christian faith – Yeshuah Boyton

Whether you are curious if the Law of Attraction is actually in the Bible or if you are just looking for Bible verses that could potentially support the Law of Attraction, it's most important to know what Jesus said about faith. Let me explain… I have encountered the term Law of Attraction (LOA) a lot lately. In my context, it popped up in connection to believing in achieving life goals and financial goals. I mean we all want greater, faster, and more, right? Which in itself is not a bad thing. At first, I didn’t know what to make of it. I mean Jesus taught about asking things in faith too. So, why not believe in great(er) things?! At least that’s what we’re taught in Church, right? When I came across one of those “asking God in faith” scriptures in my daily devotional the other day, I started researching about the Law of Attraction to find out if it is really something Jesus taught us in the Bible... But first, we have to answer the question ... What Is The Law Of Attraction? To clear up what the Law of attraction is I did some online research. According to a quick Google and Wikipedia search, I found this quote: "In the New Thought philosophy, the Law of Attraction is the belief that positive or negative thoughts bring positive or negative experiences into a person's life. The belief is based on the ideas that people and their thoughts are made from "pure energy", and that a process of like energy attracting like energy exists through which a person can improve their health, wealth, and personal relationships."Wikipedia It’s the thought of attracting “good” things into your life by focusing on positive thoughts and visualizing the related emotions and feelings. In other words, the more I “think” or “focus” on a certain outcome the more I will receive it. This “New Thought” philosophy apparently became popular through the documentary movie “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne in 2006. At first glance, it doesn't sound too different from a Christian faith doctrine. Let's look at it in more detail... A Comparison Of The Law Of Attraction VS Faith Let’s compare the Law of Attraction against the commonly understood Christian faith. When applying the LOA, one focuses on the desired outcome, positively thinking or “believing” that it would manifest. I have read online: “When you ask or desire for something, and believe in your mind that you can have it, then you activate a strong current of attraction which will draw you towards its manifestation." Reading this God seems to only play a secondary role. The source of the manifestation can be called “universe”, or God, or even having no name at all. In essence, it comes out of “yourself”. I have read supposed Christians write that this is the essence of the faith Jesus teaches us. But isn’t faith in the Bible more than “believing” very strongly in the desired something to make your health, wealth, and life better? Shouldn’t faith be a deep trust in a person, called Jesus and His redemptive work on the cross? Jesus And A Proof Of The Law Of Attraction In The Bible Why don’t we look at what Jesus and the Bible tell us? I am going to use Scriptures that are commonly quoted to exemplify the Law of Attraction in the Bible. Let’s start with Matthew 21:22. "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”Matthew 12:22 Notice in this verse that Jesus says, “whatever you ask in prayer”. He didn’t say, “whatever you think of”, or “whatever you desire”. No, he says, "whatever you pray", whatever you ask God. It is about acknowledging that we can’t do anything spiritually out of our own self in the flesh. We have to rely on GOD and His help. Btw, prayer is not “thinking” about something. It is actually talking to a real person, not the universe. It’s talking to a very real God who is all-powerful, almighty, and who created the universe! Is There A Connection Of Mark 11:24 And The Law Of Attraction? This is the parallel verse and was actually the verse that got me started on this rabbit trail. "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."Mark 11:24 To ask God and to trust him for something or someone is okay and biblical. But it has to come out of humility, trust in God, and selflessness. Whatever God wants to give you, he wants to use it to build His kingdom, to save, heal, deliver, and restore people! Practicing the Law of Attraction does not include asking God It’s a practice that in pride and selfish desire and roots in the New Age philosophy. Pride, because it's Man trying to obtain things in his own strength. It’s about attracting "good things" into your life by imagining and visualizing specific desires that help you and not necessarily build the kingdom of God. The Bible says in Ephesians 3:20 that God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”. This power in us is God himself, the Holy Spirit. Is There A Connection Of Luke 17:21 And The Law Of Attraction? The next scripture in Luke 17:21 read out of context sounds very much like a statement of The Law of Attraction. Being able to draw something out of ourselves because the kingdom of God is within us. "nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”Luke 17:21 Well, the context describes the Pharisees asking Jesus right after He