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| News and Notes |
| Highlights of 2003 Delegate Convention |
| The New Age Movement --- m.e.l. |
From Pastor Robert E. Sempert, Jr. in Morris, IL:
Mission Service: Two ILC Congregations, Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Morris, IL and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of New Lenox, IL held a joint mission service/picnic at Woodsmoke Ranch in Seneca, IL.
The Woodsmoke Ranch Worship Service was held on July 27, 2003 at 10:00 a.m; Attendance was 54 souls. The free will offering taken ($525.00) is to be donated to ILC.
May the Truth of God's Word work graciously in the hearts of all those who hear it unto Salvation in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
"So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God."
(Romans 10:17)
Let us all remember how fortunately blessed we are to have servants of God's True Word preach it to us regularly. May we always consider it a privilege and yearn for it lest our Lord take it from us. (see Romans 10:12- 11:33)
.
From Pastor Richard Finke in Tinley Park, IL:
Reminder: The Fall Pastoral Conference is to be sponsored by Reformation Lutheran Church in Tinley Park, IL
Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Midland, MI:
Hospitalization: By God's Goodness, Pastor Clubb and his wife Rosalie are both home from brief hospitalization; Pastor is presently confined to a wheelchair; and now Rosalie, having a broken foot set in a cast, will also be in a wheelchair for a number of weeks. Let us keep them in our prayers that our loving Lord would comfort them with His Peace during these stressful times and also provide them with the strength and the help that they need in order to go about their daily business.
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How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds. (TLH #364)
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear.
Dear name! The Rock on which I build, My Shield and Hiding-place;
My never-failing Treasury, filled With boundless stores of grace.
Jesus, my Shepherd, Guardian, Friend, My Prophet, Priest, and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, Accept the praise I bring.
Till then I would Thy love proclaim With every fleeting breath;
And may the music of Thy name Refresh my soul in death! Amen.
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Secretary's Report of
The 25th Annual
ILC Delegate Convention
Hosted by Grace Ev. Lutheran Church of New Lenox, IL
(held at Our Savior's Church building in Morris, IL)
--- 1st day minutes ---
July 10, 2003
The convention's opening worship service, attended by 22 souls, (12 communicants) was conducted by Pastor Sempert who preached on 1 Peter chapter 2 with the theme:
" The Chief Cornerstone, Christ, and I "
After a short break for coffee and doughnuts and setting up for the meeting, attendees were introduced:
From Cross of Christ - Midland, MI
From Eternal Savior - Arbor Vitae, WI:
From Grace Ev. Lutheran Church of New Lenox, IL:
From Our Savior's - Morris, IL:
From Reformation - Tinley Park, IL:
From Trinity Lutheran Church of Ballwin, MO:
From St. James - Laporte, MN (in fellowship)
[Mr. Herb Pederson and Mr. Randy Pederson were present as guests.
Mrs. Herb Pederson, Mrs. Linda Luers, and Ruth Latsch were also present while Mrs. Julie Yeomans with her children and master Luers were enjoying fellowship in the next room]
- the agenda was presented and read.
- First order of business:
Vice President Pastor Latsch presented the resolution to accept St. James Lutheran Church of the Reformation of Laporte, Minnesota and Pastor Frank Loeffler of St. James Lutheran Church into full membership of the ILC. This was passed unanimously.
Congratulations to St. James Lutheran Church and to Pastor Loeffler and indeed to the ILC - May God continue to bless us all through each other by His strength and Truth amidst our small group.
- President Pastor Popp commented on the excellent preaching we had just heard that morning (by Pastor Sempert). "Expository preaching" makes it easy for people to follow the text and understand it. This, said he, is the best way to keep unity in our fellowship.
In conclusion, he said that we are a small body, but we have strength in God's True Word - this day and age, if you ask in the streets, most "so-called" Christians don't know what they believe because they are not taught the Word - and when they are given a bible, they never know which one they have and if it is God's Word! When they go to witness to people, they don't know what they are witnessing to. To be a true witness all we need is the [True] Word of God.
