The obvious attacks on the souls of men such as addiction, violence, disease (and dis-ease), abuse, and relational dysfunction rank at the top of a good many prayer lists...and justly so. The outrage and horror of terrorist attacks in the name of a vengeful, angry god have spun our nation. An impact that has in turn, spun the world. The World Trade Center atrocity has impacted the global economy, 80 plus nations lost citizens in the attack, thousands of families are now faced with reconciling their lives without sons, daughters, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers who were suddenly and senselessly killed. Household economies crumbled as jobs disappeared and the stock market tumbled. Millions of people in the U.S. and around the world struggle to create normalcy out of the ashes of madness. Generations have been born and matured since last there was a time as compelling as this.

There is another battle cry frequently heard. A cry that is no less ardent than the others, not perhaps as commanding as the condition of the world following September 11th; yet one that is certainly as necessary to engage. It sounds like this: "Get thee behind me, New Age Satan!" There is a great deal of concern in Christian communities about the influence and power New Age philosophy renders as it reaches out to corrupt the orthodoxy of the faith. The fears are substantial as we listen to new gurus each month it seems, popping up on talk shows, the book shelves of trendy stores, and the conversations floating around Sunday morning fellowship coffee urns. As members of the Body of Christ, we have become wary and cautious of anything that appears to be linked to New Age ideology. Unlike the outward attacks of misguided souls who create graves out of planes and offices, the struggle with New Age infiltration is that it is not a direct, frontal assault. New Age ideas and beliefs sidle up beside us, appearing innocuous and benign while eating away at the foundation of an orthodox faith. The question that must be asked if we enter into spiritual warfare with New Age ideals is simply, do we know what we fight?

When the foundation of a home becomes compromised it is some time before the inhabitants begin to see the evidence. The indicators may seem minor, doors that don't close well, a small crack creeping up the drywall, and mortar breaking loose from it's joints. The insignificance of the symptoms is deceiving. By the time these structural concerns become obvious, the foundation is cracked and shifting, and is no longer capable of upholding the integrity of the building. If you have ever watched a foundation repair, you have seen the construction crew burrowing several feet underground, down into the darkness where the problems began. The tunnels dug underneath the foundation of a home are dark; light must be shone in to identify where to place the blocks that will shore up what has been compromised. This metaphor is a beautiful parallel to the struggle we face as a church. Issues such as New Age ideology must be brought into the light of Christ, the Truth that scripture gives us as we evaluate what is orthodox and what is not. If we can not efficiently flush to the surface that which we must test, then we must dig through the rhetoric to the point at which the church was abased.

The senior pastor of a typical, suburban Presbyterian church found himself confronted with concerns about New Age influences from parishioners when he announced a study group that would be reflecting on the history of the Presbyterian Church. At first glance, it appears an extreme reaction by a skittish congregation. A pastor with a Doctorate of ministry from a recognized Seminary who had just completed a sabbatical in Scotland studying the roots of the Presbyterian Church would hardly be the likely target of New Age suspicion. The concerns were voiced when a brief description was listed in the Sunday bulletin, written to entice a theologically complacent community of saints to engage in study and debate. The mention of candle lighting in historical church fashion sent the red flags flying. What roots lay buried in the soil of this, a typical Protestant church, causing doubts to be raised? A pastor with nearly 30 years at the pulpit, extensive research and highly regarded in the Presbytery is suspect following the mention of candles? Again, it seems an extreme and incongruent response until we look more deeply at the condition of the church. Reverend Smith's (not his real name) program was theologically sound, orthodox and provocative. It was an academic and spiritual course of study and conversation designed to rekindle the passion for studying the Word of God. In doing so, it ignited the burning embers of fear.