performed a miracle about the coming of the kingdom of God. Notice here the word for "within" (ἐντός) can also be translated as “in your midst”. This here is like other situations where Jesus tried to tell them something like, “guys, you see the kingdom of God manifested every time God moves through signs, wonders, and miracles.” You can reference this with Luke 11:20 and Matthew 12:28 both talking about performing miracles to help others and not to gain your own selfish desire as the LOA encourages. The full gospel of the Christian faith is not about visualizing what you want, but about seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness first. In none of the teachings about the Law of Attraction that refer to the Bible also, you can hear about denying yourself and picking up your cross. It is always the opposite of what Jesus taught and what the whole Bible is actually about. It is never really about serving God but always about serving yourself, reaching YOUR own goals and desires. Its exalting self and man over God and His Holy Spirit. Is There A Connection Of John 10:30 And The LOA? In John 10:30 we read: "I and My Father are one.”John 10:30 This is about Jesus being one with God, the father, in heaven. Which then in connection to John 17:21 is likely to be used as us being one with the source. I really have to question this: What source? The universe? Some higher power? Some positive thinking energy? Becoming one with God means less of us, and more of Him (John 3:30). Is There A Connection Of Mark 9:23 And The LOA? Mark 9:23 is a tricky scripture taken to connect the Law of Attraction to Jesus' teachings in the Bible. Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”Mark 9:23 When researching on the web I found this quote referring to this scripture: "The only way to strengthen your self belief is to identify and discard all negative beliefs that limit you. This can be achieved by becoming conscious of your thoughts through practices like meditation and mindfulness.”LOA Blog Post When wanting to strengthen your self-belief, why not trust fully in God and His Holy Spirit who is our helper? Why do we have to become “conscious” of our thoughts? The Bible tells us to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”. Obedience! That means being obedient to God. Following Jesus. Doing spiritual warfare on our “negative thoughts”. Yes, of course, it's okay to reflect on things, as in recognizing what “bad” thoughts there might be, which, btw, are given by the enemy. But then we have to bind them and cast them out (2 Cor 10:1-6)! When you become “conscious” meaning aware of negative thoughts, then replace them with God’s Word, which is Jesus, who is the truth. And we know ONLY the truth will set us free (John 8:32). Not some mindfulness focusing on a new villa, more money, or a sexier partner... Let me boil it down: What is the real difference now? The difference is the mindset. Asking God for bigger things and having a big vision is absolutely okay. I believe we are even encouraged to do so. But does it come out of selfishness for your own gain? Or is it to advance the kingdom of God in humility and boldness? We ought to stand in authority and in the name of Jesus doing spiritual warfare against anything (spiritually) that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We ought to speak to the spiritual mountains, the obstacles of life, in Jesus' name. And then we ought to release the blessing of God, which will always produce true growth for the kingdom of God. But what if I don't want anything physical, but only want to renew my mind? Doesn't the Bible encourage us to renew our minds that way? One last scripture... Is There A Connection Of Romans 12:1-2 And The LOA? Let's look at Romans 12:1-2... "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."Romans 12:1-2 Again, the LOA is about “renewing” your mind to obtain your desires. But as followers of Jesus, we ought to surrender and sacrifice our life 100% to God. We are not to be conformed to the practices of this world. But we are to renew our mind with His Spirit and His truth, the Word of God so that we know the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. And sorry to burst your bubble: For us to have a certain income is not on God’s top 10 list... The essence of the gospel is to desire and love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5; Luke 10:27). We ought to delight ourselves in God, and then HE will give us what we need and want (Psalm 37:4). In all we want, have, and will receive we don’t deserve anything. It’s by His grace that we live and breathe and have our being. And if you want to grow in your faith I have put together 6 tips on how to become more hungry for God. Conclusion Is the Law of Attraction biblical? No, it is not! The Law of Attraction focuses on attracting and ultimately manifesting selfish desires by strongly believing in your mind that you can obtain these things. It's about becoming a greater, better, faster, stronger, wealthier self. The Bible and the Gospel, on the other hand, are both about selflessness, following Christ, loving him with everything we are, manifesting the kingdom of God here on earth, and desiring what God has for your life. No the Law of Attraction is not in the Bible.