| And no marvel; for Satan himself is | | | | philosophy. The Law of Attraction book "The |
| transformed into an angel of light. (2 | | | | Secret" by Rhonda Byrne was released in |
| Corinthians 11:14) | | | | November 2006. According to Simon & Schuster, |
| | | | public demand was for more than four million |
| I belong to an online Bible study and | | | | print and audio copies in the first five |
| networking group. Each of us loves the Lord | | | | months. In less than one year, The Secret has |
| Jesus Christ. Although we belong to varying | | | | sold over six million copies and Law of |
| denominations, each of us is committed to | | | | Attraction has become one of the fastest |
| study God's word and gain a deeper | | | | growing movements in the Western world. |
| understanding of His will. A few months ago, | | | | |
| a group member posted an inspirational poem | | | | This new-age philosophy creates a theological |
| to the message board titled, Acts of Faith. | | | | swamp. New-agers actually talk like we talk. |
| | | | Most people who have adopted these teachings |
| Acts of Faith is a simple, poem filled with | | | | don't even recognize that they do not follow |
| scripture imagery- "Your crown," "children of | | | | the same God you do. They believe in god. |
| the King," "live by grace." What could be the | | | | They believe in god as a spiritual force of |
| problem? | | | | the universe- not the Father, Son, and Holy |
| | | | Spirit. These people will insist that it is |
| The author of the poem is Ilyana Vanzant. Ms | | | | perfectly acceptable and allowable to refer |
| Vanzant is a motivational speaker, author of | | | | to God as the "universe," or "the force of |
| 18 books, has been an Oprah Winfrey regular | | | | nature." |
| guest, and co-host of the network television | | | | |
| show, Starting Over. Ms Vanzant is not a | | | | Introducing Christ to the person who has |
| Christian; she is an ordained Yorba priestess | | | | fallen into this philosophy is particularly |
| steeped in new-age mysticism. | | | | difficult. You will not typically be able to |
| | | | shake this believe system through scripture |
| If a committed Christian could be deceived by | | | | reference or verbal argument. The first |
| New-Age wordplay, how much more easily | | | | critical step is to separate your |
| deceived are the unsaved? Don't be surprised | | | | evangelistic speech from their god-talk. |
| with your unsaved co-worker's version of | | | | While not diminishing the Trinity, you will |
| "god-talk." New Age teachings mimic Christian | | | | have to differentiate your God from their |
| concepts and language. New-agers will even | | | | word-clutter. New-agers frequently use the |
| quote scripture to bolster their case. | | | | terms: god, father, and spirit. They never |
| | | | refer to Jesus Christ. I suggest you |
| Esther and Jerry Hicks are early proponents | | | | emphasize the name of Jesus in all your |
| of the Law of Attraction principles found in | | | | evangelistic conversation. |
| the blockbuster book, The Secret. The Law of | | | | |
| Attraction is a philosophy that corrupts | | | | Law of Attraction stresses physical-life |
| Biblical principles to obtain the benefits of | | | | benefits. Health, prosperity, peace, etc. |
| God without repentance and submission to God. | | | | Your evangelism will have to center on |
| According to her website, Esther Hicks | | | | relationship with Christ and eternal-life |
| receives her insights by talking to a group | | | | benefits. Health, prosperity, peace are |
| of spirits who call themselves, "Abraham." | | | | natural side benefits of being a Christian. |
| The Hicks website is loaded with | | | | But if you focus on these benefits, the |
| scripturesque quotations complete with King | | | | new-agers will think that you are only |
| James English. | | | | talking about two different ways to get to |
| | | | the same destination. Your verbal testimony |
| "That which is like unto itself is drawn." | | | | will have to elaborate the intimacy of |
| | | | knowing God. Law of Attraction can |
| - "It is done unto you as you believe" | | | | counterfeit rules, laws, and benefits- not |
| | | | relationship. Your witness- your observable |
| - "Ask, and it is given," This new-age | | | | testament, will have to evidence your |
| philosophy promotes the Law of Attraction as | | | | relationship with Christ. These new-agers |
| the omnipotent, omnipresent force that | | | | will come to Christ when you can show them |
| controls everything in the universe. It is | | | | the God they can't know through the Law of |
| god-talk without God. In fact, it may even | | | | Attraction. |
| take a while to recognize that the new-ager | | | | |
| is not a fellow Christian. After all, not | | | | In Isaiah 1:18 NKJV, the Lord says, "Come |
| only do they use "almost" scripture phrases, | | | | now, and let us reason together..." We |
| many Law of Attraction websites actually | | | | commune with our God. We abide in Him. We |
| quote the Bible. They prominently feature | | | | talk to Him and He talks back to us. By our |
| Proverbs 23:7 NKJV. "As a man thinks in his | | | | words and our conduct, millions who seek |
| heart, so he is." Why worry about a few | | | | God's stuff through the Law of Attraction, |
| new-age people? | | | | can learn instead... |
| | | | |
| A Google search of the phrase "Law of | | | | "Seek first the kingdom of God, and his |
| Attraction" produces over two million | | | | righteousness; and all these things shall be |
| websites dedicated to propagating the | | | | added to you. |