19th August 2017 - What is the Law of attraction?
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The document summarizes and critiques the popular concept known as "The Secret" or the "law of attraction". It argues that while positive thinking can impact well-being and success to some degree, the core claims of "The Secret" are unbiblical. Specifically, it asserts that one's destiny is determined by God's sovereign plan, not by manipulating a universal energy through one's thoughts. True fulfillment comes from seeking God, understanding his will, and allowing him to place his desires in one's heart, not from pursuing wealth, fame or power for their own sake.
19th August 2017 - What is the Law of attraction?
- 1. The Law of attraction aka ‘the Secret’ - 19th august 2017 “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). The “law of attraction,”also knownasthe Secretpromotesthe ideathatbecause of ourconnectionwith a “universal energyforce,”ourthoughtsandfeelingshave the abilitytomanipulate thisenergyforce to our liking...Accordingto“The Secret,”our thoughtsandfeelingsattracta correspondingenergyto ourselves.If ourthoughtsare negative,we attractnegative things.If ourfeelingsare positive,we attract positive things.The essential message of “The Secret”isthatwe all have the powertodetermine our owndestiny.We can all create our ownreality.Throughfullyandconsistentlyapplyingthe “law of attraction,”we can be whowe want to be and have everythingwe wanttohave. AsChristianswe need to know that Law of attraction has no moral affiliation. Itisnot a religion,acult,butbecome a money makingscheme. Like the Lawof Association,Law of SowingandReaping,andthe Law of Sin,if youlearn howto operate init yourlife,itmayhelp asit isa popularideatoday. Is there anytruth to “The Secret”?Is there anyvaliditytothe law of attraction?Aswithmostother popularideas,“The Secret”hasa nuggetof truth thatis expandedtounbiblical andillogical extremes. For example,athesisof the lawof attraction isthat our physical healthisdeterminedbyourthoughts and feelings.Ithasbeenmedicallyproventhatstressandworryare harmful to the body,while joyand peace actuallyaidinthe healingprocess.The Bible says,“Acheerful heart is goodmedicine, but a crushed spiritdries up the bones” (Proverbs17:22). We can see againfrom Proverbs 15:30 “Lightin a messenger’s eyes bringsjoy to the heart, and goodnews gives healthto the bones.” We can also learn that whenKingDavidwasstrugglingwiththe guiltof hisunconfessed,evil actions,he declared, “WhenI kept silent, my boneswasted away throughmy groaning all daylong” (Psalm32:3). These passages tellsusthat our thoughtsandfeelingsdohave animpact onour physical well-being.However,thisis due to howGod designedourbodies…notbecause of ourconnectionwithauniversal energyforce and our negativityorpositivityattractingnegative orpositive physical symptoms. A seconderrorin the “lawof attraction”is itsemphasisonmoneyandwealth.The Bible hasmuchtosay regardingwealthandthe managementof moneyandresources. Forexample we canlearnfrom Proverbs 13:11, “Dishonestmoneydwindlesaway,but he who gathers money littleby littlemakes it grow.” Similarly, we canalsoreadfrom Proverbs 17:16 , “Ofwhat use is money inthe handof a fool, since he has nodesire to get wisdom?” Ourfinancial successisdeterminedbyour faithinGods provision,ourrelateddecisions, hardwork,andourwise stewardshipof whatwe have.Nomatterhow positive ourthoughtsandhowfocusedourmindison wealth,if we have builtmountainsof debt,the billswill continue to come. The onlyimpact the secretof “positive thinking”canhave onour financial situationisinmotivatingusto workharder andspendmore wisely. AsChristianswe needtoknow thatthe Secret—anditsfocuson achievingwealth—godirectlyagainstthe teachingsof the Bible.Solomon,the wisestandrichestmanin the Bible,observed, “Whoeverlovesmoneynever hasmoney enough;whoever loveswealth isnever satisfiedwithhis income.This too ismeaningless” (Ecclesiastes5:10). Jesus,whopossessedeverything, warnedus, “Watchout!Be on your guardagainstall kinds ofgreed; a man'slifedoes not consistin the abundanceof hispossessions” (Luke12:15). 1Timothy 6:10 couldnotsay it anymore clearly, “For the love of moneyis a root of all kinds ofevil. Some people,eager for money, have wanderedfrom the faithand pierced themselveswith many griefs.”
- 2. Withthat said,the primaryerror of “The Secret”/ law of attractionis itsview,orlackthereof,of God. God and Hisprovisionisnoware in the picture. Inthe law of attraction,God, isnothingmore thana universal energyforce thatwe manipulate byourthoughtsandfeelings.The law of attractionassumesa pantheistic(Godiseverything) view of God.The Secretdeniesthe ideasof apersonal God who loves you, withthoughts,feelings,andemotionsandasovereignGod(omnipotentandomniscient,perfectly incontrol of everything).The core message of “The Secret”isthat we are incontrol of our owndestiny. As Christians,throughourownpersonal experiences,we know the truthtobe verydifferent aswe can learnfromJeremiah 29:11, “ForI know the plansI have for you,” declares the LORD, “planstoprosper you andnot to harm you, plansto giveyou hope anda future.” AsChristianswe believethatwe can be incontrol of our destinywhenwe believe andseekHisprovision. We canlearnfrom Mark 1:22-24, “Have faithin God,” Jesusanswered. 23 “TrulyI tell you, ifanyone saysto this mountain,‘Go,throw yourselfinto the sea,’ anddoes not doubtin their heart but believes that whatthey saywill happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for inprayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” The ChristianrequirementisfaithinGodand HisprovisionandNOTon a universal energyforce thatwe canmanipulate byourthoughtsandfeelings..! Accordingto the proponentsof the lawof attraction,we are all “incarnationsof God.” We are all our owngods,able to create our ownreality,able tocontrol our owndestiny.This LIEisnot a secret,and it isnothingNEW. Satan’sprimary focusis to deflectusfromGods presence throughliesandfabrications. Sometimeswe fall preytohisfallacies.The bible teachesusthat Satan’sownfall fromglorywas this same error, as statedin Isaiah14:13-14, Yousaid inyour heart, “I will ascendto the heavens; I will raise my throne abovethe stars ofGod; I will sit enthronedon the mountof assembly,onthe utmost heightsof MountZaphon.14 Iwill ascendabove the tops of the clouds;I will make myselflike the Most High.” The concept of “The Secret”isthe same message thatSatanusedto temptAdamand Eve into sin:“Youdo not needGod…youcan be God!” We can learnfrom the bible thatwithall hisattempts in hisquestto be God, he failedmiserably! “Butyouare broughtdownto the realm ofthe dead, to the depths ofthe pit.”(Isaiah14:15).We can know that all those whoseektobe theirowngodwill alsofail miserably. The true “secret”isthat God is incontrol.God has a sovereignandperfectplanforus. The keyisgetting intune withGod, therebyunderstandingHisheartandknowingHiswill. We needtosteadfastlyseek Him till we findHim...readthe bible,studyandmeditateonHisteachings. Ratherthanseekingand runningafterwealth,fame,power,andpleasure,we are toseeka personal strongrelationshipwith God, allowingHimtoplace Hisperfectdesiresinourheartandmind.We needtopray andask Him to conformour feelingstoHisand thengrant usthe desire of His,andour, hearts. We can learnfrom where the Psalmistsays: “Takedelightinthe LORD,and he will give you the desires of yourheart. 5 Commityour way to the LORD; trust in himand he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousreward shinelike the dawn,your vindicationlikethe noondaysun.”(Psalm37:4-6).