Separating The Wheat From The Chaff: Spiritual Truths vs. Spiritual Falsities

The belief that Jesus was only a man, or perhaps only an archetypal figure, and not God in the flesh is a predominant view in the alternative spiritual sector.

Swedenborg believed that non-Christians could go to Heaven if they led a life of charity and are receptive to the truths of faith in the afterlife. They can learn these truths by the instruction of angels in the afterlife. Therefore, incorrect ideas about Jesus Christ in their earthly life may not necessarily negatively affect their spiritual state.

Non-Christians, in fact, are such that when angels teach them the truth of the faith and tell them that the Lord governs the universe, they easily pick it up, easily absorb the faith, and as a consequence reject their idols. So non-Christians who have lived a moral life marked by charity for one another and by innocence are reborn in the other life. While they live in the world, the Lord is present with them in their charity and innocence, because not a whit of charity or innocence exists that does not come from the Lord.

The Lord also gives them the gift of a conscience for what is right and good, according to their religious tradition, and into this conscience he instills innocence and neighborly love. When innocence and neighborly love reside in their conscience, they allow themselves to absorb easily the truth of genuine faith that grows out of goodness.

-Emanuel Swedenborg, Secrets Of Heaven, section 1032

For Christians, though, there can be another dilemma, which are attacks on one’s faith. This can be in the form of a split mind, confusion, or even acceptance of the view that Jesus was only a man. I think the issue here is not having enough boundaries to protect one’s mind. What can help is to be very clear about who Jesus was and affirm this.

For example, say you are reading a self-help book that speaks of God like the ether. You can acknowledge to yourself, “That is their view, but this is my view.” It sounds simple, yet it works. Sensitive, empathic Christians tend to need to do this more because we often naturally see things from other people’s viewpoints.

If one is unable to separate alternative spiritual views from their religious convictions, then it is okay not to investigate those ideas or not at this time, too.

In the past, I believed I needed to understand everything, but now I see that if I have the essentials down about God, Jesus, and spiritual life, this is more important than understanding all the complex spiritual information that one person cannot grasp in one lifetime anyway.

There are certain spiritual practices Christians that are best to be avoided. Among these is worship of any being besides the Lord, including Mother Mary, angels, saints, ancestors, and spirit guides. It is okay to ask the Lord to send angels to help you or others, but take care not to pray to angels in place of God.

Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

Revelation 22:8-9, NKJV

Many traditionalists would argue that there is no need to sort out alternative spiritual truths and falsities from each other. Their argument is, “You shouldn’t accept any of it because it’s all ‘New Age.’”

I understand where this sentiment comes from as there are some things that can be very dangerous and it is important to exercise caution. Even Swedenborg, who recognized the validity in other spiritual paths (as a measure of divine providence) and mistakenly labeled as “New Age” due to his unorthodox views, was vehemently against magic and sorcery. Nor am I saying Christians should adopt explicitly pagan or heretical ideologies and practices.

However, oversimplification about any spiritual ideas that fall outside of traditional Christianity is a problem because it is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I believe part of the reason Christians are discouraged to seek truth outside of traditional dogma is because they are more easily controlled this way. On the contrary, if they are freethinking and critically minded, and empower themselves with spiritual ideas that are true, they are less controllable.

In everything, whether it is Christianity or alternative spirituality, it is important to be able to have impartiality in order to discern what is true. Impartiality is not what one wants to be true but is true by God’s standards. This is not always easy to know if Scripture does not explicitly outline it, but the more sincere and humble we are, the Lord can reveal these mysteries to us.

This post is part of a larger article, which you can read in full here.