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INC INTERNATIONAL EDITION
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THE RISE OF ALTERNATIVE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
BOB PELLIEN
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL
Brother Bob Pellien: There is a growing trend with people believing in alternative spiritual practices. Some even say this may even replace modern religions. What does the Bible say, though, about these types of alternative spiritual practices? I’m Bob Pellien, we’ll answer that and much more today right here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International edition.
And joining us today in this important discussion is brother Donald Pinnock in Toronto, Canada. Welcome to the discussion once again, Brother Donald.
Brother Donald Pinnock: Thanks for having me, Brother Bob.
Brother Bob Pellien: And we have as well with us from New York, Brother Neil Omelda.
Brother Neil, thank you as well for joining the program.
Brother Neil: Hello, brother Bob and our fellow panelists.
Brother Bob Pellien: Joining us as well is Brother Daniel Pinnock. there in Paris, France. Brother Daniel, thanks again for joining us there from Europe.
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TODAY’S TOPIC
THE RISE OF ALTERNATIVE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES?
Brother Daniel Pinnock: Thanks for having me, Brother Bob. To all of our panelists and to all of our viewers,
Brother Bob Pellien: Dear friends, it’s no secret that more and more people are turning away from traditional religion. Well, let’s find out, though, what alternative spiritual practices are people turning to, instead. Let’s take a look at this video clip.
Tarot readings, healing crystals, witchcraft and astrology. These new practices have seemingly taken over our online and IRL spaces, embraced heavily by millennials and Gen ZERS. But not only are these factions of spirituality on the rise, they seem to be replacing organized religion. Christianity is still the most popular religion in the United States. But even that has gone from accounting for about 90% of the population, 50 years ago to 64% in 2020.
And the number of Americans who say they have no religious affiliation has grown at about the same rate. Young people are forgoing these outdated modes of finding answers and meaning in their lives, and are instead turning to more fun practices that come with less rules and authority.
“I’m a Virgo cancer rising Sagittarius moon. That’s where the pizazz comes in.”
But is this shift from religiosity to spirituality and aesthetic choice? These new age ideas come with beautiful imagery, perfect for a generation that lives on TikTok and Instagram. Or do these spiritual practices reflect how, even as traditional religion declines, new generations still need to find a framework that makes sense of our troubled times?
Brother Bob Pellien: Dear friends, let’s check around the world. Brother Donald, in Toronto, Canada, you saw that video clip. Are you seeing a rise in these kinds of spirits and such? They’re in your part of the world.
Brother Donald Pinnock: Very much so, brother. In fact, it’s becoming so prevalent. You see all kinds of postings on social media platforms, when it comes to the purchasing of such items. It’s really out of control.
Brother Bob Pellien: How about there in the New York area? New York might be one place where those kinds of things really become popular. Is that the case, Brother Neil?
Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: Yes indeed, Brother Bob. Especially for New York, because it is a melting pot of cultures. There are plenty, plenty of these practices that are going all around the city.
Brother Bob Pellien: Maybe none of it is seen anywhere in Europe, though, Brother Daniel. Would that be the case?
Brother Daniel Pinnock: Well, just like it was mentioned there in Toronto and in New York, Brother Bob; even here in France, very prevalent. Especially when it comes to what was mentioned in the video; the younger generation, that idea of spirituality and spiritualism and how they’re going to achieve it. They do go to those different forms that are very different when it comes to traditional religious means, nowadays.
Brother Bob: Brother Neil, what are people writing about this, this kind of a topic?
Brother Neil Omelda: Well, there’s this article I read about from The Conversation.com, where the article was entitled “What’s Behind the Enduring Popularity of Crystals?”. And this is what we can read:
Metaphysical religion includes modern new age movements, a nebulous milieu of alternative spiritual beliefs and practices such as synchronicity or psychic abilities. Older traditions like Mesmerism; the idea that human beings emit magnetic energy that can be used for healing and spiritualism.The belief that mediums can communicate with the dead also fall under the metaphysical umbrella.
[theconversation.com]
Brother Neil Omelda: When it comes to the use of crystal tarot cards, Mesmer resin fortune tellers, and spiritualism, they are all part of what is called metaphysical religion; which in turn falls under the category of New Age spirituality.
