The Second Coming of the New Age: The Hidden Dangers of Alternative Spirituality in Contemporary America and Its Churches

by Steven Bancarz

Let’s be clear: The idols contain no actual power (Jeremiah 10:5). They have no independent will, agency, rationality, personhood, or anything of the sort. But by virtue of what they are associated with in the spirit, they carry a different spiritual oppression and may give demons access into our lives—not because of the object itself, but because of what it’s connected to.

sorcery, or contact with beings in the spirit. They aren’t just symbols or décor; they are a medium for spiritual forces to infiltrate the natural realm and advance their kingdom on earth. They are the tools of demons to strengthen people in spiritual delusion by acting as a doorway to the demonic realm. As Satan masquerades himself as an angel of light, demons can as well, and by doing so, they create a certain atmosphere through the presence of the object that matches the feeling of the worldview they are trying to deceive people into believing.

There is a reason some objects and books feel inherently evil, pagan, astral and floaty, or Hindu: because demonic powers are tricky and create a spiritual signature that matches the general “feeling” that confirms that worldview. A principality can create the heavy spiritual haziness and false peace that comes through Hindu mysticism or the earthen, organic, enchanting sensation that comes from pagan Earth worship.

These objects were considered hallowed and sacred to ancient cultures for a reason, and it’s not just because of what they represented. They believed the objects were a literal bridge connecting them to the gods. Is it possible that the presence of occult objects in your life makes you guilty of the sin of idolatry and seats you at or close to the table of demons? Could this result in consequences such as an unsound mind; ambiguous thoughts regarding Jesus; unclear thinking; disorientation; a heaviness or haziness in certain rooms in your house; a spiritual urge to go deeper into the occult; nightmares; spiritual attacks; manifestations in your house; and poor spiritual discernment?

Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance Ultimately, it’s all about Jesus. It is important to understand that, without Jesus, you have no power over the enemy. With the authority of Jesus, you can cast out the enemy. If we wish to operate within His authority, we must know we have a responsibility to live in accordance to Jesus’ teachings. Rebelling against God only invites the enemy into your life. It’s also important to remember that our true enemy is not other people. Our true enemy is spiritual in nature: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, ESV) All of the things listed above are spiritual. People aren’t the problem. It is better to think of unbelievers as prisoners of a war they don’t even know or believe exists. It is up to us to teach them so they can remove themselves from the bondage of deception with the help of Jesus Christ. Jesus does all the work; all a person has to do is believe on Him trusting that He knows best.

The difference is, in New Age, the individual initiates the activity from the wrong kingdom, resulting in a weaker perverted spiritual experience. In Christianity, it is up to God to determine who will receive a spiritual experience and what it will be.

Since they were our representatives before God, we have inherited the consequences of their sin and were born in fallen bodies in a fallen world.

Our heart itself is the fountainhead of all the sin we commit. We don’t need behavior modification, we need a supernatural heart transplant. We need to be cured and healed from the sickness that sin has brought upon us when it entered into the world through Adam, because this

He lived a perfect life to fulfill the righteous requirements of the Law that we fail to abide by. He was then crucified on a cross as our representative and substitute, paying the price for the sins you and I have committed.

(1 John 4:10) If you are reading this right now and don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we love you enough to say that you are still under the weight of your sin, guilty before God. If you die in your sin, you will be held accountable for your moral crimes by a holy God, and you will not enjoy eternal fellowship with Him. God is loving, but He is also just and will not blink at sin.

So how do we go from being isolated from God because of sin to having the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus applied? If Jesus died to save us, how do we become saved? We are saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ with a sorry, repentant faith that has turned from sin to the cross. We contribute nothing to our own salvation.

Jesus tells us that salvation cannot be merited, earned, or achieved; it can only be received by faith. We change our minds about our sin and the person and work of Jesus, we turn in our hearts from wanting to follow after our sin, we look toward Jesus with a sincere desire to be forgiven, and we trust in Him. When we do so, we are saved, and some amazing things take place.

Our sins are removed from us. Our record of sin is washed clean by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7), and we are totally forgiven by God (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). He takes our sin, removes it from our account, and cleanses us from the stain it has left on our souls.

God sent Jesus as our representative and substitute “in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 8:4, 10:4). The grounds of our justification is Jesus’ obedience, not our own obedience, spiritual development, degree of enlightenment, or special knowledge. So when we believe on Him, a great exchange takes place. Christ takes our sin,

and in exchange He gives us His own righteousness. The righteous standard of the Law is fulfilled in those who believe on Jesus because God counts those who have faith with the very righteousness of Jesus. Everything the Law requires of us is fulfilled in us through faith. Just like God laid our sins upon Jesus, He now lays the righteousness of Jesus upon us. Just like Jesus was counted among the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12), we are counted to be righteous (Isaiah 53:11). Our sins get applied to Jesus, who was judged as if He were us, and His righteousness gets applied to us as if we had lived the life of Christ.

“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous”– (Romans 5:19).

When we believe on Jesus, we are counted to be not only innocent as if we have never done anything wrong, but perfectly righteous as if we had done everything right. We are granted all the perks of being enlightened (such as eternal life in Heaven, spiritual life, refreshment, rebirth, etc.) while not having done anything to earn this result. He wore our sin; we now wear His righteousness. This righteousness cannot be added to or taken away from. It does not come with holes in it waiting to be filled in with our own efforts. It is complete and sufficient for salvation.

Fix your heart upon the Lord right now, and recite this from your own heart: Jesus, I recognize that I am a sinner in need of salvation. I recognize that I am deserving of God’s judgment. Please have mercy on me. Forgive me of the sins I have committed. I believe that you died and rose for my sins so that I could be saved. I believe that you took my place on the cross. I put my trust in you and you alone for my salvation. I put my faith in you and declare you to be Lord and Savior of my life. I turn from all beliefs and practices that stand opposed to you and want to walk with you now. Wash me clean, give me a new heart, and give me power over the sin that remains in my life. I ask all of this in your name, Jesus. Amen.