new age – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:01:55 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-LaVistaBanner-Copy-1-32x32.png new age – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms 32 32 157465916 Profile of the New Age Movement https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/profile-of-the-new-age-movement/ Fri, 26 Sep 2025 15:46:25 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=90755

by Warren E. Berkley
via Guardian of Truth

Definition

Built on the assumption that we are all divine beings with supernatural potential, the New Age Movement asserts that through knowledge, enlightenment, and meditation, we can discover our own divinity. Then, in concert with other "enlightened ones," we can create a new world and usher in a new age.

Historical Roots of Influence From:

  • Hippie Counterculture of the 1960s;
  • Eastern religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Zen);
  • Pagan heresies (Gnosticism);
  • the occult;
  • Secular Humanism.

The New Age Movement draws on these diverse sources and often filters them through American sensibilities (Dictionary of Christianity in America, p. 809). "It's a shifting kaleidoscope of beliefs, fads and rituals... (Chandler, Understanding the New Age).

Teachers Are Called:

  • Mentors,
  • Gurus,
  • Swamis,
  • Spiritual Leaders,
  • Shamans,
  • Ascended Masters,
  • Avatar.

Roster of Well-Known Believers:

  • Linda Evans ("Dynasty"),
  • Joyce DeWitt (formerly of "Three's Company"),
  • Sharon Gless ("Cagney & Lacey"),
  • Shirley MacLaine,
  • John Denver,
  • Ted Turner,
  • Phalicia Rashad,
  • Yoko Ono,
  • Loretta Lynn,
  • Sylvester Stallone,
  • Willie Nelson.

Notable Quotations:

Atlanta broadcaster Ted Turner is so closely aligned with the New Age Movement that he has stated that America needs to elect a New Age president if it is to survive through the year 2000 (Documentation in Understanding the New Age, by Chandler, cited below).

Jack Underhill says, "You are God. Honest. I know your driver's license says differently, but what does the DMV know?"

Leaders:

  • Marilyn Ferguson,
  • Shirley MacLaine,
  • Ram Dass (Dr. Richard Alpert),
  • Fritjof Capra,
  • J.Z. Knight,
  • Matthew Fox,
  • Dr. Beverly Galyean,
  • Alice Bailey,
  • Helena Petrovna Blavatsky,
  • Benjamin Creme,
  • Donald Keys,
  • Kevin Ryerson,
  • David Spangler,
  • John Walsh.

New Age Organizations:

  • Association for Humanistic Psychology,
  • Association for Research and Enlightenment,
  • Association for Transpersonal Psychology,
  • Chinook Learning Center,
  • Esalen Institute,
  • FINDHORN,
  • The Forum (founded by Werner Erhard of EST fame),
  • Global Education Associates,
  • Greenpeace, USA,
  • Lifespring,
  • Life Training,
  • Karios Foundation,
  • Tara Center (headed by Benjamin Creme),
  • The UNITY-IN-DIVERSITY Counsel,
  • Windstar Foundation (founded by John Denver).

Assumptions:

  • All human ills stem from an inability to perceive that you are god.
  • A spirituality based on awareness of the oneness of all living forms and of their cyclical rhythms of birth and death.
  • "God, of itself, is wholly without goodness or evil" (Ramtha).
  • The belief that everything in the universe is a vast, undifferentiated, impersonal unity.
  • "The basis of peace is understanding our relationship with nature" (Diane Dreher).

Literary Friends:

  • Henry David Thoreau,
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson,
  • Sigmund Freud,
  • Carl Jung,
  • Elisabeth Kubler-Ross,
  • Agnes Sanford,
  • Leslie D. Weatherhead,
  • Edgar Cayce.

Political Outlook:

  • Feminine Rights;
  • strong environmental consciousness;
  • Decentralized civil government, but their primary political message is globalism: one world government, which involves a merging of all the different ideologies. Many New Agers work to hand over power to a single-world government, similar in structure to the United Nations.
  • The UNITY-IN-DIVERSITY Council is a New-Age "metanet-work" of over 100 networks and gaps, rallying for global cooperation and interdependence.

Fields of Influence:

  • Medical,
  • Educational,
  • Political,
  • Corporate,
  • Religious,
  • Entertainment,
  • Literary,
  • Financial,
  • Science,
  • Ecology.

Religious Relatives:

  • The Unity Churches of Christianity;
  • Christian Science,
  • The "Faith Movement" among Neo-Pentecostals.

R. Chandler observes: "Mormonism's attachment to an essentially magic worldview - together with its teaching that men may become gods and, with many goddess wives, populate an infinity of spiritual plants - smacks of New Age esotericism rather than orthodox Christianity" (p. 79, Russell Chandler, in work cited below).

After Death:

  • The law of rebirth,
  • Karma,
  • Reincarnation - the cyclical evolution of a person's soul, as it repeatedly passes from one body to another at death. This process allegedly continues until the soul reaches a state of perfection.

Note - Christians believe men will be resurrected, not recycled (see Jn. 5:28,29).

View of Christ:

"Edward was not always king and Lincoln was not always president, and Jesus was not always Christ. Jesus won his Christship by a strenuous life" (Levi, The Aquarian Gospel).

"And that which is called Christ is within your being" (Ramtha).

