25/08/2026
25 New Age Practices That Have Infiltrated the Church
One of the greatest dangers facing the modern church is the subtle infiltration of New Age occultic pagan practices disguised in Christian language. Many believers sincerely think they’re pursuing deeper spirituality or intimacy with God, but what they’re actually embracing are methods rooted in paganism, mysticism, or outright occultism.
Scripture warns us that Satan masquerades as an angel of light and that his servants often disguise themselves as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
When I was saved in 2017 at age 59 after spending 33 years in New Thought church pews and 26 subsequent years involved with New Age practices, I was saddened and shocked at finding churches that were similar to the mind-body-spirit festivals that I’d left behind. I saw churches that either tolerated New Age practices, or even promoted them. So I’ve dedicated my time since then to warning Christians who may not realize they’re involved with New Age or New Thought practices.
The following list highlights 25 New Age practices that have infiltrated churches, conferences, and Christian households. Each one is spiritually dangerous because it subtly draws hearts away from the sufficiency of Scripture, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and glorifying God. These practices rebelliously defy God’s commandments, point people to a false Jesus, and they can lead to increased spiritual warfare.
1. Yoga
Rooted in Hindu worship, yoga can’t be separated from its idolatrous spiritual origins. It has nothing to do with the meat that was redeemed in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10, but instead is like the pagan temple and prayers.
“What agreement has the temple of God with idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:16)
2. Mindfulness
Drawn from Buddhism, it encourages noticing thoughts without judgment, when the Bible exhorts us to take every thought captive and Jesus warned that sinful thoughts are equivalent to sinful actions. The Bible says that meditating is about focusing on Scripture, not upon ourselves.
“You shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.” (Joshua 1:8)
3. Breathwork
Promoted as spiritual cleansing, it mimics occult trance practices instead of prayerful dependence on the Spirit.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)
4. Positive Affirmations
Speaking “I am” statements to manifest outcomes imitates magic spells rather than biblical prayer.
“When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do.” (Matthew 6:7)
5. Manifestation / Law of Attraction
Believing you can attract blessings by your thoughts is sorcery that usurps God’s sovereignty.
“There shall not be found among you anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes.” (Deuteronomy 18:10)
6. Vision Boards
Attempting to “create your future” through visualization replaces God’s will with human desire. Vision boards have nothing to do with Habakuk 2:2 as some false teachers claim.
“You ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:15)
7. Dream Interpretation Guides
Using symbol dictionaries is divination that denies God as the sole revealer of dreams. In the Bible, dream interpretation was directed by God, not from dream interpretation books which all contradict each other.
“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out.” (Leviticus 19:31)
1. “Angel” Communication
Seeking messages from angels apart from Scripture opens the door to demonic deception. I was in spiritual bo***ge from this deceptive practice, until God mercifully saved me in 2017.
“Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8)
9. Energy Healing (Reiki, “Christian Reiki”)
Channeling invisible “energy” is occult sorcery disguised as therapy. I’m a former Reiki master who would have nothing to do with Reiki now that I’m saved.
“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths.” (1 Timothy 4:7)
10. Essential Oils for Spiritual Power
Oils are fine for fragrance and cleaning, but some people turn oils into idols. Treating oils as tools to “attract abundance” or “repel negativity” turns God’s creation into idols.
“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25)
11. Crystal Idolatry
Using stones for healing or protection relies on created objects rather than the Creator. If you can look at crystals as God’s creation without viewing them as idols, that’s fine.
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:5)
12. Contemplative Prayer / Lectio Divina
Rooted in Roman Catholic and monastic mysticism, it teaches unbiblical emptying of the mind for mystical “experiences” and a desire to get messages about Scripture mystically instead of from a pastor or a commentary
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)
13. Enneagram
An occult-derived personality system masquerading as self-discovery, rooted in gnostic mysticism. Can lead to pridefulness and identifying with your Enneagram type, instead of our identity in Christ.
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition.” (Colossians 2:8)
1. “Christian Tarot” / Angel Cards
Attempting to hear from God through cards is repackaged divination condemned by Scripture. This was something that I was regrettably tangled up with until God saved me.
