Except for the Scriptures, there was only one other
book that had impacted my life over the last twenty years with a lasting
effect. In 1985 Dave Hunt wrote a book dealing with spiritual
discernment in the last days, 'The Seduction of Christianity', which
opened my eyes to the spreading delusion of the "New Age" having
already, at that time, infiltrated the mindset of the leadership of the
Body of Christ. This book reveals how the New Age occultism has been
accepted without reservation within many of the known movements of
Christianity, from Evangelicals to Charismatics to Pentecostals.
I received a book last week and as I began to
read, I was reminded of the book written by Dave Hunt almost twenty
years prior and found this book also had a similar effect on me. In 2002, Ray Yungen wrote a book, 'A Time of Departing',
about the "New Age" and how this "universal spirituality is changing the
face of Christianity," and he writes to warn the us of how deeply
we have been infected in all areas of the church life.
And I really do mean infected, like a cancer, that begins
unnoticed and gradually eats away and takes over ones body until it is
either recognized for what it is and surgically removed or the body
eventually dies. The Church, in the same way, has been swallowed up by
the New Age and is now become the "New Age Church." It happened ever so slowly
that we didn't even notice, we became so comfortable, appetites sated,
having our ears tickled, that we didn't even realize that we were being
assimilated.
Getting back to Ray's book, I was re-awakened to the
reality that is upon us now as he opened my eyes to the dangers of
Contemplative Prayer, tracing the concept back to its unbiblical
roots, back to the Dark Ages, when the Word of God was of little effect
and many mystical pagan beliefs were incorporated into the practices and
beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church.
We now have been so taken up with the ecumenical
movement, that we are even looking at the mystics of the past, including
many of the Roman Catholic mystics. The doors have been flung wide open
today as our desire for things spiritual overrides our need to test the
spirits, to discern good from evil, because the New Age has told us that
all things spiritual are good.
Please investigate both of these authors and get these
two books, to see the trail of the New Age influences upon the Body of
Christ over the last 40 to 50 years.
I also want to encourage those who see the
"overshadowing" effects of the New Age within their own churches and
fellowships (The
Overshadowing). It is my own personal belief that we are in the time
of the deluding influence, to believe what is false, which is God's
judgment upon the Body of Christ. I still have hope for those, whose
eyes God would open, to be rescued out of the delusion and restored in
Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2
10And
with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved.
11And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie:
12That
they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure
in unrighteousness.
How is this an encouragement, you may ask? In Jude
1:17-25 we see that with wolves at their door and even among their
own, Jude encouraged them to build themselves up in the Holy Spirit, to
have mercy on those who were doubting, saving others, snatching them out
of the fire. And he said to keep yourselves in the love of God,
waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal
love.
17But,
beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the
apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18How
that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who
should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19These
be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20But
ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying
in the Holy Ghost,
21Keep
yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus
Christ unto eternal life.
22And
of some have compassion, making a difference:
23And
others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the
garment spotted by the flesh.
24Now
unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you
faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25To
the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and
power, both now and ever. Amen.
Both Dave Hunt and Ray Yungen have been faithful in
their calling to be watchmen in the Body of Christ. I wholeheartedly
endorse these two books as tools for you, the believer, to learn to
discern for yourselves what effect the New Age has had upon you and upon
the Body of Christ
Dave Hunt's book, The Seduction of Christianity
can be purchased at his web site,
The
Berean Call, and going to the bookstore page and using the
bookstore search or you can go to most any online Christian bookstore or
even your own local bookstore.
Please check out our
New Age
Occultism page for more regarding how the New Age has not
only infiltrated, but it has changed the way we look at the Body of
Christ today. The question needs to be asked; have we become the New Age
Church?
