The Secret

If you are here looking for my review of "The Secret," I apologize. It was "The Present" that I reviewed. Sorry about the confusion. However, I have also read "The Secret." You might find that there are some similarities in the message. I don't have time to say a lot here, but I will say that I believe both of these books are full of dangerous teachings. There is some truth in any believable lie. The key is to extract the truth from the falsehood. I want to emphasize that while we can benefit from positive thinking, we do not have the power to speak reality into existence. Only God can do that. Anyone who arrogantly asserts that he can do such a thing must answer to the only One who truly can. Tons more should be said, but again, I lack the time or resources at this point to go any further.

By the way, if you scroll down to older posts, you will find critiques of the Word of Faith teachings, which are extremely relevant, since they are based on the same line of thought as "The Secret." Best wishes.

A "Christian" Pluralist?

When Jesus claimed to be the truth, he most certainly did not claim to be some obscure hellenistic concept which was devised by men, nor did he claim to be nothing at all. He claimed to be God himself, for the very nature of God is the basis of truth, and logic flows from his character. For God is subject to nothing other than His own nature, and even God cannot make a square circle. Therefore, if He is subject to logic, it is because it is within His very nature, and logic is the aspect of His nature that Aristotle discovered. Just as St. Paul told us in Romans 1:20, even the pagans can understand something about God if only from His creation around them.

Currently Reading The Present : The Secret to Enjoying Your Work And Life, Now! By Spencer Johnson see related

Book Review: The Present

The Present by Spencer Johnson is a self-proclaimed life changing book for those who would incorporate its principles. For those who have not read it, the book is all about living in the present, and focusing on the positive aspects of every moment, never focusing on the negative. It presents these teachings by telling a story (typical of existential philosophy). The story is about an old man (read: guru) who shares the secret of meaningful living throughout the life of a man seeking answers. The old man never seems worried; he is always relaxed and appears to be at peace with life and the world. Through a series of cryptic messages, the old man teaches the other man that he can find meaning in the "present," which essentially consists of an existential experience that each person defines for themselves. By focusing on the good in the moment, we can find peace, meaning, and success.

This book ascribes to a combination of existential philosophy and Zen Budhism, blurring the line of truth. Truth is not seen as an objective thing, but an existential experience. Experience, not propositional truth, is the key to unlocking the meaning of life. Salvation comes through the teachings of a human guru leading to spiritual enlightenment, which man can achieve on his own. By definition, this is a godless philosophy.

The Present ignores the real problem of man: his depravity. I can be "in the moment," or practicing carpe diem while engaging in ungodly behavior. Of course, this is all up for interpretation. The existentialist is not interested in my definition of right and wrong, but only in his subjective experience. There is no authority to which one can appeal. So what if my carpe diem approach hurts others? It is up to the practicioner to decide if that is against his value system, which is determined by a kierkegaardian leap of faith, rather than any transcendent moral standard.

There is truth in most errors, though. That is were the deception lies. The message of focusing on the positive can be helpful, but only in the biblical sense of giving thanks to God in all circumstances (1 Thes 5:18), not in avoiding pain. What is right is more important than what makes me feel good. Jesus told his followers they would (and should) suffer, and exemplified it through the cross. While suffering, he cried out "My God, why have you foraken me" (Mark 15:34). This is the most poinent of the examples of partial truths, though there are others.

Much more could be said. The point is this: "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." (Col. 2:8) In the end, what the author tries to do will not work: his program cannot offer real hope to mankind, for it does not deal with human depravity. Rather than seeking to find meaning by focusing on my present, we truly find it in God's presence. The quest for ultimate meaning is found in a relationship with the God of infinity, and through developing intimacy with Him. For a much better alternative to The Present, read Practicing His Presence by Brother Lawrence and Frank Laubach.

Christianity under attack?

It has been a long time since I have posted. I have been up to my eyeballs in seminary classwork and my full time job. Here are some recent thoughts from my lovely wife that I want to share. I may not agree 100% with everything she says here, but I think it is worth looking at. Enjoy!

