“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:13.

 

There’s a not-so-new “emerging movement” literally exploding onto the scene. It claims to be Christian yet shows clear-cut signs of dancing to a different tune. As you listen to the purveyors of this “New Christianity” you very quickly come to realize they are all about themselves. As a matter of fact you can listen to them for quite awhile before you ever hear the name of Jesus mentioned, and even then it’s only in a fleeting comment.

 

Honestly, while listening to these folks you will get the impression they are attempting to explain who they are, what they believe, and who they worship, yet when you walk away you’ll find yourself scratching your head in wonderment with no real idea of what they’re all about. Suffice it to say this new emerging movement, leaning heavily towards self awareness and contemplative spirituality, has significant false biblical roots.

 

“Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;” Deuteronomy 11:16. Here in the fifth book of the Torah, Moses is addressing the nation of Israel, but in the New Testament we read the same warning over and over again. God knew the Hebrews would be drawn away from Him through the deceitfulness of evil men. There’s no difference today. Many will be led astray by deceit, which is what we see emerging in this “New Christianity”.

 

This “New Christianity” threatens the Church today just as Gnostic teachings threatened the first century church. This is what the Apostle John warned believers about in his epistles, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 1:9. Both of these erroneous teachings are focused on removing the true doctrine of Christ from Christianity.

 

As we will soon see they are not alone. The roots of all deceptive teachings were firmly established way back in the Garden of Eden where Satan first put doubt in the mind of Eve. Satan’s lying words convinced Eve, who in turn convinced Adam, to reject God’s truth and accept the lie. Satan still calls God and the Bible into question and ensnares those who are either naïve and scripturally uninformed or who are seeking some personal revelation to make them feel special, unique, and superior to others.

 

This “New Christianity” is aimed at young adults and those who’ve been disillusioned for one reason or another by mainstream Christianity. Following the inerrant word of God is not part of this new belief system. Actually what the leaders of this movement profess is just opposite. They see a need to re-establish Christianity and re-mold it into a force that fits today’s evolving post-modern culture. I’ve heard they’re now 60 million strong and growing.

 

As I listen to these folks spew their ten dollar words I hear very little substance, which leads me to conclude they are only full of hot air. How is it that people can get so far away from the truth of God’s word and still look at themselves as Christians? The Bible is no longer significant in their minds but they will follow the writings of their leaders unabashedly. There is no room for absolute truth, and social tolerance has become the gospel of this “New Christianity”.

 

While in their worship services all the attendees become a living part of the service almost as though they are acting out a scene from a movie. Their meetings include some rituals associated with Catholicism, a little Eastern Orthodox, and for good measure they throw in nuances reflecting other Eastern religions with their yoga and mysticism. It’s not surprising that Jesus is hardly mentioned. Why would he be? Hindus and Buddhist don’t accept Jesus as their savior. Even many Catholics now days look to Mary for their salvation.

 

When we as Christians step back and take a look at our Christian faith, what is the most important aspect of Christianity? Jesus Christ! As believers, Jesus Christ is the center of our very existence and we know our faith rests in Him. Our lives are His and we are to devote ourselves to Him. A true believer quickly realizes that this new life we now enjoy is all about Jesus the Christ, Creator and sustainer of the universe and everything in it. It’s His game plan that we are His disciples. Christianity has worked for the last two thousand years and true Christianity is still working. There’s nothing negative or boring about the message of the Gospel. Jesus Christ is life itself. Without Christ in your worship service the only message you’ll hear will be from His nemesis.

 

“The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.” Proverbs 19:3. When we hear of any “New” movement that lays claim to being “Christian” but actually detracts from God’s inerrant word, think Satanic. The enemy’s purpose is to divide and conquer, to guide people away from the truth of the message of the cross. This new emerging movement along with this worlds other false religions all have satanic roots. Satan begins by placing doubt in people’s minds and he never changes his approach. Why should he? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

 

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said” Genesis 3:1a. If Satan can place doubt in a person’s mind which denies God’s absolute truth then even his lies will sound truthful. Soon, even the once faithful Christian is drawn away from Christ. Satan’s goal is to bring a message that will ultimately derail true Christianity. It may seem that he’s succeeding, but we who truly believe and follow the living Christ know who ultimately succeeds in the end.

 

It’s incredibly foolish to follow someone who professes to be a Christian and yet disregards Jesus and His word. That is the “New Christianity”, very persuasive and even attractive in all its casualness. Jesus is very hard to locate in their worship services. Outwardly this movement is seen by its followers as some great and wonderful replacement to the old tired traditions of the Christian past. 

