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