Many who were raised in nonreligious homes and received materialistic evolution based educations are coming to admit that there must be an intelligent designer of the universe after all. I would be happy to report that these people are turning to Christ but many are not. Many are turning to eastern mysticism and New Age spirituality.

New Age spirituality can be defined as Hinduism modified by western culture. When Hinduism travels to the West it becomes "westernized." This westernized Hinduism is called "New Age" because its European and American followers believe that a new age or era in history is about to dawn.

The New Age faith is in many ways the polar opposite of Christianity. Instead of regarding God as a person, followers of the New Age regard God as an impersonal force diffused throughout nature. Instead of laws and morals there are virtually no taboos and everyone does what is right in his own eyes. Instead of a resurrection of the body there is reincarnation over and over again. Instead of the second coming of Christ they expect the coming of lord Maitreya whom Christians regard as an antichrist figure or perhaps even the antichrist himself. Instead of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, New Age adherents practice occultism such as sorcery that is specifically forbidden in the Bible.

I will point out that New Age groups vary widely both in doctrine and practice. The above mentioned doctrinal positions are broad generalizations.

UFO "abductions" virtually always involve occult practitioners. Many New Age adherents are deeply involved in alleged UFO phenomena and claim to receive messages from aliens and "ascended masters." The Christian view of UFOs is that they are not from civilizations on other planets but are demonic manifestations. UFOs don't come from another planet but do come from another dimension --- the realm of spirit, more specifically - demon spirits. There are several recent books penned by conservative Christians that explain the demonic roots of UFO phenomena.

The New Age movement is not just a small group of eccentrics dabbling in the occult but is a broad based movement with many adherents in high places in society. It has real spiritual power but this power is not from God. This power is from the demonic realm.

The Bible prophesies of a time when there will be a great falling away from the faith (2 Thess. 2:3) and the antichrist will arise (Revelation 13:1-18). Western civilization has fallen away from the Christian faith into both materialism (evolution) and more recently demonic New Age spirituality. Bible prophecies are being fulfilled in our time We are truly living in the last days!!

The Bible is scientifically accurate! Find the evidence at www.icr.org.  

Steps to salvation: Jesus said "Ye must be born again." (John 3:7)

1. Believe that God created you and loves you and sent the Messiah (Messiah is Hebrew for Christ) to redeem you.
2. Believe that Jesus the Messiah came in fulfillment of over 300 Bible prophecies to die for you to take upon Himself the penalty for your sins. (Isaiah 53:5-6, John 6:29, Romans 4:5, First Peter 3:18)
3. Turn from sin and call on the name of Jesus to receive forgiveness. (Romans 10:13)
4. Receive Jesus as Savior and experience the new birth. (John 1:12, Acts 2:38)
5. Follow Him as Lord. (John 14:21)

"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13)

To receive the salvation that Jesus purchased for us at the terrible cost of His suffering and death on our behalf I invite you to pray this simple prayer:

"Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus, the promised Messiah, to die for my sins. I admit that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness on the basis of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit to empower me to serve you under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, Amen."

If you prayed that prayer in the humble sincerity of your heart then you have received everlasting life, which includes power to live right in this life and entrance into heaven in the afterlife!

Bill Nugent, Overcomer Ministries of West Harrison, New York, USA

(C) 2010 William P. Nugent, permission granted to email or republish if credit given

< DEFENDING THE FAITH APOLOGETIC ARTICLES Bill Nugent currently writes a series of articles called "Defending the Faith" which, as the title suggests, defend the Christian faith from the many attacks leveled against it in our postmodern world. The articles deal with such topics as evolution, UFOs, cults, modern/postmodern philosophy, liberal theology and popular culture. At the end of each article is an invitation to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. These articles are sent out over the Internet to several opt-in email lists. People who receive these articles are encouraged to resend them to their own lists and in this way reach their own unsaved relatives and friends with the Gospel. All Defending the Faith articles are © 2009 William P. Nugent, permission is granted to email or republish if credit given. To receive these articles which are sent out once per month fill in your email address below and click the SUBMIT button. *Security: Write the characters in the image above (Case sensitive)