Law of Attraction/The Secret

[Nice & Wavy]

Thank you Precious Wavy...

This title in your post says it all...

*Success By Positive Thinking Or Faith In God?*

The Apostle Paul said it plainly and yet to the point, "I Believe God."

Jesus asked it plainly and yet to the point, "Do you believe (that I can do this?). Jesus said further, 'Blessed are those who Believe (HIM).

The bottomline is, God is not mocked, meaning that He cannot be imitated, neither replaced. There is no duplication of God and all that pertains to Him.

When God says that He will have no other Gods before Him, He is literally protecting us from ourselves. For when we venture out beyond Him and seek other gods, it is the path to failure.

If Christians want to partake of an loa, then go to the real one, Jesus Christ who is...

Lord
of
All

:heart2:

Amen, sis. Unfortunately, there will be people who will still say that its ok after all we write and how many scriptures we put out there, they will still think that their way is the right way....sad indeed.

But, we ALL will be JUDGED for every DEED done with this body and that includes WHAT WE THINK!!!

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ - 2 Corinthians 10:5

 

[Shimmie]

Please name a life-enhancing concept (that DOES NOT remove the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ) that has received opposition.

In other words, the Bible-believing Christian's "resistance" to loa is BIBLICALLY BASED!

Proverbs 3:4-5: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and LEAN NOT TO THY OWN UNDERSTANDING. In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct thy paths."

But, EHP: I have heard others say what you said about how the secret has "helped" them re. their faith. However, it advances into dangerous territory because it can draw a (weaker) Christian away from the Lord. Please understand that I am not calling anybody weak. What I am saying is that what Christians need is in the Word of God. And the Lord knew we would be confronted with all manner of enticements that would draw us away from Him so He gave instruction concerning such things:

Matthew 24:24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25Behold, I have told you before.

Mark 13:22For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Excellent! I'm taking notes from you and Nice & Wavy cause my brain is too overworked these days....

 

[Shimmie]

Amen, sis. Unfortunately, there will be people who will still say that its ok after all we write and how many scriptures we put out there, they will still think that their way is the right way....sad indeed.

But, we ALL will be JUDGED for every DEED done with this body and that includes WHAT WE THINK!!!

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ - 2 Corinthians 10:5

Hey Darlin'... miss you.

You're right about this. What bothers me is that satan still tries to bring this mess over here into the Christianity forum. Trying to sneak this mess into the Christian walk and lifestyle. Again and again, he tries. And he always deceives and has those who will say, "I'm a Christian and ................................. loa is okay".

Ummmmm, the devil is liar! loa is NOT okay for those who live for Christ Jesus. We do not serve other gods, neither do we need any help from outside sources to give us a closer walk nor an understanding of God. God does not need any help from satan to make Himself understood to us.

Jesus is Lord and there is none other. There is only ONE way to God the Father, and that is by Jesus Christ. For He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father except by Him..... King Jesus.

 

[Nefertiti0906]

BTW, for me personally, it is not necessary to follow everything in a doctrine or philosophy, for example The Secret, to pull out the important "true" parts.

To me the most important thing is realizing what you are focusing on and if you are not happy change your focus. I am sure everyone knows negative people, whether they are Christian or not, who are always focusing on the negative and how bad things are...being around them makes you feel bad. So if a person focuses on what is good in their life, i.e. what God/The Universe has given them, it will only bring more goodness.

That's my interpretation.

This is what I think also. I would not let anything replace God in my life, but I do listen to principles that I believe will enhance my relationship with God our Heavenly Father. I like to take my own spin on things because I feel closer to God...

 

[jturner7156]

Honestly, who needs LOA when you have given your life to God? Really think about it...everything LOA tells you tell to do, the bible has already instructed a true follower of christ to do thousands and thousands of years ago. So when did this become a "Secret or LOA". Shimmie said it well, it's nothing but the devil trying to take credit. Think of this scenario...as time goes by and someone is following LOA, he will look at that church goer and say, I don't need to pay tithes b/c LOA got me that $250,000 house thus leading to...churches eventually having to close their doors. I don't need to suffer as Christ did b/c LOA brought me my man overnight, why pray when all I have to do is positively bring it in as LOA says it will. Thus leading one to turning away from God b/c they will no longer need him or they will began to think so. Always remember, the devil has gifts too....