"I took his being the Son of God with a grain of salt, and, in fact, by the time I was in my late teens, had decided for myself that God and religion were definitely mythological and if people needed to believe in it that was okay with me, but I couldn't" (Shirley MacLaine).

Distinctively Un-Biblical Views:

  • The essence of God and the essence of man are the same. See Romans 1:25-26; Ecclesiastes 5:2; Ezekiel 28:1,2; Deuteronomy 4:35; I Corinthians 8:6.
  • Unlimited potential. See Proverbs 3:5; Jeremiah 10:23.
  • No absolutes. See Jeremiah 10:23; Galatians 1:6-12.
  • Reincarnation. See Hebrews 9:27-28; John 5:28-29.
  • Pantheism. See Isaiah 6:3; Romans 1:23,25; Psalms 83:18.
  • General statements against new age beliefs: Isaiah 2:6; 8:19-20; John 14:6; Colossians 3:17; Acts 13:4-12; Revelation 21:8.

Typical New Age Vocabulary or "Buzz Words":

  • Open to new levels of experience
  • Exploring and transcending your belief system
  • Creating your own reality
  • Visualization
  • enhancement
  • Spiritual awakening
  • Self-esteem
  • Synergy
  • Nirvana
  • Higher Self
  • Spirituality, without moralizing
  • Consciousness Revolution
  • Cosmic Consciousness
  • Crystals
  • Harmonic Convergence
  • Human Potential
  • Psychokinesis
  • Guided Imagery (monism, Globalism)
  • Channeling
  • One World Auras
  • Overstatement and emphasis on the right-left brain
  • Confluent Education
  • Values Clarification
  • Yoga
  • Age of Aquarius
  • Astral Body
  • Clairvoyance
  • Karma
  • Levitation
  • Mantra
  • Parapsychology
]]> 90755 What about affirmations? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/what-about-affirmations/ Sat, 08 Jun 2024 22:34:52 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=68303

Question:

Hello Minister,

I hope you are well! My question is about saying "I am" affirmations. I know that many people in the new age spirituality movement say a lot of affirmations regarding love, beauty, prosperity, etc. However, I am wondering if it is okay for us as Christians to say them as long as they are in alignment with what the Bible says about us. For example "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" over and over each day?

Answer:

"The purpose of positive affirmations is to help you overcome negative thoughts that make you doubt yourself. Daily positive affirmations are meant to minimize negativity and help you see yourself in a positive light. Practicing positive affirmations doesn’t have to mean repeating one phrase repeatedly every day. It’s about affirming yourself and replacing negative thoughts with positive self-talk" [Martin Taylor, "What to Know About Positive Affirmations," WebMD, 8 June 2022.]

Affirmations are basically about creating an optimistic view of life instead of a pessimistic one. It isn't a bad idea. See "How to Stay Positive in a Negative World."

However, people tend to take things to extremes. What we see in the world around us is a belief that if I say something confidently, then that makes what I said so. Your words don't change the world around you. They are only the expression of what you think about the world around you. If you don't believe the words you are saying, then the words are empty. No matter how often you repeat them, they won't change you without belief. This is why faith is essential in Christianity. Not faith in yourself but faith in God. "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).

Even when selecting statements from the Bible, it is very easy to forget the context in which they were originally made and apply them to situations for which they were not intended. See "Out of Context."

However, having portions of the Bible memorized greatly helps when we face life.

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:1-6).

"Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word" (Psalms 119:11-16).

Question:

Okay, thank you!

Is it best to memorize Scriptures in proper context with what I’m trying to affirm to myself (that are in God's will for me with the duties He has gifted me with)?

Answer:

Don't limit yourself to only what you currently need, though that is useful and necessary. Learn other parts of the Scriptures to help you teach others and apply them when you face new situations.

Response:

Okay, I will do it! Thank you for clearing up the affirmation part!

]]> 68303 Does the CIA Gateway Process interfere with Christianity? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/does-the-cia-gateway-process-interfere-with-christianity/ Sat, 08 Jun 2024 21:25:02 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=68293

Question:

Does the CIA Gateway process interfere with Christianity?

Answer:

I had no idea what this was, so I glanced through a few sources. In 1983, Wayne M. McDonnell, a Lieutenant Cornel in the U.S. Army, gave the CIA a paper claiming to have a procedure "to help people access the intuitive knowledge of the universe, as well as travel in time and commune with other-dimensional beings." It was dressed up in scientific terminology and was called the Gateway Process. "The Gateway Process was originally the brainchild of radio producer Robert Monroe, who in the 1970s studied the effects of certain sound patterns on human consciousness."

Notice that this document lacks credibility. The sources are not scientists, but they use scientific-sounding statements to make outlandish claims that are straight out of new-age religions. "McDonnell packaged the document in physical science lingo to avoid any unwanted connections to the occult." However, the lingo doesn't change what it claims. It just makes the gullible more likely to accept it. "McDonnell blithely layers accepted physics theories on top of statements so unsubstantiated that they sound made-up." That is because they were made up. Toward the end of the document, McDonnell "makes a sharp turn from spiritual ideas dressed in scientific language to explicit religious doctrine." It promotes the new-age religious idea that the universe is a consciousness that people can tap into. It is nothing more than pantheism dressed up with scientific language.

