Recently I have encountered several people who are into “The Secret”. The Secret is a positive mental attitude motivation theory around “the law of attraction” mixed with spirituality (not scriptural Christianity) that sparked a lot of interest by a book, DVD and an Oprah appearance. I am extremely disappointed in the pastors and believers who have bought into this erroneous teaching. This is new age teaching and incongruent with the scriptures.
I am not against individuals having a positive mental attitude (PMA). In fact we should all work to be positive but as believers the influences that we embrace to shape our lives must be grounded in the scriptures. PMA can not change your circumstances, doesn’t have divine power and can not be maintained without external stimuli. Evangelicals, main line denominations and Pentecostals all agree that we rely on the power of God to shape us not some popular self help book.
Faith on the other hand is the power of God in our lives. When we exercise faith we have the opportunity as believers in the Creator of the Universe to place our situations, issues and concerns in the hand of God who personally cares for us and is moving on our behalf as a fulfillment of His covenant to us. When we live by faith, walk by faith and move by faith we are living counter cultural to popular society. This should be our daily walk with the Lord not an event that is confined to when we have crisis in our lives. When we operate in faith God’s favor “attracts” people to us because of God’s power flowing through us not because we positively thought the attraction of these individuals into our lives.
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all of the ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path.
Proverbs 3:5-6
This demands that our heart relationship with God be in alignment with God not things that we can figure out. Our life experiences while trusting God will not always be cheerful and fun but it will build your faith in the good times and in the bad times to know that God is there with you no matter what the circumstance is.
When you listen and follow new age spiritualist masquerading as having the answer for your life you dissipate the power of God moving in your life. God wants us to be faithful to Him alone. I am especially frustrated with the number of Christians who are being hoodwinked. They are in adulterous relationship with foreign gods and then they bring these teaching back to the church as if the Bible supports their false teaching. One reason that so many good church people are being sucked in by the dark side of the force is because they suffer from FDD. (Faith Deficiency Dysorder)
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17
If people who are reading the Secret were to put it down and invest the same amount of time in studying and applying scriptures their positive mental attitude problems would be solved because they would be increasing their faith and watching God move on their behalf. This would cure FDD. In fact attitudes would change, circumstances will be affected, out look will be different and the daily conversations with God through prayer would take on a greater significance.
Paul gives the greatest and most powerful positive mental attitude speech in the scriptures
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1-11
Paul concludes his lesson on attitude motivation
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
Nuff Said!
July 17, 2007 at 2:08 pm
The Secret is always controversial. Church is also against new age stuffs. But hey, if it’s for the greater good, why not?
I’m also a Christian but I practice Law of Attraction because of its goodness and I still keep my faith to Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
July 17, 2007 at 2:11 pm
The Secret always brings controversy. Even Church is also against new age stuff.
But hey, if it’s for our greater goodness, why not?
I myself is a Christian, I practice Law of Attraction and I still keep my faith to Father, Son and Holy Spirit :)
July 24, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Regarding Aldian Prakoso’s comment – I also thought the same for the past weeks, until I stopped myself to think about the Holy Spirit – By applying the secret aren’t we taking the Holy Spirit out of the equation. By relying on our own capabilities as individuals aren’t we denying the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives.
For the Word of God was inspired by the Holy Spirit. What if the prophets of the Old Testament relied on the Law of Attraction would we ever have been able to know that Christ was the true Messiah.
I myself feel troubled about this secret for it has found me in a place were I wish to focus on the flesh rather than God’s devine nature and inspiration.
Why don’t we rather stop visualizing and affirming materiality in our lives and focus on what God’s scripture reveals to us and let the Holy Spirit reveal to us what needs to be revealed.
Maybe this so called secret is the secret to life, but it certainly isn’t the secret to salvation.
For there is only one God, and he sent his Son to die for our sins and that so however believes in him might not die but have eternal life.
Even if you live a perfect abundant life – if this so called abundant life does not include Christ, how awfull will it not be when Christ returns and he cannot say to: “Welcome good and faithfull servant”
Chew on that for a while.
July 27, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Christianity is a left over hold on the individual, run by church leaders, who did not allow for individual empowerment. God-beings that we are, we are living an experience here on the earth plane to learn how to manifest our good. Why have traditional belief systems tried to squelch this?