 

[Shimmie]

Honestly, who needs LOA when you have given your life to God? Really think about it...everything LOA tells you tell to do, the bible has already instructed a true follower of christ to do thousands and thousands of years ago. So when did this become a "Secret or LOA". Shimmie said it well, it's nothing but the devil trying to take credit. Think of this scenario...as time goes by and someone is following LOA, he will look at that church goer and say, I don't need to pay tithes b/c LOA got me that $250,000 house thus leading to...churches eventually having to close their doors. I don't need to suffer as Christ did b/c LOA brought me my man overnight, why pray when all I have to do is positively bring it in as LOA says it will. Thus leading one to turning away from God b/c they will no longer need him or they will began to think so. Always remember, the devil has gifts too....

Excellent

And Jturner this also:

loa is especially dangerous because it takes away one's dependence upon God and their focus upon God as Lord.

"I don't have to pray, instead I just do the methods of loa."

And this is where the danger is. People get hooked, dependent upon, addicted to the 'attraction' process that they no longer seek God, but seek themselves instead. They have become their own god.

And this is exactly where satan wants them, as their own gods. And in this place they are prime targets for satan go for the 'kill.'

The sin is not in thinking positive for God tells us in Philipians 4:8 to think upon things that are just, pure, holy. There is definitely power is our thoughts for the mind is the womb for nurturing our thoughts into action. And satan recognizes this and uses it to steer one's focus away from God.

It's not for Chrisitians. And Christians DO know better. They do. But they become impatient and lack faith; satan knows this and leads them into a path of destruction.... 'self will'.

loa is self willing a desired thing into one's life ----- total witchcraft.

 

[jturner7156]

Excellent

And Jturner this also:

loa is especially dangerous because it takes away one's dependence upon God and their focus upon God as Lord.

"I don't have to pray, instead I just do the methods of loa."

And this is where the danger is. People get hooked, dependent upon, addicted to the 'attraction' process that they no longer seek God, but seek themselves instead. They have become their own god.

And this is exactly where satan wants them, as their own gods. And in this place they are prime targets for satan go for the 'kill.'

The sin is not in thinking positive for God tells us in Philipians 4:8 to think upon things that are just, pure, holy. There is definitely power is our thoughts for the mind is the womb for nurturing our thoughts into action. And satan recognizes this and uses it to steer one's focus away from God.

It's not for Chrisitians. And Christians DO know better. They do. But they become impatient and lack faith; satan knows this and leads them into a path of destruction.... 'self will'.

loa is self willing a desired thing into one's life ----- total witchcraft.

Exactly! and to the bolded, once you eliminate prayer...where is the relationship with God, there is none. You no longer know him and when the final day arrives...he no longer knows you. Honestly and truthfully this is what it boils down to!

 

[Nice & Wavy]

Hey Darlin'... miss you.

You're right about this. What bothers me is that satan still tries to bring this mess over here into the Christianity forum. Trying to sneak this mess into the Christian walk and lifestyle. Again and again, he tries. And he always deceives and has those who will say, "I'm a Christian and ................................. loa is okay".

Ummmmm, the devil is liar! loa is NOT okay for those who live for Christ Jesus. We do not serve other gods, neither do we need any help from outside sources to give us a closer walk nor an understanding of God. God does not need any help from satan to make Himself understood to us.

Jesus is Lord and there is none other. There is only ONE way to God the Father, and that is by Jesus Christ. For He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father except by Him..... King Jesus.

Awwww...I miss you too. I'm going to give you a call and tell you all about my trip to Jamaica!

The thing too is this: Why do you need something else to give you a "closer relationship" with God, when all you have to do is spend time with Him and He will reveal everything a person needs for life and godliness! What I believe is that if you feel you need something else, then you aren't doing what you are suppose to do as a believer...plain and simple.

God doesn't need any help. Where was loa when He was creating the universe? Where was loa when He created the stars and He spoke Orion into being? Where was loa when He breathed into the nostrils of man and man became a living soul? Where was loa when God created the mountains and the skies and the flowers, all arrayed in beautiful colors and shapes and sizes? Where was loa when God created the oceans and the seas and the lakes and rivers? Where was loa when........?

It wasn't....that tis all!

