Questions about New Age:
Hi, hope you may be able to help. I am in school to become a massage therapist. I love the work and have found my calling. I truly believe God can work through me to positively impact the lives of others.
In school, my instructor is definitely new age. As many massage therapists I have been in contact with, the people at school are either rather agnostic, raised Christian but haven't a clue and have no interest, or are new age.
This month, our focus is on what the instructor calls "spirituality". Today we had to listen all day to audio c.d. of Carolyn Myss, who I believe is a nut, plain and simple. The instructor adores the woman, calls her a "medical intuitive" and insists we listen. The instructor says she will bring more speakers on audio tape and c.d. throughout the month.
We are required to sit and listen to this baloney about how we chose our parents before birth, channelled ourselves down into our earthly bodies, have these "guides" or "angels", 3 different ones, and have all signed "contracts" before we were even born...our instructor tells us we have to be open-minded, yet she is anything but open-minded when it comes to Christianity, lumping it all, each and every time, with her "bad Catholic upbringing experiences" and encourages others to share their own Catholic school/church horror stories, since apparently many classmembers are former Catholics. In fact, Carolyn Myss was raised Catholic.
These experiences do not speak for the whole of Christianity and I'm afraid those without any true Christian background are getting a skewed view. Plus, this baloney about Carolyn Myss. How can I effectively share the truth (I have always been more the quiet type) without making a scene?
I just want to shout, "This is craziness!" but, of course, I don't. I am willing to stand up but am not sure what to say or how to diffuse the anger that'll probably be unleashed toward me.
Verses that speak of Jesus being the way, truth, life, ONLY path to God, are useless to thses people because they have no faith whatsoever. It means nothing to them that Jesus said any of it. Their hearts are hardened;they only believe in themselves, and the instructor (all through the course) imparts the philosophy to look out for number one (one's self) and who cares if someone else doesn't like it. Well, I guess I could say what I need to say and repeat her words to her that I'm looking out for number one (GOD) and I am an "approved workman, unafraid..." Any help's appreciated.

A: Dear Friend, you have the right to excuse yourself from the times this instructor plays tapes or has speakers which are new age. These types of classes should not be part of the required curriculum.
I would also encourage you to go the dean of the school about this if the instructor demands that you stay and listen. Ask the Dean to be excused from the classes which are about spirituality since this is not about massage therapy or a mandated part of the curriculum. I understand that most of the massage therapy schools incorporate new age teaching but, it should not be required for you to graduate.
I would encourage you also to speak your mind about your spiritual opinions and views when the instructor interjects her spiritual views in the class. You may be surprised to find that there are others who believe as you do and then, they will be inspired to begin to speak up when they see you do it. You will also find seekers who will ask you questions afterwards. Of course, there will also be those who put your views down, but, then, Jesus was persecuted so why should it be any different for us.
You will need to be fervently in prayer about all of this and ask your Christian friends and leaders of your church to pray for you as Satan has a hold on these people.
Quoting Jesus is always a great way to present the truth and you can even include it in a question like: "what do you think about the statement Jesus made "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but, by me?" This way you are presenting the truth about Christ and quoting scripture, but, asking her/their opinion about it.....so, it is more palatable.
And then, when your instructor comes back with something about .....Jesus was just another teacher or what He said was not true because there are many paths to God.... or we can all become like god... etc. You should prepare to share the Lord, liar, lunatic argument that C.S. Lewis gives. You need to stay on the subject of the identity of Christ since that is really the issue.
Jesus always challenged people to believe in Him as the Messiah.
Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 9:18-20: "Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" 19 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." 20 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God." NIV See articles on faith in the FAQ section for more arguments and evidence for Christianity.
Here is the C.S. Lewis quote: "If you don't believe Jesus was who He said He was- God, then you have only 2 other choices: to believe that He was a liar or a lunatic, because only a liar or a lunatic or God would or could make such extraordinary claims. C. S. Lewis, a converted atheist, wrote in Mere Christianity... "I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say.
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic-on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg-or else he would be the Devil of Hell.
You must make your choice. Either this man was and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."
Get this book: Answers to Questions Skeptics Ask about Christianity by Josh McDowell: and other books on faith to help you grow in your response to questions and arguments and help you defend the faith. See: Christian Answers and Midwest Christian Outreach for more information on new age thinking and answers to your questions.
1 Peter 3:13-16 says, "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." NIV
God bless you in your stand for Christ! You will be persecuted, but, your suffering will not be in vain because it is for Christ.
Also, I would encourage you to consider calling the Religious Freedom organization if your school tries to require you attend new age classes/teaching.
See these links to Religious Freedom Resources: American Center for Law & Justice: Defending the Rights of Believers: Jay Sekulow (757) 226-2489 Fax: (757)226-2836
Center for Law and Religious Freedom: 1-703-642-1070 Christian Legal Society
Rutherford Institute:1-804-978-3888; email: jwhitehead@rutherford.org .
May I have permission to post your question anonymously on my site? Thanks. Lynette Hoy, NCC, LCPC
I would recommend the following books for more help on this topic:  
Reasons by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart    
Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask about the Christian Faith by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart  
Larson's New Book of Cults by Bob Larson  
Christianity 101 : Your Guide to Eight Basic Christian Beliefs by Gilbert Bilezikian, Bill Hybels  
Straight Answers on the New Age by Bob Larson
Embraced by the Darkness : Exposing New Age Theology from the Inside Out by Brad Scott

