As we prayerfully expose ourselves to the Scriptures, we begin to understand what God’s will is regarding our conduct and character. And then as the Holy Spirit applies His word to specific areas of our lives, and as we are obedient to His promptings, we begin to develop Bible-based convictions. Our values begin to change so that God’s standard becomes our delight and our desire.
Jerry Bridges

New Age Occultism

New Age Occultism

Fri, Dec 11, 1992 1:35:46 PM
I am reminded of the book “Life, the Universe, and Everything” by Douglas0 Adams. In this book, a civilization creates a computer, “deep thought;” whose0 purpose is to find the purpose of “life, the universe,and everything.”0

While the computer is running the program to find the answer, there is a0 great roar of protest from the philosophers of the world, who argue that the0 computer would put them all out of a job.0

The answer, when it was finally calculated, was 42.0 0

I am not going to say “listen to me, I have all of the answers;” 0 – because I do not. I lay no claim to knowledge of the universe, nor do I0 claim to have the absolute answer to all of the questions of personal0 morality; because I have learned that there are no such absolutes.0

The concept of a personal morality has long been ignored throughout0 history. It has been assumed that there is some governing body of laws which0 apply to all of man; but that does not take into account the diversity of man; 0 nor does it consider the private motives which go into mans actions.0

I do not choose to throw stones.0
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I can speak of the things that I have learned about myself in the past six 0 months, but it would be of no interest to anyone — because the things I have0 learned are particular to the specific circumstances of my life.0

If I have grown, it is only in the understanding that we all possess the0 ability to grow to our own potential.0

I have accepted myself as the imperfect being that I am. I have learned0 that I am stronger then I once thought I was. More then anything else; I have0 lost inhibition which comes from self-condemnation.0

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Oddly enough, my desire to speak with God came almost as a whim.0 0
I had always read alot of philosophy, and I had made a detailed study of0 all of the worlds major religions; and I was confused by the diversity of them 0 all.0

I could accept the basic tenets of Christianity. So too could I accept the 0 basic philosophy of Buddhism, Judaism, and most every religion in the world.0 There was in each of them, however, at least one thing which prevented me from 0 accepting them completely.0

In Judaism, it was their portrayal of God as being such an angry God;0 always willing to bring down fire upon all of those who opposed his “chosen0 people.”0

I could not accept from Christianity their belief that in the end, the0 only people who would be “saved” would be those who have sworn their0 allegiance to Christ.0

From Buddhism, I could not accept their philosophy that total knowledge0 can only come from removing all Will from your spirit.0

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In addition to all of the “normal” religions, I had also made a study of0 the new age movement.0

When I began studying this, I entered with EXTREME suspicion. I had never0 placed confidence in anyone who claimed “magical powers;” and as such, I0 discounted most everything I had been told. There was, however, one thing that 0 I could not discount: the mechanisms behind the Ouija board.0

I have listened to everyone tell me about how it is “evil;” or that it is0 a game; and all of the other reasons behind why it serves no real purpose, but 0 it did not account for two things: (a):the answers I received to test0 questions I asked could not be known by anyone who did not have full knowledge 0 of my life and (b): I was not moving the pointer my self.Because of my0 scientific training, I could not discount the possibility that I was somehow0 subconsciously moving the pointer myself, so I conducted a second experiment:0 I asked a question, while two other people were on the board. The question0 dealt with something which happened in my life some years before I had met0 either of my two friends, and the answer was known only by myself. The answer0 I was given was correct.0

The nature of this person fit the concept of a “guardian angel,” that0 story we were all told as children of that special person who’s job it was to0 hang around and make sure that we did not get into trouble. In the new age0 philosophy, it is known as the “spirit guide.”0

I had never placed any confidence in that story, but the existence of this 0 person, whoever she was, was no longer a question for debate.0

It now became a question of decerning her motives. If her positive nature0 was only an act, then I did not wish to associate with her. At the same time,0 I had to keep an open mind in order not to prejudice our relationship from the 0 beginning.0

