New Age practices in the body of Christ

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,432
3,684
113
#1
I thought it might be educational if people would share some New Age practices they've encountered in church. I have some of my own but I'll give others a chance to respond first. Where are all these New Age teachings and practices coming from, and why do people accept them so easily?
 

Artios1

Born again to serve
Dec 11, 2020
678
420
63
#2
I thought it might be educational if people would share some New Age practices they've encountered in church. I have some of my own but I'll give others a chance to respond first. Where are all these New Age teachings and practices coming from, and why do people accept them so easily?
Why indeed? Maybe it’s the mysticism.

Both practice and philosophy related to new age are at variance with the Word of God.
No matter how someone dresses it up, or gives it appearance of harmonizing with the Christian beliefs …It loses it’s luster when matched against the Truth.
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
3,044
1,799
113
#3
Racism: like "black" or "white" churches.; typically in the south.
Displaying a flag of a country in the area where the people meet.
501(c)3 registration.
"Church boards" and "voting" on leadership, where the majority vote is certified.
The elevation of the wealthy to positions of prominence without consideration of their character.
Youth programs that usurp the role of godly parents as the primary source of instruction for children.
"Pastors" of programs and ideas like "lead" pastors and "associate" pastors.
Pastor-centered hegemony for vision and direction and pastor-centered administration.
The practice that believers are only accountable to God for their actions.
Cult-like, predictable messages: mother's day, father's day, graduations, Christmas, Easter, New Years, voting season, Memorial Day, etc.
The exaltation of a country's military and proclaiming that, by their hands, we have freedom.
Adulterers remaining in the congregation without public repentance and action.
Ameri-centric values preached as universal church truths.
Only one person speaking. Usually this person is paid a salary.
Requiring a seminary degree to qualify people for teaching and leadership positions.
Calling a building a "church".
The veneration of the dead via statues and art.

Much of the above is accepted because of tradition and culture. There is little understanding, among Christians, of the characteristics of the culture of the Kingdom of God. Therefore, they are more likely to accept practices that reflect their own traditions without questioning their origin.
 

RaceRunner

Well-known member
Oct 13, 2022
1,576
289
83
#4
Racism: like "black" or "white" churches.; typically in the south.
Displaying a flag of a country in the area where the people meet.
501(c)3 registration.
"Church boards" and "voting" on leadership, where the majority vote is certified.
The elevation of the wealthy to positions of prominence without consideration of their character.
Youth programs that usurp the role of godly parents as the primary source of instruction for children.
"Pastors" of programs and ideas like "lead" pastors and "associate" pastors.
Pastor-centered hegemony for vision and direction and pastor-centered administration.
The practice that believers are only accountable to God for their actions.
Cult-like, predictable messages: mother's day, father's day, graduations, Christmas, Easter, New Years, voting season, Memorial Day, etc.
The exaltation of a country's military and proclaiming that, by their hands, we have freedom.
Adulterers remaining in the congregation without public repentance and action.
Ameri-centric values preached as universal church truths.
Only one person speaking. Usually this person is paid a salary.
Requiring a seminary degree to qualify people for teaching and leadership positions.
Calling a building a "church".
The veneration of the dead via statues and art.

Much of the above is accepted because of tradition and culture. There is little understanding, among Christians, of the characteristics of the culture of the Kingdom of God. Therefore, they are more likely to accept practices that reflect their own traditions without questioning their origin.
Do you believe the whole Holy Bible is necessary for salvation?
 

MsMediator

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2022
1,166
769
113
#5
Free yoga and liturgical dance.

I think both are fine if done correctly. I think Christian yoga is offered under a different name but still has many of the same moves.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,606
13,862
113
#7
Free yoga and liturgical dance.

I think both are fine if done correctly. I think Christian yoga is offered under a different name but still has many of the same moves.
There is no "fine" yoga; it is a worship practice of a non-Christian belief system. Stretching is legitimate, but yoga, even under a different name, is not.

As for "liturgical dance", it sounds like a fancy name for Christianized exercise classes (nothing inherently wrong in that). Dancing in worship is biblically sound, and there are appropriate guidelines (like not disrobing as David did), but beyond that there is no scriptural instruction.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
113
#8
Much of the above is accepted because of tradition and culture.
I don't think that the items you mentioned would be classified as "New Age". Possibly "Traditionalist". According to a former New Age teacher who was converted, she lists the following as New Age influences (and others which are not necessarily New Age):

1. Looking for "special revelations" and "prophetic words"
2. Assuming Christians to be "little gods"
3. Yoga
4. Reiki and energy healing
5. Crystal idolatry
6. Essential oils idolatry
7. Praying to angels
8. The Enneargram personality test
9. Positive affirmations
10. "Jesus Calling" Books

She does not mention the Kundalini energy (or spirit) and its connection to yoga (which is derived from Hinduism) but it did influence some churches. This is basically occultism and connected with demonic spirits.