God is all knowing and all seeing. He doesn't need man to help Him with anything. His desire that all men come unto repentance and no one to perish. People perish for lack of knowledge....knowledge of HIM!!!

I pray that people's eyes will be opened and that they will see that who they think is for them is actually against them! satan is a liar and the father of lies, therefore he will lie to them and make them think that they know what the truth is....but, they won't. satan is here to steal, kill and to destroy!

I praise the Lord for His Holy Spirit and that He teaches all truth...the truth that only comes from the Father!

 

[btrflyrose]

You no longer know him and when the final day arrives...he no longer knows you.

What an absolutely lonely, scary thought. This almost made me cry.

It is oh so easy to slip away from the Will of God, what is truly right and out of a relationship with Him. Regular, everyday life is filled with enough distraction as it is. Why bring in another element that only succeeds in taking you further and further away?

It's almost like being stranded out at sea; being pulled down by a strong undercurrent. Out so far, you can no longer see the Light house. You've focused so much on yourself that you've become lost. And my dear sisters, you don't want to be lost in this world.

 

[Shimmie]

What an absolutely lonely, scary thought. This almost made me cry.

It is oh so easy to slip away from the Will of God, what is truly right and out of a relationship with Him. Regular, everyday life is filled with enough distraction as it is. Why bring in another element that only succeeds in taking you further and further away?

It's almost like being stranded out at sea; being pulled down by a strong undercurrent. Out so far, you can no longer see the Light house. You've focused so much on yourself that you've become lost. And my dear sisters, you don't want to be lost in this world.

It makes me cry too, btrflyrose...

No matter how badly I want something, I just don't want it without God.

Jesus said, "Unless, the Lord builds the house, it will not stand."

loa may bring things into a person's life, but if is doesn't come from God, then what good will it do in my life?

What quality will it be of?

What is attached to that which I attract?

What greater price will I have to pay 'later'?

What Price -- When Jesus already paid it all with His life and Precious Blood.

 

[Shimmie]

Exactly! and to the bolded, once you eliminate prayer...where is the relationship with God, there is none. You no longer know him and when the final day arrives...he no longer knows you. Honestly and truthfully this is what it boils down to!

Amen jturner....I don't ever want to be out of relationship with the One God who loves me more than I can ever deserve, yet He loves me that much and so much more.

Beautiful blessings to a beautiful sister...'you', jturner.

 

[discobiscuits]

The so-called LOA (Law of Attraction) is a biblical principle placed in the earth by God. The basic premise of LOA is: Ask, Believe, Receive which is precisely what Jesus told his disciples (Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:23-24). This "formula" works because it is His principle. If one is a Christ-like-one, Jesus said whatever you ask in prayer, believe and you will receive. With LOA the prayer part is not included, nor is it necessary. Jesus never said that if you don't ask in prayer you won't get it, He said whatever you ask for in prayer believe and receive. The statements that Jesus made prior to the ask in prayer statement show that one does not need prayer:

(Mark 11:23) "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

In v.23 Jesus is showing the physical or natural application or practice of the law, and in v.24 He is explaining the spiritual application or practice.
If you look at the story of Babel, God confused the languages because: "....nothing that man planned would be impossible for him." (Gen. 11:6) Man was building this city to make a name for themselves and they did not pray about it (at least it is not written that they did), yet God recognized that anything that man planned would be successful and nothing would be impossible.

I am not stating a case for LOA/law of attraction, I'm just pointing out that it works with or without God as a partner, with or without prayer.

I like Shimmie's comment: LOA= Lord of All.

With God, the Lord of All will bring health, happiness, wealth, success for others as well as the primary person. Without God the end is despair, depression, sadness, emptiness, wandering, desolation.

 

[HeChangedMyName]

Does anyone else have an issue with this? I was given the book The Secret and had to put it down after reading just a few pages. It really seemed like it was telling you that you could subject God to being your genie. That He was all powerful and that He didn't have a will but to do your will.

Whatever happened to Thou will be done?

I mean, I could see the appeal in that I wanted something very badly and this told me I could get it if I just believed. What if that wasn't God's will for me?

Thoughts?