Brother Bob Pellien: Who do you think brothers are most attracted to exploring these metaphysical practices?
Brother Donald Pinnock: Brother Bob, if I can answer that question by reading from the website ncronline.org:
Members of Gen Z, whom Baker describes that spiritual explorers are seeking to enrich and personalize their religious experience through various metaphysical practices. Gen Z is very curious and engaged with the world around them. Increasingly, their interest in spiritual and religious concerns explore spaces outside of traditional and or institutional boundaries.
[ncronline.org]
Brother Donald Pinnock: So those who are recognized as Gen Z’ers, those who are born between the years 1997 to 2012, are the ones who most often explore alternative spirituality in their belief that they can enrich their personal life and religious experience through metaphysical practices, such as the use of crystals, reading tarot cards, consulting with fortune tellers, and much, much more.
Brother Bob Pellien: Which is what was written in those articles. What do you think Brothers are motivating the Gen Z’ers and others to consider practicing all of this New Age spirituality?
Brother Neil Omelda: Well, Brother Bob and our viewers, the young people today truly love to explore. And it’s very easy for them to acquire this information on these particular topics. Some in their school and many of them are online. Others are even able to see them on many movies and art trends that are highlighted and even see them on mainstream news broadcasts discussing it.
And of course, the use of social media, Brother Bob. As we can glean from this excerpt from this article from the ncronline.org:
“Tarot, crystals and fortune telling is especially popular because of social media, frankly, and especially Tik Tok. Now that we’re able to exchange information so easily,” Qureshi wrote.
Brother Bob Pellien: We can see then, dear friends, you know, whether it’s mainstream media and even social media too, right. And their influencers can have a profound effect on the lives of others. And one could say that, you know, to be influenced to like, for example, improve one’s health, influence to improve other areas of our life; that’s all good, right? But when it comes to being influenced to take up or adopt metaphysical practices such as they were discussing in those articles, consulting fortune tellers and astrology and such things as those, are those practices for our betterment, especially for those who belong to God?
Stay tuned and let’s find out the answer to that right after this short break. Stay with us.
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INC INTERNATIONAL EDITION
TODAY’S TOPIC
THE RISE OF ALTERNATIVE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Brother Bob Pellien: Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the program. So far, we’ve learned that, well, many gingers are being influenced to explore alternative spirituality, some of which can be traced back hundreds of years. But influencers today have found a way to repack and upgrade tarot cards, astrology, crystals, and others into a more social media friendly platform as we read from their articles. Let’s take a look at yet another clip.
Many of the spiritual practices that have taken off in recent years are not new, they’ve just gotten an Instagram friendly makeover.
“Hop on to my Instagram live here in about 10 minutes. I’ll be there for about 20 minutes doing free readings.”
Tarot cards, for example, have been used for over 500 years. But in the last five years, US game systems have seen sales of tarot decks double, and they even tripled during the pandemic. Instagram, YouTube and Tik Tok are full of videos of young influencers unboxing specialty tarot sets or doing generic readings for their audience.
“You are always thinking of this person. And it drives you insane.”
Part of the reason Tarot has become so popular is because of how open the cards are to interpretation. These mass readings feel relevant and useful to viewers because tarot isn’t about rigid lessons or strict prophecies. They’re fluid images that can help guide the questions you bring to the reading.
“Tarot cards, freaky. Come on, deal me in. What’s wild?
“It doesn’t work that way.”
Astrology is similarly esthetic and adaptable. The idea that the planets and stars impact our lives is thousands and thousands of years old. But it’s gotten a modern makeover recently. And 2019 revenue from astrology apps hit nearly $40 million. These apps combined the ancient wisdom of astrology with algorithmically curated social media culture, offering personalized advice tailored to each individual user. And sometimes this advice is trusted to make some pretty big decisions. A LendingTree survey found that 20% of Americans have made a financial decision based on their horoscope. Of course, relying on astrology to make legitimate life decisions can be a harmful practice. But it seems like the majority of people use it more as a source of comfort or as an outlet for a bit of whimsical fun.
