by Paula Neal Mooney
Last week Oprah's show on The Secret DVD and book kept me up till midnight.
Yesterday Oprah did a follow-up show to address the reaction to her wildly popular show about The Secret DVD and book.
That "The Secret: The Reaction" show kept me up till 1:30 a.m.
It was interesting.
God bless the skeptical-looking Christian woman named Maureen who stood up and asked, "...is God anywhere in [The Secret]?"
Great question, I thought, especially once I discovered that Neale Donald Walsch, author of the misleading Conversations with God trilogy was one of The Secret teachers.
Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith -- the attractive and peaceful-looking black guy pictured above -- answered her question with a few Jesus quotes, but I noticed he was quick to call Christ a prophet.
And Maureen said that on The Secret DVD, Neal Donald Walsch called Jesus only a "Teacher" and not Savior.
I'm leery of people trying to subtly mislead folks by claiming that Christ was anything other than the Messiah, the true Son of God, the only path to salvation.
I love Jesus too much to diss Him like that. He took a lot of pain for me!
Still, I watched The Secret: The Reaction with an open heart. Many truths resonated with the things The Secret teachers proclaimed.
And James Arthur Ray's explanation that we are all energy clicked with me in a different manner this time, though he was quick to distance himself from Christianity by responding to Maureen by calling Christianity "your faith," apparently not his.
But I want to know more about this Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith and the other teachers' real stance on Christ and Christianity.
Are any of the teachers in The Secret Christians?
Is The Secret a salvation or the anti-Christ on Blu-Ray?
I guess The Secret jury is still out on that one. I tried to judge for myself by seeking out a copy.
But funny, The Secret DVD is all sold out in my town.
I called store after store trying to track down a copy as a Valentine's Day gift for my hubby last week.
Finally I found one in a town about a half-hour away.
Please, God, give me a sign if this isn't Your will, I prayed.
I went to the Borders to pick up my copy of The Secret DVD -- turned out the guy misunderstood me and didn't have any copies of The Secret DVD after all.
I bought my husband Bath & Body Works products instead.
"Just what I needed," he said when I got home.
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Last week Oprah's show on The Secret DVD and book kept me up till midnight.
Yesterday Oprah did a follow-up show to address the reaction to her wildly popular show about The Secret DVD and book.
That "The Secret: The Reaction" show kept me up till 1:30 a.m.
It was interesting.
God bless the skeptical-looking Christian woman named Maureen who stood up and asked, "...is God anywhere in [The Secret]?"Great question, I thought, especially once I discovered that Neale Donald Walsch, author of the misleading Conversations with God trilogy was one of The Secret teachers.
Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith -- the attractive and peaceful-looking black guy pictured above -- answered her question with a few Jesus quotes, but I noticed he was quick to call Christ a prophet.
And Maureen said that on The Secret DVD, Neal Donald Walsch called Jesus only a "Teacher" and not Savior.I'm leery of people trying to subtly mislead folks by claiming that Christ was anything other than the Messiah, the true Son of God, the only path to salvation.
I love Jesus too much to diss Him like that. He took a lot of pain for me!
Still, I watched The Secret: The Reaction with an open heart. Many truths resonated with the things The Secret teachers proclaimed.
And James Arthur Ray's explanation that we are all energy clicked with me in a different manner this time, though he was quick to distance himself from Christianity by responding to Maureen by calling Christianity "your faith," apparently not his.
But I want to know more about this Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith and the other teachers' real stance on Christ and Christianity.
Are any of the teachers in The Secret Christians?
Is The Secret a salvation or the anti-Christ on Blu-Ray?
I guess The Secret jury is still out on that one. I tried to judge for myself by seeking out a copy.But funny, The Secret DVD is all sold out in my town.
I called store after store trying to track down a copy as a Valentine's Day gift for my hubby last week.
Finally I found one in a town about a half-hour away.
Please, God, give me a sign if this isn't Your will, I prayed.
I went to the Borders to pick up my copy of The Secret DVD -- turned out the guy misunderstood me and didn't have any copies of The Secret DVD after all.
I bought my husband Bath & Body Works products instead.
"Just what I needed," he said when I got home.
Subscribe to Paula Mooney by Email
Bookmark http://www.paulamooney.blogspot.com/ or
Technorati fav me, please!Tags: the ,secret ,oprah ,rev ,michael ,beckwith ,james ,arthur ,ray ,Christian ,God ,new ,anti ,
age ,Jesus ,Christ ,Messiah ,reaction ,follow ,up
Comments
This is good. I'd forgotten about that part about Maureen asking them about Judgement Day.
It can be confusing with Beckwith quoting Jesus' real sayings about the Kingdom of heaven being within us -- and it was food for thought that hell can be within some folks to.
I'm keeping my eyes open on The Secret.
I don't want to be so quick to condemn something that I haven't seen yet.
But I will definitely hold it up to the light of Scripture when I do.
First off, pleased to make your virtual acquaintance (thanks to our mutual friend Jill), and thanks for the link.
I have questions about the title of this post that I don't mean to be as pointed and tendentious as I fear they will sound, but here goes. Why do you use the term "Anti-Christian," as opposed to non-Christian or something like that. Do you consider the tenets you highlight to affirmatively assault your faith? Do you consider it a threat? If so, how?
What I'm probing for here is the line between beliefs that are different from yours and beliefs you would label as "anti-Christian."
I just watched this Oprah from a recording my wife made so that I could watch.
