The New Age movement teaches that angels are our guardians, ready to offer direct assistance or guidance, at any time we make a request through prayer. However, the Bible shows that this is wrong. Here’s why.
One thing New Age teachings regarding angels do is blur the lines about the roles of angels. The names of angels in the Bible specifically have to do with what kind of jobs they do. The most common job of angels that interact with humankind is that of a messenger (Hebrews 1:14, Luke 1:19).
While the Bible doesn’t specifically say we have guardian angels, it is implied in several verses including Matthew 18:10 and Luke 16:22. The most specific is this:
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
–Psalm 91:11
Satan quoted the above verse to Jesus when tempting him, and Jesus responded with Deuteronomy 6:16 that we should not test God. Notice that here Jesus also puts emphasis on God being in charge, not guardian angels.
New Age Angelology would have us believe Guardian Angels are there, not only as our protectors but as our personal assistants, healers, and counselors. Putting angels before God exactly as Satan did when tempting Jesus.
The New Age concept teaches that angels will not intervene and override human free will. Therefore, we must pray to the Angels for the help we need. But as a Christian, this concept is antithetical to the teachings of the Bible. Here’s why…
Practitioners of the New Age movement will claim the Bible never says we should not pray to angels or ask them for help. That is true, but Scripture doesn’t have to say these two things specifically. The Bible already makes it clear who to pray to and who to ask to help.
When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, he said the following…
“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'”
–Matthew 6:9
Jesus instructs that we pray to God. He does not tell us to pray to angels, the saints, or his mother Mary to intervene on our behalf. We are told to pray directly to God and God only.
Jesus then teaches the disciples the next important ingredient in all our prayers.
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
–Matthew 6:10
Take note of the second part of the sentence here: “Your will be done.”
Jesus teaches that anything we ask or pray for, we need to always ask that everything is in accordance with God’s will. Why? We are deferring to God’s superior judgment for our lives. As humans, sometimes we desire things that aren’t good for us.
Before teaching the disciples how to pray, Jesus first told them the following…
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the *Gentiles [pagans, heathens] do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
–Matthew 6:7-8 (*alternate translations added: NIV, KJV)
The meaning here is that God knows what we need and what is right for us, so we always want to pray for God’s will for us ahead of whatever we might think we want or need.
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
– Exodus 20:3
Again, the Bible does not need to specify that we should not pray to angels for help,or worship them. The above verse makes it clear: God is number one. We go to God with all our needs and prayers.
The Bible gives us a good example in the book of Revelation. John starts to bow down to worship an angel, and is immediately rebuked by the spiritual being.
“I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those”
– Revelation 22:8–9
When good things happen to us and we want to show gratitude – we thank God alone.
