Subscribe for weekly updates on Wanda’s newest content & get 20% off your first purchase in the bookstore
With rising concerns about new age beliefs and practices influencing the Christian Church, how can we be assured that our spiritual experiences are scripturally sound and Christ honoring? How can we tell if a supernatural manifestation is legitimate or leading us astray?
I would like to offer six main differences between a Christian’s understanding of spiritual realities and someone engaged in New Age practices. Though this list is by no means exhaustive, it may be a launching pad for further study, reflection, and prayer.
If we as the Church do not offer this next generation clarity and guidance regarding the supernatural realm and spiritual gifts, they will simply look elsewhere. And the enemy will take full advantage and offer them countless counterfeit opportunities that will only lead to destruction. Let’s pray we can keep an open mind and open heart as we seek to grow in our understanding of realms unseen.
1] UNDERSTANDING OF DIVINITY AND HUMAN NATURE
New Age: Those involved in new age practices do not acknowledge any divine Being, but rather see divinity in all of creation, including humans. Their path to fulfillment is to realize the full potential of divinity within themselves and create their own version of reality through their thoughts and practices.
Christian: Believe in one omnipotent, omnipresent, Creator God who is distinct from all other gods and altogether holy. He created us in His own image and longs to have relationship with us. We are born into sin because of The Fall, and yet God has created a way back into fellowship with Him through believing in His Son, Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 44:6, Revelation 1:8, Ephesians 2:8-10)
2] SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL POWER AND AUTHORITY
New Age: Views the source of spiritual power as an impersonal, cosmic energy or consciousness that all can tap into through various practices. Power comes, not from any God of authority, but from within each human being as they align with the powers of the universe.
Christian: All spiritual gifts and power come from the one true God who is both personal and eternal. Humans have no power or authority on their own, but receive the power of the risen Christ through surrender and obedience to God the Father. This is not earned, but given as a free gift. (James 4:7, Ephesians 1:19-21, Galatians 2:20)
3] FEEDING FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OR THE TREE OF LIFE
New Age: Look to the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because knowledge is power. The more enlightenment one receives, the higher spiritual dimensions can be reached. The more one knows, the more satisfaction and life one can find. Pursuit is focused on gaining more understanding in how the universe works so that life and peace can be achieved.
Christian: Life and happiness can only be found in obedience to God’s Word and submission to His ways. The need to know or understood always yields to the greater value of trusting in a Father who gives us life. This is achieved, not by human effort, but by grace and faith in the power of Christ. (Proverbs 3:5-7, John 8:31-32)
4] PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICES AND EXPERIENCES
New Age: Emphasizes personal experience and human intuition as primary sources of truth. Spiritual experiences help to achieve greater cosmic consciousness such as using spirit guides or entering into altered states of consciousness. Experiences are for the purpose of gaining more enlightenment. Helping others may be a by-product, but is generally not the primary reason for pursuit.
Christian: Spiritual experiences are meaningful when properly approached, interpreted, and applied using the Word of God as the anchor of all truth. Experiences can serve to compliment and confirm what God’s Word has already revealed, and should never be the primary means of guidance, direction, or focus. Our pursuit is first in knowing Jesus, and then making Him known to others. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12, 1 Samuel 28, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Peter 1:15-16)
5] UNDERSTANDING OF EVIL AND SPIRITUAL CONFLICT
New Age: Views suffering and negativity as the lack of understanding or misaligned energy – not because of sin or “evil.” There is no “Satan,” and no need for a Savior. Thus, any conflict is the result of focusing on negative things instead of positive.
Christian: Death, suffering, evil, and pain are the consequences of sin. There is a real devil and he seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. We are instructed to be victors over the enemy and the works of darkness through the power of the cross and the blood of Jesus. (Ephesians 6:12, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Acts 26:17-18)
6] PATH TO SALVATION AND TRANSFORMATION
New Age: Salvation is achieved through self-awareness and spiritual enlightenment. It is the realization of one’s own divinity through personal effort.
Christian: Salvation is a gift of grace from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ, and cannot be earned by human works. (Romans 6:23, Titus 3:4-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
Summation regarding these two different approaches to supernatural experiences:
Â
Conclusion (thus far!): I believe that any spiritual or supernatural experience will only be properly understood when we embrace God’s Word as our anchor and foundation. Subjective spiritual experiences may not always be proven by a specific scripture. Even so, we must make our pursuit of Jesus and knowing His Word as the highest priority, not having spiritual encounters or experiences. If we can keep Jesus central – to know Him, and make Him known – I believe God can use these experiences to mature us in our faith and deepen our love for Him and others.Â
These are merely a few considerations on this extensive topic. What would YOU add to the conversation?
Do YOU have a testimony of an unusual God encounter? Share in the comments below!Â
Subscribe for weekly updates on Wanda's newest content & get 20% off your first purchase in the bookstore
11 Responses
People need to hear the word of God preached , no frills, holy spirit led. Im tired of some bible studies in which the bible is made out to bd some nutty womans jazzed up spin on it, trying to be cute and appeal to unsaved people.it stinks! Tje word of god preached in africa, by reinhardt bonnke one of my favorites, raised a man from the dead.his wife had him brought in a casket in tje basdmdnt.