This doesn't directly answer your question, but I certainly recognized my faith of Buddhism within "The Secret." In fact, "The Secret" in some way is just a restatement -- a very good and useful restatement -- of Buddhist thought and philosophy.
So I found The Secret very satisfying. JMHO. :)
I'm glad you guys stopped by and I'm grateful for your opinions.
Yes, I know the anti-Christian post title would make The Secret teachers say I'm projecting an energy of fear, perhaps, but I always go with my Holy-Spirit directed gut.
I watch out for teachers that teach that all roads lead to God and such, because I fell for New Age untruths like that in the past.
Only when I had a powerful experience whereby Jesus really made Himself real to me did I turn my life over to Him and delve into the Bible seriously.
And one of the many things Christians learn is when Jesus proclaimed in Acts 4:12 that:
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
So any teaching that violates that by saying it doesn't matter which path you choose to come to God is actually disparaging Jesus and calling Him a liar -- which He is not.
It sounds so nice and politically correct to say that the god of Islam and the God of Christianity is all the same. But I do not believe that is true.
Yet and still, Christ also said that the highest commandment is love, and that is usually my focus.
But I can't let stuff just slide by, especially when The Secret teachers are quoting Jesus -- but then omitting His other important declarations like in John 14:6:
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Yeah, folks will say Christianity is narrow-minded and toss over all those other comebacks that I've been thru before in life that all failed me.
I don't like judgmental Christianity -- that's a bore -- but when it comes to proclaiming the Word of God I'm not gonna water down strong statements that the Lord Almighty made when He said in Matthew 12:30:
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. "
Seems pretty straightforward to me. But I still love those with different beliefs than me...
And I still want to check out The Secret on DVD! I was just being too impatient to order it online.
You are to be commended for your decision to hold this up to scripture before making a decision. I wish that everyone thought this way instead of jumping on a bandwagon based on emotions, loyalty to Oprah, or some other reason.
Jesus cannot be just a good teacher. This is someone who said that He was God. ("I and the Father are one.") Either it's true, and He is God OR he's lying and a liar makes a very poor teacher.
I'm not familiar with this work, but one method of lying is to tell partial truths. If this work doesn't contain the whole truth, then it is false.
Thank you for being brave enough to post against the tide of popular opinion.
Thanks for a thought-provoking post. My husband often says, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water." In other words, while some stuff may not be on the up and up, there may be some truths you can take from it.
Sometimes there's just enough truth in it to be enticing - to tickle the ears. But we know from Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by satan that satan knows the Word of God too, and that he twisted it just enough to try to make it sound appealing. Of course, our Jesus didn't fall for it, nor would He have. But are we falling for it?
Before hearing the audio in its entirety (all 4 hrs), I was concerned that the principles of The Secret placed all hope and power for lives within us. However, after listening to the audio I was refreshed to learn that the principles are biblically based. Ask, Believe and Receive. I have heard this message preached in sermons since I was a little girl. I applaud the teachers for conveying this basic and common message in a way that will reach a vast number of people. I firmly believe that all mentioning of the “universe” is a reference to God. I think the authors chose to use “universe” instead of God so the message would appeal to all people.
I was especially drawn to the concept of gratitude and plan to incorporate a mindset of “thinking and thanking” into my life. I can’t wait to see the abundance in my life unfold.
I wonder: Is it smart to replace God with "the Universe" to win more folks to the philosophy or is it trying to steal His glory?
Also, is it teaching the tools without the real Power behind them?
Curiouser and curiouser...
I still gotta check the thing out for myself.
And I'm all about thanksgiving:
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." Psalm 100:4
In fact, they are tied in a deep, philosophical way. Really, The Secret is about having strong faith, whether they describe as such or not.
Correction: Stronger faith than you probably already demonstrate. If The Secret says somewhere to "meditate and visualize," that to me is same as "praying."
The Secret tells you to be more specific in your thoughts (e.g., prayers) to focus on precisely what the outcome looks like, feels like, taste like and smells like.
"Praying" this way doesn't seem anti-Christian to me. I'd say The Secret is showing me a more powerful way to pray, and is helping me dial-up my belief/faith that great are things ahead for me and those I pray for.
I stumbled across your blog while looking for more information about The Secret. While I did not see either Oprah show in its entirety, I have seen parts of it and I stumbled across the book at my local Chapters about a month ago. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that is troubled with this.
Many of the ideas presented through The Secret seem to coincide with basic Christian beliefs. But I can't help but feel that there is something missing. That the complete biblical aspects and truth are missing.
As well as looking into it myself and as you said comparing it with the Scripture, I am greatly interested in seeing what some leading, trustworthy Christians thinkers and ministers have to say on the topic.
God Bless.
The message of The Secret is an in your face denial of God. It is a message that eliminates the basics of Christianity, such as "all have sinned and have fallen short", "He gave His only begotten son, so that whoever would believe in Him would have everlasting life" and many more. This is another attempt to water down the truth with eastern thoughts and practices and to make it appear as though there is no need of God or a need to be rescued.
I am quite surprised at how many "Christians" are falling for this kind of message, perhaps they should be spending more time looking into the scriptures and less time looking for a quick fix outside of them.
Just my 2 cents.
TC
I was curious about it so I went to Apple I-tunes and downloaded the audiobook. As a Christian, who really studies his bible, I can tell you that this is definately not Christian teaching. It is a reworking of the Mystery religions from Babylon. Do a search in your concordance for Mystery and Babylon and you will find out everything you need to know.
