In this blog, we are going to talk about the origin of ascended masters and if Christians should patronize the concept.
So what is an ascended master? Ascended master is a term used to describe someone who finished their reincarnation cycle here on this planet Earth. Or, as they say, they are highly spiritually evolved souls who graduated from Earth School. Since then, they are now operating in the spiritual world and acting as spirit guides to help humanity reach enlightenment as well.
According to scholars, the term “master” or “ascended master”, also known as the “Great White Brotherhood”, is a teaching that originates from theosophical society that was founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott and William Quan Judge in 1875 or 19th century in New York City.
The theosophical society was founded to revive theosophy. What is theosophy?
Theosophy teaches that we are all a tiny small spark of God and we choose to embark on a spiritual journey. That the aim of the soul is spiritual evolution and to attain enlightenment. That the soul will evolve through experiences achieved via various lifetimes or reincarnation. Other teachings follow the concept of karma and spiritual reality that can be reached through intuition, meditation and revelation.
Theosophical society is a new religious movement that doesn't believe in God. Its teaching is based on European philosophies like Gnosticism and Neoplatonism, as well as Indian religions like Buddhism and Hinduism.
Simply, theosophy is a New Age teaching.
Returning to the subject, the idea of “masters” was adapted by people who had connection to the theosophical society like Charles Webster Leadbeater, Alice Ann La Trobe-Bateman Bailey and Annie Wood Besant, whose works further explain the nature and work of the masters. As time passed by, many people have accepted and started to develop the concept of “masters” which is very far from the theosophical perspective.
In 1924 or 20th century, the term “masters” was also mentioned by Baird T. Spalding in his book series Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East. Until 1934, Guy W. Ballard, also known as Godfre Ray King, popularized or used the term “ascended master” or “great ascended master” in his book Unveiled Mysteries. Ballard has been credited to be the first one to use the term “ascended master”.
Other teachings about ascended masters were taught in organizations like the White Eagle Lodge in 1936, the Bridge to Freedom in 1951, the Aetherius Society in 1955, the Summit Lighthouse in 1958, the Temple of the Presence in 1995, the I AM University in 2004 and the Aquarian Christine Church Universal, Inc. in 2006.
That is the origin of the term “master" and how it was expanded by other teachers.
Now, to answer the question if Christians should patronize the concept of ascended masters. The answer is no.
There are a lot of presumably ascended masters that are constantly being promoted by New Agers like Buddha, Lady Nada, Babaji, Krishna, Saint Germain and Guanyin. To the point that they already included Mary Magdalene, Lord Jesus and Mary, mother of Jesus, to the list. But the truth is, Mary Magdalene, Jesus Christ and Mary are not part of these ascended masters.
The term ascended master does not belong to Christianity. Ascended master is a New Age teaching. It was considered demonic.
Please understand that the Bible never taught about reincarnation and ascended masters. Lord Jesus never claims to be an ascended master contrary to what these New Age teachers are saying.
They are only inserting Jesus Christ in the list of ascended masters so people will accept the concept as if it belongs to Christianity.
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