In the last article we went over Pantheism (the false belief that God is an impersonal “life force” that flows thru all things) and how this philosophy is behind many healing therapies that claim to utilize this universal “energy.” So now let’s go over how its rising influence upon society is causing many to buy into it—-literally. One way is through Pragmatism; the belief that whatever produces positive results must be truth. So in this line of thinking, if obeying the true gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t what “works” then we need an alternative. And that’s exactly what the New Age offers. After all, many alternative therapies appear to be good, just as the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden appeared good….at first (Gen.3:6).
Let’s take acupuncture for instance. Like Iridology, Reflexology, Reiki and many other healing therapies, it claims to tap into what they call our energy “meridians.” Supposedly so we can obtain forbidden knowledge, be “in tune” with our own divinity and live in perfect health. Yet there’s no real scientific evidence to prove any medical benefit, although there’s a lot of “anecdotal” evidence, which are just testimonials of those who’ve fallen for this perversion of the gospel(Gal.1:6-9, 1Tim.4:1).
Consequently, I have a few testimonies of my own about the power working behind these therapies, which is why I can now warn others to never underestimate the power of suggestion. It’s been the devils main tool since the Garden of Eden. All he has to do to start the process is to get us to doubt God’s truth and exchange it for a lie. By getting Adam and Eve to focus on temporary results instead of the long-term spiritual consequences of rebelling against God, they fell for the suggestion to eat forbidden fruit.
And this is exactly how modern pragmatism works today. It’s just the same old lie under a new pretense, which reminds me of the time I went into business with a very persuasive herbalist years ago, to sell a product that claimed to have many health benefits. But once I started doing my own research I found out that it was full of cheap fillers with barely any of the main ingredient that was supposed to help people. So I found another product that just had the main ingredient at the same price.
Excited about what I’d found, I went back to the herbalist, thinking they’d rather sell this instead, because they acted like they really wanted to help people. Little did I know then that I had gotten into what’s called a “Pyramid Scheme.” So to my surprise, they told me they’d be crazy to stop selling the flawed product because they were making a fortune off people. And when they saw how shocked I was they tried to convince me it wasn’t really dishonest because they said if people believed it helped them, then it would!!
And that’s the most perfect, personal example of modern Pragmatism I can think of. All they have to do is convince people that it works and they will experience a major placebo effect. The question is, would they still buy into it if they knew they were just being tricked into thinking it was working?? Sadly, many would because they’d rather exchange the truth for a lie as long as they get the temporary results they desire.
This is described perfectly in Isaiah 30: 9-10 where it says, “this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things; speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.” So friend, along with Apostle Paul, I just have to ask “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth” (Gal.4:16)? Or will you heed God’s warnings (e.g. Deut.18:10-12, 1Sam. 15:23, Jer.14:14, Hosea 4:12, Eph.5:11, 1Tim.6:9-10, 2Pet.3:17)?
Contact Lee Anne—at gospel4life@live.com
Christ Rescued Me! 