Satan is prowling around like a ravaging lion looking for people to prey upon. Don't get sucked into this half truth, and half lies. Satan is the father of lies. In the garden he fooled Eve with half truths and he is still trying to fool us today with half truths.
Do you think Satan doesn't know how to quote the bible?
If you want to be sure, read your bible and it will guide you.
I was curious about it so I went to Apple I-tunes and downloaded the audiobook. As a Christian, who really studies his bible, I can tell you that this is definately not Christian teaching. It is a reworking of the Mystery religions from Babylon. Do a search in your concordance for Mystery and Babylon and you will find out everything you need to know.
Satan is prowling around like a ravaging lion looking for people to prey upon. Don't get sucked into this half truth, and half lies. Satan is the father of lies. In the garden he fooled Eve with half truths and he is still trying to fool us today with half truths.
Do you think Satan doesn't know how to quote the bible?
If you want to be sure, read your bible and it will guide you.
I was raised in church, but unfortunately have not been very faithful in the last year in attending as I should. I in no way claim to be a bible scholar or know more than 1 or 2 scriptures by heart. However, when seeing such teachings as these, I know when to guard my heart and spirit against such blasphemy.
I do completely agree with how this DVD is up-playing and emphasizing the importance of attitude. This is something you learn by reading any books or information about how attitude affects outcome (or just by living life). However, I cannot agree with how this presents the way our thoughts create manifestations in our daily life. This to me is proposterous. This presentation takes God & Jesus out of the entire picture makes presents everything as we make it happen with our thoughts and with our attitude. Taking God out of the picture for me is like denouncing his existance and saying I'm the creator of my own destiny. I know that I certainly am responsible for everything that I do and accomplish, but I believe that I could not do any of it if it were not for the faith and strenth that God gives me.
I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs, and these are mine.
Proponents of The Secret claim that negativity comes to us because we magnetically attract it by sending out negative energy (like attracts like). If trials and tribulation befall us, it is because we “ordered it” from the universe. No one can argue that our actions often lead to negative consequences. However, we all can recall at least one incident when things just didn’t go our way even though our attitude was positive and we were hopeful. The crucial factor that is omitted in “Secret Thinking” is God’s sovereign will and His omnipotence. Our God is so sovereign and so omnipotent that He is not limited to the confines of the very laws He created. God can defy gravity (Jesus walked on water). He can defy death (Jesus rose from the dead). He can defy the Law of Attraction (Allowing us to suffer trials and tribulations in order to produce fruit…regardless of whether we brought these trials upon ourselves or not.) Remember, Job did not “order” his anguish…God offered Job to Satan to be tested. Good or bad, we do not always get what we deserve. “It rains upon the just and the unjust.” God is sovereign and His grace is sufficient!
Concepts and philosophies such as mind over matter, "the power of positive thinking", humanism, new age thought, metaphysics, spiritualism, visualization, vibrations, positive confession and affirmations, "name it and claim it", karma, etc. have been around for years and even centuries. Many of these principles have their roots in eastern mysticism and even the occult. So, the concepts outlined in The Secret, just as they say, are not new at all...it's just the repackaging and renaming of ancient thoughts and ideas for contemporary consumption.
The author of The Secret, Rhonda Byrne, claims The Secret is nothing more than concepts "found in almost every religion and field of human endeavour throughout history." She is accurate in this statement as it is obvious that many of the concepts of The Secret have been borrowed from the Bible. The Secret borrows and distorts Biblical Truths i.e. "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he," "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," “ask, believe, and receive,” and "whatever a man sows, that he will also reap," etc. So, it is not a stretch to understand why so many Christians are attracted to The Secret. By using familiar Biblical concepts and jargon, unsuspecting and undiscerning Christian Believers are easily lured, baited, and ultimately hooked. But at the core of the presentation of Biblical Truths (manipulated and taken out of context) is mysticism, humanism, and New Age philosophies. Jim Jones, once a mainstream Bible teacher, used familiar Biblical concepts to lure and seduce 913 undiscerning Believers to participate in a mass suicide by poison. Kool-aide with a few drops of cyanide is no less deadly simply because it is sweet. Great discernment must be exercised to detect subtle seductive deception. Satan himself was transformed into an angel of light. He knows Scripture…unfortunately better than many of us. He was a liar from the beginning and is still The Great Deceiver. So, all that glitters ain't gold.
The "Breaking News" from those who promote The Secret is that, "For the first time in history, the world's leading scientists, authors, and philosophers will reveal The Secret that utterly transformed the lives of every person who ever knew it... Plato, Newton, Carnegie, Beethoven, Shakespeare, Einstein. Now YOU will know The Secret. And it could change your life forever." They say these concepts and principles contain "the secret to unlimited joy, health, money, relationships, love, youth: everything you have ever wanted."
Well, golly gee whiz! No wonder my friend was so excited! This sounds so enticing and appealing, doesn't it? Of course it does! It appeals to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life! It appeals to our greed...our arrogance...our desire to attain...our insatiable hunger for personal fulfillment and satisfaction...our sense of entitlement...our competitive spirit...our desire for social status, success, and financial prosperity and our distain for pain, suffering, discomfort, and tribulation of any form or fashion.
Has the Church become so enticed by what the world has to offer that we are now willing to feast from the banquet tables of the world? Has our spiritual discernment become so dull that we are no longer able to recognize when we are being seduced, deceived, and duped? Would our Holy and jealous God be pleased as He watches us flock to learn this so-called "secret" when He has already given us His Word that contains "everything we need that pertains to this life and godliness?" Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:6-10, "We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." So, Christian friends, discovering and enjoying the abundant life really is no secret at all to us because we know what God has said to us in His Word. David said, in Psalm 27:35, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." We need not go down to Egypt and seek assistance or advise from the enemy's camp, nor should we become evangelists for their causes.