These foolish ideas don't interfere with Christianity. Christianity exists on a foundation of truth presented in the Bible. Those who accept Christ's doctrine will quickly recognize this "Gateway Process" is a false belief. See "Pantheism and Deism." Such false ideas will draw the gullible, as Paul warned.

"And with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness" (II Thessalonians 2:10-12).

Footnote:

All quotes about the Gateway Process paper are from Susan Lahey, "The CIA’s Secret Plan to Build a Laser Beam Powered by the Human Mind," Popular Mechanics, 30 May 2023.

]]> 68293 Is time just an invention of man and doesn’t really exist? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/is-time-just-an-invention-of-man-and-doesnt-really-exist/ Wed, 19 Sep 2018 02:25:00 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=54255

Question:

Hey Jeffrey,

I talk to these new age types of people, and I've heard them say multiple times that time doesn't exist but is an invention of man to keep track of things. How does one respond to that? Didn't time begin once God began the creation?

Answer:

Yes, the Bible starts out, "In the beginning, God created ..." Such is a measure of time and implies that time did not exist before this point. Then after five days, divided into cycles of evening and morning, man was created. In addition, on the fourth day, "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" (Genesis 1:14). Therefore, God was measuring time before He created man. Men could not be creators of time.

If in the future you see one of these people upset because something has arrived late, you could remind them that it shouldn't bother them because if time doesn't exist, then nothing can be late. Come to think of it, I wonder how they would react to their boss stating they aren't going to be paid their $15 per hour since time doesn't exist for them.

]]> 54255 How dare you use the Bible to say out-of-body experiences are wrong! https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/how-dare-you-use-the-bible-to-say-out-of-body-experiences-are-wrong/ Wed, 04 May 2016 01:39:00 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=48067

Question:

I recently read a question/answer between you and somebody who wrote to you. They told you about their OBEs (out-of-body experiences). I read your response and I was appalled, to say the least.

First of all, since you don't remember your OBEs (and believe me, you have them) you discount them. Plus, you twist the Scriptures to make it sound like people have OBEs are doing things wrong. I felt very sorry for the person that you wrote to - fearing he or she would be so trodden down by your judgments that they'd try to shun the very real experiences they are having.

But the thing that upset me the most was when you quoted the Scripture about how "God doesn't lie". Yes, there are several Scriptures, actually, that claim that God doesn't lie. But I'd like to say that even THAT is a lie from God. How? Well, let's just start with my favorite (and I'll let you search for the rest....they're in there): II Thessalonians 2:11, "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie..." This scripture clearly states that God lied. Look up the definition for "delusion" if you don't know what it means. Oh, but there's that word "lie" right after in the same sentence. And since Christianity believes that God doesn't lie and would cease to be God should he lied, then POOF. There goes your religion.

Please don't throw the old "you took this scripture out of context" number at me, either. I'm very well versed in the scriptures. I think you should stop misleading people with a book that clearly has so many contradictions in it that can't be claimed to be taken out of context. You are leading way too many people astray. To take a god that lies and claims he doesn't like it and then use it against another human being that is having very real experiences is cruel, heartless, and irresponsible!

Answer:

What I notice is that you offer no proof that out-of-body experiences occur. You assert that it is a fact, you even claim that everyone has many experiences with them; yet, you give not a single shred of evidence. Instead, like most people who have no factual evidence, you instead attack the sources that prove you wrong. But even if you could prove the Bible wrong (which you didn't), let's note that this does nothing to support your claim.

"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (II Thessalonians 2:9-12).

This passage does not say that God lied to people. It says that God sends (or permits) people, who have no love for the truth, to be deluded by lies. In other words, if you have no love for truth, then you are easily persuaded by anyone who tells you a lie because you have no standard to judge whether something is factual or not. This passage tells me that when dealing with a person, such as yourself, who thinks she knows something and no evidence to the contrary will make her question her firmly held beliefs, then there is little I can do for you.

Question:

If you actually think that an old book that has been written by mere men who lived thousands of years ago and has been revised and manipulated for gain by wicked people (proven), is actually the "word of god" and you're using that right now against me saying that's your "proof," then I have to just burst out laughing. As "usual," Christians like you throw out what they're guilty of.  In your case, you're telling me I have no proof of my words, but where is your "proof" that the Bible is true?

You prove to me that the Bible is true and then you can throw out this mindless drivel.  Don't bombard me with warm fuzzies or the "witness of the spirit" or any of the other buckets full of fun little fake proofs that Christians are always spraying on people.

Hey, since you also threw out that Scripture about the "lawless" one... "Satan"... how about you prove that he's real.  Don't use the Bible as your proof, until after you prove that the Bible is the truth.  Come on...real proof.  Not one person has been able to prove that it's true. Ever.  Sure, they claim to ... but they haven't done it.  Everything is perception, sir... everything.  You are seeing through your filter because you've been around that kind of thing and you've embraced it.   So of course this kind of thing (Bible) is going to be "true" for you in your perception.

Your (mis)interpretation of the Scripture that you believe I've misinterpreted is also laughable.  The scripture clearly states that God sent the delusions (lies).  Sure, he apparently could have wanted to prove that people are easily deluded by lies.  But my point remains true:  God did the lying.  Prove to me that this isn't right.

