# PPOV 335. Dr. Jobe Martin: "Evolution of a Creationist" and New Age Practices in the Church. 1-3-25.  ## Dr. Jobe Martin and Creation Science - Dr. Jobe Martin is a creation scientist and has a ministry called Biblical Discipleship Ministries, which can be found at biblicaldiscipleship.org [(00:02:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=170s). - Dr. Martin was initially an agnostic, looking into Zen Buddhism and evolution, but became a [[Christianity | Christian]] evolutionist after college, and later a Biblical young [[Earth]] Global flood creationist after studying creation science with his students [(00:04:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=245s). - Dr. Martin's background is in dentistry, and he was a professor at Baylor dental college, where he gave a lecture on how fish scales moved into the mouth and became teeth, which led to his students challenging him to study creation science [(00:03:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=193s). - Dr. Martin's study of creation science involved looking for assumptions and guesses in evolutionary literature, and studying animals, which led him to realize that they need all their parts to function [(00:03:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=237s). ## The New Age Movement's Influence - Dr. Andy Woods, the pastor and teacher at Sugarland [[Bible]] Church, also had a similar experience, being taught evolution in public school, but later became a creationist after being saved at the age of 16 and being influenced by Ken Ham's lectures and book "[[The Lie (2018 film) | The Lie]]" [(00:05:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=312s). - Dr. Woods and Dr. Martin are discussing the topic of creation and how [[New Age]] concepts have entered the **Church of** **Jesus** **Christ** and the [[Evangelicalism | Evangelical]] world [(00:01:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=75s). - Dr. Jobe Martin initially believed in evolution but later became a young [[Earth | earth]] creationist after reading through a book with a serpent on the cover, realizing he couldn't mix evolution and the Bible together [(00:05:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=322s). - Dr. Martin graduated from [[Dallas Theological Seminary]] in the 1980s with a THM degree and wrote his master's thesis on the New Age movement, which is available on his website as "A Theological Analysis of the New Age Movement" [(00:05:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=359s). - The New Age movement is based on the lie that humans can be like [[God]], which originated with Satan's deception in Isaiah 14:14, where he said "I will make myself like the most high" [(00:07:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=433s). - The New Age movement has evolved into new spirituality and new thought, and is now present in the church, promoting the same lie of being like God or even being God [(00:08:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=488s). - Some proponents of the New Age movement, like [[Shirley MacLaine]], claim to be God, and believe they can create their own reality, which is a blurring of the creature-Creator distinction [(00:08:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=501s). - [[New Age | The New Age movement]] appeals to the flesh, using tactics like video games, where players can make decisions and control their environment, much like God [(00:08:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=523s). - The movement is also influenced by literature that targets the flesh, and is based on the idea that humans can be like God, which is a fundamental lie [(00:09:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=542s). - The book "The New Age" by [[Walter Ralston Martin | Walter Martin]] was helpful in understanding the New Age movement and its principles [(00:09:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=563s). - The New Age movement promotes the idea that everyone is evolving into deity through their own path, leading to a belief that no one group is wrong and all paths are valid [(00:09:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=576s). - This philosophy is seen as a threat to [[Christianity | Christian]] beliefs, which are based on [[Bible | the Bible]] and the idea that [[Jesus]] is the only way to the Father [(00:09:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=586s). - The New Age movement is believed to be the philosophical basis for the persecution of Christians in [[North America]] and worldwide [(00:10:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=603s). - The movement has taken over [[United States | American]] culture, which was not originally [[New Age]] [(00:10:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=625s). - Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in 1859 is seen as a key factor in the development of the New Age movement, as it eliminated the need for [[God]] and allowed people to believe they could evolve without Him [(00:10:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=648s). - Darwin's theory is seen as a way for people to justify their own desires and behaviors, without needing to consider God or the Bible [(00:11:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=673s). - The idea of the "human Trinity" (me, myself, and I) is seen as a key concept in the New Age movement, and is believed to have originated with Adam and Eve's fall in the [[Garden of Eden]] [(00:11:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=713s). - The New Age movement is seen as a way for people to satisfy their fleshly desires, without needing to consider God or [[Bible | the