Laced With Grace

As you read this, I will be on my way to attend a funeral and I apologize for doing this but I decided to share a post that I wrote last spring on my personal blog. The reason why I am doing this is two-fold: I am too grief-stricken to concentrate but more importantly I think it’s important to discuss the dangers of The Secret again because it’s been made it into a movie and it’s now on Pay-Per-View.

Have you ever had something keep popping up in your life and you try to ignore it but there it is again, in your face calling you to pay attention? In the past month I’ve heard more and more people talking about “The Secret.” I had heard about it from a Christian Radio Talk Show and I didn’t pay much attention to it, but at the same time, I had this nagging feeling to check it out. I ignored that feeling. Then it came up again, several times. Ignore, ignore, ignore. Finally it came up in an email this week; one of my yahoo groups was discussing it. All I knew about it was that it’s some new age phenomenon or psycho-babble that all the popular talk shows were featuring. Since I no longer watch those talk shows (I love that Casting Crowns lyric, “Stop asking 0prah what to do”) I didn’t have a clue as to how popular it was. After reading the responses in the email I felt compelled to check it out.

If you google The Secret, you’ll come up with an idea of how big this has gotten. It’s been featured on several prominent talk shows and is being made into a movie. Here is a quote from 0prah, “It’s making headlines around the world—and buzz just keeps building. Some say it’s the secret to creating the life you truly want—losing weight, making money, finding love. See why people everywhere are talking about The Secret.”

I decided to go to the bookstore to see for myself what the fuss was all about. While reading the book, I felt a pain in the pit of my stomach and it became obvious to me why I needed to write about this. Before I explain why, let me share a few quotes from the book:

“When I really understood that my primary aim was to feel and experience joy, then I began to do only those things which brought me joy. I have a saying: “If it ain’t fun, don’t do it!”

“It is not people who are giving you the things you desire. If you hold that false belief, you will experience lack, because you are looking at the outside world and people as the supply. The true supply is the invisible field, whether you call that the Universe, the Supreme Mind, God, Infinite Intelligence, or whatever else. Whenever you receive anything, remember that you attracted it to you by the law of attraction, and by being on the frequency and in harmony with the Universal Supply. The Universal Intelligence which pervades everything moved people, circumstances, and events to give that thing to you, because that is the law.”

“There is nowhere that the One Mind is not. It exists in everything. The One Mind is all intelligence, all wisdom, and all perfection, and it is everything and everywhere at the same time”

“The earth turns on its orbit for You. The oceans ebb and flow for You. The birds sing for You. The sun rises and it sets for You. The stars come out for You. Every beautiful thing you see, every wondrous thing you experience, is all there, for You. Take a look around. None of it can exist, without You. No matter who you thought you were, now you know the Truth of Who You Really Are. You are the master of the Universe. you are the heir to the kingdom. You are the perfection of Life. And now you know The Secret.”

“So your purpose is what you say it is. Your mission is the mission you give yourself. Your life will be what you create it as, and no one will stand in judgment of it, now or ever.”

I did not include any of the quotes about earning money by thinking only positive thoughts and I know that is a big selling point for a lot of people.

Now as a believer reading those quotes you might laugh or wonder why anyone would fall for that. Let me tell you, there are a lot of “Cultural Christians” that will buy into this. I thought back to how I was maybe ten years or so ago and this book would have been purchased for everyone on my Christmas list. It seems like every year I would find “The Book” that had all the answers to life’s questions. I can think of five of them right now and they were all the rage when they came out and were passed from friend to friend all in hopes of finding ourselves, the meaning to life or what we hoped was the truth. It’s funny how often “The Book” comes out. I know I need to share this with you because had I not given my life over to Christ, I would be all over this. What makes it even more frightening is that I would have still called myself a Christian.

All of these “top-sellers” have something in common: there is no mention of salvation, sin, Jesus, mercy, glory to God, repentance, and certainly no mention of righteous judgement.

Paul writes in 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.

In 2 Peter 2:1-3, Peter talks about false teachers and their destruction:

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

John MacArthur tells us that “Peter described false teachers in detail so that Christians would always recognize their characteristics and methods. The greatest sin of Christ rejecters and the most damning works of Satan is misrepresentation of the truth and its consequent deception. Nothing is more wicked than for someone to claim to speak for God to the salvation of soul when in reality he speaks for Satan to the damnation of souls.”

Isaiah 44:20

He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”

Let’s not feed on ashes. I realize I’m going to annoy a lot of people with this post. My intention is not to offend you, believe me. I know what it’s like to search for answers and I’m telling you it’s so easy to find the Truth if you’re ready for it. You’ll read something like The Secret and think it makes sense…and some of it does, which is what scares me. What’s wrong with thinking positive thoughts after all?

When your focus in life is on you, it’s off of God. When you worship yourself, you stop worshipping God.

Something to think about anyway…

Titus 3-8 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Luke 17: 11-19 (NIV)
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

This past week I read about a Hollywood actress/comedian that received an award and in her acceptance speech she made fun of people that thank Jesus for everything. She inspired me to share this with you:

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.
I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colourless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity.
I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.
I now live by faith, lean on His presence, love with patience, live by prayer and labour with power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough,
my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deterred, diluted or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, let up, or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I must go till’ He comes, give till’ I drop, preach till’ all know and work till’ He stops me.
And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.
My banner is clear:
I am part of the ‘Fellowship of the Unashamed.’

The author is said to be an African pastor that was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:16 (NIV) I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

We thank you Jesus because it’s our way of proclaiming our belief in you and what you stand for. We thank you, Jesus because we know that without you we are nothing! We are not ashamed to thank you, Lord. We are not ashamed of the Gospel. May we be like the one leper that came back and gave thanks and praise for your healing. May we shout and give thanks for your grace and mercy! May our banner be clear as we praise your holy name, now and forever. Amen

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2

Twice this week, while doing some research, I got sidetracked reading a “blog war.” A blog war is when opinions are expressed, via the comments, that are both hurtful and mean-spirited; sides are taken and the banter goes back and forth usually until the owner of the blog wisely chooses to close the comments. I was astounded by the viciousness of the attacks and the awful words thrown around, many of them blasphemous. Even sadder, however, was that I kept reading. I couldn’t tear myself away.

I had a choice in how I spent my time and wasted it by electing to read “dirt.” Worse, I did it after spending what I thought was meaningful time in the Word. Yes, I went straight from the Bible to the pit of ugliness. Twice!

With a giant log in my eye, I found myself judging others. I didn’t participate by commenting, yet I was absorbing words and thoughts that were impure and ungodly. Sadly, I was steeping myself in trash.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are
noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever
things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is
any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these
things.” Philippians 4:8

Dear Father, please help me to resist the temptation to read words that are not glorifying to you. Please help me so that I am not influenced by the philosophies of the world, slanderous attacks, ungodly behavior and blasphemous language. Please renew my mind in your Son, Jesus Christ so that I may have true love for others and keep my thoughts from being soiled. Help me to meditate on things that are lovely and pure. In Your holy name, I pray. Amen.