I get so tired of you Christians claiming you have "the" truth and how you're always throwing out the "prove it" to me excuses.  Do you think you're the first one that hasn't thrown this out?  I've seen it so many times.  I've heard it so many times I could lip-synch to it.  That, and all the other excuses like "you took that out of context" or "God really means this or that".  Sure he did ... did he tell you that?  It's all just your perceptions of what you think he means or said.  But if you look at the sentence in the scripture, he doesn't dance around that issue.  He said he sent delusions (lies) so the people would believe lies.

Since you refuse to look at the real truth, let me show you some other lies of "god" in your Bible:

LIE:

"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19).

LIE:

"Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the son.  If you ask me anything in my name, I WILL DO IT" (John 14:13).

Don't throw other scriptures out to deny this ... like ones where it says that you have to have faith or believe, or be saved, or any other added things.  I'm talking about these two.  He very specifically says what he will give you, especially in the second scripture in John.  Now tell me why so many Christians have asked their god to save them or their husbands or wives or babies from cancer, or starvation, or cruelty, or any number of things ... or even let them get a car because theirs broke down.  It appears to me that your god is a liar and to say this is not true makes you a liar as well.  Don't say "sometimes god says no because he knows what is best for us".  No.  This scripture says I WILL DO IT.  (Nothing added.)

Your Bible has thousands of contradictions in it. I've studied them extensively over the years.  Try taking a good look for yourself instead of throwing out this nonsense and hurting good people.

Answer:

How amusing to have someone get upset that the preacher they are writing to actually believes the Bible he teaches is true. I didn't bother with proofs regarding the Bible because your contention was that out-of-body experiences were true. I merely pointed out that your attempt to prove the Bible false doesn't support your argument. That still remains true. I then showed that you did not correctly understand a verse that you cited.

But since you asked for proof regarding the truth of the Bible, see:

When Jesus said, "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14), Jesus was not saying he is at each person's command. That would place God between conflicting requests. The key is the phrase, "in my name." It means asking for things that Jesus authorizes. That is why the next verse says, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). If you asked for things you wanted and got whatever you wanted, that would glorify you. But if we ask for things that God approves of, then that gives God the glory.

In Matthew 18:18-20 Jesus is stating that the church has the authority to uphold the laws of Christ. It is not stating that the church has the right to create its own laws and that God would go along with whatever they decide. The literal reading of the Greek is that "Whatever you bind on earth has been bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth has been loose in heaven." In other words, when the church follows Christ's directives, the decisions they make will follow the decisions already established by God.

When two or three are gathered under the authority of Christ (that is, in his name), then Christ would be there with them. The decisions they make will be upheld by God. Again, this is not a blank check to make their own laws. It is the assurance of the king that when his people uphold his laws, the king would back them up with his authority. This, then, is the answer to the age-old question, "What right do you have to tell me what I need to do?" When disciples are upholding the laws of their Lord, they have the authority of the Lord behind them.

I understand that you won't accept these proofs and explanations. But because you personally reject them doesn't mean they weren't given or that they are inadequate. I'm sorry that you would rather rage than think. But as Paul said in II Thessalonians 2:9-12, I can't convince someone who is determined to reject the truth.

]]> 48067 Are animal guides compatible with Christianity? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/are-animal-guides-compatible-with-christianity/ Fri, 21 Mar 2014 19:15:00 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=42200

Question:

I'm a teen and I got in trouble with my mom just for trying to contact my spirit animal. She said not to do it again because she does not want me to get possessed by a demon. She did not explain to me how or why. I was reading this question and answer section, but even it did not explain it, so I guess you have talked to God about this, or not but you explain to me if there are spirit guides or animals in heaven? Are they from heaven and God would want them to help other causes? I read that they help us in like and that they're here to give us signs and advice. Is talking to a spirit guide or animal good for a Christian or is it a belief that Christians can follow and that God will accept them to heaven?

Please answer. I really want to know quickly because church is on Sunday and I want a quick answer.

Answer:

The concept of a spirit guide in the form of an animal is an American Indian belief. People who are fascinated by Far Eastern religions find this idea fascinating as well, so it gets passed around in New Age religions and Wiccan (witchcraft) beliefs. None of it is taught in the Bible nor is it a part of Christianity.

First, the Bible says that animals are alive (have souls), but they are not described as having spirits. See: Do animals have a soul or spirit? Angels are in the spiritual realm, but not animals. Second, God says that He uses angels to watch over His people, not animals. "Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:18). This is done by God, not because the Christian pleads with God for an angel.

Second, the guide for Christians is the Bible and not direct communication from God. See: Does God Speak Directly to Mankind Today? "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (II Timothy 3:16-17). See: God is Speaking to You.

Like many false religions people create, it takes things found in the physical world and imagines them to be a power in some way. "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man -- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things" (Romans 1:22-23). Of course, since these are imaginary, they then imagine the advice given to them. The result is people with no firm moral compass, who do as they please and tell themselves that God is pleased with them. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; they speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the LORD. They continually say to those who despise Me, 'The LORD has said, "You shall have peace"'; and to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, 'No evil shall come upon you.'" " (Jeremiah 23:16-17).

While demon possession no longer occurs according to the prophecy made in Zechariah 13:1-3, it doesn't mean demons are not influencing people to no longer follow God. "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (I Timothy 4:1). Such, of course, can keep you out of heaven because you would no longer be obeying Christ.