Margaret – Is this what you think of my article – that it’s some “nutty woman’s jazzed up spin” on things? I agree on the power of preaching the Word, but have you considered how many supernatural elements are listed throughout Scripture as a means of bringing people closer to God?
Wanda, I wonder when Margaret makes the statement,“nutty woman’s jazzed up spin”, is she referring to authors of women’s Bible studies who have gone off the rails such as Joyce Meyer and Beth Moore?
YOU are not one of these nutty women!
Keep up the faithful work you are doing for the Lord đź’Ś
Back story- I spent 3 years getting sick until I finally was thinking I was going to die. The doctors said everything from “I’ve gained weight to I’m basically lazy, to there is nothing wrong that they can find” Well, My husband said that wasn’t good enough, made me make one last appointment after “encouraging” them to test me for everything, they found I had gastero issues and Celiac disease.
I believe now, its been five or six years later. After I had been to an immersion service at our church, several days to possibly a couple weeks. I’m not sure looking back, I heard audibly, whether it was in my head or not, That “I was not diseased but I was being poisoned”. So I did some research on the subject of wheat and its growing and harvesting process, to come to realize everyone is being poisoned who eats wheat. Now, I’m sure it isn’t gluten making me sick, but glyphosate. They add it to GMO seeds, to the wheat itself. So I stepped out in faith and ordered wheat from Italy, but my husband kept saying, wait to make something until no ones going to be here, in case I get sick.. I didn’t find that I was being very faithful waiting for no one to be around in the case that I got sick, so I just made it one day and NO pain, No sickness, None of the awful side effects. No joint pain, which made life horrible, No sleeping for weeks on end.. My body was healed, and able to eat normally again. I just had to make everything myself at home. I thank God often for this miraculous understanding.
I’ve heard the same about coffee. Someone here in Ireland was gastro suffering but when he went to Italy he was fine. He found the coffee there less bitter. The Italians said many European countries burn the coffee beans. So now he only buys Italian coffee and he’s fine. Gastro gone.
Thank you for this capsulized listing of the subject differences. i have understood New Age as practices such as tarot readings, crystals, etc., but have not understood the philosophical beliefs. Perhaps an encapsulated listing of the differences between New Thought and Christianity would be equally helpful, as that can and does masquerade as true faith in many churches, especially in what are referred to as new apostolic reformation and progressive Christian churches.
But how can we know Christ and the God of the Bible if we are not diligentlyl seeking Him in His Word? Most of today’s christians are Bible-illiterate. The jesus and the god of churchianity is far, far, far different from the God of the Bible. Hence all the “hooey” we see in these apostate, silly doctrines.
BTW, it’s wonderful to see Mrs. Alger, as one of the FEW OUT THERE, teaching that we really NEED to be in the Word of God. It mystifies me that so few christians bother to read, reread, and study their Bibles. We probably should be doing this, Genesis to Revelation, every year. Jesus IS THE WORD of God. Jn 1:1. Jesus said that His Words are Spirit and Life. Jn 6:63. If we are not diligently seeking Him in His Word, will we find Him? Unlikely. Heb 11:6, Jer 29:13.
Jesus said that IF we continue in the Word, then He can save us OUT of slavery to sin. Jn 8:31-36. That’s the promise also of the New Covenant. Heb 8:81-3, 13:20-21, Jer. 31:31-34, Eze 36:25-27. Modern day churchianity focuses on experiences and a bunch of emotional silliness that probably only appeals to “silly women laden with sins” (1 Tim 3:6). Unless we allow God’s miraculous Grace to teach us how to stop sinning (Titus 2:11-12), via His Holy Spirit in us, we will not make it to the Kingdom of God.
Consider another thing: Faith comes by hearing. But hearing comes from the Word of God! Rom 10:17. If we are not in the Word, God is probably not speaking to us. How can we know if it’s Him speaking to us in our spirits, unless we know Him and His Word???? It can be any other spirit speaking. Jesus once noted that most of the Jews around Him were blind, deaf, without understanding, uncoverted, and He was unable to heal (save) them. Mt. 13:13-15. we need the Word daily. Not just a devotional verse or two each day. But the entire story of God’s relationship with mankind, Old and New Testaments. We will see patterns that will teach us Who God truly is. And what He expects from His children.
Good word, Sarah! The major way to recognize the false is to know the TRUE. Many believers are weak in their faith simply because they don’t take the time to read the Word like a good meal. They only snack on it every once in a while:-). Once we establish the Word of God IN us, there won’t be near as many questions concerning what is true or what is false.
Ditto, what Jean mentioned above.
There is a difference between “new age” and “new thought.” Many today, even believers, are being caught up in “new thought” without recognizing it. New Age is pretty easy to spot, New Thought, not so much. As some have said, neither one is new, and they do have some overlap and both are rooted in gnosticism. Do a search “new age vs new thought.”
Hmmm I’ve never heard of “new thought”, I will have to look into that but would love your thoughts on that Wanda. Thanks in advance.