Yep. When the Secret was first on Oprah, I jumped all over the bandwagon. Then my sister-in-law told me to put down that new age book and pick up my Bible. I was in church at the time and everything, but I was in a desperate place. Books like these appeal to our flesh in that is promises that we can have everything we want and that it is all in our own hands. The reality for me, as a Christian, is that God is in control and that when I try to do things out of his will, true---I may gain something. But in the end, it is God's will that is most important and if I remain in his will, He will give me the desires of my heart and I wont have to do anything weird to receive it.

 

[PaperClip]

I am not stating a case for LOA/law of attraction, I'm just pointing out that it works with or without God as a partner, with or without prayer.

I respectfully respond and say: can we PLEASE STOP sugarcoating this thing?!

If I have the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no need for any other so-called power, force, god, etc. PERIOD!

The Bible says "THE LORD is my Shepherd, I shall NOT WANT!" So that means that my needs and my wants are met... and if I'm wanting something, is that something I really need? If that want is outside the will of God, should I still desire it?

2 Corinthians 12:9 says "But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and [a]show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may [b]pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!" (Amplified)

In other words, the Lord is strong enough and powerful enough to 1) know what I need and want, and 2) has the capacity to grant it, and 3) wants me trust Him enough so that if I do ask for something and it's not in my best interest, that He will let me know that and I have to trust that He is right and that He knows best.

And when you say "it works", what exactly do you mean?

Me talking: The Lord is ALL-KNOWING. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows what's gonna happen long-term.

The universe is not all-knowing. The universe, in its ambiguity, is merely a reactionary existence...give and take.... One cannot have relationship with the universe. But the Lord wants RELATIONSHIP with us....

Hmmm... I wonder if loa is like worshipping the universe.... By definition, worship means to "reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also : an act of expressing such reverence"... and because loa requires so much mind, body, and soulful (not necessarily spiritual) power, that is like a form of reverence....

Just a thought....

 

[HeChangedMyName]

The so-called LOA (Law of Attraction) is a biblical principle placed in the earth by God. The basic premise of LOA is: Ask, Believe, Receive which is precisely what Jesus told his disciples (Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:23-24). This "formula" works because it is His principle. If one is a Christ-like-one, Jesus said whatever you ask in prayer, believe and you will receive. With LOA the prayer part is not included, nor is it necessary. Jesus never said that if you don't ask in prayer you won't get it, He said whatever you ask for in prayer believe and receive. The statements that Jesus made prior to the ask in prayer statement show that one does not need prayer: In v.23 Jesus is showing the physical or natural application or practice of the law, and in v.24 He is explaining the spiritual application or practice.
If you look at the story of Babel, God confused the languages because: "....nothing that man planned would be impossible for him." (Gen. 11:6) Man was building this city to make a name for themselves and they did not pray about it (at least it is not written that they did), yet God recognized that anything that man planned would be successful and nothing would be impossible.

I am not stating a case for LOA/law of attraction, I'm just pointing out that it works with or without God as a partner, with or without prayer.

I like Shimmie's comment: LOA= Lord of All.

With God, the Lord of All will bring health, happiness, wealth, success for others as well as the primary person. Without God the end is despair, depression, sadness, emptiness, wandering, desolation.

I get what you are saying, that is what I believed when I first read the Secret which has it's premise based on LOA. But why would you want to leave out prayer? Prayer is communing with God in both request and thanks. If he is the supplier and source of all things(((Lord of All), then what reason would a person have to want to skip him altogether. To me, it seems like using God but not wanting a relationship with him, which is a part of his reason for creating mankind. He created us for a relationship, not just so that he could delve out all the goodies to us only to have us act like we don't need him. Again the premis of LOA is ask, believe, receive. But there is something about it that reminds me of a falling away

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 says, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (KJV)

To me, LOA and The Secret are exalting man above God. It is telling you that you can get/have it all without the help of God. It removes God from the equation. It says, that you don't have to believe in God to receive. They are creating little mini-gods in every believer. When you believe that everything comes to you by your own will and through sources that can't be named specifically and that it is up to you to decide what, when, how, and where you receive things, then you are worshipping yourself. Your become a self idol worshipper---IMO.

 

[MrsQueeny]

Growing up in a strict religious household (although I am not following it now),
the best way for me to understand much of the LOA / Secret thing and many other POV's as I've gotten older is to consider God as the Universe....if I look at God as infinitely expanding everywhere, then He would be the universe.