- The minutes of last year's conference were read to refresh everyone as to what business was in need of persual.
- Pastor Popp reports that the LRH recently received a letter from someone in Ireland; there is an Arkansas family that writes often; Pastor Loeffler and his congregation recently got the LRH onto a Bimidji, MN radio station; Pastor Popp's son is still in the process of converting the old LRH sermon tapes to CD.
[He asks that we] pray that he [Pastor Popp] can continue to do this work and that someone else [of our fellowship] can take it over someday.
- The Lutheran Theological Studies Center: Each pastor teaches students available to him at their own convenience - the materials being universal between all pastors. Students are taught how to use the materials to research the Bible to prepare for sermons and to find answers to any theological questions. Scripture itself is the basis for ALL study and all our other books are supported by and in support of God's True Word.
- An official THANK YOU was extended to those responsible for the delicious lunch that was catered in.
After the congregational reports and committee assignments, Pastor Latsch presented the first half of his paper on "The New Age Movement" (Printed below)
At 4:30, Pastor Popp read from I and II Timothy, then we closed the day's meeting with the Benediction.
--- 2nd day minutes ---
July 11, 2003
- For the day's opening devotion, we sang together Hymn 262 and took turns reading verse by verse Psalm 46.
- The Minutes from July 10 were read and passed as amended.
- Pastor Latsch presented the 2nd part of his paper on The New Age Movement. A motion was passed to print it in the ILC Journal.
After Committee meetings, resolutions, and discussion on missions, Pastor Finke presented part of his paper on Eschatology.
- A motion was made to hold the conventions in the last full week of June. This was passed unanimously.
The dates for next year' convention are set for:
Pastors: June 23 and
Pastors and Delegates: June 24 and 25 of 2004
St. James Lutheran Church in Laporte, Minnesota [was] volunteered to host the 2004 convention. (Alternate location - Our Savior's in Morris, IL)
Paper assignments for 2004 : Pastor Finke will try to continue his paper on Eschatology and Pastor Sempert will write on Christian Giving
It was moved and approved to retain all current officers.
A brief discussion about website features followed.
2nd Day session minutes were read and approved.
- The meeting closed with singing of hymn 263 and reading of Luke 12:22-32 followed by prayer and the Benediction.
________________________________________________________________
NOTE:
Pastor Loeffler reports that St. James Lutheran Church is happily looking forward to hosting the Summer 2004 ILC Convention. They wish to convey Christian Greetings to all the brethren and hope to see many in attendance on June (23) 24 and 25 of 2004. They look forward to sharing Christian fellowship with us, God willing, at that time. d.r.y.
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The New Age Movement
What is the "New Age Movement"? A common college dictionary defines it thus: "A contemporary cultural movement characterized by a concern with spiritual consciousness and variously combining belief in reincarnation and astrology with such practices as meditation, vegetarianism, and holistic medicine."1 Hence, the "New Age movement" may be classified as a rather loose-knit anti-Christian cult. In the first section of this paper, these definitions and the various properties of the "New Age Movement", hereafter abbreviated "NAM", will be examined. Section two of this paper will consider the effects of the NAM on society in general; section three will address the NAM's effects on some groups that call themselves Christian Churches; and in section four we will contemplate the response that true Christians are to have to the New Age Movement.