Bible]] [(00:12:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=744s). - Darwin's lack of knowledge about genetics and other scientific fields is seen as ironic, given his influence on the development of the New Age movement [(00:12:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=764s). - [[New Age | The New Age movement]] is seen as building on Darwin's ideas, and promoting the idea that people can evolve into deity through their own chosen paths [(00:13:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=807s). - [[Marxism]] is also seen as being influenced by Darwin's ideas, and is a related concern for those worried about the spread of the New Age movement [(00:13:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=827s). ## Burning Man and New Age Practices - Charles Darwin's theory of evolution suggests that humans are progressing, but [[Bible | the Bible]] states that humans are regressing and devolving due to sin [(00:14:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=846s). - New Age thinkers believe that humans are evolving into new species, such as [[Institute of Noetic Sciences | Homo Noeticus]] or [[Polymath | Homo Universalis]], leaving behind those who are "stuck" in traditional beliefs, like [[Christianity | Christians]] [(00:14:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=870s). - Various individuals and events have contributed to the development of [[New Age]] ideas, including [[Alice Bailey]] in the 1940s, [[The Beatles | the Beatles]] in the 1960s, Woodstock in the late 1960s, and Burning Man, which started in 1986 [(00:14:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=893s). - Burning Man is a large annual gathering in the [[Black Rock Desert]] in [[Nevada]], where attendees can engage in hedonistic activities and worship of self and higher consciousness, with a focus on pantheism and the worship of [[Earth | Mother Earth]] [(00:16:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=962s). - The event has grown in popularity, with over 70,000 attendees in recent years, and features a mobile city with its own infrastructure, where participants can do as they please [(00:16:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=998s). - The worship of Mother Earth is considered demonic, and the event's focus on self-worship and hedonism is seen as contradictory to Christian teachings [(00:17:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1021s). - Carl Teichrib, a Christian researcher, has set up a booth outside the Burning Man event to share the gospel with attendees, who often believe they are their own gods [(00:17:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1028s). ## New Age in Education and Culture - [[New Age | The New Age]] movement's emphasis on individual paths to enlightenment and the rejection of [[Jesus]] as the only way to salvation is seen as incompatible with [[Christianity | Christian]] teachings [(00:18:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1085s). - These New Age ideas have infiltrated public education, promoting a worldview that is at odds with traditional Christian values [(00:18:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1107s). - Humanism and New Age ideas have flooded the public square, despite previous claims that religion should be kept out of it, and are now being taught in public school classrooms through programs like [[Common Core]] and Interfaith dialogue [(00:18:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1123s). - **The** **American** **Humanist Society** has 501c3 tax-exempt status, allowing them to teach their doctrine in public schools, while Christian doctrine is not allowed [(00:19:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1148s). - Public education has been completely subsumed by New Age ideas, partly due to the church's silence on the issue and the lack of Christian influence in schools [(00:19:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1161s). - In the past, public schools would read [[Bible | the Bible]] and pray in class every day, but by the time the speaker went through the system, Christianity had been purged [(00:19:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1188s). - Public schools are now teaching a religious system that merges different religious systems, including [[Islam]] and [[Marxism]], and promotes ideas that are unbiblical and go against the [[God]] of the Bible [(00:20:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1234s). - This has led to a situation where children are being taught a religious system that appeals to the flesh, causing them to leave the church and their [[Christianity | Christian]] upbringing [(00:21:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1287s). - Parents are often left wondering what happened to their child, who was regularly taken to church but has since left the faith [(00:21:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1282s). - The schools' emphasis on self-love and self-esteem is a [[New Age]] concept that is opposite to what God says, which is that people already love themselves too much and need to learn to love their neighbors [(00:22:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1331s). - Some educational materials and curricula are promoting New Age practices and humanism, teaching children to rely on themselves rather than God, and encouraging them to develop their own worldview [(00:22:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1356s). - A specific curriculum, "Pumpy and Doo," taught children about having a "mud mind," "clear mind," and "sparkle mind," which can be seen as promoting multiple personality concepts [(00:23:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1380s). - Christian