]]> 42200 Does burning sage release negative energy? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/does-burning-sage-release-negative-energy/ Wed, 05 Sep 2012 01:54:00 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=34643

Question:

Hello.

Is it a sin to burn sage to get rid of negative energy? I have heard that it has been used for this purpose and is considered a "holy herb" in some Christian churches but even though they say it has been used for thousands of years it seems fishy to me like it is a form of magic.

Answer:

"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (II Peter 1:2-4).

Everything regarding life and godliness is in the Bible, so if this is of God we should be able to find it in the Scriptures. So how often is sage mentioned? Zero times. How about "negative energy"? Zero times. How about "holy herb"? Still, zero times.

And therein lies the answer. This is man-made nonsense. It has nothing to do with God.

Response:

Thank you! 🙂

]]> 34643 The Church of Oprah https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-church-of-oprah/ Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:55:00 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=39893

by Dan Gatlin

For decades, Oprah Winfrey has proclaimed faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, when one examines Oprah’s Jesus, he is not the same Jesus found in the New Testament. Oprah’s Jesus is not God in the flesh, but merely a "good man." He is non-condemning and tolerant of "alternative lifestyles." In short, her Jesus is a New-Age Jesus.

In recent weeks, Oprah has conducted a series of internet broadcasts extolling the virtues and philosophy of her spiritual mentor, Eckhart Tolle. Tolle is a New Age teacher and author with two best-selling books, The Power of Now and A New Earth. Excerpts of Oprah’s interviews with Tolle can be seen on YouTube.com.

There is nothing particularly new about Tolle’s teaching. His website states: "The work of Eckhart Teachings is in response to the urgent need of our times: the transformation of consciousness and the arising of a more enlightened humanity. ... In addition to supporting Eckhart Tolle and the dissemination of his teaching, we are committed and dedicated to serving the new consciousness and awakening of all humans on the planet. Behind the external form of what we do, and behind the business structure, lies the company's and our true purpose: the union with the Divine. ... At the core of the teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that he sees as the next step in human evolution.An essential aspect of this awakening consists in transcending our ego-based state of consciousness. This is a prerequisite not only for personal happiness but also for the ending of violent conflict endemic on our planet." This is the same gobbledygook that New Agers have been churning out for the past 30-40 years.

For those not familiar with the New Age Movement, it is essentially Eastern Religion (Mysticism) adapted to western culture. New Agers believe in a "Supreme Power" of some kind, but vary somewhat as to what it is. To them "God" is not a Person (Being/Personality), but simply a force. Most New Agers are pantheistic, that is, they believe that "god" is nature itself. Since matter is made up of energy, and energy is equivalent to spirit, then matter becomes divine. Man is composed of matter (which has energy or "spirit"), so mankind is actually divine, a part of whatever "god" is. Of course, Western culture, and the Bible in particular, have blinded man to his true divine nature. "Enlightenment" comes through meditation on one’s own being or purpose, with the ultimate goal of "union with the Divine." When all of mankind realizes that we are all a part of God, then peace will prevail throughout the world and humanity will be able to evolve to the next level of
consciousness.

Does all of this sound familiar? The hippies of the 1960s believed and taught this as they rejected societal norms and explored Eastern Mysticism. Those same hippies have cut their hair, discovered soap, and are now running many of our institutions, from the government to universities to businesses. Notice a portion of Wikipedia’s definition of New Age: "The New Age movement includes elements of older spiritual and religious traditions from both East and West, many of which have been melded with ideas from modern science, particularly psychology and ecology. New Age ideas could be described as drawing inspiration from all the major world religions with influences from Spiritualism, Buddhism, Hermeticism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Shamanism, Mayanism, Ceremonial magic, Sufism, Taoism, New Thought, Wicca and Neo-Paganism being especially strong."

Notice two things: First, psychology and ecology have been hijacked and are no longer strictly sciences. Large portions of these "disciplines" comprise religious teaching. A young person with an interest in psychology or ecology may attend a university thinking they are getting an education when what they are really receiving is religious indoctrination. Of course, the material is presented as science (and, as such, should never be questioned) when, in fact, it is religious. Any young person without a firm conviction in the truth will find themselves unknowing disciples of this new cult.

Contrary to what Tolle espouses, New Age doctrines appeal to the ego. Only those few who have achieved "enlightenment" will evolve to the next level of consciousness. They are a little better than the rest of us. Contrast that attitude with the Bible, which was given for all men to understand (John 3:16; Ephesians 3:4; I Timothy 2:3-4) Second, notice that of all the religions mentioned, there are no references to the Bible or "Christianity." That’s because the one true God is jealous (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:24) and will not tolerate any false religion. Therefore, false religions feel compelled to marginalize or reject Him.

Let’s consider three basic points relative to New Age religion.

God is Distinct from Nature

Pantheism says that nature itself is god. But the Bible says that God is distinct from nature. It is God who created the universe and all the laws applicable to it. Notice how Genesis 1 begins and ends: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ... Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good" (Genesis 1:1,31). When Paul came to Athens and preached to people who were completely ignorant of God, he said, "for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things" (Acts 17:23-25). There are, perhaps, portions of two generations who have removed God from their knowledge, and the consequences of such are clear (Romans 1:18-32).