I. The New Age Movement defined in detail
The NAM is not a church denomination but is a belief system. The New Age Movement is actually not "new" in one respect: it's teachings are nothing but a revival of ancient heresies and thus the NAM is just one more religion of works. The NAM "is rooted in Eastern/occult mysticism and pantheistic monism. Theosophy, transcendentalism, and Spiritualism were forerunners... The New Age Movement is an informal network of cults and other groups that share the common belief in a coming 'New Age' of peace and enlightenment. The foundational belief is that all is One, and this One is God."2 The NAM is nothing more than a revival of ancient occultism. "It holds ties to Sumerian, Indian, Egyptian, Chaldean, Babylonian, and Persian religious practices."3
The Bible teaches that there is one true God, the Triune God– three distinct Persons and yet one divine essence, one Godhead: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." (1 John 5:7) "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one." (1 Corinthians 8:4) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19) "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD." (Deuteronomy 6:4) Contrary to Holy Scripture, the NAM views God as pantheistic; Pantheism – the belief that all is God – "denies the personality of God"4 and "destroys the personality of man, who becomes merely a part of the whole."5
Thus we see that the NAM is indeed an anti-Trinitarian, anti-Christian cult.
At this point we will consider the doctrines of the NAM from those who have declared themselves to be New Age writers. Earlier it was stated that people of the NAM practice spiritualism (the supposed communication with the spirits of the dead), which today also goes by the term "channeling". "The late Jane Roberts was used to channel a disembodied entity named Seth. This is a thumbnail sketch of Seth's concept of God: 'He is not one individual, but an energy gestalt... a psychic pyramid of interrelated, ever-expanding consciousness that creates, simultaneously and instantaneously, universes and individuals that are given – through the gift of personal perspective – duration, psychic comprehension, intelligence, and external validity. This absolute, ever-expanding, instantaneous psychic gestalt, which you may call God if you prefer, is so secure in its existence that it can constantly break itself down and rebuild itself.'"6
God's Word has something to say about Spiritualism and other occult practices: "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:19-20) "Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times... Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:26, 31)
Those who choose to ignore God and practice devilish arts (sorcery, witchcraft, spiritualism, channeling, seances, fortune tellers, Ouija boards, etc.) will bear the consequences, as we read in Galatians 5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Likewise, Revelation 21:8 declares: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Another NAM writer, Benjamin Creme, states: "In a sense there is no such thing as God, God does not exist. And in another sense, there is nothing else but God– only God exists... all is God. And because all is God, there is no God."7 The Bible answers in Psalm 14:1, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Mr. Creme and those like him will find out soon enough that there is a God when they must stand before Him on Judgment Day, as 2 Corinthians 5:10 relates: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
New Age writer David Spangler says of Christ: "What is the Christ? Within all life there exists a quality, an energy, which has as its basic characteristic irresistible growth, irresistible and inevitable expression of divinity... The Christ is the basic evolutionary force within creation... The true birth of Christ was not the birth of Jesus... Jesus was an ideal Jew, born in Bethlehem of Judea... Jesus differed but little from other children only that in past lives he had overcome carnal propensities to such an extent that he could be tempted like others and not yield... Jesus was a remarkable child, for by ages of strenuous preparation he was qualified to be an avatar, a saviour of the world, and from childhood he was endowed with superior wisdom and was conscious of the fact that he was competent to lead the raid into higher ways of spiritual living..."8 In the eyes of David Spangler and the NAM, Jesus is nothing more than "a saviour", one among many, a man who has gradually gotten better with each life he lived as he has been reincarnated many times. It is apparent that the NAM definitely has roots in the old religious system of Hinduism with it's doctrine of reincarnation and teaching that "...man is not outside, but part of Brahman"9 – Brahman being the Hindu name for God. In some ways, the NAM's idea of Jesus Christ reflects Islamic beliefs, for Islam views Jesus as a good man who "accomplished many wonderful miracles"10, and as just one of many prophets "although not as great as Muhammed"11.
Regarding reincarnation, the Holy Bible has this to say concerning any possibility of such a thing: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). Consider also the account of the rich man and Lazarus, Luke 16:19-31, "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Furthermore, it is totally anti-scriptural and ridiculous to believe that men can live or have lived other lives as animals, birds, insects and so forth because man has an immortal soul and animals do not, for Ecclesiastes 3:19-21 relates: "For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" So, the spirit of an animal is quite a different thing than man's spirit, hence no one should look at a cow and think that it's grandma.
