I Tivo Oprah but don’t watch it every day. Last night I finally watched the episode about “The Secret”. I’ve been writing this post in my head since I finished the show.
In case you didn’t see it, The Secret is a book/dvd about getting the life you’ve always wanted. Oprah had 4 leaders/teachers who believe in “The Secret” there as a panel. The book’s foundation is “The Law of Attraction”. It claims that what you put out you attract. The guys on the panel were talking about some energy mumbo jumbo that I can’t explain correctly. But one of the girls gave a great example. She said the Universe is like a restaurant. You place your order; “I’ll have a burger with fries.” And you expect to get that back, exactly the way you ordered it. So, if you say, “My family’s always got drama.” Then, you are placing that order and that is *exactly* what you will receive. But if you say, “I’m a successful, creative woman.” then that is what you’ll receive.
They talked about how your thoughts and words can build you up or tear you down. They talked about forgiveness being something that will truly set you free…about gratitude opening up your life for more blessing…about accepting, believing and receiving the things you desire…about being deserving of good things… about experiencing true joy in your life. And oh! I believe every bit of that. There is not one thing in that list that I disagree with…but I have to disagree with EVERYTHING Oprah and this panel said because they missed out on one key element: God. Not energy-God. Not “the Presence”. Not we’re-all-god. But God, the Creator and Author of life.
Well, what’s the difference? If “positive thinking” helps you get good things in your life, who cares if it has to do with God or not? For me, there’s a huge difference. On Oprah, they kept talking about how we were just energy and good energy is attracted to each other. They also kept referencing ME, MYSELF, how *I* can do it. The focus is not on an eternal, loving Heavenly Father who desires to pour out so many blessings we cannot contain it, but on the works & deeds of little old me.
I know I’m not saying this how I want to. It’s just that this IS NOT a secret. God has this all laid out in His Word (the Bible). It made me think of Ephesians 3:20, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” See, as Christians we have GOD’S mighty power working within us and HIS power will accomplish INFINITELY more than we could even ask God for or think about in our minds.
The followers of “The Secret” are so focused on what energy they are putting out of their minds–this is a smaller, weaker and more base kind of power. Why use energy when we can have the actual power of God at work in our lives?!
The author of “The Secret”, Rhonda Byrne made a comment that sums it all up for me. It is also the byline on her blog. She said, “The Secret brings joy to the world.” But Ms. Bryne is wrong. The One that brings real joy to the world is Jesus. Angels proclaimed it on the day of his birth, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today…” (Luke 2:10-11). Real joy is no secret, it comes from Jesus.
A final quote from CS Lewis: God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
