Deut. 32, Psalm 82, the New Testament, and where and why Christian theology and philosophy differs from Occult and New Age theology and philosophy. For any Christian who wishes to practice magic, these are some of the ideas that need to be thought about and addressed.
First, let's recap what's been said already:
This is how I would define a Christian:
1.) You believe that the God of Israel is the only uncreated, ontologically unique and superior being.
2.) You believe that Jesus of Nazareth was and is the only physical incarnation of the God of Israel.
3.) You believe that there is something separating us from God and that in some way this was repaired, or at least began to be repaired, at the resurrection.
4.) You believe that Christ is the only way of "salvation" (it's in quotes because who really knows what that means? We'll discuss it later.)
5.) You believe in the literal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Deut 32:8 says ( 2 different translations, one from Formal Equivalence, the other from Dynamic Equivalence),
"When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
when he divided mankind,
he fixed the borders
[a] of the peoples
according to the number of the sons of God.
[b]"
"When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,
when he divided up humankind,
he set the boundaries of the peoples,
according to the number of the heavenly assembly."
Deut 32 is saying that after the tower of Babel incident, YHVH gave dominion over the Earth to lesser gods. This is the ancient Jewish explanation for where the pantheons came from. Then, He started over, from scratch, with Abraham, He set aside Israel as His particular portion to be His inheritance.
Israel was supposed to:
1.) Remain completely separate from the other nations. Why? Because they (Israel) were Yahweh's own portion.
2.) Remain completely separate from the gods of these other nations. Why? Because the other people belonged to these gods and Israel belonged to Yahweh.
3.) Follow the Law given to Moses. Basically, live the way your God wants you to.
The plan, if they had actually done these things, was to bring the rest of the world back to Yahweh through the conduit of Israel. Jerusalem was supposed to be Yahweh's dwelling place on Earth, the nations would repent, and everything would be hunky dory.
As we all know, Israel sucked at this and failed. However, it turns out that mortals aren't the only ones who didn't do their jobs well. Here's Psalm 82:
"God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I said, “You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,
and fall like any prince.”
[a]
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!"
This basically says that the gods who were given dominion over the Earth after Babel weren't very good stewards. In fact, they receive a judgment, and a pretty harsh one at that: Death! They are sentenced to lose their immortality.
So, in the OT here's the hierarchy:
1.) Invisible Yahweh
2.) Visible Yahweh (Angel of the Lord, the Name, a man, Wisdom, etc.)
3.) Sons of God (The beings of this rank are the ones that received control of the nations after Babel and are also the ones responsible for Genesis 6 (the flood).
4.) Angels (aka “messengers”)
Keep this in mind:
6 I said, “You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,
and fall like any prince.”
[a]
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!"
This where the New Testament comes in. The NT says that Christians will
replace and
judge these gods or cosmic beings. I cannot stress this enough: the Cosmic Beings who are currently running things are going to die, losing their immortality, and then be replaced by
us.
This is why Paul, in Corinthians, says, “Do you not know that we are to judge angels?”
Remember the Old Testament hierarchy:
- Invisible Yahweh
- Visible Yahweh (Angel of the Lord, the Name, a man, Wisdom, etc.)
- Sons of God (The beings of this rank are the ones that received control of the nations after Babel and are also the ones responsible for Genesis 6 (the flood).
- Angels (aka “messengers”)
New Testament theology states that we get promoted to #3. That is why in the NT these beings are
never talked about positively, only negatively (the only possibility would be the “glorious ones” of Jude and Peter). We’re taking their jobs and they’re basically getting thrown out—in fact, they receive a death sentence. No wonder they’re pissed.
Now let’s get to comparing and contrasting (just a few to start):
Judeo-Christian:
Dualism: God is separate from everything else (creation).
Occult and New Age:
Monism: God is not separate, everything is a part of God, (The ALL).
Judeo-Christian:
God has a family and He wants us in it. He wants us as sons and daughters.
Occult and New Age:
People and other beings aren’t part of God’s family, they are a part of Him.
Judeo-Christian:
People are transformed and become part of the Divine realm through the work of Christ.
Occult and New Age:
People are transformed and become part of the Divine realm through slow evolution and spiritual exercises.
Goodbye for now!
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