The NAM belief system also includes the view that "all religions are true (universalism)"12, yet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ says: "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) There is ONLY ONE TRUE religion and that is the Christian religion! Yes, contrary to what the NAM teaches, Jesus is the ONLY Savior and Jesus IS TRUE GOD and TRUE MAN. Colossians 2:8-9 warns and instructs: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Philippians 3:20 informs us, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ", note well the Savior, not a Savior. Acts 4:12, speaking of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, declares: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." That is the fact: JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY SAVIOR from sin, death and the devil.
The disciples of the NAM also hold that "a new world order is coming"13. The followers of the NAM are looking for a coming era of worldly peace and prosperity also known as the "Age of Aquarius" as a somewhat popular song from years ago called it. New Age writers have put it this way: "The Aquarian Age is preeminently a spiritual age, and the spiritual side of the great lessons that Jesus gave to the world may now be comprehended by multitudes of people, for the many are now coming into the advanced stage of spiritual consciousness..."14. "As we enter into the new Age, what we are entering into is a cycle, a period of time, a period of unfoldment when truly humanity is the world initiate, the world savior, and ultimately it is upon the shoulders of humanity that the future and the translation for the entry into light of this planet rest... Its meaning as a new age is that for the first time in human history we have a chance to take up a conscious creative recognition of this fact and can begin acting upon it. Up to this time we have moved with evolution. Now comes the time to become the servants of evolution and through our own consciousness to release the light, the love, and the wisdom that will bring our renunciation of spiritual estate (i.e. an attitude of self-sacrifice, to 'give up the good order to get the best') to its fruition in the occult redemption of the world."15
The NAM, like millenialists, are looking for good-times, peace, and perfection in this sin-sick world, but the Bible tells us that this world will only grow worse and worse as the Day of Judgment approaches! "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
St. Matthew describes the "last days" thus: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other... But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Matthew 24:21-31; 37-39)
At the return and appearing of Jesus Christ comes the Judgment Day, which the Bible describes as follows: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world... Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels... And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:31-34; 41, 46)
There is a fire-storm coming soon upon this planet, as 2 Peter 3:10 relates: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." But we Christians await much better things, as Scripture informs us: "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13)
Having viewed the main tenets of the New Age Movement, we have plainly seen that the NAM offers another God, another Jesus, and another gospel than does the Christian religion. The NAM is DANGEROUS! In Holy Scripture the apostle Paul admonishes: "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Corinthians 11:3-4) "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-9)
The New Age Movement uses certain terminology that has crept into daily use in American vernacular, some of these terms have already been alluded to and others will be examined in the remaining sections of this paper. Some NAM terms are Christian terms that have been given a new and DIFFERENT meaning. The most common and familiar NAM terms are as follows16:
[A] Age of Aquarius (a period of 2000 to 2400 years of which will supposedly be characterized by a heightened degree of spiritual or cosmic consciousness) , Alpha (the physical body), Animism (the belief that inanimate things possess a soul or spirit), Aura (radiated glow or halo surrounding living beings), Avatar (a person who descends into human form from above as a manifestation of divinity)
[B] Bhagavad Gita (Hindu sacred scripture), Blood of Christ (... the "life-energy" of the Cosmic Christ), Buddha ("The Enlightened One", An avatar or messenger)
[C] Channeling (a New Age form of mediumship or spiritism), Chinook Learning Community (a New Age educational community located in the Pacific Northwest), Clairvoyance (ability to see mentally without using eyes), Control (the spirit that sends messages through a medium in a trance), Cosmic Christ (considered to be a universal spirit or a cosmic force... impersonal)
[D] Deja Vu ( the feeling of having already experienced and event or place that is being encountered for the first time)
[E] Esoteric Christianity (a mystical form of Christianity [?] that sees its 'core truth' as identical to the 'core truth' of every other religion [universalism]), Exoteric Christianity (a form of Christianity identified with historic or orthodox Christianity that New Agers would describe as being devoid of all spiritual authenticity), ESP (extrasensory perception encompassing paranormal abilities such as telepathy, precognition, and clairvoyance)
