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How the New Age Redefines Jesus and Why It’s Spiritually Dangerous
Show: Contending for the Word Q&A
Host: Doreen Virtue
Date: January 19, 2026
Show Summary
In this episode, Doreen Virtue answers the question: How does the New Age redefine Jesus, and why is this spiritually dangerous? Drawing from her own testimony of being saved out of New Thought, the New Age, and Wicca, Doreen contrasts the counterfeit Jesus of New Age spirituality with the true, biblical Jesus—fully God, fully man, and the only Savior.
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Key Scriptures
- John 14:6
- 1 John 4:1–3
- Matthew 24:24
Episode Highlights
- The New Age reduces Jesus to a created “role model.”
- New Thought rejects repentance and sin.
- Channelers produce counterfeit “Jesuses.”
- Why “manifestation” teachings deny God’s sovereignty.
- How Scripture gives us a test for truth.
Full Article
Welcome to Contending for the Word Q&A. I’m Doreen Virtue, and as someone who was saved out of New Thought, the New Age, and Wicca, I’m here to answer questions about these spiritual deceptions.
Today’s question is: How does the New Age redefine Jesus, and why is this spiritually dangerous?
This is going to sound blasphemous because it is, but the New Age teaches that Jesus was merely a man, a created being who came as a role model. Unfortunately, many people believe this today because New Thought and New Age teachings are deeply intertwined and have redefined Jesus as someone other than who He truly is.
The Bible teaches that Jesus is God the second person of the Holy Trinity. He is fully God and fully man. He came to earth, lived a sinless life (the only One to do so), and died on the cross to take the wrath and punishment for our sins. He was buried for three days, just as prophesied, and then rose bodily and physically from the dead.
The New Age attempts to undermine this truth by claiming that the crucifixion story was borrowed from ancient sun god mythologies, such as those from Sumerian or Egyptian religions. This claim is false. These mythologies are entirely different from the true, historical, and prophesied gospel account of Jesus Christ—born of a virgin, sinless, crucified, and resurrected.
You also will not find in these mythologies what Scripture clearly teaches: that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). The biblical gospel calls people to repentance metanoia to turn away from sin and turn to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
When we believe the gospel, our sins are forgiven, and we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Hallelujah!
The New Age labels this truth as “fear-based thinking.” Why? Because New Age spirituality commands people to think only positively. Through the so-called law of attraction, they claim that negative thoughts attract negative outcomes. As a result, they reject the gospel, including the hard truth that all people are lost without Jesus.
The New Age also redefines Jesus by changing the vocabulary used to describe Him. They may refer to Him as “Sananda,” a channeled spirit, or use the name “Yeshua” while rejecting the biblical identity and authority of Jesus. They often use biblical-sounding language and even sprinkle in Scripture verses to appear legitimate.
For example, there is a popular New Age Law of Attraction book titled Ask and It Is Given. While Jesus did teach about asking, He taught it in the context of prayer aligned with God’s will not as a promise that humans can manifest whatever they desire.
The New Age teaches that humans are “little gods” who can control reality through visualization, manifestation, and vision boards. This stands in direct opposition to biblical truth. Scripture teaches that God alone is sovereign—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-equal, co-eternal, and the Creator of all things.
New Age practices such as divination, visualization, and attempts to control the future do not work. And when something appears to work, it is not from God it is spiritual warfare involving counterfeit spirits.
Jesus Himself warned us that counterfeit Christs would come. The Apostle John gave us a clear test in 1 John 4:1–3, where we are commanded to test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Any spirit that does not confess Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh is not from God.
That is why we must be cautious of New Age channeled books that claim to speak for Jesus, including popular works like Jesus Calling. We must also watch out for false portrayals of Jesus in false religions, television, and movies that present Him as loving but never call people to repentance.
Jesus spoke about hell more than anyone else in Scripture. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and we must not follow a false Christ.
This is why we must be contending for the Word and staying in the Word every day.
Reflection Questions
- How does Scripture describe the identity and work of Jesus Christ?
- Where have you encountered counterfeit portrayals of Jesus in culture?
- How can daily time in Scripture help protect you from spiritual deception?
Call to Action
Visit the Contending for the Word Q&A page at Servants of Grace or watch this episode on our YouTube playlist.
Doreen Virtue holds a Master’s degree in Biblical & Theological Studies with highest honors from Western Seminary (56 units / 2021), and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Chapman University. Prior to being saved by God‘s grace and mercy in 2017, Doreen was a psychotherapist specializing in women’s issues, rated in the top 15 most influential living spiritual teachers by Watkins, and the top selling new age author in the world. She was born and raised in new thought churches which she attended for 33 years, before segueing to new age and Wicca in 1991 while touring with a mind-body-spirit conference organization. Before her salvation, Doreen frequently appeared on Oprah, CNN, The View, Coast to Coast and other liberal secular media. After the Holy Spirit convicted her of her sins, while she read Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Doreen repented and gave her life to Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Doreen has been helping professing Christians to identify and avoid new age and new thought deception. Doreen volunteers in discipling women who’ve been saved out of New Age in a private Facebook group. Doreen was a speaker at the Answers in Genesis 2025 women’s conference at the Ark Encounter. She has been featured on American Gospel 3, American Gospel TV, Daily Wire, Moody Radio, Spillover, Christianity Today, Cultish, New York Magazine, Spiritual Counterfeits Project, Servants of Grace, and other Christian media.