children in public schools are often pressured to abandon their biblical values and adopt a new worldview, with exercises that challenge their faith and decision-making [(00:23:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1402s). - The lack of biblical teaching at home, often due to parents' busy lifestyles, contributes to the influence of public schools and their curricula on children's worldviews [(00:24:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1452s). - [[Charles Francis Potter]], author of "The Religion of Humanism," is quoted as saying in 1930 that humanists would take over public schools to indoctrinate the next generation into humanism, which has since become a reality [(00:25:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1513s). - Public schools have shifted their focus away from traditional values and towards humanism, as seen in examples such as redefining Thanksgiving to focus on giving thanks to the [[Earth]] rather than [[God]] [(00:25:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1556s). - Popular culture, including books and games like [[Harry Potter]], [[Dungeons & Dragons | Dungeons and Dragons]], and [[Pokémon]], also promotes humanism and [[New Age]] practices, influencing children's worldviews [(00:26:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1582s). - The influence of New Age practices and media, such as Dungeons and Dragons, video games, and movies, have contributed to the growing interest in magic and the occult, which is contrary to God's teachings in [[Book of Deuteronomy | Deuteronomy]] [(00:26:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1604s). - The evolution of media, from [[Skeletor]] to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pokémon, and Harry Potter, has introduced and defined magical powers, which have been adopted by children and young adults [(00:27:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1641s). - The popularity of Harry Potter has led to its influence in some churches, with a youth pastor citing it as one of the two most important books in his life, alongside [[Bible | the Bible]] [(00:28:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1702s). - Parents often allow their children to read books like Harry Potter, not realizing that it can lead to an interest in the occult and satanic practices, which are accessible through web pages and links [(00:28:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1732s). - [[Witchcraft]] is reportedly the fastest-growing religion in the [[United States]], with the influence of video games and media contributing to its growth [(00:29:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1754s). - The self-centered culture, exemplified by the "selfie" phenomenon, has led to a focus on individualism and a lack of awareness of the world's problems [(00:29:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1779s). - The intense focus on media and games, such as [[Pokémon]], can lead to a "demonic mental grip" that distracts individuals from reality, as seen in the case of a person who injured himself while playing Pokémon [(00:30:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1812s). ## New Age Influence in the Church - The church is not immune to the influence of [[New Age]] practices, and 1 Timothy 4:1 serves as a warning from Paul to Timothy, a pastor, about the dangers of departing from the faith and following deceitful spirits [(00:31:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1861s). - In the latter times, some people will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, which is a sign of the end of the age of the church, just prior to the Rapture [(00:31:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1896s). - The New Age movement, which was initially seen as an external threat to [[Christianity]], has now infiltrated the church, and this realization was made after invitations to lecture on the topic in [[Evangelicalism | Evangelical]] churches stopped in the early 1990s [(00:32:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=1941s). - Examples of the New Age influence in churches include deacons or elders canceling lectures on the topic and instead engaging in activities like reading [[Harry Potter]] with their families, which is seen as a way to move people into an altered state of consciousness [(00:33:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2000s). - The use of altered states of consciousness is designed to keep people entertained and distracted, but it violates 2 [[First Epistle to the Corinthians | Corinthians]] 10:5, which instructs believers to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ [(00:34:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2048s). - Even popular video games like [[Minecraft]] are designed to put players into an altered state of consciousness, as evidenced by the game's "endgame script" or "endgame poem," which is similar to medical hypnosis [(00:34:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2080s). - The use of altered states of consciousness in video games and other activities can have negative consequences, such as causing people to become distracted and disoriented, and can even lead to accidents or other harm [(00:35:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2114s). - The influence of [[New Age | the New Age movement]] in the church is a sign of the end times, and believers need to be aware of these influences and take steps to protect themselves and their families [(00:35:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2139s). - The New Age movement is described as a way to get people to focus