[F] Fall of Man (refers to the fall of man's consciousness... a fallen consciousness is one that recognizes the existence of only the material realm), Findhorn Community (New Age community located in the north of Scotland)
[G] Gaia (name for the goddess of the earth), Globalism (term referring to the need for a transformation from the present nation-state divisions into a one-world community [New World Order]), God (a being who has many faces... an impersonal force), Guru (teacher or master)
[H] Holistic Health (sees the body as an interrelated organism...its goal is to treat the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – as opposed to merely treating a particular sickness)
[I] Inner Self/Higher Self (refers to the inner divine nature [supposedly] possessed by human beings), Interdependence/Interconnectedness (describes the oneness and essential unity of everything in the universe)
[J] Jesus (an avatar [see avatar above])
[K] Karma (refers to the "debt" accumulated against a soul as a result of good or bad actions committed during one's life– or lives)
[L] Levitation (raising objects or people off the ground without using physical energy), Lucis Trust (originally incorporated as Lucifer Publishing Company)
[M] Medium (a psychic or sensitive living person whose body is used as a vehicle for communicating with spirits), Metaphysics (the science of the supernatural), Monism (a metaphysical theory that sees all of reality as a unified whole... made of the same stuff)
[N] Nirvana (liberation from earthly things; paradise), Numerology (the analysis of hidden or prophetic meanings of numbers), [New World Order (see One Worlders & Globalism)]
[O] Occultism (belief in supernatural forces and beings), Om (a word symbolizing Brahma, the Creator God), One Worlders (those who advocate the abolition of nations, working to hand over power to a single-world government [the New World order, Globalism]), Out-of-body-experience (leaving the physical body while at rest, asleep, near death, or temporarily dead)
[P] Pantheism (identifies God with the whole universe [all is God]), Paranormal (beyond or above normal human powers or senses), Paradigm Shift (refers to a shift in world views), Pentagram (five pointed star used in magical ceremonies... a Satanic symbol), Planetization (unifying the world into a corporate brotherhood), Psychic Energy (energy that enables people to do miracles)
[R] Reincarnation (refers to the [supposed] cyclical evolution of a person's soul as it repeatedly passes from one body to another), Retrocognition (knowledge of past events learned paranormally)
[S] Seance (a gathering of people seeking communication with deceased [persons] ...through a medium), Second Coming of Christ ( the coming of the Cosmic Christ in all of humanity [or] ... the appearance of Maitreya [a person who made his "appearance" in 1977] as the avatar of this age), Shaman (medicine man or witch doctor), Spirit Guide (a spiritual entity who provides information [we Christians recognize it as a devil]), Spiritualist or Spiritist (person who believes in the ability to contact departed souls), Syncretism (the attempt to combine differing religious systems [ecumenism, unionism])
[T] Taoism (Chinese religion and philosophy that sees the universe as engaged in ceaseless motion and activity... the process is described in terms of "yin" and "yang"), Tarot Cards (deck of seventy-eight cards that supposedly reveal the secrets of man and the universe), Telepathy (communication between minds by extrasensory means), Tetragram (a magic diagram shaped as a four-pointed star), Theosophy (a school of thought founded by Helena P. Blavatsky. The term literally means "divine wisdom". The goals of Theosophy are to: form a universal brotherhood; do comparative study of world religions, science, and philosophy; and, investigate the psychic and spiritual powers latent in man. Theosophy is the forerunner of much New Age thought), Third Eye (an imaginary eye in the forehead believed to be the center of psychic vision), Trance (mental state... during which the conscious mind rests while the spirit entity [devil] takes over the medium's body)
[U] UFO (unidentified flying object), Unity-in-Diversity Council (a New Age "meta-network" of over 100 networks and groups rallying for global cooperation and interdependence)
[V] Veda (the most ancient of the Hindu scriptures), Visualization (also known as "guided imagery"... basically refers to "mind over matter"... the attempt to bring about change in the material realm by the power of the mind)
[W] Warlock (wizard or sorcerer; a male witch), World Goodwill (a New Age political lobby)
[Y] Yin/Yang (Chinese names referring to the active and passive principals of the universe. "Yin" refers to the female or inactive, negative force; "Yang" refers to the male of active force. These two forces [are said to] continually interplay with each other. The words are used to describe the constant flow of motion and change in the universe– the "Tao"), Yoga (a means of becoming united with the supreme being or with the universal soul), Yogi (someone who practices yoga)
Note to the reader: To help with your understanding, the preceding NAM terms and definitions may be referred to as you continue reading this paper.