The Word of God cautions us to test every spirit to see whether it is of God. Carefully examine The Secret and see if it concurs fully with the Word of God or is this just another ploy to steer us from the Truth. Someone once said, "If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything." The Bible says, "If any man thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall."
I offer for your consideration 20 Biblical references to consider as you examine The Secret and any other false doctrine and counterfeit gospel that rejects the whole counsel of God. There are countless other Biblical references that warn against such heretic teaching and idolatry. Time does not permit me to expose the many blatant contradictions to Biblical Truth that are promoted in The Secret. I encourage you to open your Bible, study it for yourselves, and be a doer of the Word. Stick to God’s Word and you will not be deceived. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would lead and guide us into ALL Truth and He will.
1) 1 Timothy 6:3-10, 17-19
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs…Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
2) Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
3) 1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
4) Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
5) Luke 12:15-21
"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them this parable:"The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
6) Deuteronomy 8:11-18
Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
7) Galatians 5:7-10
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.
8) Matthew 24:11, 24-26
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
9) Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
10) John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
11) Proverbs 3:1-7
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
12) 2 Peter 1:3-11
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
13) Galatians 1:6-10
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
14) Colossians 2:20-23
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!" These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
15) Romans 7:18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
16) Ephesians 5:6-17
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
17) John 10:7-10
Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
18) Hebrews 5:11-14
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
19) 2 Timothy 4:2-5
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 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 away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
20) 2 Timothy 3: 1-7
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
Tonight I attended a Free lecture by James Ray on this subject and he spoke of the Emerald Tablet; Dark Matter and the other Seven (7) secrets besides the Law of Attraction.
That being said, I'm sure many more sequels of The Secret will be teaching these laws.
Beloved all these Laws and teachings can also be found within my favorite book The Bible. Yes our Beloved Christ Jesus taught in parables and was the way-shower to these Laws which were created by God.
I will admit I did not know much about the Emerald Tablet until I researched it, and after this explanation, I will show you how The Bible teaches the same.
It is sad to me that the modern church hurt and wounded so many of us, that we had to search different paths and turn from what our heart knew was true.
I'm here to tell you that is The Secret resonates within you, but deep inside you want to also know it's within God's kingdom, it is and I will gladly show you.
The Emerald Tablet
An introduction to Hermetic Philosophy
The text of the Emerald tablet is brief- only thirteen lines- but it is the cornerstone of the Hermetic movement. The origin of this mysterious text is shrouded in antiquity, and even its name is a mystery, yet is has been an inspiration for alchemists and magicians for hundreds of years. The well known Hermetic axiom, “As above, so below” is derived directly from the Emerald Tablet. It may be the oldest Hermetic text known, predating both the Corpus Hermeticum and the Christian religion.
The Tablet languished in relative obscurity until the middle ages, when it began to circulate throughout the alchemical community through contact with Muslim mystics. Scholars believe the original was written in Greek, but the oldest surviving copies are Arabic translations. Despite its mysterious origin, many have imputed great significance to the text- its famous translators include Roger Bacon, Isaac Newton, and even HP Blavatsky.
The philosophical ideas contained within are profound- influencing medieval alchemists, Jewish kabbalists, Masons, and ritual magicians alike.
Without lie, certain and most true:
What is below is is like what is above, and what is above is like what is below, to accomplish the miracle of the One thing.
The introductory stanza introduces the now well known concept of the macrocosm, or world of divinity, and its relationship to the microcosm, the world of matter and of man, and the union between them, as described by mystics throughout history.
In truth, and without Lie, And just as all things have been from the one, so also they are born from this one thing by adaptation.
This line describes a very kabbalistic world view: that of emanation. In Kabbalistic cosmology, all of creation emanates in ever expanding layers of complexity, yet all are at the same time part of an unknowable, limitless power. The nature of God is considered impenatrable, for every attempt to describe or name something imposes limits upon it, and seperates that thing further from divinty. There is also an eerie parallel to the current scientific cosmological model- beyond the veils of exitence and before the first emanation is the no-thing- the limitless light, or ain sof, which contracted into an infinite point to effect the creation of the universe.
Its father is the sun, its mother the moon. The wind has borne it, its nurse is the earth. This one thing is the father of all things in the universe.
This reflects another kabbalistic formula. “It” in this case refers to the perfected or reborn psyche. The Mother moon is Yesod, the ego, the sphere of reflection and illusion. The Sun is tiphareth, the 'Higher self,' which can be likened to the 'first face' in Buddhism. It is the immortal spirit. The wind is the divine breath, the spiritual life force. The earth that nurses it is the material body, the id, our animal nature.
Its power is perfect, after it has been united with the earth.
This refers to the experience of Divine Union spoken of in mystic tractates the world over. This union is achieved by uniting the divine essence with the physical body. It is the aim of Yoga, the goal of Ritual magick, and the essence of Satori.
Separate earth from fire, the subtle from the dense, with gentle heat and much devotion.
One must learn to diferentiate between the things of matter and things of the spirit, between the yearnings of the soul and the desires of the ego- the gross appetites and vanities must be sifted out to reveal the true self beneath.
In great measure, it ascends from earth to heaven, descends again toward earth, and recieves the force of the things above and below.
Thus you will possess the glory of the world, all obscurity shall flee away from thee.