2000 years ago the abstract idea of a God being was thought of as a king, a male omnipotent force that was to be feared. Now the idea of a creative force that emcompasses all life is the New Thought.
July 30, 2007 at 3:41 am
P Firth,
You state that we are “God-beings” but, provided no basis for your assertion. Is there a scripture I should check out?
I seem to recall that someone else thought of himself as a ‘God being’? Satan?
Ask not what the universe can do for you, ask God what you can do for the universe.
Learning to recognize, accept, and appreciate God’s will is part of the walk.
Joe
August 5, 2007 at 6:31 am
The Bible (Jesus)clearly states, ” No man can serve two masters…” Mat 6:24 And it also clearly emphasizes “I (Jesus)am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me.”-Jhn 14:6 Also, I’m a lil weary to follow or adhere to anything that is a “Secret”. The enemy likes to be concealed and hidden yet Jesus was, is and always will be the preeminent redeemer for all. Why try to go on a roundabout way to salvation when Jesus has already defeated Satan (Death)? The work is already done. Also saints remember, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn their ears away from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” -2 Tim 4:3-4 We can’t defend God, God is defending us!
September 12, 2007 at 3:58 pm
it is understandable to want to read and apply the Secret especially when people nowadays are desperate for anything that will bring happiness. afterall wouldn’t it be easier than hours of praying and weeks of fasting especially after endless months of unanswered prayers? No. Satan is a liar! Jesus was is and will always be the Way the Truth and the Life. Jesus never promised a life full of roses in fact He said we will have trouble in this world but promised never to leave us. The bible is clear that in the end of times many will follow teachings of demons and fall away from the faith.
It is by the power of the Cross ONLY that we can exchange curses for blessings because it is Jesus Christ and Him alone who can set us free from captivity, debts, depression, etc… We have the option to fight the battles of life by ourselves and fail terribly or allow The Living God, the Creator of every law, to fight the battles on our behalf and give us victory! We can follow the teachings of The Secret and collapse when problems return, or follow the Teachings of the Risen Christ and live as conquerors in the midst of storms. Thank God for Jesus!
September 13, 2007 at 3:32 am
It’s so funny, I was trying to google “law of attraction” combined with “pagan”, “not christian”, “new age”, etc. and got TONS of sites claiming you could be a Christian and follow the LoA.
I’m a former Wiccan-turned-Hindu and Jesus saved me in ’93…it’s because of that background that I can smell the lie a mile away…so when a young sister was telling me about it today–“this great new concept called the Law of Attraction”–I was able to say, yes, i’m familiar with this concept, and it’s a heresy. “Apart from me [Jesus] you can do NOTHING.” I guess he means that!!!
Thank you, THANK YOU, for being, really, one of the few on the web who are countering this heresy with the Truth!
October 2, 2007 at 12:39 am
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October 9, 2007 at 10:55 pm
my cousin bought “the secret” to my house yesterday but before we watched it we were conversating about how I got saved which was so nontraditional which if I told the story of how it happened most people would laugh some may critisize but Im saved and I had 5 people who witnessed it take place right before their eyes!!! what Im trying to say is during the movie I did notice they kept saying something about the universe and all which I replaced that word with God but the things they were saying I was able to think of verses in the bible that could relate to what they were saying which when i buy the dvd I will go back and underline those!!! they were talking from a non christian point of view but I was able to relate to them . most people know their is a God but they rather say a higher being why’ I dont know, but because they have not studied the bible , they know its a spiritual being” they just dont know God and the truth so therefore they call what is suppose to be God”energy” God is all powerful and everything he made has a purpose and yes I beleive evrything statrs in your mind first God give us a choice to think what we want which is influenced by spirits either the “holy spirit” or evil spirits and yes your thought is a seed ready to hatch as soon as you dwell on it < it starts to grow and when you speak it’ it manifests itself and when you act on it, its a done deal!!we have to stop seeing God so small hes greater than great so if someone gets introduced to “the secret” you introduce them to the bible cause the dvd do have some relation with the bible!! God created everything so let them know that ist not the universe or your mind that make things happen it is the power of God through our faith in him in jesus christ name!!! we gotta find some kind of way to bring people to know the truth so God can use whomever he chooses however he want to use them!!! Im a 33yr old writer/rap artist/producer and I find witty ways to get people to hear what God has to say even when they dont wanna listen!!!people lives are at hand we dont have time to be criticizing everything we hear learn from it find truth in it if there is no truth what so ever in it ditch it!! but if their is some truth in it somewhere grab the truth ,find the relation in the bible ,and teach someone!!! Im done LOL love yall bye!!
