New Age Gobbledy-Gook
Maybe some of you might be able to offer some advice here on this issue.
My mom-in-law passed my wife a CD earlier today asking if we could help replicate it. The issue of copyright aside, my wife and I have decided that we’ll be telling my mom-in-law a white lie that it has some Digital Rights Management (DRM) on it and we can’t replicate it.
The issue is that the CD is from a book called Invoking Angels and contains tracks with titles like Archangel Meditation, Wise Guide Meditation and Guardian Angel Meditation, and was loaned to my mom-in-law by an elder of the extended family.
I checked out the book online and this is what the blurb says:
Have you ever experienced something so extraordinary as to leave you wondering whether some higher power or force were responsible? “We do not need to sit and wait for the finger of Grace to tap us on the shoulder,” explains Rabbi David A. Cooper, “rather, we can practice the invocation of angels — cultivating profound experiences that immediately open us to guidance and blessings from the Divine.” Invoking Angels presents a complete program of daily meditations and prayers to help practitioners of any faith find self-empowerment through an active relationship with angels, which Cooper views as an energetic realm that serves as a medium in which God, humankind, and all of creation are interconnected.
Join this master kabbalist, scholar, and storyteller as he takes us back to the teachings of the Torah, the Bible, and other sacred texts to reveal the original vision of angels and the universe we co-create with them. With the unique format of a book with guided invocations on CD, Invoking Angels is meant to complement an existing spiritual practice, comfort the sick, invite wisdom, and help anyone seeking an intimate awareness of these divine forces at work around us.
Is it me or does that sound like some New Age goobledy-gook to you as well?
Telling my mom-in-law to stop reading these books might not be so difficult but we’d really like to nip the problem in the bud and tell the elder to stop reading these materials and passing them on to my mom-in-law.
However, such things aren’t as straight-forward in Asian families. Elders seldom like to listen to advice from the younger folks, especially not on an issue like religion. She’s Roman Catholic like the rest of the extended family is, balks at Protestantism but funnily enough, accepts these wayward New Age teachings like a fish takes to water.
If you were in a similar situation, what would you do?
Tags: Advice, Digital Rights Management, Family, New Age
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11 comments
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May 7, 2008 at 14:30
kingskid
Hey Isaiah and Karen,
As to telling a white lie–
Tell her the truth–that you can not in faith reproduce
such heretical goobley-gook destined to direct her
further and further away from the true Source–the Lord
of Hosts is His name–of all mankind. Explain to her that
every time that an Angel interacts with man it is because
the Lord sent him, not because he was invoked.
You may not think that this scripture applies Romans 14:23
(because it is about food–however it says–”for
whatsoever is not of faith is sin”.
Also remind her that all Angels are not HOLY.
Peace
May 7, 2008 at 19:10
LaVrai
Hi.
I’ve been in some tight situations myself concerning what I know to be the truth, and being afraid I would step on someone’s toes because they wouldn’t understand (kind of like throwing pearls before swine, who may then turn on you).
No Christian is perfect so sometimes we may feel tempted to lie, but that’s usually not a good idea. I recommend omitting a few things…which some people say is lying anyway.
But what I mean is, tell your in-law you cannot copy this CD because it is against your principles and faith. That’s true, right? You’re not necessarily telling her you think what she’s dabbling is wrong… directly.
She should ask what you mean and then perhaps you could then slowly pull out your Bible and gently read some passages to her. You can try these: Deuteronomy 18:10-13, Leviticus 19:31; 20:6-7, Colossians 2:8-10, Ephesians 6:11-13, 1 John 4:1-3 and there should be plenty of others.
You say it won’t be hard to explain yourself to her, but that it would be difficult to the elder. But if your mom-in-law loves and respects you, she will take what you say and show her seriously (I pray anyway, because that’s up to the LORD). Then it will be up to her, not you, to refuse other books coming from this elder.
She’s an adult. You cannot tell her how to think, right? Do you think she would appreciate hearing about you going to this elder about something he’s sharing with HER without consulting her?
Have faith.
Prove your case with the help of the Holy Spirit to her, and let the LORD lead you. If you’ve been walking with the LORD long enough, you will know what HE wants you to do in terms of approaching this elder. If the Holy Spirit gives you utterance, speak it. If the Spirit says peace, be still, keep your mouth shut.
But don’t forget, this isn’t really your burden. It’s Jesus Christ’s, so pray on it and let him intercede.
I believe GOD will take care of this…HIS arm is not too short.
Peace.
May 7, 2008 at 22:46
Isaiah
Thank you for the advice, King’s Kid. I’m glad you warned about not telling the white lie. It weighed heavily on me when I initially decided to do that, for whoever deliberately sins practices lawlessness (1 John 3:4).
May 7, 2008 at 22:55
Alan Higgins
Sounds a bit like Todd Bentley to me, all this talk about Angels
May 7, 2008 at 22:56
Isaiah
LaVrai:
Thank you very much for the great practical advice! My wife will be reading this too; both of us feel a compulsion to set this situation right (so to speak). I shall pray for God’s lead on this.
May 7, 2008 at 22:58
Isaiah
Greetings, Alan! I’m very glad and encouraged by your visit to my new blog, brother.
Todd Bentley… ugh!
May 8, 2008 at 0:14
Shalene
Isaiah, Do NOT lie! You know the reasons why we are NOT to lie, so I don’t need to quote verse and Scripture to you, to make my point. I’m positive that the Holy Spirit has already been convicting you on this issue. The fact of the matter is, is that it does not matter whether or not your MIL likes that you won’t do it. She’ll either have to get over it, or get someone else to do it. If we won’t stand on the same principals that God commands, then how can we expect Him to be glorified by our lives? Amen? Ok, I’ll get off my soapbox now. (I’m not for one moment saying that I’m perfect in this respect, but I, and you, both know the correct and right thing to do.) Blessings and Shalom!
May 8, 2008 at 5:07
Casey
I second Lavrai’s suggestion.
May 8, 2008 at 7:29
Isaiah
Shalene:
Amen.
May 8, 2008 at 7:30
Isaiah
Casey:
Thanks, brother. LaVrai’s advice is pretty Biblical and practical indeed.
May 8, 2008 at 11:16
Carol
I’m all for the direct approach
(no secret there 
) I liked what Lavrai and King’s Kid said. Good show!