Now that the NAM has been defined in detail as to its roots, teachings, and terminology, we will proceed with part two:
II. The New Age Movement's effects on society in general
The NAM has affected the schools in our country– public and private. Christian moral values have been removed from the majority of textbooks used in today's schools. So-called "values clarification" is being taught in the classroom: "Values clarification was pioneered by Louis E. Raths and Sidney B. Simon. The goal of values clarification is to involve students in practical experiences, making them aware of their own feelings, their own ideas, their own beliefs, so that the choices and decisions they make are conscious and deliberate, based on their own value systems."17 In response to the idea of "values clarification", Richard A. Baer wrote in the Wall Street Journal, April 12, 1982, "...If parents object to their children using pot or engaging in premarital sex, the theory behind values clarification makes it appropriate for the child to respond, 'But that's just your value judgment. Don't force it on me.'"18
Values clarification is indeed being taught in America's schools today! For example, so-called safe-sex is taught instead of the Biblical rule of no sex outside of marriage. The Bible says, "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4) Additionally, students are being instructed to view homosexuality or lesbianism as an acceptable alternative lifestyle, rather than being taught that such things are unnatural and sinful. Holy Writ states: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you." (Leviticus 18:22-24) "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Children and young adults are continually being taught to look to themselves with self-worth, self-esteem, and self-glorification. "In a Los Angeles public school classroom, 25 first graders lie still as their teacher tells them to imagine they are perfect beings who are full of light and who contain all the wisdom of the universe within them. This exercise in guided imagery is part of educator Beverly Galyean's curriculum... and reflects her belief that we all are God."19 Meditation – in the Eastern sense of the word – is also being taught in classrooms these days, that is, the emptying of the mind. "One book that made its way into a California school district is entitled Meditating With Children: The Art of Concentrating and Centering, by Deborah Rozman."20 Globalism is being taught in schools as well; the periodical 'Social Education', February 1983 issue, stated in an article entitled 'Global Issues in the Intermediate School': "Most educators agree that children should be introduced to global perspectives as early as possible, certainly before the onset of puberty when ethnocentrism and stereotypical thinking tend to increase dramatically."21 Holy Scripture gives us the only true view of "self": "...GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5) "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) The Bible also has something to say about "Globalism"– the idea of one, big, tolerant, happy society of peace and prosperity on this earth: "There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked." (Isaiah 48:22) "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
Then there is the New Age practice of "yoga" which has become popular in many health clubs and also in schools; many American citizens are unaware of what yoga is and what its roots are– Yoga is distinctly Hindu in origin. Hinduism is one of the world's major religions especially popular in India. "Hinduism gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Many cults and sects in America, including New Age Philosophy, are based on Hindu doctrines".22 Yoga is defined as: "The Hindu path of union with the divine. Any sort of exercise (physical, mental, or spiritual) which promotes one's journey to union with Brahma."23
A still more detailed description of Yoga is: "Background is Hinduism. The practice of yoga, with its various postures and exercises, [supposedly] leads man to self-liberation and god-realization. The purpose of all yoga is to unite man with the Cosmic Consciousness, or that spark of divinity that each [supposedly] possesses. Teaches reincarnation. There are four [main] forms of yoga: (1) Karma Yoga teaches spiritual union by right conduct; (2) Bhakti Yoga teaches union with the Absolute by devotion to a guru; (3) Juana Yoga teaches access to God through knowledge; and (4) Raja Yoga teaches god-realization through mental control. The most familiar in the West is Hatha Yoga, a subdivision of Raja Yoga. Its eight stages are: body purification, postures, postures to produce psychic energy, breath control, stilling the mind, concentration, meditation, and union with God. Sacred writing is the Upanishads and other Hindu Vedic scriptures."24 Consequently, it is obvious that yoga is not simply an exercise program of physical fitness, but yoga is unchristian because it teaches people to seek God and peace by their own works, to look within themselves to find God, and to study Hindu writings rather than the Holy Bible.
