NOT THE WAY ITS SUPPOSE TO BE
In his book, Not the Way It’s Suppose to Be, Neal Plantinga relates an episode from the film, Grand Canyon. A lawyer attempts to bypass a traffic jam by zipping down some side roads. His unplanned detour takes him down streets progressively darker and more deserted. And then—a crisis hits! His car stalls on a road where street gangs control the turf. While he waits for a tow truck, five young toughs surround his vehicle and threaten him with great bodily harm. But just in time, the tow truck arrives and the driver gets underway hooking up the disabled car. The toughs protest. They were on the verge of easy pickings. And in response, the driver of the tow truck takes the leader of the gang aside and gives him a quick analysis of the situation that packs philosophical truth into language even these young kids can understand. "Man," he says, "the world ain’t supposed to work like this. Maybe you don’t know that, but this ain’t the way it’s supposed to be. I’m supposed to be able to do my job without askin’ you if I can. And that dude is supposed to be able to wait with his car without you rippin’ him off. Everything’s supposed to be different than what it is here." (Plantinga, Not the Way Its Suppose to Be, p. 7)
Pretty good advice, wouldn’t you say? When I go on the web and check out the latest news, by far the majority are stories of things that just shouldn’t be happening! Things are suppose to be different! Folks are supposed to walk through their local marketplaces without being blown to bits. They are supposed to be able to board a plane without fear of a terrorist attack. They are supposed to be able to buy goods at the local grocery without concerns that some corrupt official has accepted a bribe to cut corners when it comes to food safety. But that’s not the way things are. Things are not the way they are supposed to be.
Nor are things the way they are supposed to be on a much more personal level. In the world as it was supposed to be, a husband and wife are best friends, not worst enemies. In the world as it is supposed to be, children respect their parents, and parents live deserving of that respect. In the world as it’s supposed to be, every child born into the world is loved and cherished. But that’s not the way things are. Something has gone wrong. Horribly wrong. But what? And what can be done to correct it?
THREE QUESTIONS
Chuck Colson, in his book, How Now Shall We Live? tells us that any comprehensive look at life needs to tackle three key questions. Here they are:
Who are we?
What went wrong with the world?
What can be done to fix it?
Those three questions are obviously ones every religious system needs to answer as well. In fact, I’d suggest that if you want to put your own religious thinking to the test, ask whether your brand of spirituality answers those questions honestly and intelligently.
Over the past few weeks we’ve been talking about the New Age movement on this program. And today, I’d like to continue our look at New Age by asking New Age those same questions.
Now, New Age is a pretty diverse movement. You’re going to get a lot of discussion going when you ask New Agers to explain their beliefs. But there are some common threads which hold New Agers together. The fact is, New Agers, have some common answers to the questions that Colson posed.
WHO ARE WE?
To the question "Who are we?" New Age tells us we are gods and goddesses in the making. We participate in the vast sea of being that New Agers define as deity. That sounds pretty impressive, until you learn that the pantheism of New Age teaches that EVERYTHING—literally everything that exists!——partakes of that divine nature. And that means there really isn’t anything unique about humanity.
The Christian faith offers a different identity. It’s taught in the very first chapters of the book of Genesis. There, we’re told that we are not gods, but those who bear God’s likeness. As those who reflect the moral and intellectual capabilities of God, we are called to be caretakers of God’s creation. We are in this world, according to Genesis 2, ‘to fill the earth and subdue it." We are stewards, called to bring out all the amazing possibilities and potentials of the world around us.
NOW, THE NEXT QUESTION
But we don’t do that very well, do we? And that brings us to the second question: "What went wrong with the world?" Or to put it another way: "WHY aren’t things the way they are supposed to be?"
According to New Agers, we’re all divine. But you say to me: "Well, New Agers can say I am a god, but I don’t FEEL like a god. I got up this morning with a headache. I went to the garage and the car wouldn’t start. Later at work, the phone rang, and it’s one of the kids, telling me she has the flu. Can I pick her up from school?" You say to me, "These aren’t experiences that inspire my sense of omnipotence! I don’t feel very all—knowing. I don’t feel very powerful! Thoughts of godhead are not pounding in my brain from morning to night."
Of course not. And if you were to offer that protest to New Agers, they would tell you, "That’s precisely the problem! That’s what’s wrong! Your problem is one of amnesia——spiritual forgetfulness. You’ve forgotten who you are! You don’t experience your own divinity! That’s why you need enlightenment! For that is the New Age answer to the third question—what can be done to fix things? Bring about enlightenment! Enlightenment is New Age salvation. A new way of knowing—a new experience of our transcendence—enlightenment!—that’s the salvation New Age pursues! It’s the moment when you discover that you are one with the universe! As Ken Wilbur, a spokesman for the New Age puts it, "You do not see the sky, you are the sky. You do not hear the birds singing, you are the birds singing. You do not feel the earth, you are the earth … "
That is salvation, New Age style. It’s the moment of enlightenment when you merge with the world and experience the divine in everything. It’s when you lose your spiritual amnesia and discover your real identity.
