The Secret

I watched a video the other day, called "The Secret." You've probably heard of it. It started out as a book that made the coveted "Oprah's Booklist" a few years back, ensuring that it would become a blockbuster. I didn't have time to tackle the book this week, but I did find time to watch the video version. Wow, it was something else. (By "something else," though, I don't mean I thought it was good and neither am I recommending it to you. It was "something else" entirely from the way of Jesus.)

Remember "An Inconvenient Truth"? You know, the environmental presentation-become-movie made by Al Gore? The catchphrase for that movie was something like, "The scariest movie you'll ever see." After watching the well-thought-out and scientifically based presentation of the potential environmental disaster waiting for us, I didn't think I would ever see a scarier movie. Until now. Wow, where do I start...

The basic premise of "The Secret" is that "thoughts become things." In other words, whatever thoughts you dwell on (positive or negative, conscious or unconscious) will become a reality in your life: "Whatever you think about, you bring about." The video was full of images of women looking longingly at gold necklaces, a kid at a new bike, a man at a sports car, and so on. At some point there would be a magical pulse shoot out from their minds, showing how they are thinking about, dwelling on, visualizing themselves with this thing that will apparently bring them fulfilment. At one point, the universe is likened to a huge catalogue of stuff we want, and we are told straight out to "place your order with the universe." The psalmist declared, "The heavens proclaim the glory of God" (Ps 19.1). But I guess he got that wrong, eh? Maybe it should be, "The heavens purvey the glory of gold, easily accessible for your personal pleasure from the catalogue of positive thinking."

I almost had to laugh aloud at the point where it was talking about the story of Alladin and the magical lamp. (You know, Alladin finds a lamp, frees a genie, and is given three -- or, according to some versions of the story, unlimited -- wishes, and he goes on to great fame and fortune.) Well, the universe, we're told, is like the genie, ready to say, "Your wish is my command." And then -- and this is the part that almost made me laugh (or was it cry?) -- the incredible leap is made from Alladin's genie to saying, "Every tradition has told us there's something bigger than us." And suddenly the creating God of all that was, is and will be, the God who showed Himself in Jesus' life of sacrificial love, and who called all people to follow Him, is made a Divine Genie, just waiting to fulfil your every selfish thought. Wow. (Sorry, I know I'm saying that a lot, but every now and then I'm just flabbergasted all over again.)

And of course, it doesn't just work with positive thoughts. If you dwell on negative thoughts, then this too will become your reality. Worried that you will be late for an important meeting? You'll be late. (That accident on the highway that held you up? Yep, you caused it by worrying about your meeting!) Dwelling on all that pesky debt that keeps piling up, all those notices of repossession you keep getting? It's all because you are attracting the debt through your negative thoughts. (I don't suppose "spending beyone your means" had anything to do with it, huh? Or an economy that tanked because literally millions of people were spending beyond their means? Hmmm.)

Okay, want me to find something positive to say? I'll try. I did like how they talked about the need to live from a place of gratitude. (Gratitude to Whom, however, was never mentioned.) And you know what? I don't actually have a problem with the idea, or even the "power", of positive thinking. But the power doesn't come from some mystical or pseudoscientific "law of attraction." It comes from the attitude realignment when we begin to live from a place of gratitude (i.e. to God) and, I would add, a place of trust (i.e. in Jesus).

This is what Jesus lived. He spoke about how everything he did came from the inner strength of knowing the living presence of God in every situation: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise" (John 5.19). And the same goes for Jesus' followers. To us, Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15.5).

"Apart from me, you can do nothing." Hmmm. Doesn't sound as nice as "think nice thoughts and get nice stuff." But this was Paul's "secret," and it can be yours too... for only $29.95 plus shipping and handling!! (Sorry -- couldn't resist!) Here's how Paul puts it in one of his letters (which, by the way, was a consistent best-seller for hundreds of years before "The Secret" ever came along): "I can do all things through him [Jesus] who strengthens me" (Philippians 4.13).

Wow. Now that's a secret I want to share. How about you?