Calling all pastors, ministry leaders, and inner healing/deliverance prayer warriors interested in ministering to the new age as a cultural group!

Did you know that 20% of Americans report being spiritual but not religious? Or that yoga and meditation have become a multi-billion dollar industry?

Spiritual seekers need your guidance and direction in this post-60s/70s spiritual climate, but it's easy to do more harm than good if not careful.

In this two-part video series, we'll discuss:

How the de-churched/unchurched view relationship with God differently
Important theological boundaries in Christian liberty
Clarification in handling new age questions about faith

As promised, here's a link to that Christian Spirituality e-book with 80 written out verses on the new age and faith:

https://pages.yogaofrelationship.co/freebie

Send me a video message to respond to this podcast episode with your input and I'll address it in a future episode!

Want to learn more about growing your lay ministry or contemplative Christian recovery community? Join us here!

https://yogaofrelationship.co/ministry-school

Theological Statement (Brees, 2022):

Yoga is essentially meditation, and the result of meditation is union (translated in Sanskrit as yoga) with God. All religions meditate as they all pray. That in no way precludes Christians from meditating or practicing Christian yoga. Postures are a recent development of modern yoga only designed to prepare the body to sit in meditation. It does mean that we must remain theologically diligent in avoiding Hindu and Buddhist adaptions of yoga.

The Bible specifically prohibits witchcraft and worshipping or taking directions from the stars. Most new agers are not worshipping crystals, Mt. Shasta, or the stars--they are worshipping the self. Therefore, it's best to allow the Holy Spirit to guide them in discerning which of these 'new age' practices can be adapted into Christian spirituality post-conversion. For some who were really deceived in the new age, God might call them to a season of abstaining from all of it for clarity. In short, the benefits of the practices to rewire broken neural pathways to heal relationships with God, self, and others far outweigh the potential theological risks.

In regards to reiki, it translates to God-directed healing energy. Literally, the same dunamis energy/power Jesus used to lay on hands and perform his supernatural miracles. Although Christians should remain discerning, the mechanism of action present in laying on hands is entirely biblical. It's essentially acupuncture without the needles. Practices can be healing without being distinctly Christian due to God's common grace. We all have a nose like we all have life force--it's simply the breath of life which animates our spirit and can be healed.

Finally, the Bible contains over 80 references to 'new age' practices such as crystals, new moons, essential oils, incense, dream work, laying on of hands, and meditation. In the Old Testament, lots were cast to discern the will of God. New moons and crystals were a central tenant of Jewish worship. The Jewish calendar was lunar/solar. Daniel, Joseph, and Moses were trained in these shamanic/supernatural practices that God redeemed for his glory. The magi were descendants of Daniel who used the stars (God created) as prophetic gifts on steroids. (Job 38:33)

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