The physical body is now integrated with the immortal soul, and the aspirant is awakened to the purpose of his existence.
This is the force of all force, it will overcome everything subtle, and penetrate everything solid.
In this manner, the world was created, but the map of this road is hidden.
This describes the personal nature of spiritual knowledge, which can only be gained through personal experience- it cannot be described accurately to one who has not yet exerienced it. Each aspirant must find the path on their own.
For this reason I am called “Hiram Telat Machasot”- one in essence, but three in aspect. In this trinity is the wisdom of the whole world.
This curious phrase is Chaldean in origin, and has been suspected as the true identity of the Hiram Abiff of Masonic legend. Chiram means 'universal,' and contains the root letter of the elements of air, water, and fire, a play on words that echoes the Hebrew tetragrammaton, the four letter name of God which also incorporates the element,s and forms the basis for all kabbalistic doctrine.
The tablet closes:
And so I have been called: Hermes thrice greatest, having the three parts of the philosophy of the world.
The “three parts” refer to the mystery traditions of the three cultures represented by the Roman Mercury, the Greek Hermes, and the Egyptian Thoth, the composite deity Hermes Trismegistus (Thrice Great) to whom the authorship of many texts is attributed, hence “Hermetic” writings.
Beloved how wonderful is the phrase “three parts”? I know at once you can think of many biblical references, may I share mine?
“All things are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.” 1 Corinthians 3
Here we have three beings, ourselves, Christ and God; and we are Christ's and Christ's is God's. The human is the offshoot of the divine, the divine is an offshoot of the Absolute Itself. Humanity is what we see, Christ is the divine man, God is the Father of all.
The body has a life in matter, the soul a life in mind and mind has a life in the Spirit. The principle ascend from the external to the highest internal and descends from the highest innermost to the lowest outermost. This teaching is as old as time.
Dark Matter - This seemed to be one of the newest subject matters mentioned by James Arthur Ray. In fact, he said that this was only the second time he has ever taught on this subject.
It was fascinating and exciting. Once again it comes directly from a teaching in the Bible. There are many gifts but one Spirit; many operations but one Operator! This teaching is self evident. There is a perfect Unit behind everything. This original One is the cause of all that follows. The outer is the result of the inner. The inner is One, the outer is many - in order that the One may be expressed.
The problem of philosophy is to reconcile the necessary unti to its multipled effects. We live in a world of things, time, happenings, and passing events. All this takes place within the One. Let us consider the element of time. Time is the measure of an event: it is a sequence of events in that which is unitary whole. God is timeless, that is, He exists from eternity to eternity. Things come and go. God, the Timeless, enters time in order that Hemay be expressed. Without time there could be no expression of the Timeless, therefore, time is as necessary to God as to man.
We will now consider matter. All material forms come from one original substance which is the stuff of every diversified form. One substance but many forms. Unless this one substance were broken into many forms. Unless this one substance were broken into many forms, the formless could not be expressed; and as it is the nature of Being to be expressed, there must be different forms; many operations but one Operator.
Now where did I find the above in the Bible? 1 Corinthians 12:
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrators, but the same Lord. And there are diversities ofoperations but it is the same God which worketh in all. But the manifestations of the Spirit is given to every man to proftit withal. For one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as one body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we bond or free; And have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Beloved - Let not your heart be troubled. I'll continue to share with you the Truth of the Bible. The original Secret.
Love, Light and Blessings
Darren Meade -
Vist my Blog at Zaadz
Any work which is of the Truth receives a reward. The law of compensation looks after this as it does after everything else. If any man's work be burnt, that is, if it is not of the Truth, he will suffer loss but the man himself will be saved. Paul knew that there is no eternal damnation to the soul. He said that when we make mistakes we suffer as by fire. He does not say that we suffer by fire, but, "as by fire," the stricken consiousness, the sense that we might have done better. Man is the temple of God and the Holy Spirit indwells every soul. When the outer temple is unfit it is destroyed; but it is evident that if the inamte is the Spirit of God It cannot be destroyed, even by the greatest of human foolishness. The embodiment may be destroyed and is, but the inner temple itself, that structure reared on the foundations of the universe is eternal.
"Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor We are laborers together with God; ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. If any mans work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any mans work be burnt, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Let no man deceive himself, If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wosdon of this world is foolishness with God.
For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. Whether Paul, Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."
1 Corinthians 3
Thanks be to God our Father for all teachers that show the path which our Beloved Big Brother Christ Jesus first showed.
While the secret may have new age principles. it also has christian principles. I agree that there is something to the law of attration, there is some type of connection between thought and creation. it the end though the universe is "god and jesus"
i think that there is nothing wrong with secret as long as you know where you faith stands. For instance instead of universe i say god. the reason is that god is the universe because he created it. i also know while the human mind is very strong and we still dont understand everything we are not god
there is only one god and one savior which is jesus christ. i do beleive they use the word universe to reach a broader audience. I say take what works for you from the secret. as long as it fits within the confines of your religion which for me is chrisitan. I also know that the lisa teacher on the secret is a very big christian as she stated on larry king.
As a person of science and faith there are many things and connections we do not understand and will never understand but they exist. just know that god works in strange ways. For all chrisitans just remember there is nothing wrong with visilization and positive thinking. just remember in your heart to take what they say at word only. I know that god and jesus are the real secret.
http://redletterbelievers.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Secret
The anonymous who posted the verses, wow! Thanks for so many good passages for us to reflect upon! And thanks to redletterchristians for posting a link to another ongoing discussion.
