5 Practices New Agers Hijacked from Christianity
Many people say that there are certain parts of religions that can be seen in other, not so similar religions. And with the New Age on the rise, it’s very easy to see that they’ve hijacked, stolen, and counterfeited several phrases, acts, etc. from the true Church. So without further delay, here are five of those hijacked items.
1) Visualisation
It was God--the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob--not you, the universe, a tree, or a stone--that said:
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
We are meant to visualize things, see them with our spiritual eyes and furthermore, to write it down, act and believe in accordance with it, then watch God bring it to past.
2) Name It & Claim It
The Clark Sisters made this one famous before y’all did. And though I realise there are some standards to what you can “name and claim,” the concept is a biblical one. We name what God gives us, just as we name our children. And naming is of such importance to God and me, that I spend a great deal of time discussing in both of my books Faith and the Imagination as well as How to Write Fiction that Doesn’t Suck.
The concept of The Secret, is to ask whatever you want and you’ll have it. Seemingly innocent enough right? WRONG. The Bible says this:
“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
That’s the key--asking in Jesus’ name. Otherwise you’re asking just to ask and may be asking amiss.
Just remember the 10 Commandments: you can’t have what isn’t yours by trying to covet and steal someone else’s car, spouse, house, you get the idea.
3) Positive Speaking
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
“God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did…”
Yes, this our concept, God’s concept. We think positive things because as a [wo]man thinks in his/her heart, so is s/he (Proverbs 23:7). And what fills our heart and our mind is what fills our mouth. We speak positively even as the Apostle Paul said (paraphrased), we speak those things that are not as though they were because by faith in God--and only that--they will be!
I think Israel Houghton said it best:
“Say what you heard, so you can see what you said!”
4) Meditation
No this isn’t code for sitting in an awkward position, blanking our minds (which is TOTALLY demonic I might add), and chanting. It is the active mental and verbal repetition of the Word of God. New Age says blank your mind (so evil spirits can take over), while God says do it night and day. The Bible, especially the Psalms, are filled with examples of meditating on God and His Word.
Godly meditation is paramount because faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). And we know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
5) Spiritual Cleansing
I don’t know what New Agers cleanse themselves of, but in Christianese, we call this casting out demons. Straight up. The only way to cleanse your spirit, mind, and body is to have its former occupant(s) kicked out and replaced by the Spirit and Word of God.
“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.”
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
We can also refer to true spiritual cleansing as renewing our mind or washing it with the water of the Word.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word…”
This last Scripture passage is given in the context of marriage, yet it is imperative that single or married, we take the time to wash our own minds with the water of the Word and cleanse them from the filth of the world.
Solomon had it right when he said that there was nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9) and since Satan, the Father of Lies, has no ability to create, he must take that which God has made which is good and twist it to his own evil devices.
The danger of it is, is that in these “last and evil days” the counterfeit church is on the rise as it never was before even to the point of infiltrating the pews and even the pulpits of the less-discerning churches. We must be on our guard. As Kiki Sheard so eloquently stated,
“The devil, he works. But I know a man named Jesus…”
The devil would deceive even the elect if he could, but Christ is our covering. If we take refuge in Him, and yes, even fight in Him, then we will be safe. Until then, watch and pray!