 

If you’re a young adult reading this commentary and you’ve become disillusioned with “traditional” Christianity, listen up. Even though innumerable multitudes have given themselves to the Lord over the past 2,000 years, many of whom were martyred for standing firm in their faith, you believe Christianity is broken and this “New Christianity” is the fix. This is a huge satanic deception, my young friend. True Christianity has been spread worldwide. Explain to me how that would have been possible without Christ. How could Christianity have ever come this far? In the minds of the adherents to this “New Christianity, for the last 2,000 years Christ’s Church has just been limping along barely surviving.

 

Because the folks following this new movement are looking for something different, something more exciting, something other than their parents Christianity, Satan will do everything he can to accommodate them in their quest. We shouldn’t be fooled by this easy belief system guided by articulate, persuasive, even charismatic speakers who’ve given themselves over to the enemy. “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” Proverbs 15:2. These foolish leaders are only following their father Satan, liar extraordinaire.

 

Satanic attempts at re-establishing, or re-making Christianity abound today. The truth is everybody searches for God. They’re searching for something but they know not what. This leaves a big empty hole in their soul that needs to be filled. This “New Christianity” is there to convince the searcher that their club is the best. Actually it’s Satan’s club and he wants you to become a permanent member.

 

Then again, many erroneously believe that they’ve found God apart from Jesus Christ. This “New Christianity” is just one of the many vehicles Satan is using today to draw people away from the Savior of the world. People occasionally make the erroneous statement “I found God”; God draws us to His Son not the other way around. Only through the Son can we have a relationship with the Father.

 

Whether you sit around on your circled couches believing that self realization, prayer mantras, prayer labyrinths, yoga, contemplative spirituality, lighting candles or sitting in the dark contemplating your navel will bring you closer to God, or if you follow one of the numerous other false religions of this world, what must be considered is that any teaching which leads folks away from the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and who He really is, conforms perfectly to Satan’s agenda.

 

Whether it’s Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, New Age (which really isn’t new at all), Contemplative Spirituality, Emerging Church or any other false religion that diminishes what Christ accomplished on the cross, you can be assured they all are leading their adherents to Hell. Satan is the father of all lies and he is the initiator and leader of every false religion on this planet. He’s drawing multitudes down that “broad way” that leads to destruction.

 

“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:10, 11. John was quite adamant about these false doctrines. When he addresses his second epistle to the elect lady, who many believe to be Mary the mother of Jesus, he admonishes her and all who are with her to heed his warning, even to the exclusion of inviting them into their homes. Alas, if folks would only pay attention to the scriptures many would not have been deceived.      

 

You and I are only pawns Satan uses in his attempt to thwart God’s end game strategy. Satan hates the human race and that is the truth. Satan’s doomed and he knows it. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:10. He will scheme and lie and introduce all forms of “New Christianity” (ideas that are actually the antithesis of true Christianity) into the world to take as many foolish, gullible people with him to their destruction.

 

God tells us in His word what to look for as the days of the end draw ever closer and certainly we can see for ourselves the signs He spoke of are unfolding before us with uncommon speed. Those who are easily deceived are simply falling for the same old tired lie Satan has been throwing at us for the past 6,000 years.

 

In His Olivet Discourse message, Jesus gives four of His disciples, and ultimately all of us who would listen, a command to “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Matthew 24:4. Jesus is saying “Heed My warning, men are coming, who will deceive you if you let them” (Paraphrase mine).

 

Jesus knew many would be deceived if He didn’t give that warning, but many are being deceived everyday because they won’t heed His warning just as Adam and Eve did not heed God’s words in the Garden of Eden.

 

“If ye love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15. Those who love Jesus and study His word are going to be prepared to confront whoever would come to deceive them. Those who don’t won’t.

 

As I read more and more about these false teachings which are permeating our Church and culture, my Savior’s words in Matthew’s Gospel continually flood my mind: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14.  The Greek word used here to indicate few is “oligos” and used in this instance denotes a number quantity and size, such as few, little, small, slight.

 

Jesus Christ, Almighty God, is telling you and me that He is the strait gate, the narrow way and it’s only through Him that we will be able to enjoy everlasting life. This is the truth that Satan is working overtime to corrupt. Satan will live forever but once God sends him to the Lake burning with Fire and Brimstone he’ll not be able to enjoy his deceitfulness ever again. Nor will any of those who followed him.

 

When I see so many falling for this “New Christianity” and all those other false religions my heart sinks. I can’t help but reflect on Jesus words. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14. There’s that word “few” again. The names of the redeemed are written in the Lambs book of life. It is somewhat disheartening to realize God knew these evil deceptions would flourish as the days grew to a close on planet earth.

 

Before the foundation of the world, God had a little book with everyone’s name written there who would eventually believe the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These are the ones the Bible tells us will live forever. Certainly taking any other path to God instead of through His only begotten Son would not bode well for ones name being written in Lamb’s book of life.

 

The phrase “choose wisely” never grows old does it?

 

God bless you all,

 

Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

All scripture is from the KJV