God is Distinct from Man

Tolle and Winfrey take the position that "God," as taught by Western culture, is simply the creation of man. Obviously, neither has made a serious investigation into the Bible’s reliability. They simply issue the same baseless charge that secular humanists have been making for 150 years. They offer no evidence for their assertion, but none is needed for those blinded by New Age dogma.

Tolle’s concept that man is inherently divine (WOW, no ego there!) is an ancient error. Many men in the Bible have attempted to take God’s place (cf. Ezekiel 28; Acts 12:20-25; II Thessalonians 2:3ff). Of course, all failed.

In truth, mankind is God’s creation (Genesis 1:26-28). While we have been created in the image of God (spiritually, not physically), we cannot possess many of the attributes that belong solely to the deity. Man will never be omniscient (Psalms 139), omnipotent (Job 42:2) or omnipresent (Jeremiah 23:23-24). However, man can have the same character as God (II Peter 1:4-8).

Truth is Objective

One of the major failings of New Age teaching is how "truth" is discovered. According to New Agers, the truth cannot be found in some external, objective source like the Bible. "Truth" is individual and subjective. Most often, one arrives at "truth" through meditation, emptying the mind and allowing it to turn in on itself. Tolle’s website states, "When challenges come, as they always do, make it a habit to go within at once and focus as much as you can on the inner energy field of your body." The goal of this kind of meditation is to get in touch with your feelings. Again, Tolle’s website says, "Feeling will get you closer to the truth of who you really are than thinking."

What happens when one person’s "truth" is diametrically opposed to another’s "truth?" Not to worry, to a strict New Ager, all truth is to be accepted (unless it comes from someone who takes a literal interpretation of the Bible). Such open-mindedness is contrary to the Bible’s teaching (Matthew 7:13-14; Acts 4:12).

One of the things that make the Bible stand apart from any other religious document or belief is that one can objectively examine its reliability. Yes, much of what we believe in the Bible is based on faith. But it is not blind faith, it is faith-based on facts.

  1. Pre-Scientific Statements. The Bible reveals many scientific facts that took man thousands of years to discover. For example, the spherical nature of the earth (Isaiah 40:22, written about 700 BC). This wasn’t accepted as scientifically proven until around 1500 AD. One of the "newer theories" in astronomy is the "Expanding Universe." Yet, the writers of the Bible referred to "heaven" as an "expanse" (Genesis 1:8) 3,500 years ago. Jeremiah (who lived 2,600 years ago) tells us that the universe cannot be measured (Jeremiah 31:37). Bible writers also speak of the evaporation and rain cycle (Job 36:27-28; Ecclesiastes 1:7) thousands of years before science "discovered" these truths. Literally, hundreds of examples can be cited. How did the Bible writers know these truths? The only logical answer is that the Author of the Bible is the Creator of the universe.
  2. Historical Accuracy. Critics of the Bible cited the lack of any archeological evidence for the Hittite Empire, which played a prominent role in the Old Testament, as proof that the Bible was nothing but a myth. Then A. H. Sayce and Hugo Winckler discovered evidence of their existence 100-125 years ago. Belief in the Hittites is now an accepted fact. More recently, Bible critics said that there was no evidence for the existence of David, King of Israel. Then in 1994, the Aramaic Stele was discovered in the ancient city of Dan with references to "the house of David" and "King of Israel." These inscriptions have been verified. Again, hundreds of more examples could be cited.
  3. Continuity. The Bible was written by about 40 men over a period of 1,500 years and, when properly interpreted, contains no contradictions. Man is simply not capable of producing such a flawless document. Some have tried, all have failed. (For example, the writings of our Mormon friends contain many documented absurdities and contradictions.) Cultists (Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, New Agers, etc.) often make the accusation that the Bible has been corrupted and changed over the centuries. This is a mere assertion without evidence. This charge is so easily disproven that it’s a surprise that anyone still makes it. There are Bible manuscripts that go back 1,000’s of years that conclusively prove that the Bible did not evolve. This is an argument made only by the lazy or uninformed.

While New Agers are groping around in the dark trying to figure out who or what this "Supreme Power" is, Christians know precisely who created and saved them. If we are God’s offspring (children), then doesn’t it make sense that He would reveal Himself to us, not only through nature (Psalm 19; Romans 1:20) but through the word that He left (John 16:13; Romans 10:17; Ephesians 3:4).

What is perhaps most dangerous about Tolle is the unparalleled access to the public afforded him through Oprah Winfrey. During one internet broadcast, Oprah revealed that over 700,000 people were watching, and undoubtedly millions more will see it re-broadcast over YouTube and similar venues. FoxNews.com reports: "Winfrey is nothing if not gifted at recognizing what’s already popular in the culture and exploiting it. But her association with Tolle is way over the top. It involves sponsorships with General Motors (Chevy), 3M Corp. (Post-Its) and Skype Internet phone service. In one broad stroke, she’s managed to accomplish what Scientology never has achieved: bringing corporate America’s implicit approval into religion" [Roger Friedman, "Is Oprah Starting Her Own Cult?" Fox News]. Make no mistake, this is this kind of pagan nonsense that we will be dealing with in the future.