BTW, for me personally, it is not necessary to follow everything in a doctrine or philosophy, for example The Secret, to pull out the important "true" parts.

To me the most important thing is realizing what you are focusing on and if you are not happy change your focus. I am sure everyone knows negative people, whether they are Christian or not, who are always focusing on the negative and how bad things are...being around them makes you feel bad. So if a person focuses on what is good in their life, i.e. what God/The Universe has given them, it will only bring more goodness.

That's my interpretation.

I don't see God as the universe. God is God period. He created the universe and He controls it but they are not the same. As for "me" as a Christian LOA/The Secret gets no play because it is the trick of the devil. The devil is a master of tricking people. The author of the Secret gives no credit to God and because of that, I can not and will not support it or any aspects of it period. People are falling for the tricks because the devil is giving them whatever they want and need that will keep them from God. He has them believing that the universe is giving them these things when it is really him. Except folks are not reading the fine print when it comes to the price they will pay for accepting these things from him. He is making it so that people feel they don't have a need for God. All they need to do is just be "good" by the world's standards and everything will be okay. I am not fooled and I am not falling for it. What God deems as good is different than the world's definition and I want to be good in His eyes. Only what He says matters. Q

 

[HeChangedMyName]

I don't see God as the universe. God is God period. He created the universe and He controls it but they are not the same. As for "me" as a Christian LOA/The Secret gets no play because it is the trick of the devil. The devil is a master of tricking people. The author of the Secret gives no credit to God and because of that, I can not and will not support it or any aspects of it period. People are falling for the tricks because the devil is giving them whatever they want and need that will keep them from God. He has them believing that the universe is giving them these things when it is really him. Except folks are not reading the fine print when it comes to the price they will pay for accepting these things from him. He is making it so that people feel they don't have a need for God. All they need to do is just be "good" by the world's standards and everything will be okay. I am not fooled and I am not falling for it. What God deems as good is different than the world's definition and I want to be good in His eyes. Only what He says matters. Q

ITA. It hurts me to my heart for the souls that may never know and believe the truth about these things. That is the key, these things operate by the world's standards, not by God's standards. True, wealth and prosperity are a part of God's plan for us, but they are a reward for us, and not a gift to us.

 

[Shimmie]

The so-called LOA (Law of Attraction) is a biblical principle placed in the earth by God. The basic premise of LOA is: Ask, Believe, Receive which is precisely what Jesus told his disciples (Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:23-24). This "formula" works because it is His principle. If one is a Christ-like-one, Jesus said whatever you ask in prayer, believe and you will receive.

With LOA the prayer part is not included, nor is it necessary. Jesus never said that if you don't ask in prayer you won't get it, He said whatever you ask for in prayer believe and receive. The statements that Jesus made prior to the ask in prayer statement show that one does not need prayer: In v.23 Jesus is showing the physical or natural application or practice of the law, and in v.24 He is explaining the spiritual application or practice.
If you look at the story of Babel, God confused the languages because: "....nothing that man planned would be impossible for him." (Gen. 11:6) Man was building this city to make a name for themselves and they did not pray about it (at least it is not written that they did), yet God recognized that anything that man planned would be successful and nothing would be impossible.

I am not stating a case for LOA/law of attraction, I'm just pointing out that it works with or without God as a partner, with or without prayer.

I like Shimmie's comment: LOA= Lord of All.

With God, the Lord of All will bring health, happiness, wealth, success for others as well as the primary person. Without God the end is despair, depression, sadness, emptiness, wandering, desolation.

I love that Scripture in Genesis 11:6. The King James Version says it this way.

"....and nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do."

It's powerful. And it's a classic explaination that the principles of imagination do operate and do have power. This is what makes the loa so dangerous for anyone, especially a Christian. For whatever one imagines, it can be manifested and made into being.

The danger is the source of imagination and the attachment to the attraction. There's always a price...a heavy price. For when one goes without God, he will be without protection. And in this life the way things are going and coming....we can't afford one second nor a fraction thereof without the leading, the guidance, the healing, and the very presence of God in our lives.

'Selah'..........

 

[btrflyrose]

ITA. It hurts me to my heart for the souls that may never know and believe the truth about these things. That is the key, these things operate by the world's standards, not by God's standards. True, wealth and prosperity are a part of God's plan for us, but they are a reward for us, and not a gift to us.