Brother love (Darren), though you seek, you have not yet discovered the true secret to eternal life. It has something to do with your sins and the forgiveness of them and a sacrifice (all left out of new age philosophy).
You see, the New Testament says "I write these things to you that you may know that you have eternal life." And "This life is in the Son. He who has the Son of God has life, and he who has not the Son of God has not life."
and "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God", and "the wages of sin is Death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord" - "God made Him, who knew no sin, to become sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God"
- Jesus died for our sins, in Place of us dying for them, ourselves...and because of that we can cast all our sin upon Him in exchange for salvation and eternal life...now that is LOVE!! God's love for us!! ... we can have an absolute hope that we will live eternally.....the greatest hope we have, is our knowledge of heaven and that we have eternal life!
So you feel I do not yet know the 'True' secret?
Beloved, when you go home tonight read the 14th chapter of the Gospel of John.It is such a glorious chapter. The whole Bible is, really. Just to read every verse thrills me it becomes alive to me. In this chapter, when they asked him to show them the Father, he said: "I have been with you all these years and yet you do not know the Father? When you see me you have seen the Father, how then can you say, 'Show me the Father?"
Then he tells us: "I dewll in you and you dwell in me, we are on and I am the Father."
The Secret Simply provides a new language and symbols to explain the beauty of our Father-Brother-Friend God and Christ Jesus.
"If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies bu his Spirit that dwelleth in you. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear; But ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ..." Romans 8
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now we are the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:...Little children, let no man decieve you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed, and in truth.And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. ANDWHATSOEVER WE ASK, WE RECEIVE"
1 John 3
Beloved - I believe that The Secret will bring many to know our Brother.
More importantly, I hope that your wisdom and understanding begins to grow unto the true Secret and wonderful gift on whom and what you truly our.
Love & Gratitude
Brother Love aka Darren
I came across your blog wen I was doing a search on The Secret and Christianity. The reason why I was searching was because I was wondering why it hadn't caught on in the Churches as I thought that it would.
When I first heard about the secret, I really had no interest in it. Up until recently, I had been trying to renew my faith, but was not satisfied with the results. At the end of one particularly bad week, I watched it. I've been a Christian all my life, but have struggled here and there. When I was watching the DVD, it felt like it was a sign from the Lord. Every time they mentioned the "Universe" or "Higher Self" I said to myself, "oh, they mean God!". When I realized that then all the teachings and the readings, EVERYTHING came back to me. It was like the Lord knew I needed to hear His message in a fresh new way.
What I took away from the Secret was not the "think really hard and you'll get a ferrari". I got, "Believe and have faith in Me and all I will give you rest". It taught me to let go and let God. It made me see the path that God has illuminated for me that for some reason I fought to follow. It taught me to give in order to receive. It taught me that the devil had a hold of my mind in the worst way.
All I know is that my eyes are a lot more open to see Him and all that He has in store for me. It showed me that with God behind me, I can do anything.
When Oprah said that Beckwith had a church I thought wow so this thing must be true christian stuff. But when he refered to Jesus as a prophet on the show I thought it was a bit weird. So I went His agape centre website to look further.
In the FAQ secton of the website it says "No, if by Christian you mean the acceptance of Jesus as the only savior and Christianity as the only path to God and eternal salvation." So this leaves no doubt that () is not a christian.
Central theme to Christianity is the acceptance of Jesus Christ as our only savior and the only way to God. He came to save us because He loved us all and we could not in all our humanity reach God by our own work. By saying Jesus was only a good teacher (prophet) and quoting some verses from the bible does not make you a Christian or a christian teacher. Muslims also beleive that Jesus was a prophet.
All this feel good and politically correct teachings which try to include some biblical verses is not a christian teaching (as potryed in the show). The book is certainly helpful at some level and some of the teaching sounded alright (I am not denying that). So why not just leave the book as a secular self help book. And leave Christianity out of it rather than confusing and misleading people. Hence the false teahers.
Like Satan when he tempted Jesus, they use just enough Biblical concepts to make people think that they are "acceptable" truths but they deny the one aspect that separates religion and faith from philosophy - the denial of, or non-acceptance of, God.
The authors of The Secret seem to have simply renamed "Jesus" and "God" as "energy" and have stolen some of the Scriptural Truths found in the Bible and presented them in this God-free wrapper.
Concepts in The Secret seem to be "almost" right Scripturally, but they are not and present a false religion where the god is "energy".
If you aren't a Christian and found The Secret good then I urge you to look at the source of the main concepts (forgiveness, etc) in the Bible. If you are already a Christian, I urge you to run at a million miles an hour away from this New Age teaching. Its path leads to death, not Salvation.
I'd better go look up that word.
I love it when people teach me new stuff and send me to the dictionary!
Have we also come to the point in Christianity that we are so self absorbed that we demand all of our whims and wants be satisfied? God forgive us! Jesus told us "The birds have nests, foxes have holes, but the Son of God has no place to lay his head". (Paraphrased). We should not be in the business of Thinking or Visualizing a Cadillac into existance when a Focus could suit our needs just fine. "My God will supply all my needs according to HIS riches in glory". My needs not everything I demand!
There is nothing new about this new age phenomenon named "The Secret". It's the same lie the serpent told Eve in the Garden of Eden - The she could be like God. He too was great at twisting scripture.