October 22, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I was thinking about this “secret” and it came to my mind that people who are doing this are acting like “gods”. Isn’t that what satan wanted since the beginning? Eat this frut and you will be like God…. Only God can create things. He ceated the earth and the universe.
Satan is definitly behnd this.
BEWARE that you do not fall into his plan.
In the scriptures it says that in the last times EVEN the elect WILL FALL.
blessings,
November 20, 2007 at 2:25 am
Peace, joy, gentleness and charity are fruits of the Holy Spirit. But attaining what we want through mind control and trying to project things into our reality and manuipulate others for our ends is witchcraft and sorcery plan and simple.
December 26, 2007 at 4:52 pm
I have just began reading the first chapter of the Secret, and I definetly see a New Age making yourself God spin on it. That cannot be denied.
However my comment is this, what if the Law of Attraction is a real law?? For example, God created the universe with a Law of Gravity, we know it exists and effects all of the known universe in some form or another but the Law of Gravity is never defined anywhere in the Bible. Is it possible this LoA is a spirtual principle God created, and like free will, love, and intelligence and it is up to us to determine whether or not it is used for good or evil? To empower ourselves or to give glory to God? The only real question that needs answered is, “Does the Law of Attraction really affect reality, meaning the spiritual being birthing into the physical based on our thought patterns, or does it merely alter our perceptions and motivations in life and thus prompting us to create our own mental projection of reality?”
Whatever the reality is I still believe it is grossly applied in the Secret to building up oneself without regard to God that gave the power. Remeber the enemy never trully created anything, he only perverted God’s creation.
April 24, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Its Interesting what you wrote about Positive Mental Attitude.
I asked my LinkedIn network there feelings about Poisitive Mental Attitude and the effects it had,
They gave me 22 ideas and reasons why it works.
You can see it at
http://www.zaletabakman.ca/2008/02/13/22-case-studies-in-success-through-positive-mental-attitude/
Take care
Zale
http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/ZaleTabakman <- An invite to me will add 1,600,000 people to your linkedin network
http://www.ZaleTabakman.ca
June 14, 2008 at 5:40 pm
GOD wants us to live an abundant life in all areas of our lives. GOD created the universe, and as I watched “The Secret” I found myself living a life that GOD has created for me. My definition of “Law of Attraction” is focusing on GOD and through HIS will you will attract the life HE has planned for you. The reason LOA is so popular is because sin seperates us from GOD, and as a result we don’t feel worthy of living in abundance and we look for “other ways” to “feel good”. I am a Christian and I have watched the movie several times, and I don’t believe in any other gods. I study my BIBLE and KNOW all good things come from GOD.
July 11, 2008 at 2:28 pm
this is not about we not believing in God the son and the holy spirit, faith in God is all about your mental perception of who He is, if you dont keep a good mental perceptions about the promises in the word of God you may never enjoy all His promises for you.
October 16, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I agree with wity….for my case i love the secret and i chose to replace the Universe with its maker-GOD.So when the secret says that all you need is to let God know your needs and He will do anything to have it delivered to you…i know its God who made the universe….and a lot of what the secret teaches is related to the bible…Faith….Giving/tithe/….and more.
its how you take it :)
March 2, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Pensar em coisas positivas, com certeza desencadeia uma energia positiva circunscrita a nossa esfera mental, o que acaba por se refletir na maneira como nos relacionamos com o Mundo, e é exatamente nesse relacionamento que podemos mostrar que nossas convicções não ficam apenas na esfera mental, pois é através dos atos que demonstramos os nossos verdadeiros sentimentos. As provas pelas quais passamos são as verdadeiras oportunidades para sabermos como anda a nossa Fé. “Só se conhece o Marinheiro em meio a tempestade.”