I have heard of the New Age Movement; some people call it universalism or unitarianism. This note will speak of how this movement is contrary to Christianity. I have a new life in Christ and I have a responsibility to speak with my friends and family about the glory of the gospel.
Revelation.
New Agers believe divine revelation has been expressed not only in Christianity, but also in other religions including: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism. Such a claims contradicts the facts. Consider the doctrines of God. The Bible teaches of the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Qur'an denies the trinity, the Hindu Vedas teach pantheism and polytheism, Zoroastrianism teaches religious dualism, and Buddhist writing teach that God is essentially is irrevelant. Since God is the most fundamental doctrine of any religious system, the claim that these religions teach the same "core truths" is a false claim. Christianity is exclusivistic at its core. Jesus said he is uniquely and exclusivley humanity's only means of coming into a relationship with God.
( Jesus said to him" I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6)
His excelusivity caused him to warn against false teachers who contradict his teachings.
God.
New Agers hold on to a pantheistic, impersonal view of God.
A. God is a personal being who hears (Ex: 2:24)
(And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham with Isaac, and with Jacob.)
B.God is a personal being who sees. (Gen. 1:4)
(And God saw that the light was good. And God seperated the light from the darkness.)
C. God is a personal being who knows. (2 Tim. 2 :19)
(But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: The Lord knows who are his, and let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart in iniquity.)
D. God is a personal being who has a will. (1 John 2:17)
(And the world is passing away long with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.)
E. God is a personal being who communicates. (Ex. 3:14-15)
(God said to Moses," I AM WHO I AM."..."Say this is to the people of Israel,'The Lord has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.)
F. God is a personal being who plans. (Eph. 1:11)
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been presdestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.
G. God is a personal being who expresses emotion. (Gen 6:6)
(And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him to his heart.)
Jesus Christ
New Agers claim that Jesus was a human vessel who, as an adult, embodied the Christ or attained enlightenment. Jesus is viewed as the prototype for the rest of humanity, since all people can embody the Christ. However, Jesus did not become the Christ, for he was and always will be the one and only Christ from the beginning. Jesus even made his identity as the primary issue of faith on at least two different occasions. (Matt 16: 13-20 and John 11: 25-27) When Jesus was acknowledge as the Christ he did not say to people that "you, too, have the Christ within you"; however he warned that other would come falsely claiming to be the Christ. (Matt 24:4-5 23-24)
Humankind
New Agers hold that human beings are God and therefore have unlimited potential. if this were true one would expect humans to have the same attributes as God.
God is all knowing while man is limited in knowledge. (Heb 4:13)
God is all powerful while man is weak in power. (Job 38:4)
God is holy whereas we as humans have fallen and are as filthy garments before God. (1 John 1:5)
This illustrates the affirmation by Paul in Romans 3:23 stating that "for all fall short of the glory of God."
Humans are mere finite creatures and have fallen in sin.
Sin and Salvation
New Agers say humans do not have a sin problem but an ignorance problem. All they need is enlightenment regarding their divinity. Then through reincarnation, the human soul can eventually reach a state of perfection and merge back with its source (the pantheistic God).
Christian morality begins with a personal God who makes moral requirements of his creatures. WHile moral terms like right and wrong may not have an relevance to a impersonal, pantheistic god, they do have relevance to the God of the Bible, who calls us to obey his moral commandments (Ex. 19:5 John 14:21). Because humans have failed to do this, they stand guilty before God. (Isa. 53:6)
Jesus did not teach that humans have an ignorance problem, but a grave sin problem that is altogether beyond their means to solve (Mark 7:20-23; Rom 3:23/6:23). He also taught that salvation is found not by enlightenment but by placing faith in him who is the Light of the world. Trusting reincarnation will not suffice, for scripture affirms that each person lives once, dies once, and then faces judgement. (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:11-15) There are no second chances following death.