God's true Word appropriately comments regarding "finding peace", "self esteem", "meditation", "yoga exercises", the "Hindu scriptures", and the like, as follows:
(1) "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation." (1 Timothy 4:7-9) All the bodily exercise and breathing exercises in the world won't save a soul or bring anyone closer to God!
(2) "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works." (Psalm 73:26-28) Trust in the true Triune God brings eternal benefits for He is forever strong; on the other hand, our bodies and hearts will fail us.
(3) "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) The only kinds of worthwhile meditation are study of God's Word, prayer, and other Biblically prescribed acts of worship to the true God, Who gives us real peace in Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord!
(4) "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:8-10) If a person really wants to be close to God then one must repent of his or her sins and approach the Lord in humble, sincere faith! Holy Writ plainly declares: "...The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel... He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 1:15; 16:16) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
The NAM is also having an effect on government and politics. New Agers are trying to force their teaching of Globalism into government through political lobbies and by seeking to elect politicians that share their views. "New Agers are working toward a centralizing of power on a global level... New Age political methodology... is both outwardly aggressive and quietly subtle in its penetration of society."25 The truth of the matter can be seen if we consider some of the names of some rather well-known New Age Groups which one hears mentioned in the News media fairly regularly: The Green Party, Greenpeace U.S.A., Planetary Citizens, and The Unity-in-Diversity Counsel. More than one of our nation's leaders has used the term "New World Order" to describe their hopes for a united, peaceful planet, so it is evident that the NAM's political agenda has spread far and wide. "New Agers may differ over such questions as when the New Age begins, whether it will be preceded by a worldwide cataclysm, how it will be politically structured, whether there will be a Christ-figure governing it, or who the true avatars [god-men] or messengers from the spirit world are. Nonetheless, they agree that they can hasten the new order that they all await by cooperating to influence developments in our culture's political, economic, social, and spiritual life."26
The Bible informs us that society on this present earth will never improve to the point where all men become socially and economically equal, and complete worldly peace is realized: "For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always." (Mark 14:7) Thus, we see that social and economic inequality will always be in this world. "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" (James 4:1) As long as sinful lust remains in man there will be wars and fighting, not peace and tranquility! The Lord Jesus tells us: "...in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) We Christians can rejoice because we have real inner peace in Jesus, even though we know that in this world there is only unrest.
