New Age Spiritualism Part 1

Is New Age spiritualism in our churches today?

Romans 12:2 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good,

well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

        The direction that the church on this earth is taking today is concerning. We are seeing a greater reliance on pop psychology and gimmicks in the teaching in our churches. New Age spiritualism ideas are creeping into our churches under the guise of Christianity. All this serving to take the church in the direction of the One World Church which is the enemy of Christ in Revelations.
        As the church takes on more characteristics of the secular world we are losing more of what makes the church different in the world. The Ecumenical Movement is a plan to bring all churches together in a common belief system, but completely ignores the fact that to bring different beliefs together we have to compromise our beliefs to get along with others.
       While many of the churches may be very similar and compatible many clearly are not. The over riding idea is that compromise with other belief systems is more important than God’s word and standing firm on it. God’s word tells us to be firm in the word:

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with 
all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be
turned unto fables.  2 Timothy 4:2-4  

           Almost every denomination is giving in to some degree to the One World Church, and the leading theme is under the misguided idea of everyone getting along is more important than God’s word. We
are in the end times and scriptures tell us to watch for “false prophets” and “doctrines of devils that will deceive many, don’t be one of them, know your bible.
        As churches are becoming desperate for numbers in the pews and revenue they are looking to an ever widening way to get people to enter the doors of their church. There is a misconception in the world that you have to be big to be successful, and the church has started buying into this secular view. When we start believing that people are more important than strict word of God, we are in trouble.
       When we hesitate or even refrain from preaching the world of God because it might offend someone we are taking liberty were non was given. In other words putting our own understanding above God’s, and this fits with the beliefs of the New Age movement turns everyone into gods.
       We can’t widen the gate to heaven that’s up to God:

Matthew 7:13-14Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the
way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because
strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it.

           New curriculum, advertising, and a never ending string of new teaching programs that promise to put God back in the church, all leads the church further from God. All of them use the theme of bringing more people to Christ, which are what the scriptures tell us to do, but in God's way not ours. In reality all they are doing is distracting us from the real problems facing the church and make us look busy and successful while we run in circles. We end up accomplishing nothing and God knows it

Matthew 7:15-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name
done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

Matthew 5:13Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out,
and to be trodden under foot of men.  

          All the while we chasing one new program or another we  are not addressing the real reason for the churches failing. As salt of the earth we are to season others, but if we become slowly like them and there is no longer any difference between the church and the world what have we?

1 Corinthians 6:9-10Know 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.

           Scriptures say that in the last days there will be a falling away from the church, which is where we are at today. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do something about it, but we need to be careful what we are willing to sacrifice to achieve our goals.

Give no belief to false words: because there will first be a falling away from the faith,
and the revelation of the man of sin, the son of destruction,
(BBE) 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Let not any one deceive you in any manner, because it will not be unless the
apostasy have first come, and the man of sin have been revealed, the son of
perdition;  (DBY) 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there
come afalling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
(KJV) 2 Thessalonians 2:3

The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils... 1 Timothy 4:1

       Doctrines of devils, we wouldn’t of been warned of this unless the teachings in the churches were going to be corrupted by the enemy. There will be leaders in the church that are not leading us to God but away from God. They may have even fooled themselves and believe in what they are doing, even show a misguided passion for Christ. We are in a world that believes less and less that there is right and wrong (New Age), no black or white, everything is acceptable (this is against what the bible tells us) and that everyone has the right to conduct themselves in different situations as they see fit.
        We are being taught that we need change the way that the church is, to focus on the felt needs and feelings of the unbelievers, to make everyone comfortable. I don’t know about you but the Holy Spirit makes me feel very uncomfortable when I need to change something and uses ministers and others to speak this message.
      To focus on ourselves and our needs is exactly what secular psychology and many cults tells us, which is contrary to the bible. But today we hear it from thousands of pulpits every Sunday. The bible tells us to deny ourselves and focus on God, not to focus on ourselves and feel sorry for ourselves. We are changing everything the bible has taught us and saying that the bible (or God?) is out of touch with the people in this new culture of today, so we need to change the way we do church, we no longer have to discipline ourselves instead lets just change the bible.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is
wise.  Proverbs 12:15

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of
death.Proverbs 16:25

Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3

            I think you can see where our desire to get people through the doors is going. Jesus instructed his disciples to shake the sand from their sandals and leave any town that did not want to hear the word, Jesus did not tell them to use gimmicks or our imaginations to persuade people to listen

8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:⁹ And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.¹⁰ But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,¹¹ Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.¹² But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Luke 10:8-12

         We are thinking that God didn’t do it quit right and now we have to change the word so that others will listen. God did do it right and this is not the first time that people have turned away from the word, Noah’s time was just like now, only difference Noah didn’t think he was smarter than God and he didn’t change the word to be more appealing to people.

24 for as the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other part under the, sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day.25But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation 26 As it happened in the days of Noah even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man. Luke 17:24-26

       Over the decades we have become less and less reliant on God, and more reliant on money and secular organizations. This has served to weaken our faith, as our faith weakens we started looking elsewhere for the answers. Many have gone to different belief systems and Christians have started taking cues from the secular corporate world to grow their churches. This includes manipulative advertising and self help books which are exploding in the churches and some churches are even making these teachings of man the foundations of the church..
       Imagine basing your church on a book other than the Word of God. Rick Warren (The Purpose Driven Church) mixes New Age spirituality with pop psychology, endless programs and biblical beliefs to promote the church and to guide the church in a healthier direction. But if you read closely, it leads the church away from God and straight to the One World Church. No matter how you look at it, this just waters down God’s word. Seeker churches like these are nothing new but the mixture of New Age beliefs and psychology makes these books appealing, this is the age of easy believism. As Rick Warren stated in his seminar:

“Read Scripture from a newer translation. And as you read that Scripture, realize that you're trying to pick out Scriptures that appeal especially to baby boomers. And try to find Scriptures that specifically relate to the benefits that Christ can bring into a person's life. They've never heard the Scripture before, so try to pick positive Scriptures that talk about the benefits of Christ... you want to pick out Scriptures that are very positive.” Rick Warren

      Picking and choosing what to preach from the bible and what not to preach was never mentioned anywhere in my bible. Reading only positive messages and verses does not communicate the true intent of God’s word. How can someone even know God when they are never told who he really is, but instead told of a make believe God the we would rather He be.
       Christ had John the baptist paving the way for the new message, Satan always copies what Christ did and I believe that Rick Warren is John the Baptist for the Antichrist.  I consider Rick the new John the Baptist for the Antichrist, preparing the world for the one world church, paving the way for the "new message".
       Jesus's messages could very well of been said today to be negative, but Jesus wasn’t trying to please us He was trying to save us. In order for a positive only message to be preached vitally important texts dealing specifically with the church's doctrine, message and ministry must be ignored or redefined.

…and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Acts20:28-31

[Hold] fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers [those who contradict or speak against the truth of God]. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped....Titus 1:9-11