Brother Bob: But the question we posed together now, brothers, is according to the Bible, should one be practicing such things? When it comes to those who truly belong to God and to Christ? Should they be tempted to follow what others may be doing when those things violate the teachings of God in the Holy Bible, Brother Donald?
Brother Donald Pinnock: No, they should not, Brother Bob. And we are sure of this when we read what is written here in Deuteronomy 18, and verses are 9 to 12:
When you come into the land which the Lord, your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes the son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God, dries them out from before you.
[Deuteronomy 18:9-12 New King James Version]
Brother Donald Pinnock: So we should notice, dear friends, ever since the ancient times, God has forbidden His chosen people from consulting with those who practice witchcraft, soothsayers or fortune tellers, or those who claim to interpret omens; which includes the reading of tarot cards, or even those who claim to be able to communicate with the dead.
Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you, Brother Donald. Brother Daniel. Why does God not want his true servants to be influenced by such? To indulge in the practices of these metaphysical activities in such?
Brother Daniel Pinnock: Well Brother Bob and dear viewers, you can read that answer here in Revelation, the chapter is 16, the verse is 14:
Where they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
[Revelation 16:14 New King James Version]
Brother Daniel Pinnock: So there is a great danger, Brother Bob and dear viewers, that when it comes to a person that would be influenced by such things, they could be led away or led astray from the true God. We should take note that the devil has minions; as the verse that we read mentioned, “spirits of demons performing signs.” It could be deceiving people through various means, leading them away from the true God.
Brother Bob Pellien: Exactly. Just how careful should the true servants of God be when it comes to that, brothers? So that you know it would not be deceived as you read their brother Daniel, and led away from God by any of these metaphysical or religious or spiritualist activities. They would not be influenced by any emerging trend like these that could harm their relationship with God, right?
Brother Neil Omelda: Well, let’s get the wisdom from our Almighty God shared here in Colossians chapter 2 verses 20 down to 22:
Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belong to the world, do you submit to its rules. Do not handle it! Do not taste! Do not touch! These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands…
[Colossians 2:20-22 New International Version]
Brother Neil Omelda: So, dear friends, the Bible is clear in guiding all of us. Even if others try to influence us, even if these practices might be appealing, that it might look good or that it might be popular, we should not even entertain the thought of trying or experimenting with what other people are suggesting, especially when they violate the teachings of our Almighty God.
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INC INTERNATIONAL EDITION
Brother Bob: But wait a minute, brother Neil. What’s so wrong; others might ask, what’s wrong with human teachings, especially when it comes to anything described as having a bearing on spirituality? What’s the problem?
Brother Neil Omelda: Well, just like what we’ve read, brother Bob, about those popular practices, these rules, these philosophies on how one should live his or her life; when it comes to making your financial decisions based on the stars. All of these things will eventually perish on the day of judgment.
Brother Bob Pellien: So what then, is the instruction of the apostles to the true Christians regarding participating in spiritualism? Which, as we’ve been discussing, has really become so very popular nowadays.
Brother Donald Pinnock: Brother Bob, let’s again consult what the Bible teaches and we will read Ephesians 5, the verses are 5 to 7.
You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do.
[Ephesians 5:5-7 New Living Translation]
Brother Donald Pinnock: Dear viewers, we should simply not participate. We should not implement such worldly principles in our lives, especially if we are recognized as God’s true people.
Brother Bob Pellien: Wait a minute there, Brother Donald; all of us, all four of us actually, have at various points of our discussion, used that terminology right – in the lives of God’s people as true servants of God, is the people of God. Our viewers that haven’t been with us in our previous programs might be wondering or maybe wanting to ask, wait a minute, who are they talking about? Who are these God’s people? Who are these true servants of God? Isn’t that all people? What can you say to that? What can you say to that point, Brother Donald?
Brother Donald Pinnock: Well, when it comes to our new viewers, you can go to incmedia.org and you can watch the previous episodes of this program. But just for a short explanation, when it comes to those who are truly of God, they have been brought to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Brother Bob Pellien: And how do they do that? How does that happen?