Exactly and as soon as you take the Lord out of the equation it is no longer of God. Regardless of where the principles originated.

So what if there are similar principles in the Bible. There are also similar principles in other religions, are you following those as well?

If you say you are His child, then He is all you need.

Unless LOA starts off with, 'All honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ' and states those principles by backing it up with scriptures from God's word (IN THE BOOK), then it is not of God. PERIOD.

 

[discobiscuits]

FS/RR: No one is sugarcoating it. I stated truth. LOA is a principle of God taught by Jesus and works with or without prayer and with or without God. Period.

 

[PaperClip]

FS/RR: No one is sugarcoating it. I stated truth. LOA is a principle of God taught by Jesus and works with or without prayer and with or without God. Period.

To what truth do you associate the principle of loa as associated with God taught by Jesus? Does the Bible use the term loa? is the word attraction even in the Bible?

And, if it works without God, then why would God even mention/be associated with it?

 

[discobiscuits]

I love that Scripture in Genesis 11:6. The King James Version says it this way.

"....and nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do."

It's powerful. And it's a classic explaination that the principles of imagination do operate and do have power. This is what makes the loa so dangerous for anyone, especially a Christian. For whatever one imagines, it can be manifested and made into being.

The danger is the source of imagination and the attachment to the attraction. There's always a price...a heavy price. For when one goes without God, he will be without protection. And in this life the way things are going and coming....we can't afford one second nor a fraction thereof without the leading, the guidance, the healing, and the very presence of God in our lives.

'Selah'..........

I so agree with your entire post shimmie particularly the bold.

 

[discobiscuits]

To what truth do you associate the principle of loa as associated with God taught by Jesus? Does the Bible use the term loa? is the word attraction even in the Bible?

And, if it works without God, then why would God even mention/be associated with it?

1. I like your new screen name. It suits you.
2. No the bible does not use the term "law of attraction" (nor does it use "homosexual/ity" until more recent translations) yet it discusses both.
3. I already gave the scriptures for my statement, you may refer to my earlier post to answer your above comment/question/statement.

 

[discobiscuits]

I get what you are saying, that is what I believed when I first read the Secret which has it's premise based on LOA. But why would you want to leave out prayer? Prayer is communing with God in both request and thanks. If he is the supplier and source of all things(((Lord of All), then what reason would a person have to want to skip him altogether. To me, it seems like using God but not wanting a relationship with him, which is a part of his reason for creating mankind. He created us for a relationship, not just so that he could delve out all the goodies to us only to have us act like we don't need him. Again the premis of LOA is ask, believe, receive. But there is something about it that reminds me of a falling away

To me, LOA and The Secret are exalting man above God. It is telling you that you can get/have it all without the help of God. It removes God from the equation. It says, that you don't have to believe in God to receive. They are creating little mini-gods in every believer. When you believe that everything comes to you by your own will and through sources that can't be named specifically and that it is up to you to decide what, when, how, and where you receive things, then you are worshipping yourself. Your become a self idol worshipper---IMO.

Your statement is accurate & I agree. God is left out as source to appeal to a mass audience and therefore generate larger sales/revenue. It appeals to everyone. Christians recognize it as of God because we've heard it and seen it before and everyone else accepts it so readily because it does not include Christ thereby not offending them.

I've seen the movie and read the book and I believe that Byrne intentionally includes so-called Christian ministers so that Christians will feel included and make it easier for them to accept. The Secret says: "Ask, Believe, Receive" and Jesus says: "Ask, Believe, Receive." The former requires it of "the universe", of which some refer to as the 2nd heaven (I think) which is Satan's domain (someone please correct me if I got that wrong); the latter requests it of God through prayer.

 

[tmichelle]

Your statement is accurate & I agree. God is left out as source to appeal to a mass audience and therefore generate larger sales/revenue. It appeals to everyone. Christians recognize it as of God because we've heard it and seen it before and everyone else accepts it so readily because it does not include Christ thereby not offending them.

I've seen the movie and read the book and I believe that Byrne intentionally includes so-called Christian ministers so that Christians will feel included and make it easier for them to accept. The Secret says: "Ask, Believe, Receive" and Jesus says: "Ask, Believe, Receive." The former requires it of "the universe", of which some refer to as the 2nd heaven (I think) which is Satan's domain (someone please correct me if I got that wrong); the latter requests it of God through prayer.