Top of page

Don't get me wrong, I believe that the Bible is the only inspired and 
true revelation of Jesus Christ, and that we should be cautious of 
careless misinterpretations of scripture--And I even got an "A" in 
apologetics" in Assemblies of God Bible College!  But I still have an 
intuitive, "inner self", mystical outlook so often and truthfully I FEEL 
VERY CONDEMNED for it!!  But why would God make me so unconventional and so easily misunderstood?  I am still looked upon as having a self-centered mystical outlook (At least I think I am).  My question is; "What can I do with that?" It is not very well accepted where I come from, but if I'm forced to conform, I feel like a misfit.  I am so afraid I will go astray and become involved in a cult, or something.  Is that an unreasonable fear? Do you think maybe I am just a normal Christian struggling with a less common area of temptation? Like some struggle with pornography, some with power and control, and maybe I'm just struggling with the temptation to be mystical?  Possiblities are always endless, but I need help narrowing them down. 
Thank you for at least reading this if you can't answer online, could 
you please at least email me with info about someone who can? 
Thanks, and God Bless, iNfp female; 23 

A: Dear iNfp female:   I think there is a difference between being mystical and an infp personality temperament.   Your personality temperament is a bent or traits & characteristics that make up the way you as a person relate to the world, take in information, & make decisions. 
These subjective human tendencies- a part of your personality- need to grow and change since as Christians we are in the process of sanctification...becoming more like Christ.  Our personality bent differs from "mystical" ways of thinking which seek to discorver the spiritual world of reality.  
If you and I believe that Jesus Christ is who He said He was-God, that He died on the cross for the redemption of the world, that He is as He said "the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except by Me (John 14:6)" then we believe that spiritual reality is discovered objectively in Christ not subjectively.  
Spiritual reality therefore cannot and should not be based on an inner mystical sense.  Mysticism looks for truth and meaning within. It is based on a person's  experience, opinions and feelings.  Webster's defines mysticism as:' the belief that direct knowledge of God, spiritual truth or ultimate reality, can be obtained through subjective experience (as intuition or insight)." 
It is one thing to get an inner feeling or insight into a personal situation or event as an intuitor or feeler personality and use that for insight into 
making a decision.   It is quite another thing to make your inner subjective insight the basis for your belief in God and spiritual truth.  Christianity is based on the objective truth of the revelation of God in the Bible and in the life of Jesus Christ. Since we are sinners and live in a broken world, we must always renew our minds, and align our thoughts, opinions and feelings to coincide with the Word of God.  The Bible claims to be God's word to you, to me  & the rest of the world.  
2 Tim 3:16-17 
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, 
correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV) 
     If you keep reading and believing that the Bible is the ultimate truth vs. any inner sense of spiritual reality which contradicts scripture (as New Age, Eastern mysticism philosophy, & the occult does) you will guard yourself from falling into a cult or heresy.  Jesus Christ is God, the truth, the One with whom you can have a personal relationship.    
We have broken, fallible consciences, minds, emotions, personalities and bodies and thus we cannot trust our inner sense or other people's opinions unless it coincides with the revelation of God in the Bible. 
Knowing our temperaments can give us some understanding of our personalities, but it will not give us a solid basis for understanding objective spiritual truth.  Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, the Shepherd, the Redeemer, the Creator, the Savior, the way, the truth and the life.  He is the truth and will guide us into all truth.  
Read, reflect and contemplate some of the following verses in which Jesus claims to tell the truth, to be the truth and to guide us into truth: 

Mark 10:29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel  

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

John 3:3  In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 

John 3:5  Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 

John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 

John 6:47  I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 

John 8:34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 

John 14:6  Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

John 14:17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 

John 15:26  "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 

John 16:13  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 

John 17:17  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 

John 18:37  "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (NIV) 

God bless you!   I hope this was helpful.   You can check out my faq on faith for more help.    Also, you could write Pastor Ray Pritchard for an answer to your question.    May I have permission to use your question anonymously in my advice column?    Thank you.  
Lynette Hoy, NCC, LCPC 

Top of page