I have a great fear at this point that this book could do more to damage true Christianity than anything before it. I have a friend who has been a Christian all of her life reading this book now. She truly believes that this book could lead people to Christ because it makes you a better person! She is serious. When did making you a better person bring you to Christ? How can a book that calls Jesus a teacher bring you salvation? Paul said "I am not ashamed of the gospel". Are we????? Are we to leave it to a New Age philosophy to bring others to Christ? The only thing that brings a person to Christ is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must believe Jesus is who He says He is to be saved. Therefore, any book that names Him and teacher and not God incarnate comes from the Father of Lies himself.
These are just some of the thoughts running through my head since my friend is reading this book. I have shared them with her and would love to hear your comments as well.
God bless all of you!
Gayle
The fact these ommissions are there "on purpose" is the reason I have to call it an attempt to recruit New Age believers because they do indeed "instruct" you how to "practice" this religion and also how to "enter it" by recognizing yourself as god (which is false doctrine).
Rather than acknowledging God the Father as the only living God and Creator of all, Jesus the Savior as His Son and the ONLY way to salvation, and the Holy Spirit as the Comfortor and Gift to all who believe and our Guide for daily living Who guides us into ALL TRUTH (correct doctrine).
True, there are many biblical referrences put they are not whole and they are not stated in complete or correct context but rather, they are half-truths which are lies nontheless.
You need only to read the entire chapter of 2 Timothy, (Paul's 2nd letter to Timothy) to understand what this truely is. (Don't worry - it's a very short chapter but I do recommend reading the New King James version as it's a little easier to comprehend.)
I do believe mature Christians who watch the Secret DVD will be able to take away some things that can be applied in a Christain manner and leave the rest but overall I think this will ultimately fall into the hands of the masses who could be easily fooled into a false doctrine.
Another place to read more that I found is: http://thoughtrenewal.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Secret.
I've only read a little there so I'm not necessary supporting all that is there but I found some great revelation about why the Secret DVD is heresy in my opinion.
My advice is to beware and if you do watch or read it, please do so with caution and your spirit guarded.
Respectfully,
Van
Honestly, I struggled with some of the ideology, terminology, and viewpoints from a spiritual standpoint. However, though, "The Secret" gives me pause, the Law of Attraction does not.
If you belive the LOA to be a fundamental law of the universe (and I do),then you recognize that this law was designed by God, just as was the law of gravity and the law of thermodynamics and all the other bookoo laws that keep our universe in working order. And, if you belief the LOA is a fundamental law, you have to admit it applies to everyone - Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. - just as the law of gravity applies to us all.
Jesus explained 'the secret' when he spoke of faith and trusting what we ask for will be given to us.
Of course, to those that will receive, much is required, so we can't sit in a corner twiddling our thumbs, thinking happy thoughts, and expect good things to come our way. We have a responsibility to see that our gifts will ultimately be used to His glory.
So when it comes to 'the secret' I take what is good and leave the rest.My goodness, that's a choice I make every day as I exist in a flawed world with flawed humans comprising a flawed society.
Don't negate the Law our Father has granted to us because you don't like the package - in this case "The Secret" DVD. As a Christian, you are intimately acquainted with the source.
And if you don't like the religious viewpoints of those delivering the message, that's okay. My doctor is Hindu, but he thoroughly understands the laws that govern my physical health and so when he talks, I pay attention!
As in all things, take what is true, what is good, and leave the rest.
Boasting About Tomorrow
Now listen, you who say “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
A Question this may provoke:
Is it wrong to plan ahead? (4:13-15)
No, In fact, the Bible encourages us to prepare carefully for the future (Prov. 14:15; 16:3). However, we become presumptuous if our plans ignore God’s will. James warns that the sovereign God will eventually prove he has the final say in all matters of our lives.
Raquel Bundy
If not, the original version is on google video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=194156072087980079
It is mostly the same as the production DVD, except Esther Abraham-Hicks is cut out.
Treat this video as you would sunflower seeds.
And I scarf down sunflower seeds by the handful...
You make positive reference to hermeticism. I presume you are referring to the philosophy that is based on the Corpus Hermeticum and typically ascribed to Hermes Trismegistus (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism). Your reference (while quoting James Ray) to "the Emerald Tablet" (which is also ascribed to Hermes Trismegistus) makes this clear. This is very definitely not "mainstream christian" (i.e. with roots in the historical church created by the historical Jesus), since it denies the Trinity and is not consistent with the Bible and specifically with the Gospel (the Good News of Jesus Christ). The focus on "hidden knowledge" is a feature of gnosticism (from the Greek word gnosis = knowledge), and this contrasts with the openness of Christianity - there is no need for special knowledge, indeed we are told to come as little children. Come to Jesus, that is all.
I am glad to hear that at least one has had her faith revived through hearing the philosophy of the Secret, but that reminds me of the fact that a friend of mine says that he became a Christian through listening to Black Sabbath. Like Black Sababath, "the Secret" probably asks good questions, but it clearly does not have the answers. Again, to stress the point, Jesus is the answer (at least, that is what the Bible teaches and what I believe). He is the "yes" to all God's promises (2Cor 1:20).
PS Paula - thank you for opening the discussion. Go ahead and read/watch "the Secret". Take all the good from it that you can, but watch out for its "self-centredness" (also a problem with the "prosperity gospel") and its claim to hidden knowledge. Let us know how you get on. Personally I have enjoyed reading both the Golden Compass and the da Vinci Code. They are well-written and entertaining, but nothing to base a life on.
First, let's start at the beginning - Christianity is not a philosophy or a religion. It is a relationship between us and Christ. You can't say you are Christian then go on to say that Christ is not the way, the truth and the life.
