Mysticism and New Age may be One and the Same

The Evangelistic strategy of Satan and his demons

These comments are centered in our view of Dispensational Eschatology. The church movements into mysticism are many but centered in the evangelistic strategy of Satan in Genesis 3 (four lies):

1. You will be like God (Pantheism)
2. You surely shall not die (Reincarnationism)
3. You will know good and evil (Relativism)
4. Your eyes will be opened (Esotericism)
   

Almost all such movements within the so-called Christian sphere can be summarized under the general category of one movement: The New Age Movement. They are not the same, but share elements of the above. What is the bottom line in these four spiritual flaws? It is the self-sufficiency of mankind, the belief that the source of all reality exists in the human mind. When we take a journey within, we find that we are gods; through channeling we contact masters who have preceded us. We can be the source of our own morality and discover the right technique to be spiritually fulfilled. On our own we can become all that we can be. We are told that man’s problem is not sin but ignorance. Man's problem is not sin but a disease. Through enlightenment, we can solve all of our problems and bring about a spiritual transformation that will bring peace and brotherhood to this world. All this comes by our own initiative and strength. We begin to worship knowledge and the creation, rather than the Creator.

The New Age Movement derives much of its inspiration from Eastern religions, but in this country Satan packages it for American audiences. Here its mood is upbeat, faddish, and success-oriented. It is a strange mixture of Hinduism, pagan mysticism, and American values – good health, wealth, and individualism. And it is selling well! We are in the midst of a huge cultural shift.

Beloved, take note. Books and teachers abound on self-esteem, channeling, spiritual meditation, prosperity gospel, self-enlightenment, transcendentalism, New Thought, Theosophy, Open Theism, psychoanalysis, the faith world, the Purpose Driven Church, the Emergent Church, the Word-Faith movement, entertainment totally replacing the gospel (success oriented), New Age Theology of God is all, all is God, and many more. It has most of the markings of the Babylonian religion condemned in Isaiah 47:8-11;

• The deity of man – ‘I am and there is no one besides me’
• A false belief in triumph over death – ‘I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children’
• Moral relativism – ‘Hear this , you sensual one’
• Esotericism, or private enlightenment through mystical experiences – ‘Your many sorceries…the great power of your spells’

Here are some New Age evangelists who are preaching and other advocates for Satan’s plan: Shirley MacLaine, Marilyn Ferguson, Napoleon Hill, Jose Silva, Terry Cole-Whittaker, Werner Erhard, Edgar Cayce, Patricia King and Caleb Brundidge. The New Age is a revival of the Old Age. It is a day for discernment, but don’t lose the day for the opportunity to present the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. “He is risen”!