PURSUING ENLIGHTENMENT
Now, how do you pursue this enlightenment? Well, that’s where all those different practices of New Age come in. But there is one very common practice that moves to the forefront for many New Agers as they pursue enlightenment. It’s the way of meditation———transcendental meditation——as it is sometimes called. Now, maybe you meditate yourself. If you do, I’m going to ask you in the next few moments to think about the way you meditate—and your goal in doing so. You know, meditation isn’t a bad thing. Christians themselves are called by God to meditate. We’ll talk more about that in just a minute.
But New Age meditation is meditation aimed at that goal of experiencing enlightenment. New Age meditation is for the purpose of merging one’s sense of self with the universe. Elizabeth Lesser, in her book, The New American Spirituality, talks about this New Age meditation. She writes: "Meditative experience takes us deeper into realms where language and even thought lose their potency. " (p. 90) In TM, or Transcendental Meditation, the goal is to relax and allow the mind to empty itself of all rational thinking. Lesser encourages us to keep from identifying with our thoughts as we meditate, as she puts it, "to watch the thoughts as we would watch the weather from an observation tower." She endorses the approach of one New Age practitioner who suggests that as a thought arises in our minds, we simply label it ‘thinking’ and let it go. "Just label your thought, ‘thinking,’ and go back to the breath. "Thinking’, back to the breath. Thinking, back to the breath." Why would Elizabeth Lesser and other New Agers invite us to empty our minds of conscious thought? Because thought, says the New Ager, keeps you from getting at the level below your conscious self. The level at which you experience being one with the divine!
SOMETHING NEW IS SOMETHING OLD
Now, maybe what you’re hearing sounds pretty attractive. In fact, maybe you’ve been pulled into new age thinking and are today practicing Transcendental Meditation yourself. You’ve decided that this new approach to spirituality is far superior to anything the historic Christian faith offers. If so, I’d like you to think about two things.
First of all, I’d like you to consider that this new brand of salvation isn’t really new at all. It isn’t true that New Age is some new, improved form of spirituality. No, New Age is really "Old Age." Truth is, this way of thinking has been around for a long, long time. You need to know first of all that what New Age offers are recycled ideas that were discredited centuries ago. In fact, the early church found itself going toe—to—toe with this understanding of salvation during the early years of its history.
Of course, almost 2000 years ago, New Age went by a different name. Back then it was known as Gnosticism. But the teachings of Gnosticism were essentially the same as New Age. Gnosticism comes from the Greek word for knowledge. Gnostics taught that we are really cut off from the real knowledge about ourselves. Our essential nature is that of the spirit. Trapped in the realm of the physical, we need the right experiential knowledge to escape this poor world and be lifted up into spiritual realms. Sound familiar? Yes, the truth is New Age is really better called Old Age.
FACING THE TRAGEDY
Second, if you’re drawn to New Age thinking, you should also ask yourself whether New Age deals honestly with the tragedies we experience. As I look at the world today, I don’t see our problems as being merely those of people who have a poor self—image of themselves. I don’t see our problems being solved if we just felt better about our identity—or knew a little more about ourselves. No, I see something terribly broken and twisted in our world. I see that brokenness in my own life. And I suspect that if you look honestly you’ll see that brokenness in yourself.
The Apostle Paul, writing a letter to the church at Rome, talks about the challenge of his own spiritual journey. He doesn’t describe his problem merely in terms of confusion about his identity. Instead Paul speaks honestly about the moral challenge to live in a way that is good and right. "I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out," he says. "For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." I understand Paul’s struggle. And I believe you do too. We too have within us thoughts that would shame hell. We do things that are petty and selfish and destructive to our neighbor. All of this can’t be chalked up to merely a lack of knowledge about our true selves. It can’t be reduced to a problem of spiritual amnesia. No, we’re more than ignorant. We’re broken. We’re bent. We miss the mark of moral achievement by a mile. In ourselves, we’re addicted to thinking wrong thoughts and doing wrong deeds. We need someone to snap the shackles that keep us tied up in bonds of spiritual slavery. Our problem, very frankly, is an old—fashion word that shouldn’t disappear from our vocabulary. Our problem is sin. Our problem is the guilt that separates sinful people from a sinless God.