This is where I actually take issue with The Secret and Law of Attraction. In James he writes

You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripturespeaks to no purpose: He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?

Jesus never asked us to treat him like some celestial Santa Clause or genie telling us to ask whatever WE want. In fact Jesus said,

""Do notworry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I don't see where the LOA or The Secret is telling people to seek the Kingdom God and His righteousness. I see where it is telling people to seek whatever it is they want in their lives and they are promised to get it. The Lord never promises you that as a Christian, but He does promise

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

He promises that he will give good gifts to his children. But God is the one who determines what good is therefore we should ask that His will be done because we don't always know what good is. In fact we hardly do because we are busy asking for earthly blessings and God says this earth will pass away and

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

I don't hear the LOA or The Secret telling you to do this. It seems they are focused on earthly blessings.

ETA: There are several references to having faith and it being given to you. I thought I would include the main two references right here:

Matt 17:16 "I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him." And Jesus answered and said, "You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not drive it out?" And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. [But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."]

Luke 17 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. "And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him." The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 6And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.

Both times Jesus was speaking of spiritual circumstances. He was concerned with the spiritual state of the man with a demon and wanted to increase the faith of his disciples not the pocketbooks. How do we know, because as he said earlier in Matt 6 "Do notworry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."

As Christians we are to seek his kingdom and his righteousness and the rest will be taken care of. This is the only "Law of Attraction" we need.

 

[HeChangedMyName]

Your statement is accurate & I agree. God is left out as source to appeal to a mass audience and therefore generate larger sales/revenue. It appeals to everyone. Christians recognize it as of God because we've heard it and seen it before and everyone else accepts it so readily because it does not include Christ thereby not offending them.

I've seen the movie and read the book and I believe that Byrne intentionally includes so-called Christian ministers so that Christians will feel included and make it easier for them to accept. The Secret says: "Ask, Believe, Receive" and Jesus says: "Ask, Believe, Receive." The former requires it of "the universe", of which some refer to as the 2nd heaven (I think) which is Satan's domain (someone please correct me if I got that wrong); the latter requests it of God through prayer.

Yes, and that brings it all full circle because it is the love of money that is perpetuating these ideas and in turn they are pulling people into a similar relationship with material things---yes a relationship with material things because the angle they are going at is that you get want you desire, love, and want. Now don't get me wrong. I don't believe that material possessions are evil or anything. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 says, "
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 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. 10 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."(NIV)emphasis is my own

As Christians we have to be careful not to fall into the trap of getting off the path of God. It is easy for something to presented to us in a benevolent manner in which it is simply deemed to be politically correct to leave out Jesus for the sake of not offending anyone. But the enemy is slick. He wont come and try to take us out of the hand of our God by force and by showing his true colors, he will be like the serpent in genesis, he will use what God said, twist it to make it almost the same, then trick us into going along with his lie. Christians don't even need to read the Secret if it has Biblical basis right? We can read the scriptures, ask(with a pure and righteous heart and with God's will in mind), believe in God to deliver on his promise to give us the desires of our heart, and with that, wait on the Lord and receive the promise that he can do the impossible---That is not a marketing ploy, that is truth, but when you start using the scripture and changing things and removing things, then you are in TROUBLE

 

[Shimmie]

I so agree with your entire post shimmie particularly the bold.

The 'mind' is a powerful thing. The thought process is the birthing ground, the 'cervix' for those things manifested.

In the word of God, God speaks about hope being the 'substance' of things hoped for. (Hebrews). Where is hope nurtured and given birth to? The mind.

satan knows this and he is drawing people away from God by using this principle, be it by loa, meta physics, tarot cards, etc. The mind...the mind...the mind is the tool which God has given us and it MUST be guarded by the Holy Spirit, least the mind be lead astray and into destruction of the one who has the mind to lose his mind to the wiles of satan's deceptions.

God says that there are ways that look right to man, but the end thereof is destruction. Where does this mindset begin? The mind. The tool of invention.

The imagination which gives life to what inhabits the minds of men. God gave us a mind for Him to meditate upon Him, and to follow and abide in Him. Casting down all imaginations and every high thing which will exalt itsself against God.

