LOA Teleconference Part 3 of 3

Note: This is part 3 of a 3-part series based on a portion of Monday night's teleconference on the law of attraction.

The second fundamental difference, or flaw or distortion, in the current teaching of the LOA as propounded by teachers of the Secret is that the answer to the world's darkness or problems is a Gnostic answer. That is, the teachers behind much of this new age thought claim that it is through knowledge - becoming more aware or enlightened; having a secret knowledge or understanding - that we will overcome war, famine, oppression, poverty, disease, illness, and everything else that is wrong with the world.

In other words, education in these universal principles will bring about the Age of Aquarius. Hey, I'm old enough to remember the Fifth Dimension singing that song. It's a great tune, great message. But there is more to overcoming the world's darkness than simply singing, "Ooh, let the sunshine in!"

The answer found in the bible has to do with restoring a broken relationship that the creation has with its Creator. That is why there is war, famine, poverty, disease, oppression – the relationship between us and God has been severed. Now this is not a popular message, but there is no other way to describe how this situation came about other than by calling it what it is – sin.

The fundamental flaw in a lot of this "new agey" type of teaching is that you will never hear it said that the problem is sin. People will talk about lack of awareness, ignorance, not thinking right, but they won't talk about sin. Or a broken relationship with our Creator.

You see, if the universe is God and God is the universe then there is no relationship to restore. If Carl Sagan was right when he stated in Cosmos in 1980 - "The cosmos is all there is, all there ever was, and all there ever will be," then we are in a sad state. For if the cosmos is all there is, then we are indeed simply made of star stuff – just a collection of quarks – and to the stars we will return. No hope, no future, simply become one with the universe.

Do you see why I believe that this teaching is fundamentally at odds with the teaching of the bible? The scripture proclaims that the God of the universe created us for a relationship with him, but because of sin we have a broken connection. God’s plan is to restore that relationship – and as Christians we believe it is through Jesus Christ, his son, that that friendship is re-established. The future is bright – not because we return to the stars, but because we have the opportunity and invitation to come home to our Creator and live with him forever.

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Read Part 2.
This is Part 3.
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LOA Teleconference Part 2

Note: This is part 2 of a 3-part series based on a portion of Monday night's teleconference on the law of attraction.

One reason I hosted the LOA teleconference is that I believe there are two fundamental distinctions between sound, traditional, self help principles - which are biblically based - and the teachings of those who are full blown followers of the Secret.

And these distinctions are not just differences between a Ford and Chevy. I’m convinced that much of what is passing for "wise instruction" is actually non-biblical and even anti-biblical distortions.

So for those who have had concerns about the Secret and yet didn’t know exactly why you felt uncomfortable, maybe you'll identify with what I’m going to articulate.

The first fundamental difference – and I would say flaw in this teaching – is that there is a confusion and syncretization between God the Creator of the universe and the universe itself. The language that is used is very revealing. When people write about the law of attraction they talk about the Universal Mind – with capital letters. Infinite Intelligence. Higher Self. And they want us to believe that when we talk about God, we are talking about the same thing. Different words, same concept. Semantics.

And my response is absolutely not. This is not simply a matter of semantics. The God of the bible is the creator of the universe and is in no way to be identified with the creation. Why? Because even if we grant that the universe is pure energy, and is the same thing as God, then what we have is a non-personal force, an energy field that we can tap into for whatever purposes we desire.

The bible teaches that God is a person, not an impersonal force. And that he created us for his good pleasure and our purpose in life is wrapped up in his good and perfect will for our lives. God wants to have a personal relationship with us; he created us in his image so that we could relate to him - creature to Creator.

You can’t have a personal relationship with a lightening bolt. You can’t have a loving, intimate friendship with a tsunami or force of nature. "May The Force Be With You" is not the same thing as saying, "God be with you." I thought we clarified this issue when Star Wars came out in 1977. But evidently this idea is still with us.

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LOA Teleconference Part 1

Note: This is part 1 of a 3-part series based on a portion of Monday night's teleconference on the law of attraction.

I think we can accept that there is probably a scientific or biological basis for the LOA, but in my opinion it probably has more to do with the heightened expectations of our brain rather than our thought energy going out into the universe and manifesting our desires. What causes this heightened expectation that opens us up to new opportunities and thus gives us the "ability" to attract what we want into our lives?

Well, there is a part of the brain that, when stimulated by goals, desire, experience, repetition and suggestion starts "looking for" evidence and validation of this new direction or information. It's called the reticular activation system of the brain – and its purpose is to screen out unnecessary information while letting in only the information that will help us function.

Some children with autism, for example, or ADD, are often over-stimulated – they lack the ability to screen out those things that we don't even give a second thought to. The clicking of a clock, the buzz of the fluorescent light, traffic noise outside the window. Our brain perceives all of this "information" but determines that it isn't useful and so it ignores those signals.

A common example of the reticular activation system at work is when you buy a new car – all of a sudden you see that dang car everywhere when you could have sworn you were the first to buy that make, model, and color. What has happened is that your brain is now open to this new information.

That, to me, is the greatest strength and power of the personal development movement – it gives us the tools to change our thinking and reprogram our brain to accept and look for positive opportunities, relationships, abundance, fulfillment. Two of the biggest limiting factors that keep us from living successful lives are fear and negative thought patterns. By speaking positive truth into our brains, we can form new thought patterns for success.

I have a friend - you may have someone like this as well - that every time I see him he affirms me, encourages me, tells me I can do it - "I believe in you, you’ve got what it takes." Do you think I might be attracted to him? You bet! He's the law of attraction in action! What happens is that every time I hear those words and then tell myself those truths, the reticular activating system of my brain kicks in and looks for evidence to support those words and pretty soon I am more confident, more attractive, more successful.

In fact, that is what I believe is really behind the LOA - like-minded people are attracted to each other because they are going a common direction, they share a common cause. The brain's reticular activation system works to ensure it.

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Free "Law of Attraction" Teleconference

Oprah endorses it. People are talking about it. A DVD called The Secret is making the rounds. And it all has to do with the Law of Attraction. What is this law? Is it biblical? Should Christians be concerned? Let's explore this topic together and discover the secret behind The Secret in a free teleconference tonight!

Monday, February 26, 2007
10:00 to 10:30 P.M. (CST)

~ The "Secret" Law of Attraction ~
A Biblical Perspective

30 Minute Free Teleconference
with Q&A and Discussion

Hosted by Lyn Perry of Thought Renewal
and a Special Blogging Guest
Moses Edward Miles III of Three Sticks

We have a limited number of dial-in lines available. If you would like to participate in this free teleconference, please register your interest by emailing me at "lyngperry (at) yahoo (dot) com" [you can figure that out] and I will email you the dial-in number and access code.

UPDATE: Here's the "agenda" Moses and I will use to guide our discussion tonight. "See you" at 10 pm central time.

Discussion Guide:
1. What is the Law of Attraction? The principle defined.
2. Is it biblical? See Gal 6.7; Luke 19.11-27; Luke 6.38.
3. How is it applied (or misapplied) in today's culture?
4. Why does it work? Why does it seem not to work?
5. Non-scriptural teachings and distortions of this principle.
6. Open Discussion & Q&A ~
+ As a follower of Christ, how can the Law of Attraction be applied?
+ What role should "self-help" and "personal development" play in our lives?
+ Do you have any questions to ask? Please email me today. Thanks.

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