These movements can't be considered a valid Christian denomination because they deviate from the gospel. By believing in such docterines demonstrates the incompability of trusting in Jesus Christ for your salvation that comes from God's grace alone.
Revelation.
New Agers believe divine revelation has been expressed not only in Christianity, but also in other religions including: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism. Such a claims contradicts the facts. Consider the doctrines of God. The Bible teaches of the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Qur'an denies the trinity, the Hindu Vedas teach pantheism and polytheism, Zoroastrianism teaches religious dualism, and Buddhist writing teach that God is essentially is irrevelant. Since God is the most fundamental doctrine of any religious system, the claim that these religions teach the same "core truths" is a false claim. Christianity is exclusivistic at its core. Jesus said he is uniquely and exclusivley humanity's only means of coming into a relationship with God.
( Jesus said to him" I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6)
His excelusivity caused him to warn against false teachers who contradict his teachings.
God.
New Agers hold on to a pantheistic, impersonal view of God.
A. God is a personal being who hears (Ex: 2:24)
(And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham with Isaac, and with Jacob.)
B.God is a personal being who sees. (Gen. 1:4)
(And God saw that the light was good. And God seperated the light from the darkness.)
C. God is a personal being who knows. (2 Tim. 2 :19)
(But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: The Lord knows who are his, and let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart in iniquity.)
D. God is a personal being who has a will. (1 John 2:17)
(And the world is passing away long with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.)
E. God is a personal being who communicates. (Ex. 3:14-15)
(God said to Moses," I AM WHO I AM."..."Say this is to the people of Israel,'The Lord has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.)
F. God is a personal being who plans. (Eph. 1:11)
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been presdestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.
G. God is a personal being who expresses emotion. (Gen 6:6)
(And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him to his heart.)
Jesus Christ
New Agers claim that Jesus was a human vessel who, as an adult, embodied the Christ or attained enlightenment. Jesus is viewed as the prototype for the rest of humanity, since all people can embody the Christ. However, Jesus did not become the Christ, for he was and always will be the one and only Christ from the beginning. Jesus even made his identity as the primary issue of faith on at least two different occasions. (Matt 16: 13-20 and John 11: 25-27) When Jesus was acknowledge as the Christ he did not say to people that "you, too, have the Christ within you"; however he warned that other would come falsely claiming to be the Christ. (Matt 24:4-5 23-24)
Humankind
New Agers hold that human beings are God and therefore have unlimited potential. if this were true one would expect humans to have the same attributes as God.
God is all knowing while man is limited in knowledge. (Heb 4:13)
God is all powerful while man is weak in power. (Job 38:4)
God is holy whereas we as humans have fallen and are as filthy garments before God. (1 John 1:5)
This illustrates the affirmation by Paul in Romans 3:23 stating that "for all fall short of the glory of God."
Humans are mere finite creatures and have fallen in sin.
Sin and Salvation
New Agers say humans do not have a sin problem but an ignorance problem. All they need is enlightenment regarding their divinity. Then through reincarnation, the human soul can eventually reach a state of perfection and merge back with its source (the pantheistic God).
Christian morality begins with a personal God who makes moral requirements of his creatures. WHile moral terms like right and wrong may not have an relevance to a impersonal, pantheistic god, they do have relevance to the God of the Bible, who calls us to obey his moral commandments (Ex. 19:5 John 14:21). Because humans have failed to do this, they stand guilty before God. (Isa. 53:6)
Jesus did not teach that humans have an ignorance problem, but a grave sin problem that is altogether beyond their means to solve (Mark 7:20-23; Rom 3:23/6:23). He also taught that salvation is found not by enlightenment but by placing faith in him who is the Light of the world. Trusting reincarnation will not suffice, for scripture affirms that each person lives once, dies once, and then faces judgement. (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:11-15) There are no second chances following death.
These movements can't be considered a valid Christian denomination because they deviate from the gospel. By believing in such docterines demonstrates the incompability of trusting in Jesus Christ for your salvation that comes from God's grace alone.
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