New Age Religion - Warren Berkley
One imposing religious trend on the rise all around
us is the New Age movement. It is a rather bizarre assortment of diverse beliefs and
practices, but it begins with the core assumption that all human ills stems from an
ignorance or inability to see ourselves as god.
Their philosophy, ritual and lifestyle is based on a "spirituality" that places
primary importance on discovering your own divinity. Once they lead their candidates to
discover their own divinity, they are encouraged to nurture and use their new powers in a
variety of ways. Of course, there is a biblical response to all of this:
1. The essence of God and the essence of man are not one and the same. New Age people want
to tell us that we donıt really know who we are: we are actually deity! With the King of
Trye, these people need to hear the prophet: "Thou art a man, and not God!" See,
Rom. 1:25-26; Eccl. 5:2; Ezek. 28:1,2; Deut. 4:35;1 Cor. 8:6.
2. Human begins do not enjoy unlimited potential. Once the New Age guru indoctrinates his
disciple to accept his/her deity, the next step is to explore and claim powers associated
with deity. Yet we are humans, surrounded by the limitations of our humanity (there are
things we cannot do: Matt. 6:24; Titus 3:5; John 8:21; 13:33). See, Prov. 3:5; Jer. 10:23.
3. There are moral absolutes. Clearly, there is a link here: If we are all god (as New
Agers allege), with supernatural powers that need to be discovered and used; if there is
no single, personal God (as in the bible), there is no absolute standard. Do away with a
personal, singular God, and you throw the concept of an absolute standard out of the same
self-serving window. See, Jer. 10:23; Ps. 19:7-11.
4. In the Bible, there is resurrection, not reincarnation. Reincarnation is at the center
of the New Age concept of life and death. Yet, we believe we will be resurrected, not
re-cycled. "It is appointed for men to die once." See, Heb. 9:27,28; Jno.
5:28,29.
5. Pantheism is not the biblical concept of deity. This is the belief that there is no
single, personal God; but that EVERYTHING IS GOD. Our conviction is that God "alone
is the Lord, the most high over all the earth," (Psa. 83:18; see also Isa. 6:3; Rom.
1:23). "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in
him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (1
Corinthians 8:6, KJV).
Long ago God was displeased with His people, because
they were "filled with eastern ways," (Isa. 2:6). Let us beware of that danger
today, and may our message to this age be that Jesus Christ is "the way, the truth,
and the life," and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
•••
Transportation for Zelma Bobbitt
‹ March ‹
Sun., 21, am - Craig O.
pm - Hurst
Wed., 24, pm - Rocky Rodriguez
Sun., 28, am - Craig O. pm - Craig
O.
Wed., 31, pm - Schindler
‹ April ‹
Sun., 4, am - pm -
Wed., 7, pm -
Sun., 11, am - pm - Hurst
Wed., 14, pm -
Sun., 18, am - pm -
Wed., 21, pm -
Sun., 25, am - Rice pm -
Wed., 28, pm - Rocky Rodriguez
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The monthly singing practice is scheduled after evening
assembly today.
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Area Gospel Meetings
Mar. 26-28 - Cy-Fair - David Smitherman
Mar. 27-31 - College Park
- David Tant
Mar. 28-Apr. 2 - Eastside
- Lawrence Kelly
Apr. 4-9 - House St., Alvin
- Jimmy Stevens
For further information, see announcements in the foyer.
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News of Interest
Barbara Simpson is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday . . . Linda Hurst
is schduled to have surgery Wednesday . . . Preaching this evening: David Osteen .
. . If you are teaching, the elders request you be present at least ten minutes before
time to begin. Thanks for your cooperation . . . If you have internet access, have you
visited the churchıs new web site (http://www.kingwoodcable.com/
colblip/humblechurchofchrist/)? Our thanks to Wally Ottersbach for constructing and
maintaining this for the church . . . Our thanks to Jeff Bogs for the speedy
progress on the new construction. Letıs watch the children so no one gets hurt . . . Have
you got June 20-25 marked on your calendar? Those are the dates of our next gospel meeting
. . . "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." Ps.
119:105. Letıs keep the lamp on!
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SCHEDULED TO SERVE
Wednesday, March 24
Song Leader: Charles Tu
Sunday AM, March 28
Announcements: Rocky Rodriguez
Song Leader: Dwight Osteen
First Prayer: Doug Bernard
Lord's Table:
Bread: Wallace Ottersbach
Fruit of the Vine: Gregg Hutson
Contribution: Larry Legg
Assistant: Bill Faulkner
Closing Prayer: Mark Ary
Sunday PM, March 28
Song Leader: Jim Crain
First Prayer: Glenn Bogs
Lord's Table:
Bread: David Dickey
Fruit of the Vine: Mark Hargrove
Contribution: Fred Ferguson
Closing Prayer: Mike Akins