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Copyright 1993 by the Christian Research Institute.
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COPYRIGHT/REPRODUCTION LIMITATIONS:
This data file is the sole property of the Christian Research
Institute. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may
be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware,"
without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain
the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright 1993 by the Christian
Research Institute"). This data file may not be used without the
permission of the Christian Research Institute for resale or the
enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its
content with the exception of a few brief quotations not to exceed
more than 500 words.
If you desire to reproduce less than 500 words of this data file
for resale or the enhancement of any other product for resale,
please give the following source credit: Copyright 1993 by the
Christian Research Institute, P.O. Box 500-TC, San Juan Capistrano,
CA 92693.
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"Evangelizing New Agers" (an article from the Witnessing Tips
column of the Christian Research Journal, Winter/Spring 1987, page
7) by Doug Groothuis.
The Editor-in-Chief of the Christian Research Journal is Elliot
Miller.
-------------
Christians are called to proclaim the true gospel of Jesus
Christ to New Agers by developing appropriate evangelistic
strategies. This article will make some suggestions along these
lines. But first it will be helpful to summarize the New Age world
view. (Biblical references which are helpful in refuting these
ideas also follow).
*A. All is one (monism).* Reality is a seamless garment. (Gen.
1:1ff.)
*B. All is God (pantheism).* God is an all-pervading impersonal
Energy, Force or Consciousness. (Rom. 1:18-32)
*C. Self-deification/self-salvation.* We look within for power,
knowledge and healing. (Ezek. 28:1-9; Eph. 2:8-10)
*D. Paranormal potential.* We can experience ESP, telepathy,
spirit-contact (spiritism), etc. (Deut. 18:9-14)
*E. Ethical relativism.* Moral absolutes can be transcended.
(Matt.5:17-20; Rom. 13:8-10)
*F. Cosmic evolutionism.* The human race is progressing toward a
"New Age" of planetary peace and prosperity. (1 Thess. 5:3; Matt.
24:3-31).
*G. Religious syncretism.* All religions are really one, and teach
the above (A-F). Jesus was just one of many mystical masters.
Reincarnation is stressed. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Heb. 9:27)
With this outline in mind, let's briefly explore evangelistic
strategies.
*1. Be prepared for spiritual battle.* Realize that an evangelistic
or apologetic encounter involves a clash between God and Satan.
Both spiritual and intellectual weapons should be readied. But also
remember that the enemy is Satan, not the New Ager (Eph. 6:12).
*2. Don't stereotype people.* Every New Ager is different. The
person should be honored and not just classified as "a New Ager."
Find out what he or she thinks.
*3. Clearly define your terms.* The New Ager believes that at the
core of all religions is pantheism. Therefore, you need to counter
the New Age tendency to "pantheize" Christianity. For example, when
New Agers speak of "Christ consciousness" they refer to a mystical
state of "enlightenment," that we can attain, as Jesus supposedly
did. It is asserted that Jesus was an ordinary person who became
"the Christ." Luke 2:11 refutes this by saying that Jesus even as
an infant was at that time "the Christ."
*4. Point out common ground with New Agers.* This can open a door
for evangelism (see Acts 17). We are free to recognize and honor
truth wherever it appears (always taking God's Word as our
authority). The New Ager, for instance, has rightly rejected
atheistic secular humanism.
*5. Show weaknesses in the New Age world view itself.* If the New
Ager sees problems with his or her viewpoint, he or she may become
more interested in Christianity. Several areas could be
spotlighted:
A. The New Age view of the divinity of humanity must neglect the
reality of human evil. The biblical view of our finitude and our
fallenness as sinners better explains the human condition than the
New Age idea that we are all really God.
B. The concept of an impersonal God is unsatisfying because it
allows no ultimate personal relationship. Tuning in to "the Force"
pales in comparison with loving and being loved by our Heavenly
Father. Jesus Christ should be exalted as the supreme revelation of
God's love.
C. Furthermore, the idea that the Ultimate Principle of the
universe is impersonal is logically troublesome. It makes better
sense to say that a _personal_ God created _personal_ beings in His
image (Gen. 1:26).
D. The New Age offers no spiritual discernment. It opens a
Pandora's box of paranormal poisons with no reliable antidote in
sight, and ignores the fact that Satan himself masquerades as "an
angel of light" (2 Cor. 10:14-15). The many writings of Kurt Koch
make plain the spiritual dangers of occultism.
What's more, the "altered states of consciousness" desired
and/or experienced by New Agers are often considered to be "beyond
reason." The danger of this irrationalism should be highlighted
(compare Rom 12:2).
E. The New Age's ethical relativism ("we create our own
reality/morality") is illogical. A consistent ethical relativist is
hard to find because our natural and logical tendency is to make
absolute moral statements. The New Ager contradicts himself when he
states absolutely that "there are no absolutes"! The New Agers who
says that morality is relative because we all "create our own
reality" will most likely not be content with such relativism if
someone steals her car under the pretension that stealing "was part
of his own reality." Christianity provides the moral absolutes the
New Age lacks.
F. New Agers frequently warp history because of their desire to
justify their beliefs on the basis of authorities of the past. This
is especially the case when they try to argue that New Age
pantheistic religion is compatible with faith in Christ by claiming
to have discovered an "esoteric Christianity" -- supposed inner
teachings of Jesus later rejected and suppressed by the church. New
Agers should be encouraged to face facts and be honest in their
examination of history. Christians should be prepared to
demonstrate the truth of Christianity through the use of historical
apologetics.
G. The New Age doctrine of reincarnation is not only unbiblical
(Heb. 9:27) but logically untenable and ethically unsatisfying:
1. So-called evidence of reincarnation derived from hypnosis
("past-life regression") can be better explained as psychological
aberrations or even demonic involvement.
2. It is difficult to view the law of karma as just, or
reincarnation as a "learning experience" (as New Agers view it), if
rewards and punishments are given without the conscious knowledge
of those being rewarded or punished. If a fifteen-year-old girl
dies an agonizing death from leukemia because she was Josef Stalin
in a previous life, but never comes to know that fact, how can that
be considered just? What can her leukemia teach her about her past
life behavior, if she can't remember her past life?
3. If all is _one,_ and individuality is ultimately illusory
(monism), how can _individual_ souls be reincarnated from one body
to another? The "oneness" teaching contradicts the concept of the
individual; yet individual souls are required for a coherent
doctrine of karma and personal responsibility. Some _one_ has to
reincarnate.
4. The biblical teaching of the historicity of Christ's
crucifixion and resurrection is well established factually, unlike
speculations concerning supposed past lives. We have better
evidence for Christ's _resurrection_ than for _reincarnation._
The New Age movement challenges us to reach out to those
intoxicated by spiritual deception. We must seek the