But God has addressed our real and deep problem. Paul teaches us in the fifth chapter of his letter to the Romans that guilt doesn’t need to separate us from God any longer! There Paul summarizes in a powerful way the message of redemption. He writes: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This is the core of the Christian faith. Our problem is not ignorance. Our problem is a terrible weakness. We are powerless, writes Paul. We are helpless and hopeless. And into that world of weakness, God came in Jesus Christ. He didn’t come merely to enlighten our thoughts, or open our minds to spiritual realities. He knew that we are too far gone merely to need a spiritual guru. Christ came into the world to die for the ungodly. To turn an instrument of execution into the means that would bring life—real life, life that is eternal! Here is the good news of the cross: "When you were dead in your sins … God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. " (Col 2:13,14)
Here is the gospel. We need more than enlightenment. We need LIFE—a life that comes through God’s grace in Jesus Christ, freely, as a gift. Life that comes to all those who turn to Jesus Christ and call out in trust to him. Christ has taken upon himself the punishment for our sin so that we need not face it. And he has sent his Spirit into our lives so that our addiction to sin might be broken—so that we may truly come alive to a way of life that brings blessing.
God in Christ Jesus is among us. And he is with us—not merely as a holy teacher——not merely as some mystic spirit guide. He is among us as Savior and Friend. He is among us to deal with the terrible weight of guilt that crushes us down. He is with us to take that guilt to himself on the cross. He is with us to present us before his Father as those reborn by his Spirit, forgiven to the core of their being, and being made fresh in him.
It is that kind of relationship that Christ Jesus wants with you. Maybe you already have such a relationship—and have had that relationship for years. Or maybe you are at the point of your life where there is within you a craving for that relationship, but you’re holding back, resisting God’s call. Don’t let your own pride get in the way for what God has in store for you. Trust Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin. Trust him to lead you into a life that is increasingly filled with love and obedience.
MEDITATING ON THE TRUTH!
And then, let me invite you to continue to strengthen your faith walk. Whether you are well established in your Christian faith, or whether you have just entered into a relationship of faith in Christ, there is a way you can continue your spiritual growth. It’s by meditating in a way that truly honors your Lord and grows you toward spiritual adulthood.
You see, those who have a relationship with Jesus really do have something to meditate on, don’t they. Listen to what the Psalmist says about meditation.
Psalm 48:9 "Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love."
Psalm 77:12 "I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds"
Psalm 119:148 "My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises."
It’s evident that Christians are CALLED to meditate. In fact, the embarrassment is—we don’t meditate enough! Many of us don’t meditate at all! Christians typically meditate so little that they can’t tell a New Ager the difference between empty meditation and meditation that really brings blessing.
Now, here’s the difference between Christian meditation and New Age meditation. Followers of Jesus don’t empty their minds when they meditate. They don’t crucify their thought processes. For Christians meditate on God’s unfailing love. They meditate on God’s mighty deeds. They meditate on the supreme promises of God. Christian meditation focuses our thoughts on truths which are big and bold and filled with divine goodness and grace. And in that meditation, our trust in Jesus Christ is deepened. Our confidence grows. Our love for God is nurtured.
My prayer is that you are in a relationship of faith and love with Jesus Christ. If so, you have much to think about—much to ponder. The fact is, the Devil likes to make a mockery out of spiritual things. That’s why he invites us to meditate——New Age style! He wants us to empty our minds of God’s great deeds and saving grace. He wants us to forget about a God who burst in on the scene of history and on Calvary stormed hell itself to win your release from the grip of guilt. He wants you to forget the grace that Christ Jesus put on display upon the cross. He wants to obliterate from your mind the triumph of Christ’s open grave. He wants you to forget all this—and instead think that you can redeem yourself.
Don’t believe it! Salvation isn’t found by reaching within—it’s found in reaching out—in faith, to God’s Son. When we do, we discover our future doesn’t rest on some mystic New Age enlightenment. It rests on a much more solid foundation. Our salvation rests upon the foundation of God’s infinite love and grace.
Robert Heerspink
Rev. Robert Heerspink is a native of west Michigan. He completed his undergraduate studies at Calvin College and holds the degrees of Master of Divinity and Master of Theology from Calvin Theological Seminary. He has also received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Bob was ordained a minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church of North America in 1979, and has 26 years of parish experience, having served four churches throughout west Michigan. He was appointed the Director of The Back to God Hour in 2006. Bob has written several resources related to congregational stewardship, including the book, Becoming a Firstfruits Congregation. He is a regular contributor to TODAY, the monthly devotional of The Back to God Hour. Bob is married to Edith (Miedema) and they have three children. His hobbies include reading fictional and historical works, watersports, and occassional golfing.
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