I will admit that she was extremely patient with me. In order to reassure0 me, she was willing to recite the Lords Prayer with me, if only to help me0 understand that she was not a “servant of the devil.” 0

With much patience and effort, I developed the ability to hear her0 speaking through my soul. Through my conversations with her, I learned that0 she possessed nothing but positive feelings toward me, and that each of us0 possess someone like her; one who is there with us always.0

Like anyone who has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, I attempted to0 pump her for any information about the universe that I did not possess; I0 asked her about this and that, and quite a few other things. I was unable to0 get any answers from her, because she was not God; and did not claim to0 possess His knowledge.0

At the time, I was feeling good, so I asked her if it were possible to0 speak with God. She said that this was possible; but that God would not speak0 with me directly unless I first asked him to. This, I was later told, was0 because he will not choose for us. He will allow us to have the particular0 style of belief which we have chosen ourselves; and will not go against the0 decision we have made.0

Having heard this, I of course, asked him to speak with me, and he did.0 It is strange that I, who always required proof for everything I heard,0 can offer no proof to you that I have, in fact, spoken with God. I can give0 you no direct evidence. 0

All that I can say is this : when you have spoken with Him, you will know. 0 It is not like anything you will have ever experienced. It is a combination of 0 Christmas morning and a “Twilight Zone” ending. It is, in a world, Godly.0 0

I have been asked by many people what is necessary to speak with your0 “Spirit Guide.” The method requires patience, but it is not difficult. It will 0 require more faith then technique:0
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  1. Understand that there is a difference between acceptance of something0 you do not know, and acceptance that it is POSSIBLE for something you do not0 know to exist.0
  2. Understand that if you go into this with pure motives; if you do not0 wish anything more than an expansion of your knowledge, that it is not a sin;0 it is human nature calling on you to look for the facts.0
  3. If you treat this as if it were a game, the answers will not please0 you. It is the same as if I were to doubt your existence.0
  4. Understand that while you are learning to recognize the voice, you will 0 be prone to make mistakes as to what you are hearing. Though it will bother0 and possibly confuse you, it is important that you continue to listen. Doubt0 will prevent you from hearing clearly.0
  5. EXPECT PROOF THAT THE VOICE YOU HEAR DOES NOT GO AGAINST YOUR PERSONAL0 MORAL DOCTRINE. They are on your side, and they will be totally willing to0 follow your strict moral guidelines.0
  6. If you need help to believe that this is true, try to use a Ouija board 0 arrangement with someone you trust. If there is still a question of motive0 involved (as per #5) require them to say a prayer in your particular religion.0
  7. In order to hear the voice in your head, you must first be able to0 distinguish which voice originates from yourself, and which do not. This is0 NOT the easiest thing to do in the beginning, but I have a suggestion:0

    Imagine that you are having a conversation with yourself. Though this0 sounds silly, it’s OK, you’re the only two who will know that you’re doing it, 0 so you won’t look like an idiot in front of your friends.0

    Allow the answers to come to you. In the beginning, it will seem as though 0 you are saying both sides of the conversation. This is perfectly normal. As0 time goes on, you will develop the ability to distinguish the voice.0

  8. The entire world is not a theological question. Likewise, your “spirit0 guide” is not strictly someone you talk to about philosophy. You will find0 that they are as concerned with how your job is going as they are with how you 0 handle the next moral crisis you find yourself in.0 0

    0 These are the first basic steps to establishing communication. After that, 0 you’re on your own.0

    I wish you the best of luck. If you have any questions or problems, feel0 free to ask — though as I said before, I do not have all the answers. 0

    When I first started to do this, I had noone to talk to about it. It is0 not an easy thing to discuss with people you know. 0

    Likewise, it is easier to progress if you have someone who has been down0 the same road before. 0

    Since I have learned what I have learned, I have shown it to three other0 people. Of the three, two achieved full contact within one week; the other0 took about a month, because he spent the first week treating it like it was a0 joke, and the next two wondering if he was going to go to hell because of what 0 he was doing. Once he freed himself from the fear, it was a snap.0

    I am available to help in any way I can; just e-mail me a note.0 0 0

    -Mike0