on their feelings rather than objective facts, which can lead to an altered state of consciousness that is pleasant but takes people away from God's word [(00:35:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2151s). - This movement is compared to [[Marxism]], which also focuses on getting people to think about their feelings rather than economic realities, as seen in an interview with [[Kamala Harris]] [(00:36:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2198s). - The New Age movement is also linked to self-empowerment, as seen in the teachings of [[Tony Robbins]], who emphasizes the importance of how people feel about themselves [(00:38:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2304s). - The movement away from objective fact and towards feelings is also seen in popular culture, such as in the [[Harry Potter]] series and [[Pokémon]], which can lead to an altered state of consciousness and a focus on internal feelings rather than the word of [[God]] [(00:38:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2296s). - The Pokémon phenomenon is cited as an example of how this movement can affect people, with stories of a youth pastor's children playing Pokémon in the church parking lot until late at night and a man walking into a ditch because of the game [(00:38:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2335s). - [[New Age | The New Age movement]] has also infiltrated the church, with the emergence of the contemplative movement, the emerging Church, and the purpose-driven movement, which are associated with figures such as Henry Nouwen, [[Rob Bell]], and [[Rick Warren]] [(00:39:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2389s). - The movement is seen as a way to get people to focus on their internal feelings and experiences rather than the word of God, which is reminiscent of Proverbs 14:12, which warns against following a way that seems right to man but leads to death [(00:36:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2175s). - The "[[Jesus]] Calling" book by [[Sarah Young (author) | Sarah Young]] is an example of a New Age practice that has entered the church, where the author claims to have direct communication with God and writes as if Jesus is speaking to her [(00:40:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2402s). - This type of writing is considered to be a form of automatic writing, where the author claims to be receiving messages from a spiritual source, in this case, Jesus [(00:43:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2608s). - Automatic writing is a laborious process for most people, but some authors claim to be able to write extensively in a short period, suggesting that another source is dictating what they write [(00:43:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2629s). - Some authors of these types of books claim that Jesus Christ is giving them the messages to write, while others attribute the source to a personal household ghost or other spiritual entities [(00:44:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2659s). - These books and writings are considered to be a form of demonic influence, where demons impersonate Jesus and provide false teachings that appeal to the flesh [(00:43:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2588s). - The popularity of these books and writings has led some [[Christianity | Christians]] to put aside God's word and instead follow the teachings of these false writings [(00:42:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2577s). - Other examples of [[New Age]] practices that have entered the church include "The Shack" and "[[The Secret (Byrne book) | The Secret]]", which promote positive thinking and visualization as a means of achieving a desired reality [(00:40:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2426s). - These teachings are in contrast to God's word, which states that apart from Him, we can do nothing [(00:41:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2469s). - The influence of these New Age practices has led some Christians to focus on fleshly desires and feelings rather than on God's word and teachings [(00:41:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2497s). ## Blurring of Reality and Delusion - A conversation between two men, a director and a producer of the movie [[RoboCop | Robocop]], revealed they believed in household ghosts that could perform tasks for them, but they denied any supernatural element, instead attributing it to a natural phenomenon [(00:44:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2685s). - The men's perspective on reality was described as warped, and it was suggested that this kind of thinking is becoming more prevalent, leading to a blurring of lines between virtual and true reality, and in some cases, people hearing voices or seeing lights that they attribute to supernatural or divine communication [(00:45:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2748s). - The voices and lights experienced by some individuals, including [[Christianity | Christian]] kids, were described, with some attributing these experiences to [[Jesus]] talking to them, highlighting the confusion between reality and delusion [(00:46:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2777s). - A sermon was mentioned, which used selectively chosen scripture to convey a message that was essentially self-empowerment content, rather than focusing on the teachings of Jesus or [[Bible | the Bible]], and this was seen as an example of [[New Age]] thinking entering the church [(00:47:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2823s). - The sermon's content was found to be similar to that