the illusive secret

What’s the going phrase? What’s the best read? What’s the best thing to be doing, seeing, saying, wearing, thinking? You’ll find out about it on Oprah. Everybody loves… Oprah. So… what’s the big deal about that? I’m treading perhaps into fiery territory, but I’ll tread… I know, I know… I don’t even watch TV.
Today on Oprah, more of The Secret. You can take a look at the content by clicking the different links. If you look into The Secret, you’ll see that author of the book and creator of the DVD, The Secret, Rhonda Byrne, is a follower of Abraham… if you track that a bit, you’ll see that the Abraham she follows is from the creation of Esther Hicks. She and her husband have a huge following and have authored many books, etc., (The Law of Attraction and others) I’m not linking either one here, but a google turns up more links than you have time to see. The Secret is not to be confused with Brian McLaren’s book, “The Secret Message of Jesus – Uncovering the Truth That Could Change Everything.” Though you have to wonder…
Why am I writing about this and why does it matter? Because the world seeks answers. The church is seeking answers. And, sadly, the “contemporary church” is seeking contemporary answers. The contemporary church, the post-modern church, the purpose driven church is seeking answers and… is content to seek them outside the Word in the world. Outside the Way… on the broad path instead of through the narrow gate. Still… why does this matter to us? Why should it matter?

1Timothy 4.1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

1Timothy 4.6
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”

If you take a look at the dictionary… you’ll see that the word occult means: hidden, secret, underneath… Consider the teachings of The Secret, and you’ll see why this is so significant. For we know that there is salvation and life in no other— for there is no “salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4.12)

So, still… why does all this matter? Because the wheels that move “the church” around are on a cart that has this sort of teaching strapped on. Prominent leaders are promoting the seductive, the neo-church, the church that “gets it,” the emergent church, contemplative worship, mysticism, meditation, etc., etc. It’s the church of now and the ways of the occult are infiltrating the whole way things are done. It’s not surprising… the enemy arrogantly attempted to temp the LORD — to challenge and mock Him; to offer Him what was already His.
So, attacking attracting The church with devious subtleties, with signs and wonders and with sensual attractions is not surprising. Especially not in regards to this or the previous generation reared on the mystical and with supernatural preoccupation. While the enemy’s using the high profile people and performances, he’s also going for the Word—the Bible, a great target and tool that satan can use to attempt to alter the message of the Cross or water it down or to make sin not exceedingly sinful… more attempts to question God as he did in the beginning: Yea, hath God said…? Consider attempts to make the Bible more palatable, easier to read, understand and apply to today’s culture. It’s going on all around us. Just consider The Message or The Voice and others.

Consider that old “outdated” ways of thinking are being mocked and called dead—replaced with the nouveau Christian: what-I-feel-feels-good-now trends. And if you’re not following along then you’re stiff, stodgy, out-of-it, behind the times.

Consider that pastors can, without even consulting the Bible for accuracy (or for conscience’ sake), download sermons and preach them across the nation for a more “uniform message” and to build mega “churches” after the established church-growth paradigm, system and pattern. Consider that the Word of God is being added to… that the message of the Cross and Salvation through faith in Jesus is relegated to becoming part of a different message. Sort of part of whatever man decides ought to be in the package. Or, no, wait. Sort of how man doesn’t want to live in a package and wants to choose his own way and attempt to answer his own why’s.

Galatians 1.6-9
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

And finally, really… why does this matter? Because that’s the why of Jesus. That’s why Jesus came, that’s why He died on that cross and why He rose from the dead and why He ascended on High and why He sent the Holy Spirit. Because man was seeking his own way and was lost—because of sin and the consequence of sin: the eternal separation from God.

It’s not Jesus and ____. It’s just Jesus.