]]> 39893 Out-of-Body experiences have to be true because I experienced them https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/out-of-body-experiences-have-to-be-true-because-i-experienced-them/ Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:33:00 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=17047

Question:

How are you doing?

First off let me thank God for you and the very informative site you have put together. Also for having ministers such as yourself that have been blessed with the talent of teaching the gospel and blessed with spiritual knowledge and wisdom in Christ. Keep up the good work. Your site has helped me personally in ways you can't imagine and I appreciate it.

I just wanted to get that out of the way before I proceed, as this would be the first time I'm writing to you. I do want to add that I am a member of the Lord's church and have been ever since I was baptized into Christ around the age of 13 and became a child of God (spiritually). Which is why I called you "brother" with no problem.  I have strayed away from the faith along the way since then but always end up coming back eventually. One of the turning points in my coming back again after straying was when I stumbled across this site. You showed me how the teaching of the Bible really can be trusted and defended without sounding like an unintelligent person. You showed me how to better reason with people from the Scriptures instead of just my own feelings. A lot of things I've learned in such a short period of time.

However, there is something that seriously bothers me about what some people in the church teach regarding the Bible and what some ministers in the Lord's church believe in and I'm afraid of what it might mean if that belief conflicts with mine. It may shatter my faith in the Bible completely. I do want to offer some insight into a particular matter you addressed - out of body experiences. First off let me say I'm very glad that you did not say that the Bible teaches that this is not possible in happening. If you would've said that, I would've been convinced that the Bible is not the absolute truth it's cracked up to be and that truth really does not exist. Before coming here, I had no idea where to find examples of people leaving their body in Scripture. I barely even knew these examples were even in the Bible. I noticed you've said something in regards to a person asking a question about this along the lines of 'a person leaving their body in spirit can only happen if God directly makes it happen and we cannot do this'

Now, the reason why I bring this up is that I do want to inform you as a member of the Lord's church that this cannot be one of the things that the Bible teaches. Why do I say this? I have experienced out of body experiences first hand for myself. No, I'm not on drugs; no, I'm not delusional; I did it. Yes, I've done them. Yes, this is the type of world we live in, where things like this are possible. There's nothing no one can tell me, minister or not, about it being fake because I know I've experienced them before and God is my witness. However, I'm afraid that if a minister tries to tell me I'm lying, I will be turned away from the teaching of Christianity as a whole. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that God directly gave me visions like those given to Paul and whoever else left their body in spirit, but I do want to let you know as a member of the church that it IS in fact possible for us to still leave the body in spirit and your assertion that it is not possible is not accurate. I didn't bring this up with the intention of starting an argument, I brought it up because I can't help but wonder how does God look at this phenomenon? There are several books written on the subject of what people call out-of-body experiences and if you read some of the experiences people have had (and I have no choice but to believe them because it happened to me) then it can almost make the Christian faith seem completely crumbled. So much of this phenomenon allows us to see for ourselves what the mystery of life is all about. People report of living past lives (though I can't say for sure if this is what they were experiencing, I can say that I believe they have encountered what feels to be that way), seeing dead relatives, and several other things that conflict with the biblical teaching. Which is one of the things blocking me from becoming the Christian I would like God to turn me into because what it looks like to me is, truth really is subjective.

When I first started researching out of body experiences I didn't believe in them either, but then I started believing it was possible and tried a few techniques and one day it actually happened. My life would never be the same again, no matter how much biblical teaching I had received. There is no way you will convince me that it isn't real. Even the Bible supports one of the observations that people have made when out of the body. You know the verse that says - ' Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.' (Ecclesiastes 12:6) The reference to the 'silver cord' is actually a spiritual reality. While I've never seen it and observed it before myself while leaving the body in spirit. There are several people who report seeing a SILVER CORD attached to the back of the head of their spirit body which connects them to the physical. They say the moment they touch it, they are pulled back into the physical realm in an instant; therefore, they realize that there is something significant to this cord and the person's life. People have said that if that cord was to become severed, that person would die in the physical. Though while out of the body in the spirit, it is said that it's impossible to do damage to the cord as the mere thought of it instantly brings us back into the physical or even if we touch it. When I saw that verse in the Bible that gave a reference to the silver cord, my faith was fortified so much. How could the Bible know that such a thing exists? It really must come from God then, I reaffirmed in my head.

Like I said earlier, there's pretty much no disputing the fact that it is still possible for us to leave the body. The question is, how much of the experiences people report are false in God's eyes, and does God even want us doing this? If not, then why are we able to do it, and why not warn us about it in the Scriptures? I don't believe it negates the truth of us needing to obey the gospel message, but I can't help but wonder when I hear people doing these out of body experiences and living out entire lifetimes within a matter of minutes, or them entering into a light source that burns away all their negative thoughts and connects them with everything in existence. It starts to make me feel like God really didn't give us an infallible source to use, just a partially infallible one and then there's no need to wonder why there are so many religious practices and everything in the world because people have been shown that the Bible isn't the only truth there is. I would love to believe we were given an infallible source by an infinite God that is never wrong on any spiritual issue, but these experiences sort of point to an entirely different source of truth which kind of let us know the answers without putting the Bible in it.

I'm afraid of what I may find out will either make or break my faith in Christianity. I don't want to feel like Jesus my Savior just went up on that cross and died for nothing and that the Christian doctrine is false and really doesn't have to be obeyed. I feel like I have had a real relationship with Christ and now it all seems like it was just something my mind was conditioned to believe.