of Steven Cy's book, with some Bible verses added to give it a Christian flavor, illustrating how doctrines of demons can enter the church through the use of selective scripture and New Age ideas [(00:47:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2842s). ## Possibility Thinking and New Age Leaders - The influence of New Age thinking in the church was further discussed, with the example of Robert Schuler's "possibility thinking" and its popularity, despite being unbiblical, and how it has been perpetuated by other authors and pastors, including Norman Vincent Peele and [[Rick Warren]] [(00:48:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2892s). - The influence of [[Norman Vincent Peale]], a proponent of New Age ideas, can be seen in various [[Christianity | Christian]] leaders, including [[Joel Osteen]], who is geographically close and shares similarities in his teachings [(00:49:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2948s). - [[New Age]] ideas are prevalent in the culture, education system, and church, and have been present since the time of Satan's original fall [(00:49:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2967s). ## Combating New Age Influence - To combat this, men need to take on their role as high priests in their homes, and churches need to get back to teaching the Word of [[God]] [(00:49:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=2985s). - Pastors should focus on teaching [[Bible | the Bible]] and equipping their congregations to discern truth from deception, rather than trying to be experts in every strand of false teaching [(00:50:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3000s). - Male spiritual leadership in the home is crucial, and parents need to be aware of what their children are exposed to during screen time [(00:50:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3021s). - Building a "lighthouse" of truth requires realizing one's condition as a sinner and acknowledging the need for God's grace [(00:50:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3044s). - The story of [[Adam and Eve]] illustrates the importance of male leadership and the consequences of passivity, as Adam failed to lead and protect Eve from the serpent's deception [(00:51:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3060s). - Men, including [[Christianity | Christian]] leaders, often struggle with spiritual passivity, leaving their wives to take care of spiritual matters [(00:51:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3102s). - However, [[Jesus]] has already won the war against sin and [[Satan]], and believers can find victory in Christ and through the power of the [[Holy Spirit]] [(00:52:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3143s). - Discernment is crucial in navigating the spiritual landscape, and believers can find guidance in [[Bible | the Bible]], such as in Acts 17:11, which commends the [[Bereans]] for examining the [[Religious text | Scriptures]] daily [(00:53:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3183s). - The early Christians in Acts eagerly received the word but also searched the Scriptures daily to verify its accuracy, as seen in 1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, and Revelation 2:2 [(00:53:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3194s). - Jesus commended the [[Epistle to the Ephesians | Ephesians]] for testing the alleged apostles and finding them to be liars, and the man who is spiritual makes appraisals about all things, as stated in 1 [[First Epistle to the Corinthians | Corinthians]] 2:15 [(00:53:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3222s). - There is a gift of discernment within the body of Christ, but it seems to be lacking today, and part of the problem is that people do not know the word and are into everything else but the word [(00:53:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3236s). ## The Importance of Love for Jesus - The church at [[Ephesus]] was initially praised by [[Jesus]], but later, in the [[Book of Revelation]], they were told they had lost their first love, indicating that they were doing good works but not out of love for the Lord Jesus [(00:54:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3258s). - Many [[Christianity | Christians]] do good works, but not because they love the Lord Jesus, and this is often due to a faulty soteriology or doctrine of salvation, where they think they need to keep themselves saved [(00:55:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3314s). - The motivation for good works should not be fear of losing salvation, but rather, it should be because of the love for Jesus, as stated in Romans 12:1-2, and offering one's body as a living sacrifice [(00:55:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3339s). - Some believers think that good works are evidence of persevering in the faith, but this can lead to a faulty motive, where they are doing good works to save themselves rather than out of love for Jesus [(00:56:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3362s). ## Resources for Learning about the New Age - Resources are available for people to learn more about [[New Age | the New Age]] and its influences, including a THM thesis available on a website, which, although dull reading, provides valuable information [(00:56:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3417s). - Walter Martin's book on the New Age movement is a recommended resource for learning about the topic [(00:57:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3441s). - Carl Teichrib is a primary source researcher who has written about the New Age movement and its