Brother Donald Pinnock: Well, they hear the true gospel as taught by those who have been sent by the Lord, our God or the messengers, they believe in that gospel, and they become baptized members of the body or the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Such as what we can read in
I Corinthians 12:13:
For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into [a] one Spirit.
[I Corinthians 12:13 New King James Version]
Brother Bob Pellien: And that body of Christ; let’s just take it another step, Brother Donald, because probably they’d want to ask; Well, wait a minute, If they need to be brought into the body of Christ, what’s what’s the body of Christ?
Brother Donald Pinnock: Well, the body of Christ is the church, according to Colossians 1:18.
And the official name of the church, according to the Apostles, is none other than the Church of Christ. We can read that in Acts 20:28 Lamsa version.
And He is the head of the body, the church…
[Colossians 1:18 New King James Version]
…the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.
[Acts 20:28 George M. Lamsa Translation]
Brother Donald Pinnock: So we should not be pressured then, as members of the true Church of Christ in experimenting with, again, crystals or consulting fortune tellers or tarot card readers for insight when it comes to our future. The Bible’s teaching is very, very clear: “Don’t … ” – it’s a prohibition – “Don’t participate in what others may be doing.”
Brother Bob Pellien: Many of them are doing it though brothers because they think it will lead to their success. Well, how can we be successful over; well, all of the various challenges that we may face, because perhaps someone watching the program today may be facing peer pressure; let’s take a look at that. Facing peer pressure, maybe at school or others wanting them to experiment with all of these various metaphysical practices.
Brother Daniel Pinnock: Well, brother Bob, as always, for the answer to that, it’s not going to come from us, but we’ll read it from the Bible. And this is what we can read here in Deuteronomy the chapter is 13, the verses are 1 to 3:
If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods” – which you have not known— ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
[Deuteronomy 13:1 New King James Version]
Brother Daniel Pinnock: So for the people of God, even though they may be pressured by their peers at school or their colleagues at work, or even if when it comes to this umbrella of New Age spirituality, or even if when it comes to those things that they are exploring; they may think to themselves that they are coming to pass, they are happening, there’s fulfillment in them. Well, what we read was very clear. We should understand that we are just being tested by the Almighty God.
Brother Bob Pellien: What is it that God is testing in his people when they are faced with this invitation from others to try astrology, try experimenting with this, experimenting with that; with what others are calling this a new age spirituality or New age religion?
Brother Daniel Pinnock: Well, no matter the peer pressure, no matter what ‘good’ results, they may seem to get from those metaphysical activities. If you notice as well, dear your viewers, even as we read, even those signs that we are looking at or that we are experimenting with or exploring in those different activities, even if they come true; when it comes to the people of God. And that’s why for us, members of the Church Of Christ, we choose to serve God only in the way that He commands. Because this is how we can prove our sincere love for the true God.
Brother Neil Omelda: That’s exactly right, brother. If, for us, the people of our Almighty God, we would always put our trust in our Almighty God above all else. And through that we will receive His abundant riches and promised blessings. And the greatest blessing of all, which is salvation and eternal life.
Brother Donald Pinnock: That is why our dear and our beloved viewers, we continue to invite you when it comes to learning about the church, go to the nearest local congregation of the church, ask your questions when it comes, to the resident minister. Continue to view our programs that can be found from incmedia.org. Learn more about the teachings of the Lord our God that the members of the Church Of Christ believe in and live by.
And you will discover why. No matter what happens in this world, no matter the claim, spiritual trends that come and go, the members of the church are grounded, they are rooted in their faith; knowing very well that through their loyalty unto the living God, they will have all they need for this life as they continue in their sojourn towards the true life there in heaven.
Brother Bob Pellien: Well, dear friends and brothers, it just about does it for us here, in this episode of the program, the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition.
So we’d like to thank, once again – Brother Donald Pinnock in Toronto, Canada, Brother Daniel Pinnock in Paris, France, as well as Brother Neil Patrick Omelda, in New York. Brothers, we thank you for being with us today. And for giving us Bible based answers so that, as the Apostle Peter said to the members of the church:
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
[I Peter 3:15 New International Version]
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