“You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes.” (Leviticus 19:26)
15. Prophetic Activation Exercises
Teaching people to “practice” prophecy manufactures false revelation and undermines the true gift of the Spirit.
“No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20–21)
16. Sozo Healing
Psychological visualization techniques mixed with prayer often lead to subjective experiences over Scripture. This can also lead to dangerous practices, because these techniques are practiced without formal counseling training
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
17. Chakra Teachings in Disguise
Introducing “energy centers” into Christian wellness is straight from Hinduism and occult mysticism.
“You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
1. “Holy Yoga” / Christian Meditation Apps
Mixing biblical words with pagan practices is syncretism that God calls abomination. The meditation apps usually involve deceptive contemplative practices like Lectio Divina, and some of them even guide listeners to pray to Roman catholic saints.
“What fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
19. Astrology & Christianized Horoscopes
Looking to the stars for identity or guidance is condemned divination no matter how it’s labeled. The magi were not astrologers. Yes God made the stars, but He never said that they were for us to do divination with. God condemns all forms of divination.
“Do not be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them.” (Jeremiah 10:2)
20. Quantum Mysticism (“Physics of Heaven”)
Using quantum language to claim access to hidden power is gnostic deception cloaked in pseudoscience.
“Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge.’” (1 Timothy 6:20)
21. Jesus Calling & The Chosen
False portrayals of Christ present a counterfeit Jesus, diminishing the truth of His divinity and holiness through deceptive entertainment that leaves people confused about what’s in the Bible vs the false teachings. I followed the false Jesus of new thought and New Age for 59 years before I was saved. I’m deeply concerned that the false Christ is presented as “entertainment,“ and that some people will not be following the true Jesus.
“For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed . . . you put up with it readily enough.” (2 Corinthians 11:4 truncated)
22. Necromancy / Mediumship (including “saint veneration”)
Attempting to speak with the dead, whether loved ones or canonized “saints,” is forbidden necromancy that invites demonic spirits.
“There shall not be found among you anyone who . . . inquires of the dead.” (Deuteronomy 18:11 truncated)
23. Deliverance Ministries
Teaching that Christians can be demon-possessed mirrors New Age “spirit release therapy” and denies the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Believers can only be oppressed with spiritual warfare, not possessed. There’s not one story in the Bible of a saved person having demons cast out of them.
“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
24. Appropriating Indigenous Spirituality
Using dreamcatchers, sage smudging, drumming circles, gnomes, or sacred dances imports pagan rituals under the guise of “Christianized” spirituality.
“Learn not the way of the nations.” (Jeremiah 10:2)
25. Sound Baths & Frequency Healing
Using vibrations, tuning forks, or “healing frequencies” to alter mood or health is occult manipulation disguised as wellness, not the work of the Holy Spirit. It can also lead to altered states of consciousness, when the Bible exhorts us to be sober-minded and alert to guard against the schemes of the devil (c.f., 1 Peter 5:8).
“Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 John 4:1)
These practices may seem harmless, spiritual, and even “Christian” on the surface, which is why so many believers fall into them without discernment. Yet every single one of these is a counterfeit, drawing hearts away from the pure devotion to Christ and the sufficiency of His Word.
God has already given us everything we need for life and godliness through His promises, His Holy Spirit, and His Word. We don’t need mystical methods, occult practices, or false portrayals of Jesus to grow in our faith. We need Christ alone.
We Christians must take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, which trains us by constant practice to discern good from evil. Spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how ‘mystical’ we feel, but by how faithfully we walk in obedience to the truth of Scripture. We’re not saved by our good works, but once we are saved we desire to please and obey God.
Jesus Christ came to earth as fully God and fully man. He was the only one to live a sinless life, and He intentionally died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He physically rose from the dead three days later, defeating death and offering eternal life to all who repent and believe in Him. You’re not saved by good works, spiritual rituals, or self-effort, but by God’s grace through faith in Jesus alone. If you’re weary, lost, or searching for truth, have faith in Christ: He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him.
For more information, please read the FREE ebook, “New Age is Old Age,” available for free in the Kindle Unlimited store at https://a.co/d/7yFkjhD
