-------New Age Blasphemy-------

There is a book called A Course In Miracles that is finding a new and widespread audience today. Some people even offer courses based on this book. The book was written by Helen Schucman who died from cancer in 1981. After learning the art of meditation, Schucman began having vivid visual experiences which a man named William Tetford transcribed for her and then published as the book aforementioned.

Schucman was a self declared atheist who claims these visions came from Jesus Christ. Shucman wrote what the spirits told her to write. We call this channeling and channeling usually involves demonic spirits masquerading as angels of light. Jesus said we would recognize whether a person truly belonged to Him or not by the fruits they produce.

Let's examine some of the statements in A Course In Miracles (ACIM) to see if they contradict what the Holy Bible teaches. If the statements contradict the Bible, then the teaching is not from God.

Statement Number 1 - There is no such thing as sin. Page 183 ACIM

What does the Bible say about sin? "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Roman 3:23 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Isa. 64:6

Schucman declared there is no such thing as sin. The Bible states all have sinned. Which one do you believe?

Statement Number 2 - The atonement is the final lesson men need to learn, for it teaches him that never having sinned, he has no need of salvation. Page 237 ACIM

What does the Bible say? "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." 1 John 3:5

The atonement can be defined as the God man, Jesus Christ, living a life without sin, sacrificing Himself as a sinner on the cross, so the true sinner (us) would not have to die for his or her sin. The spirit told Schucman that we have no need of salvation because there is no sin. To deny you are a sinner implies that you reject the provision for sin made on the cross to take your sin away. This leaves you with no alternative but spiritual death because there is no other way to get into heaven despite what the world teaches.

Statement 3 - A slain Christ has no meaning. Page 425 ACIM

A slain Christ means everything to the individual who desires entrance into heaven. Without that provision of atonement, there is not one human being who could enter into heaven because we are all sinners and deserve death. Sin condemns. Christ pardons. The requirement is belief.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish , but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved . 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned : but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

Statement 4 - The journey to the cross should be Christ's last useless journey. Page 52 ACIM

Statement 5 - Do not make the pathetic error of clinging to the old rugged cross. Page 52 ACIM

The Christian faith centers on Christ and Him crucified. It was the shed blood that atones for our sin. Our entire focus should be on what Christ did on the cross. Paul had this to say about the cross, "1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." 1 Cor. Chapter 2

Paul was telling the churches that the most important teaching of all was the crucifixion of Christ because that is the key that locks the door to hell and opens the door to heaven.

Statement 6 - The name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol. It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names to all the Gods we pray. Page 58 ACIM

This statement is blasphemous to the Christian but it can be that way to the Muslim as well. When a Muslim is praying to Allah, he is not praying to Jesus in symbolic form.

Scripture teaches Jesus and God are one and the same yet different. Jesus performed miracles to prove He was who He said he was. He raised the dead, healed the sick, calmed a storm, made the blind to see, and fed over 5,000 people with a couple of pieces of bread and a few fish. He took special care to do these miracles in front of witnesses so there could be no doubt.

Several times Jesus told His disciples and witnesses statements that begin with "I am". The Greek reading of "I am" is "Ego ami" which means "I and I alone". Jesus made several "I am" statements as recorded in the book of John. The book of John was written to prove the deity of Christ. Let's start these "I am" verses with "I and I alone am" which gives a better meaning of the text.

"I and I alone am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." John 10:14

"Jesus said unto her, I and I alone am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead , yet shall he live:" John 11:25

"Jesus saith unto him, I and I alone am the way , the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

Clearly Jesus is declaring Himself to be God and He is also saying there are no other gods so praying to "many gods" is just a waste of time and effort.

We can safely deduct that the book "A Course in Miracles" should be titled "A Course In Blasphemy" as all it does is reject Christ and Him crucified. Now who would not want a person to know the truth of the Gospel? "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about , seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8

Many people believe the rise of Islam is the greatest threat to Christianity today but, according to Psalm 83, Isa 19, Ezekiel 38 and 39, Islam has no future and the current Islamic Arab world will become followers of Christ. However, the New Age movement is deceiving people by the millions. The agenda of this movement is a one world government with a one world religion where all paths lead to God. This will culminate in the man of sin, the antichrist, coming to power and the whole world worshiping him. Don't fall for the new age blasphemy. Read your Bible instead.

Copyright 2012 by Gary Goodworth

Thanks to Answers.com for the info on Helen Schucman.