influence on society [(00:57:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3448s). - Lighthouse Trails and Warren Smith are also recommended resources for learning about the New Age movement and its influence on [[Christianity]] [(00:57:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3472s). - Warren Smith, a former New Ager, has written about the similarities between New Age vernacular and some [[Evangelicalism | evangelical]] movements [(00:58:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3481s). - Berit Kjos is another recommended resource for learning about the New Age movement, particularly in regards to education [(00:58:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3523s). - The Ministry of the late [[Dave Hunt (Christian apologist) | Dave Hunt]], now led by [[Tom McMahon (American football) | Tom McMahon]], is also a recommended resource for learning about [[New Age | the New Age movement]] and its influence on Christianity [(00:59:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3540s). ## The Bible as a Sufficient Resource - [[Bible | The Bible]] is a sufficient resource for discerning truth and seeing through the deceptions of the New Age movement, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:17 and 2 Peter 1:3-4 [(00:59:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3572s). - The Bible promises that believers will be equipped for every good work and will be partakers of the divine nature, having a Christlike nature [(01:00:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3626s). - The Bible warns against the corruption of the world and the lust that can lead people astray, but promises that believers will be given everything they need for faith and godliness [(01:00:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3645s). - [[First Epistle to the Corinthians | Corinthians]] 10:5 is a recommended verse for casting down imaginations and arguments that exalt themselves against the knowledge of [[God]] [(01:01:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3674s). - The Bible instructs [[Christianity | Christians]] to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, as stated in 2 Corinthians, and not to give the devil a place in their hearts, as mentioned in [[Epistle to the Ephesians | Ephesians]] 4 [(01:01:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3693s). - This means surrendering all thoughts and areas of the heart to the Lord, acknowledging that blind spots exist and asking for help to identify them [(01:02:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3730s). - A common saying illustrates the idea that while bad thoughts may arise, it's up to the individual to prevent them from taking hold, much like not allowing birds to build a nest in their hair [(01:02:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3753s). - The issue is not the presence of bad thoughts, which are a part of human sin nature, but rather how one responds to them [(01:02:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3762s). ## The Pervasiveness of the New Age - [[New Age | The New Age movement]] has infiltrated the secular world and is often present in local churches, with its influence being a significant concern [(01:03:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3789s). - The discussion has only scratched the surface of the New Age movement, its origins, and its impact on the world [(01:03:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3780s). ## The Gospel and Ministry Support - Helpful resources are available to navigate the challenges of this age, and it's essential to keep Dr. Jobe Martin and his ministry in prayer [(01:03:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3822s). - The gospel is a reminder that [[Christianity]] is not about doing things to get to [[God]], but rather about receiving what God has done as a gift, which is only possible through believing and trusting in [[Jesus]] [(01:03:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3833s). - This gift is available to anyone who trusts in Jesus' completed transaction, including his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, and receives his righteousness as their own [(01:05:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3902s). - The [[Protestantism | Protestant]] reformers referred to this as "alien righteousness," emphasizing that it comes from outside of oneself, rather than self-righteousness [(01:05:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3920s). - Anyone seeking a relationship with God can establish one by trusting in what Jesus has done for them, and as they do, the [[Holy Spirit]] will come into their life [(01:05:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3930s). - To grow in faith, one should find a good local assembly of believers that prioritizes [[Bible | the Bible]], regardless of the group's size, and strive to grow in that environment [(01:05:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3948s). - This approach is considered the best way to spread the gospel [(01:05:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3959s). - Viewers are encouraged to pray, share the ministry, and support it, as sharing is seen as a way to expand the ministry's influence and reach new people [(01:06:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3969s). - Sharing the ministry allows it to reach people that it may not have been able to influence otherwise [(01:06:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3978s). - The ministry appreciates support and encourages viewers to share its content to help it grow [(01:06:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEjD5WKaLDc&t=3983s).