Lighthouse Trails Research Journal
New Age Christian—continued from page 40
sense of merging. . . . There is, in essence, a feeling that All of
This is God, and I Am a part of all of This so I, too, Am God. 3
This concept of course, has its source in the spirit world. The
Reiki News provides this evidence:
Imagine my surprise during my first Reiki class when I
observed the astral images of guides and healing spirits
pouring forth bright shimmering rays of healing energy at
the hands of novice practitioners. 4
Interest in Reiki and other mystical practices are accelerating
to such a degree that most people will come face to face with this
sooner or later. One popular counselor made the following assess-
ment regarding the growing momentum of New Age practical
mysticism:
We cannot overstate how profoundly their impact is being
felt in education, business, medicine, and psychotherapy. It
is safe to say that the prevailing religion in America . . . is no
longer Christianity but is instead New Age. 5
It would not surprise me if the majority of people in America
have a family member or close friend who does mantra medita-
tion, practices Yoga, has either encountered Reiki or Therapeutic
Touch, or is an avid fan of the Oprah Winfrey show. How could
anyone possibly conceive that any of these seemingly benign or
even helpful methods or talkshows might have a connection to
Satan or that which is against God? A brother in Christ whom I
met for coffee one day gave me the answer to that question: He
referred to the Scripture in which Eve took of the fruit, and while
it had the appearance of something good, the results of her partak-
ing were detrimental.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food,
and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired
to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat.
. . . (Genesis 3:6)
Secondly, and just as important, what actually constitutes that
which is satanic? Virtually everyone in Christendom equates that
term, satanic, with things dark and sinister. However, the Bible
paints a far different picture of Satan—one that fits the New Age
movement perfectly. Satan said, “I will be like the most High”
(Isaiah 14:14). He did not say he would be the Most High; he said
he would be like the Most High. The word “like” here means to
correspond to. How could Satan accomplish this mission?
It is important to understand that Satan is not simply trying to
VOLUME 8—NO. 1
11
draw people to the dark side of a good versus evil conflict. Actually,
he is trying to eradicate the gap between himself and God, between
good and evil, altogether. When we understand this approach, it
helps us see why the Catholic mystic monk Thomas Merton said
everyone is already united with God or why Jack Canfield (Chicken
Soup for the Soul author) said he felt God flowing through all things.
All means all—nothing left out. Such reasoning implies that God
has given His glory to all of creation; since Satan is part of creation,
then he too shares in this glory, and thus is “like the most High.”
Contrary to this belief of good and evil merging and man or
creation becoming “like the most High,” man and God can only
be brought together through the Cross. If the all-is-one view were
true, then salvation through a Redeemer would become unneces-
sary and Jesus’ death on the Cross would be rendered altogether
futile and pointless. In order for the Cross to make any sense, there
must be a separation between God’s perfect nature and Man’s sin
nature. We know Satan has only one enemy—the Cross; he knows
that without it no human being can be restored to God.
The Bible says the message of the Cross is the power of God, and
while there are two opposing spiritual realms, God has always, and
will always, prevail. Satan can never thwart God’s ultimate plan.
And yet, today’s Western society is enticed by practical mystics who
deny, by their own proclamations, God’s plan of eternal salvation.
Will the majority of mankind come to believe that all is one and
there is no line to be drawn in the sand regarding good and evil?
The Bible admonishes, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and
good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).
Yet, such a plan now exists and will shape future events—events
that will alter the course on which millions will advance.
Ray Yungen (1952-2016) studied and wrote about the New Age
movement and its influence in the world and in the church for over
twenty-five years. His groundbreaking book, A Time of Departing,
documents how the contemplative prayer movement has entered the
evangelical/Protestant church. You can read more about Ray and his
work at www.atimeofdeparting.com.
ENDNOTES:
1. David Spangler, “The New Age is Here” (New Thought magazine,
Spring 1989), p. 6.
2. A personal e-mail sent to Ray Yungen in 2005.
3. Joy Gardner-Gordon, Pocket Guide to the Chakras (Berkley, CA:
Crossing Press, 1998), p. 31.
4. Glenn Derrick, “Reiki and Chi Kung” (Reiki News, Winter 1994,
http://www.reiki.org//reikinews/reikin19.html), p. 12.
5. Neil T. Anderson, Terry E. Zuehlke, Julianne S. Zuehlke, Christ
Centered Therapy: The Practical Integration of Theology and Psychology
(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000), p. 61.
SPRING 2020