and God does not change His mind (Malachi 3:6, Numbers 23:19).
New Agers argue that God is all, all is God, then nature is also part of God, and man must tune in with nature and learn to nurture it and be nurtured by it. New Age generally seeks a blend with those religions and philosophies that put man and nature on an equal level. This makes man no more important than any animal, bird, or fish.
However, the Bible says clearly that man was created in God’s image and to have dominion over nature. This does not mean that man may abuse what he is over; but we are given the responsibility of caring for and being stewards of God’s creation (Genesis 2:15) and God will hold us accountable for our stewardship.
New Age thinking is simply deceptive, inventive, imaginative thinking, ignoring man’s demonstrably fallen nature and propensity to sin, avoiding judgment and the righteous Judge (Psalm 7:11, 2 Timothy 4:8, Hebrews 9:27), elevating man and nature, lowering God, confusing the created with the Creator, denying the cross of Jesus Christ and man’s need of a Redeemer and Savior.
New Age thinking does not even line up. To say there are no absolutes is an absolute in itself.
To say all paths lead to God, and that there are many such paths, is totally false. Paths that avoid the cross of Jesus Christ lead to destruction. There are only two paths: a broad way and a narrow way. Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Matthew 7:13-14; John 14:6)
To say all paths and realities are valid is anarchical, bringing confusion and disorder. God is not the author of confusion but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33).
The hope and expectation of one world order economically and spiritually with one world leader is a Last Days scenario of the mass “falling away” from the God of the Bible by unbelieving humankind and the revealing of the Antichrist, “the son of perdition who will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) Notice that he is called “the son of perdition.” Perdition means a state of final spiritual ruin, loss of the soul, or eternal damnation.
Do not be fatally deceived. The New Age god is Satan, smiling at evil, and masquerading as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). And if the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matthew 6:23b)
Far from being an impersonal God, in His great love and mercy, God the Father has made Himself known through His Son, Jesus Christ, and desires intimate relationship with every man woman and child.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)