Ask the Pastor

Eastern Mysticism (Part 4 of 4)

"What is Eastern Mysticism and how does it conflict with Christianity?"

Concluding this series of articles, I would like to suggest six main areas where Eastern Mysticism has infiltrated the lives of some Christians:

1. Healing Therapies. Alternative medicine and New Age Therapies are rife with Eastern Mysticism. Hypnotism claims to bring "healing from within" which is clearly an idea derived from Eastern Mysticism. Many chiropractors embrace the yogic approach to the spine as central to healing. Theophostic, Inner Healing, and "regressive" methods of counseling are simply mystical Jungian Psychology with Christian terminology.

2. Relativism. In Eastern Mysticism all things are equal, and even contradictory beliefs can be reconciled.. Those who have set aside the exclusivity of Christianity and the inerrancy of the Bible, may readily embrace the relativistic and contradictory thinking of Eastern Mysticism.

3. Hyper-faith movements. "Confessional" prayer that attributes supernatural power to the spoken words themselves, or physically within the hands-anything other than God Himself, employs the tenets of Eastern Mysticism. Such a metaphysical approach is more consistent with the occultism of Christian Scientists and Eastern Mysticism than with biblical, historical Christianity.

5. Prayer. Any prayer methodology that encourages the emptying of the mind to achieve a hypnotic state, is a form of Transcendental Meditation. Christian prayer and meditation, by contrast, involves the active engagement of the mind directed towards God in faith.

6. Kid's games, cartoons, toys, and books. Certain role-playing games, video games, and card games (Yu-Gi-Oh, for example), as well as cartoons, toys and books, can-at times-be sources for the subtle and slow indoctrination of children into Eastern Mysticism.

I have just touched the surface of these issues. Don't just take my word for it; study the issues yourself. First, look into God's word and let the Holy Spirit transform and renew your mind. "Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is" (Rom 12:2). When you know the real thing (genuine Christian spirituality) then you will easily spot the
counterfeit.

Next do some reading by credible Christian authors to better understand this problem. 'Fast Facts on False Teachings' by Ron Carlson and Ed Decker is helpful, or do a Google-search on "new age apologetics" to study this on the web.

Too many Christians turn an indifferent eye to this subject. You owe it to the God you serve to make sure you are living pleasing to Him. The Bible commands us: "Live as children of light... and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them" (Eph 5:8-11).

--Pastor Scott (www.askpastorscott.com)