Q: What do you think of the principles of law of attraction in the book The Secret? Does it conform to what the Bible says?  —Cass

A: Cass, thank you for your question. It’s clear that you’ve put some thought into this.

I have read The Secret, but it has been years, so I’m not going to review it here. However, I remember the principle of the law of attraction that you’re referring to.  If I understand correctly, the premise of the book is that if you ask and believe, you will receive.

That sounds like a biblical idea, but we should be aware of the differences between The Secret and the Bible. The Secret is referring to my personal power; my ability to possess everything I need to change my life for the better. I have the power to be all that I want to be—it’s all within me.

That’s partly true only because I have been made in the image of God. Yes, I can do things to make my life better. I can choose to have a more loving and positive attitude towards life and people. However, I can not do all these things in my own strength.  And this is where, I believe, the book falls short. The author does not give honor or credit to our Maker. God is the source of light, love, truth, and power.

This is the biggest concern I have about the book:  We are in desperate need of a Savior and that Savior is Jesus Christ.  It is through Him and Him only that we can be saved from death. No amount of positive mental energy can give me the joy and life that the book refers to. It is solely through Jesus Christ that we have life.

I’m afraid The Secret can be used in a way that turns people away from the need of a Savior. In the book, it’s almost as if God is simply a conduit to our “success” in life. But God is the source of life and without Him we die. You said it well when you wrote “at the end of the day, our life is in the hands of our Almighty God, the Creator of the universe.” How right you are, Cass.  —Allison Stevens

 Feel free to submit a “you choose Q” to ODJ by using the contact us form on the home page!