Toxic Positivity in the New Age
In the newage movement, you are basically taught to just "think positive" all of the time. This can actually become psychologically damaging because it leads into toxic positivity which is denying any "negative" emotions or experiences and not seeing the world as it actually is. Toxic positivity is "the belief that no matter how dire or difficult a situation is, people should maintain a positive mindset. While there are benefits to being optimistic and engaging in positive thinking, toxic positivity rejects all difficult emotions in favor of a cheerful and often falsely-positive façade. Toxic positivity is an obsession with positive thinking. It is the belief that people should put a positive spin on all experiences, even those that are profoundly tragic. Toxic positivity can silence negative emotions, demean grief, and make people feel under pressure to pretend to be happy even when they are struggling." (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/toxic-positivity)
There's also a lot of gaslighting among newagers (for example, making you believe that if you have an illness, it was your "negative thoughts" that attracted it!) and just total denial of evil and sin existing.
In 2018, 4 cyclists were killed in Afghanistan by Isis members. They had written on their blog previous to their death, “Evil is a make-believe concept we’ve invented to deal with the complexities of fellow humans holding values and beliefs and perspectives different than our own." (https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.jpost.com/middle-east/young-couple-trying-to-prove-human-kindness-among-cyclists-killed-by-isis-565055/amp) They were basically trying to prove that there is no evil in the world. Pure newage brainwashing! Even if they were not actual newagers, this type of thinking comes from newage philosophies. As a result, they made themselves vulnerable in a very dangerous place and were brutally murdered. This is how tragic, dangerous, psychologically damaging, dillusional and even at times life threatening newage teachings can be! Not to mention that it is also of course, spiritually dangerous (doctrines of devils) as I had talked about in previous episodes.
What is the source of this deception? Basically, it's people trying to be their own gods. They are doing that by trying to deny reality in order to try to "manifest" another reality, but they are really just fooling themselves as well as not realizing the long-term psychological consequences of denying their own feelings and the feelings of others (and not just feelings, reality in general) and if they are not saved then they will not recognize their sin nature or their need for a savior. As a result, if they die in their sins, they will spend eternity in the lake of fire and no amount of "positive thinking" will get them out of that!
They also think that positive thinking is godliness, but it's not! They equate their fleshly works of "human good" as being a spiritual thing, but its just a fleshly thing. Even within Christendom they often teach similar things, that the newage ideas about "positive thinking" is spiritual. But Paul says, "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." 1 Corinthians 14:37 KJB. How many people are following Paul as he followed Christ? Not many!
1 Cor 11:1 "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."
Paul is our pattern, but most of Christendom doesn't acknowledge this. They would rather follow newage philosophies or the teachings of men like John Calvin, John Wesley, Ellen G. White, Joseph Smith, the Pope, etc.
1 Timothy 1:16
“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”
Romans chapter one also explains that unsaved man would rather worship themselves as their own god instead of worshipping or even acknowledging the true God. By denying basic reality, and trying to "manifest" a different reality of their own fleshly thinking, they are being their own gods.
Romans 1:21-23 KJB
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man...
Believers who choose to follow after newage teachings, and the teachings of men, are using their fleshly mind instead of the mind of Christ and it leads to loss of rewards. It also in no way helps to bring others to Christ, which is our primary purpose for being here after salvation (to share the gospel with others).
In 1 Cor 1: 18-21 Paul says,
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise [newage philosophies, teachings of men, denominationalism, etc], and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Even after being saved and learning sound grace doctrine, you might find that you are still sometimes effected by "toxic positivity" type of teachings. This is because we (ex new-agers) were brainwashed by these teachings for many years and it's also prevalent in the church too. It takes time to get unbrainwashed and to have sound grace doctrine built up in your inner man. Also, our flesh LIKES newage philosophies because then we can "be our own gods"!
So, for example, you might be afraid at times to share the gospel or to teach someone sound grace doctrine because of fear of sounding "too negative". Or you might be afraid to reprove someone in regards to doctrine because you are afraid of coming across as being negative or like you are "attacking" them, even if you do so as kindly and graciously as possible. Or, if you are going through something difficult in life, you might be afraid to tell others about it for fear that they might think that you are a weak believer (we all have weaknesses!). Another example is that you might be having serious issues in some area of your life and decide that if you could "just think more positively," maybe your situation would change. Instead of turning to God and His word to help you get through it, you might be tempted at times to try and "manifest" a different reality for yourself.
Again, the answer to overcoming this newage brainwashing is to just keep studying God's word rightly divided. The word of God will work effectually in you. God's word is powerful! Be patient with yourself too and give yourself grace. Also, after being established in Romans doctrine, really study out 1st and 2nd Corinthians as it can be very helpful if you have temptations to go back to newage philosophies.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 KJB
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Next week, I'll be talking about how sometimes after being saved, ex new-agers will swing to the other extreme opposite of toxic-positivity and become obsessed with trying to expose all evil.
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