Seriously, this phenomenon is completely mind-blowing in what we are capable of finding out from exploring the 'spiritual realm'. I still do believe that the Bible is God's word, but if it IS God's word, why does He lie and tell us we don't have past lives. What is God going to tell the thousands of people who've experienced the past lives in out of body experiences? I feel like I have to figure this out before I mess myself up eternally and am not able to enter heaven. Please help me with this. I hope I didn't flood you with too much information. This will be the one thing that will either make me one of the strongest Christians I ever could be or it can completely shatter my faith in the reliability of the Bible.

Answer:

Let's return to some basics. The reliability of the Bible exists regardless of your personal belief in it. Your belief does not prove its reliability, nor does your disbelief prove its unreliability.

It is clear to me that you are struggling with faith. You don't believe in God, at least, not really because you think that God lied. You stated, "... if it IS God's word, why does He lie and tell us we don't have past lives." Your statement is completely contrary to what the Bible states. "In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began" (Titus 1:2). Lying is a sin, and there is no sin in God. "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (I John 1:5). It is an essential point because the reason I know heaven exists is that God, in His word, promised it, and I know God cannot lie.

Rather than humbly coming to God to learn from Him what is, you have taken a contrary approach. You have decided what must be and then declared that either God must support your position or your faith in Him will be shattered. "Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say, 'He has no hands'?" (Isaiah 45:9). You are sitting in judgment of God. "But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge" (James 4:11).

It is fine to examine God's word, to look at the evidence presented, and judge for yourself whether it is truly from God. "Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors. Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,' Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it" (Isaiah 46:7-11). Whether you can make an accurate and righteous judgment, however, remains to be seen. The evidence exists that God does exist and the Bible is His word. "Assemble yourselves and come; Draw near together, You who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, Who carry the wood of their carved image, And pray to a god that cannot save. Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath" (Isaiah 45:20-23).

Your personal declaration to have seen something does not constitute proof. Even Jesus acknowledged, "If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true" (John 5:31). Claims of personal experience are insufficient to establish what is or is not true. The reason is that we can deceive ourselves. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise" (Proverbs 12:15).

Without delving into the Scriptures, you have already stated that you believe your position to be contrary to what God has taught.

"There are several books written on the subject of what people call out-of-body experiences and if you read some of the experiences people have had ... then it can almost make the Christian faith seem completely crumbled."

"People report of living past lives ..., seeing dead relatives, and several other things that conflict with the biblical teaching."

"It starts to make me feel like God really didn't give us an infallible source to use, just a partially infallible one ..."

"what it looks like to me is, truth really IS subjective."

"... people have been shown that the Bible ISN'T the only truth there is."

".. these experiences sort of point to an entirely different source of truth which kind of let us know the answers without putting the Bible in it."

Your own testimony concerning the modern-day beliefs in out-of-body experiences is that it is contrary to the Bible and that it undermines the foundation of Christianity. It leads you to numerous false conclusions, such as:

  • The Bible isn't the only source of truth. Yet Jesus stated, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17). And the teaching of the Bible is complete, "as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue" (II Peter 1:3).
  • That there is another route to God. Yet Jesus stated, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
  • Truth is subjective. Actually it is quite the opposite. Keep in mind that the Bible is the Truth. "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (II Peter 1:19-21). The phrase "no private interpretation" means that there isn't one truth for you and another for me. It isn't subject to man's whims.

I can't make you believe the truth. I can encourage you to honestly examine the Scriptures and place your faith in God's teachings. But if you rather believe things which you testify is contrary to God then you are going to believe those things because you do not love the truth. "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (II Thessalonians 2:9-12).

"O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge -- by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen" (I Timothy 6:20-21).

]]> 17047 Can you have an out of body experience or be reincarnated? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/can-you-have-an-out-of-body-experience-or-be-reincarnated/ Sun, 11 Jun 2006 00:09:11 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=5939

Question:

How can I, or is there a way to, have some kind of contact with a loved one. I hear many things about out of body practices. Is this true? Is there a way where I can leave my body for a while to seek my loved family member? I once asked you a question, "Can a loved one come back?" You replied with a saying in the Bible. True, minister, but doesn't everything on this planet come from the ground? It's like when it rains; the rains make a small lake, then when summer comes the lakes dry going back to the clouds evaporating. I hear that as long as we have planet earth we live forever. The soul of one person can come back to the living taking a different form this time than before. I don't know what to think.

Can you please help? Thank you.

Answer:

It appears to me that you do know what you want to think, but you are disappointed that God doesn't agree with you. In regards to reincarnation, the Bible tells us that it doesn't happen. For example, "For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant. But man dies and is laid away; indeed he breathes his last and where is he? As water disappears from the sea, and a river becomes parched and dries up, so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep" (Job 14:7-12). See the sermon outline, "Reincarnation" for additional verses.

The Bible does speak of men leaving their bodies and going to other places in their spirit. Such as Ezekiel, Paul, and John. However, in each case the power behind the event was God and not man. It was God who brought the individual to a different place. Man, on his own, does not have this ability.

As stated before, those who are living have no direct contact with the dead. "But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 9:4-6).

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