Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Are New Age, Wicca, And Christianity Compatible?

So often, over the years, I have heard people say, "I'm a Christian, but, I see nothing wrong with psychics, astrology, and superstitions." That is basically what my Forum Friend was saying when she told us she is a New Age/Christian/Wiccan. Sorry, no way. New Age and Wiccan are the antithesis, the total opposite, of Christianity. One cannot be short and tall, one cannot be fat and skinny -- and one cannot be New Age or Wiccan and be a Christian believer. Yet, on the Religion Forum I am chastised for pointing this out to my misguided Friend.

Yet, we all know that when we share the Gospel, there will be many who will disagree, many who will attempt to discredit us and the Gospel. Jesus told us, in Luke 6:22, "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man." And, in 1 Peter 4:14, we are told that this brings us blessings. So, praise God -- I am blessed!

Please feel free to share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's all keep sharing the Word of God, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- until He returns.

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Hi to my Forum Friends,

In another discussion begun by O No titled "Why We Are Here" my Forum Friend, B50, wrote, "It was a humbling moment. So I guess God can work through a New Age/Christian/Wiccan."

And, I responded to her with, "Not that I want to burst your bubble -- but, there is NO WAY a person can be New Age and Wiccan -- and be a Christian believer. The two are totally polar opposites. If you think you can wear both coats -- you are only fooling yourself."

Then, O No tells me, "I truly do believe that Bill, wittingly or unwittingly, IS working for the other side. The way he slams people who he KNOWS are believers, the way he insults people and tries to denigrate them. We all KNOW that is not Christian behavior! Bill pushes people AWAY from Christ by his actions and his venomous words."

O No, my Friend, when B50 tells us that she follows the New Age religion, this is what is meant:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age

The New Age (also referred to as the New Age movement, New Age spirituality, and Cosmic Humanism) is a decentralized Western social and spiritual movement . . . It includes aspects of Occultism, astrology, esotericism, metaphysics, alternative medicine, music, collectivism, sustainability, and nature.

The New Age movement includes elements of older spiritual and religious traditions ranging from atheism and monotheism through classical pantheism, . . . New Age practices and philosophies sometimes draw inspiration from major world religions: Buddhism, Chinese folk religion, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism; with particularly strong influences from East Asian religions, Gnosticism, Neopaganism, New Thought, Spiritualism, Theosophy, Universalism, and Western esotericism.


When B50 tells us that she follows the Wiccan religion, this is what is meant:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca

Wicca is a Neopagan religion and a form of modern witchcraft. It is often referred to as Witchcraft or the Craft by its adherents, who are known as Wiccans or Witches. Its disputed origins lie in England in the early 20th century, though it was first popularized during the 1950s by Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft", and its adherents "the Wica." >From the 1960s the name of the religion was normalized to "Wicca."

Wicca is typically a duotheistic religion, worshipping a Goddess and a God, who are traditionally viewed as the Triple Goddess and Horned God. These two deities are often viewed as being facets of a greater pantheistic Godhead, and as manifesting themselves as various polytheistic deities. Nonetheless, there are also other theological positions within the Craft, ranging from monotheism to atheism.


So, anyone telling us that he/she can follow a New Age religion, can follow the Wiccan religion -- and still be a Christian believer -- has NO idea what it means to be a Christian believer. As I have said many times before, New Age/Wiccan and Christianity are polar opposites.

One cannot be both. That would be analogous to saying, "I am going to spend eternity in heaven and in hell." No. Not possible. Sorry, my Friend -- that is totally impossible. One has to make a choice between the two -- just as one HAS to make a choice between world religions and Christianity.

O No, if you consider what I write to be "venomous words" -- I must suggest that you confuse the Gospel with "venomous words." And, as the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. . ." The key words here are "everyone who believes" -- and one cannot believe in and follow Jesus Christ while following antiChristian world religions.

My Friend, you accuse me of serving the wrong side. Do you think that, maybe, by trying to hold hands with all sides; you may be doing just what you accuse me of doing?

Joshua 24:15, "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

If you still disagree with me, you might want to do more research on the New Age, Wiccan, and other world religions -- and their relationships with Christianity. And, just possibly, you might want to take an introspective look inside to see if it is Bill Gray with whom you disagree -- or God.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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