The loa is satan's way to exalt itsself against God.

 

[nissi]

I know i am late, but i am so glad this was posted because I left the board for 6 months when I saw everyone jumping on the bandwagon of this hot mess...anyway, here's another scripture (short and sweet) for consideration!

Psalm 106:13-16:

13They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: (but consulted the universe instead!)

14But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

15And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

So scary! God would let us have what we want! With the sinful nature of man, I would be afraid if all of us got what we want! His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor His ways our ways (Is. 55:8-10)!

What more can you say? Looks like law of attraction is really "lust" of attraction!

Thank you OP (and the saints who spoke truth)! In the future I will be more bold about calling a spade a spade!

 

[Nice & Wavy]

This post was so good, I had to read it 3 times.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

This is where I actually take issue with The Secret and Law of Attraction. In James he writes

You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripturespeaks to no purpose: He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?

Jesus never asked us to treat him like some celestial Santa Clause or genie telling us to ask whatever WE want. In fact Jesus said,

""Do notworry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I don't see where the LOA or The Secret is telling people to seek the Kingdom God and His righteousness. I see where it is telling people to seek whatever it is they want in their lives and they are promised to get it. The Lord never promises you that as a Christian, but He does promise

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

He promises that he will give good gifts to his children. But God is the one who determines what good is therefore we should ask that His will be done because we don't always know what good is. In fact we hardly do because we are busy asking for earthly blessings and God says this earth will pass away and

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

I don't hear the LOA or The Secret telling you to do this. It seems they are focused on earthly blessings.

ETA: There are several references to having faith and it being given to you. I thought I would include the main two references right here:

Matt 17:16 "I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him." And Jesus answered and said, "You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not drive it out?" And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. [But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."]

Luke 17 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. "And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him." The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 6And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.

Both times Jesus was speaking of spiritual circumstances. He was concerned with the spiritual state of the man with a demon and wanted to increase the faith of his disciples not the pocketbooks. How do we know, because as he said earlier in Matt 6 "Do notworry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."

As Christians we are to seek his kingdom and his righteousness and the rest will be taken care of. This is the only "Law of Attraction" we need.

 

[MrsQueeny]

This is where I actually take issue with The Secret and Law of Attraction. In James he writes

You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripturespeaks to no purpose: He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?

Jesus never asked us to treat him like some celestial Santa Clause or genie telling us to ask whatever WE want. In fact Jesus said,

""Do notworry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I don't see where the LOA or The Secret is telling people to seek the Kingdom God and His righteousness. I see where it is telling people to seek whatever it is they want in their lives and they are promised to get it. The Lord never promises you that as a Christian, but He does promise

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

He promises that he will give good gifts to his children. But God is the one who determines what good is therefore we should ask that His will be done because we don't always know what good is. In fact we hardly do because we are busy asking for earthly blessings and God says this earth will pass away and

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

I don't hear the LOA or The Secret telling you to do this. It seems they are focused on earthly blessings.

ETA: There are several references to having faith and it being given to you. I thought I would include the main two references right here:

Matt 17:16 "I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him." And Jesus answered and said, "You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not drive it out?" And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. [But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."]

Luke 17 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. "And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him." The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 6And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.

Both times Jesus was speaking of spiritual circumstances. He was concerned with the spiritual state of the man with a demon and wanted to increase the faith of his disciples not the pocketbooks. How do we know, because as he said earlier in Matt 6 "Do notworry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."

As Christians we are to seek his kingdom and his righteousness and the rest will be taken care of. This is the only "Law of Attraction" we need.

Thank you for breaking it down. You see a lot of people into the Secret/LOA are focused on obtaining things. They want to manifest a new job, a car, money etc. But God requires more of us. I always tell people that if you take care of God's business, He will take care of yours. Sure it is good to have things here on earth but these teachings are taking people's focus on what really matters and is removing God as the source from the equation. We need to focus on the things that will ensure our spot for eternity in heaven. None of the jobs, money, cars etc will matter in heaven or in hell. In all we do as Christians, God has to be first. I don't want anyone else to get the credit or the glory for the things He has done for me. If folks would put as much attention into seeking the Lord as they do into these teachings, they would be blessed beyond measure. Thanks again because reading this blessed me. Q