You can't just borrow "ingredients" from the bible and intellectually break it down into parts you can believe without believing in Jesus, and parts that can be thrown out.
I read "Conversations With God" as a teenager and I was so led by that book to believe that God is whatever I want Him to be, and that sin is a misunderstood concept. His books are very dangerous for new-believers, as well as those who never really understood Christianity in the first place. It masks itself as Christianity but there is nothing Christian about it . That book has since been thrown into the thrash, and probably incinerated.
I have a Catholic Aunt who has never really understood what it means to be a believer in Christ. She told me the other day that she thinks she is more new-age than Christian. Another aunt who grew up in a Missionary School was desperate for financial breakthroughs and has sought mediums, bomohs (witch doctors) and worshipped all sorts of false prophets (Sai Baba is one). They grew up hearing about Jesus but not really listening or understanding what it means to be a Christian. Without proper roots or foundation, they have drifted away. We must, as believers, dwell in God's Word and walk a closer walk with Him - Especially NOW.
It is important to remember this- When we declare ourselves as Christians, we are telling the world we believe that God so loved the world, that He gave us His only son to die on the cross, so that He bore all our sins - past, present, future - so that we can be seated with Him in His Father's glory. Salvation is a GIFT that we just have to receive from God. It cannot be worked based on our own efforts because we are not perfect and sin is very real. It is not a secret and the bible is the very proof. if you want to find out more about Christ and what it means to be in Christ - it is all there!
You can't separate Christ from The Word of God. Jesus IS The Word and The Word was there in the beginning and The Word was made flesh. Jesus is the grace of God. Removing Christ from the picture, is no different from removing God's grace from your life. To be Christ-conscious is not the way Oprah or her friends state it to be, to be Christ-conscious is to know that Jesus has won the victory at the cross with his death and that no problem in our lives are too big for Him to handle; It is to know that the source of our heartaches, diseases, pain, suffering is NOT God but that of the Prince of the Air himself - Satan.
At the end of the day, "The Secret" may be a books that seems electrifying and tempting to believers, but we are called to discern. I truly believe we are the living in the end times, and that is why there are so many false prophets out to misguide non-believers and believers alike.
Mixing truths with untruths still make it a lie - you can't call "The Secret" anything than a great deception that has been cleverly marketed by those who believe more in Mammon than in God - remember we can only serve one.
To conclude, it amazes and fills me with wonderment each day when I look at how Revelations is coming alive in our world today.
No offence to all Americans, but have you noticed when America politically pressured Israel to remove Israeli settlers from the Gaza strip, it was followed a week later by Hurricane Katrina? Or as Bush pressures Israel into signing the so-called Middle East "Peace Treaty", the sub-prime situation has come about? America has been great all this while because it was founded upon Judeo-Christian values, but as these values disintegrate, the nation disintegrates along with it on so many levels. It is time for America to return to Jesus and abide in Him.
What about the Yom Kippur War of 1948 that took place in Israel? Till today, Israel's victory in that 7 day war is nothing short of amazing - a miracle. The only other 7 day war we know of is that of the Battle of Jericho in the bible. Even the holocaust was prophesied in the bible...
There are countless Christ- centred miracles and Biblical prophecies that have come true in the last century... and more biblical prophecies are being fulfilled even as I type.
God is very real, so is salvation in Christ... be discerning about what you read, say or believe.
Read Gen 45:1-15 and note this - when we draw near to God, we can be assured of provision during this time of famine and crisis (oil prices rising, rice prices rising, gold prices rising, cost of living rising - but we have no fear because perfect love casts out all anxiety and fears!)
It is still not too late to receive Christ and the mercy He has to give, for a price that He has already paid on your behalf. why wait? It might be too late someday.
And all this gift needs is for you to open your heart to Him.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of us. Amen.
God bless!
"THUS SAITH THE LORD ... ALL THOSE THAT DO NOT KNOW MY WORD OF TRUTH SHALL PERISH IN THEIR SIN & SHALL STAND BEFORE ME TO GIVE ACCOUNT OF THEIR LIFE UPON THE EARTH... EVEN THOSE THAT MAY HAVE CALLED ME LORD & SAID THEY KNEW ME WHEN I SAID I NEVER KNEW YOU SHALL BE CAST OFF ON MY LEFT HAND AS GOATS & NOT BE CALLED SONS & DAUGHTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS... BE NOT DECEIVED IN THESE LAST DAYS, SAITH THE LORD, FOR GROSS DARKNESS SHALL BEGIN TO COVER THE EARTH & THE MINDS OF THOSE THAT ARE SOWING DECEPTION AMONG THE TALK HOST EARS THAT FEED & TICKLE THE EARS OF THEIR AUDIENCES WITH WITCHCRAFT WICKEDNESS OF SEEING & MAKING THINGS HAPPEN AS EVEN SATAN CAN CAUSE MIRACLES TO HAPPEN WITH BLACK ARTS THAT ARE AN ABOMINATION TO MY WAY... HEARKEN & KNOW THAT I AM COMING SOON TO CLAIM THOSE THAT ARE TRULY MINE & REJECT THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE MY SPIRIT WITHIN THEM, SAITH THE LORD."
The Secret i think has some definate Christian teachings but is more a Buddhist theology. Jesus's message was more concered with the after life and not getting it all in this life. The secret doesn't provide you with an answer for Judgement day, that's what my eyes are set on.
In this life, there is more than one way, look around, there are so many religions. For the next life, i believe there is only one way, one truth and that's through Christ Jesus.
We've been warned about false teachers. Trust your heart.
Gold
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.