Some connect the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) Movement to New Age activity.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
113
#9
I think Christian yoga is offered under a different name but still has many of the same moves.
There is no such thing as "Christian yoga". If you dig deeper you will discover that yoga and Hindu false gods are directly connected. The yogis invoke these gods and also worship them.
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
3,044
1,799
113
#10
Do you believe the whole Holy Bible is necessary for salvation?
No. Many believers were sealed in Christ before much of the New Testament was written.
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
3,044
1,799
113
#11
I don't think that the items you mentioned would be classified as "New Age". Possibly "Traditionalist". According to a former New Age teacher who was converted, she lists the following as New Age influences (and others which are not necessarily New Age):

1. Looking for "special revelations" and "prophetic words"
2. Assuming Christians to be "little gods"
3. Yoga
4. Reiki and energy healing
5. Crystal idolatry
6. Essential oils idolatry
7. Praying to angels
8. The Enneargram personality test
9. Positive affirmations
10. "Jesus Calling" Books

She does not mention the Kundalini energy (or spirit) and its connection to yoga (which is derived from Hinduism) but it did influence some churches. This is basically occultism and connected with demonic spirits.

Some connect the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) Movement to New Age activity.
They're certainly "new" from the perspective of the churches in the New Testament.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,176
3,700
113
#13
I thought it might be educational if people would share some New Age practices they've encountered in church. I have some of my own but I'll give others a chance to respond first. Where are all these New Age teachings and practices coming from, and why do people accept them so easily?
1. Lights turned off or really dimmed down
2. Fog machines
3. Light shows
 
F

FollowingtheWay

Guest
#14
Let’s just not be confusing the alleged new age stuff- which I oppose. with the legitimate spiritual disciplines that were practiced down through the ages up till the last 100 years. When is the last time your Church had a sermon on the disciplines of practicing silence, solitude , prayer, fasting? Jesus did them quite regularly shouldn’t every believer follow his example. Not as perfection but direction. Perhaps if our modern churches actively encouraged and offered teaching on the spiritual disciplines the youth wouldn’t go searching for it in vain in the new age stuff. If you worry about those who appear as “emotionalism” emotional worship is biblical- have ya read the Psalms. David gets pretty emotional. Just a thought. 🤷‍♂️
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,432
3,684
113
#15
Let’s just not be confusing the alleged new age stuff- which I oppose. with the legitimate spiritual disciplines that were practiced down through the ages up till the last 100 years. When is the last time your Church had a sermon on the disciplines of practicing silence, solitude , prayer, fasting? Jesus did them quite regularly shouldn’t every believer follow his example. Not as perfection but direction. Perhaps if our modern churches actively encouraged and offered teaching on the spiritual disciplines the youth wouldn’t go searching for it in vain in the new age stuff. If you worry about those who appear as “emotionalism” emotional worship is biblical- have ya read the Psalms. David gets pretty emotional. Just a thought.
I'm not talking about people going in search of New Age; I'm talking about New Age practices being imported into the body of Christ.
 
F

FollowingtheWay

Guest
#17
I'm not talking about people going in search of New Age; I'm talking about New Age practices being imported into the body of Christ.
Ever considered that the two might be linked? We don’t teach the spiritual disciplines normally so the ignorant import in other teachings because they are hungry for more of God but are being misguided and aren’t being provided the biblical teachings of the deeper life with Christ?
 

shittim

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2016
13,947
7,859
113
#18
I thought it might be educational if people would share some New Age practices they've encountered in church. I have some of my own but I'll give others a chance to respond first. Where are all these New Age teachings and practices coming from, and why do people accept them so easily?
Do you ever think what is in line with Galatians c5-v22&23?:)(y):unsure:
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,432
3,684
113
#19
Ever considered that the two might be linked? We don’t teach the spiritual disciplines normally so the ignorant import in other teachings because they are hungry for more of God but are being misguided and aren’t being provided the biblical teachings of the deeper life with Christ?
No, that never occurred to me. I'm interested in New Age practices that have already been imported into the body of Christ, not "spiritual disciplines." That seems to be your pet project so go ahead and do them all you want; knock yourself out. I couldn't care less about them.
 

proutled

Active member
May 9, 2023
558
218
43
texas
#20
this is why we must teach, people about having a real relationship with Jesus. and make sure every thing lines up with the word of God.