The NAM has made many inroads into health care services and medicine. Clinics and hospitals can be found throughout the country which promote "holistic health". Holistic health is based on the principal of "holism" – "the view that an organic or integrated whole has an independent reality which cannot be understood simply through and understanding of its parts"27 Consequently, holistic health "...Generally refers to health care that involves the whole person. Health is viewed as more than the absence of disease. Individuals are held responsible for their own health or sickness and are referred to as clients. People are viewed more as energy than as matter. Natural forms of healing are promoted rather than drugs and surgery; there is a disdain for conventional medicine. Tools and practices include acupressure, acupuncture, applied kinesiology, aromatherapy, Ayurveda, bioenergetic analysis, biofeedback, body-work therapies, channeling, chromotherapy, crystal therapy, do'in, functional integration, guided imagery, homeopathy, iridology, macrobiotics, mandala drawing, nutritional therapy, orgonomy, polarity therapy, psychic healing, reflexology, Reiki, rolfing, shiatsu, Therapeutic Touch, Transcendental Meditation, visualization, yoga, and zone therapy. Some chiropractics and osteopaths (though certainly not all) provide some of these alternative therapies..."28 Most of us will certainly recognize a few of the healing methods mentioned in the preceding quote as being practiced by some in our local medical communities. Holistic health fails to recognize sin as the cause for all of man's ills, and fails to recognize the Lord God as the only true healer of man's physical and spiritual sicknesses. It is also true that much of the traditional medical community also does not recognize man's sin as the root cause of ill health, nor does it recognize the true God as the Great Physician. Nevertheless, traditional medicine does not propound the pagan spiritual exercises that holistic health does.
The Holy Bible encourages prayer and application of medicine to the sick, as we read in James 5:14-15, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." Whether the medicines used are prescription drugs or herbal based remedies, we must always remember that ultimately all healing comes from the Lord, as Psalm 103:2-3 informs us: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases."
Having examined some of the NAM's effects on society in general – in education, politics, and health care, we will proceed with part three
[in the next issue]:
m.e.l
Bibliography [thus far]
1) Webster's New World College Dictionary, fourth edition, Macmillan USA; dictionary editorial offices, Cleveland OH
2) A Concise Dictionary of Cults & Religions, by William Watson, pg.162; Moody Press, Chicago IL
3) The New Age Cult, by Walter Martin, pg.15; Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis MN
4) Lutheran Cyclopedia, edited by Erwin L. Luecker, pg.599; Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis MO
5) ibid.
6) The Seth Material, by Jane Roberts, pp.237-238; Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs NJ (quoted in The New Age Cult, pp.25-26)
7) The Reappearance of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom, by Benjamin Creme, pg. 110; the Tara Press, London England (quoted in The New Age Cult, pg.26)
8) Reflections on the Christ, by David Spangler, pg. 13; Findhorn Publications, Moray, Scotland (quoted in The New Age Cult, pg.27)
9) Handbook of Today's Religions, by Josh McDowell & Don Stewart, pg.283; Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville TN
10) ibid. pg.395
11) ibid. pg.394
12) A Concise Dictionary of Cults & Religions, pg.162
13) ibid.
14) The Reappearance, Bailey, pp.116-117, (quoted in The New Age Cult, pg.33)
15) The New Age Cult, pg.34
16) Taken from "A New Age Glossary", pp.123-136, (as found in the book, "The New Age Cult")
17) The New Age Cult, pg.60
18) ibid. pg.61
19) Moody Monthly, Douglas Groothius, pg.20, vol.85, Feb.1985 (quoted in The New Age Cult, pg.58)
20) The New Age Cult, pg.61
21) ibid.
22) A Concise Dictionary of Cults & Religions, pg.111
23) Handbook of Today's Religions, pg.295
24) A Concise Dictionary of Cults and Religions, pg.260-261
25) The New Age Cult, pg.64-65
26) The New Age Movement: What is it?, by Elliot Miller, Forward Summer 1985, pg.18 (quoted in The New Age Cult, pg.68)
27) Webster's New World College Dictionary
28) The New Age Cult, pg.112
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Parts 3 and 4 of this paper will be featured in the next Journal issue. It is advised that the reader retain this issue in a handy location because it may be beneficial to refer to the "New Age Terms Glossary" for definitions of some terms used in the next sections.
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Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
(Psalm 119:160-162)
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