American Christians have always been told to pray for the people overseas who are being threatened their lives for believing in Christianity/in Christ.  I believe we should still pray for those, but now I am urging those overseas to begin praying for those in the United States, because the tables are beginning to turn against Christians in the US like I've not seen before. 

Last night on the news there was a big story presented on every news hour (local and national news) with a very clear attempt to make Christians look stupid and attack Christianity in general. 

Archeologists have found a tomb with Jesus' name on it and the name Mary and several children.  They say that it is now believed this could be the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth, and that he married Mary Magdeline, and had a family.  It's even being labeled by the news as "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" as if it has been determined beyond a shadow of a doubt that is THE tomb of THE Jesus of Nazareth.  Psychologically, this has a huge impact on the ignorant.  The news presenters and "documentary" director who found this "evidence" say that since there are remains, that Jesus never really raised from the dead, and this may shatter the beliefs on which Christians have hinged their whole faith.  This is what the news said.  Now they did say in verbal small print that other archeologists have found many tombs with the names Jesus and Mary because those were popular names in that time.  However, that was said as a passing comment, and what was emphasized was the "fact" that they have found some contradictions to the Bible and Christian beliefs.  They were clearly attempting to demean Christian beliefs.  This is how persecution begins.  There is a gradual demeaning of a particular people group, the ignorant believe the false information presented, and then people begin to be mistreated, which leads to eventual volatile treatment of those who are seen as stupid.

Another avenue by which Christians may experience mild persecution is that there is action on Capital Hill in which there is an effort to sneak in a section in a bill that makes it possible for certain types of grassroots organizations to be fined thousands of dollars or even receive prison sentences for speaking out about public issues in communication avenues (TV, radio, etc)--a censorship denying rights to free speech.  Basically, the organizations like Focus On the Family and others that serve as our eyes and ears in Washington will be targeted, but labor unions, trade associations and foreign corporations will be exempted.  I realize it will take a while for any action to be taken on the organizations that don't cooperate with this governmental mandate to silence our voices, but as the news and other organizations place emphasis on the studpidity of Christianity, it will make it more acceptable to place Christians in jail for speaking out.  It may take years for it to happen, but this kind of bill will make it possible when the culture is ripe enough to carry out the consequences.  It has only taken a little over 50 years for the country to totally sway from the conservative, Leave-it-to-Beaver type society, and where Christianity was accepted as Truth and part of the culture, to becoming almost the opposite.  We've already seen students, teachers, and other school officals suspended, arrested. or fired for their Christian stance.  I ask myself how I will stand, will I stand strong, under persecution.

There are many steps being taken to slowly deny Christians freedom in this country.  We need to be praying about the future.  We also need to be praying for Christians to live out a Christlike life, because those who call themselves Christians, yet do not act or think like Christ (Spiritual leaders perpetrating children, liberal "Christians" promoting liberal theology, etc) are doing damage to Christianity, making it more likely that Christians will be persecuted. 

On the other hand, it's not like Christianity is totally being squelched here.  There is an equal amount of supportive  media for Christianity, such as the new movie "Amazing Grace" about the Wilbur Wilburforce story (guy who wrote Amazing Grace), a movie created by Hollywood even.  Also, "The Nativity Story", created by Hollywood, presented accurately, with reasonable artistic license to fill in the story.  Also in government, an effort to overturn the controversial abortion bill is gaining some ground.  There is certainly a division occuring, showing the obvious spiritual battle of Evil trying to squelch Christianity, but God's Truth being presented just as prominently.  It seems to be foreshadowing a time of great persecution but also a time where the true Christianity will be more clearly presented and defended.  Selfishly, I hope I'm wrong that there will be great persecution, even in my lifetime, but that seems to me to be the direction of spiritual forces in the US.  No matter how people perceive this, we must pray for the protection of our rights and for Christians who are persecuted mildly or severely for standing up for their rights.  Even my pastor reflected my concerns when he said that he's not concerned about terrorism and war from other countries, he's more afraid of what the United States is doing to itself and what people are doing in the Name of Jesus that is destructive to this nation and to Christianity.

Ted Haggard's "Hypocrisy"