What is the Law of Attraction? Is it Biblical?

What is the Law of Attraction? Is the Law of Attraction a lie? Is it Biblical and why has it infiltrated the modern day church?
The Law of Attraction also known as “new thought” is the philosophy and concept that humans have a special connection or relationship with the universe to the extent that the universe is able to respond to our thoughts and words, whether those thoughts and words be negative or positive.
It is the belief that humans can attract negative or positive energy or circumstances into existence by their thoughts and by the words they speak. In other words: “like attracts like”.
For example, if we speak positive words and have positive thoughts, then the universe will respond by giving us positive results. However, if we speak negative words and have negative thoughts, then the universe will respond by giving us negative results.
The Law of Attraction concept is interchangeably used with other terms such as “positive confessions”, “positive affirmations”, “name it and claim it”, “making declarations”, “karma” or “visualization”.

Therefore the Law of Attraction claims that as humans we are able to create our own reality of what we want and what we desire by practicing various New Thought techniques including the principles of speaking positive words and having positive thoughts which are in sync with our specific desires or dreams or wants.
So according supporters of the Law of Attraction – anyone who diligently practices its new thought concepts can become whoever they want to be; they can have whatever they dream of having; they can accomplish whatever they want and they can create whatever reality of life they desire.

However, is the Law of Attraction supported by the Bible or is the Law of Attraction a subtle deception?
The Law of Attraction has its roots and history embedded in occultism, the New Age movement and also Buddhism.
The term “Law of Attraction” first appeared in a book written by Russian occultist Helena Blavatsky in 1877 in a book called Isis Unveiled.
So the new thought techniques and principles that are defined as the “Law of Attraction” are mostly rooted in occultism and witchcraft or New Age philosophies.
The Law of Attraction concepts and principles come from channeled demonic spirits. Well-known New Age occult authors such as Helena Blavatsky and Alice Bailey both have written books whilst influenced or inspired by demonic spirits.
Even Adolf Hitler himself was known for adopting Helena Blavatsky’s occult teachings and Law of Attraction principles into Nazism.

Like many deceptive concepts and doctrines, the Law of Attraction is a philosophy that may contain some few elements of truth. However – the overall concept, the techniques, the origins and the principles of the Law of Attraction are unbiblical and very dangerous.

The Law of Attraction concepts and teachings are so popular that they have infiltrated many churches around the world. The Law of Attraction has infiltrated the modern church through many false teachers who belong to the prosperity gospel movement, the Word of Faith Movement and the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation).

Besides the teachings being prominent within the New Age and occult, Law of Attraction concepts are very popular and are consistently taught by many life coaches and motivational speakers around the world.

Part of the reason why the Law of Attraction gained popularity was through the book and documentary called The Secret. The Law of Attraction has also been promoted by many famous people such as Oprah Winfrey and preachers such as Joel Osteen and many others.
So the Law of Attraction concept does not only appeal to unbelievers and the occult – but for several decades its concepts and teachings have managed to slowly infiltrate within deceived churches and religious groups.

The objectives of the Law of Attraction teachings as taught by the New Age and occult world are very similar to the objectives which are taught by the Word of Faith and prosperity gospel movement.

These Law of Attraction objectives are as follows:
1. Attract money, wealth and influence or power using The Law of Attraction
2. Attract success and abundance with The Law of Attraction
3. Improve your mental and physical health using the Law of Attraction
4. Attract mutually beneficial relationships in order to grow and maintain your success and wealth.

Law of Attraction principles and techniques always appeal to the fleshly desires of men. The Law of Attraction principles always appeal to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life / or pride in possessions (1 John 2:16).

The underlying teaching of the Law of Attraction is that you can get whatever you want and attract all the material prosperity you want, if you diligently practice its concepts and principles.

This is why many New Age philosophies are compatible with the false doctrines of the Word of Faith and prosperity gospel movements. Law of Attraction objectives and principles have nothing to do with the Gospel or with encouraging a genuine relationship with God – but instead it is used as a vehicle for one to simply attempt to get whatever their flesh desires without considering the divine will or sovereignty of God.

So this new thought philosophy and its concepts are popular among both the secular or occult groups as well as false or deceived pseudo-Christian groups.

 

5 Reasons Why The Law of Attraction is a Deception

1. The Law of Attraction versus the Life & Experiences of Jesus Christ

If the Law of Attraction principles are Biblical or true, then it would be important to test their “like attracts like” concepts against the most perfect Person who ever walked the earth – Jesus Christ.
Jesus was perfect in all He did. Christ was without sin or blame or fault. Everything Christ did in word or deed was completely perfect and flawless.

So if Jesus who was perfect in His words, actions and thoughts then some obvious questions must be posed to Law of Attraction believers:

a) Did Jesus who was perfect in every sense experience karma or fail to apply the principles of the Law of Attraction during His ministry? He was continuously ridiculed and persecuted to the extent of being crucified on the Cross, yet He was without sin in His speech, thoughts and deeds. If “like attracts like” as the Law of Attraction teaches, why did such a perfect Man like Jesus attract such “negativity” during His ministry?

b) By Law of Attraction standards, Jesus would be considered poor, or as someone who was “attracting” poverty in His life. He did not own His own home (Matthew 8:19-20); He mostly relied on the generosity and hospitality of others; He owned no material possessions – the only thing He owned were the clothes He wore which soldiers gambled for upon His death; His friends abandoned Him when He was crucified; The tomb He was buried in was borrowed. Did Jesus who was perfect in every sense fail to apply the principles of the Law of Attraction when He lived and experienced this kind of life? Did Jesus attract a lifestyle of poverty by His speech and thoughts? Could Jesus not have simply spoken wealth and material possessions into existence? 

c) Jesus spoke many words that would be considered “negative” by many Law of Attraction believers and proponents. He said that in this world there will be tribulation (John 16:33); He said He did not come to bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:34); He said that He came to cause enmity among family members (Matthew 10:35); He spoke about hell, repentance and the consequences of sin. He called people a “brood of vipers” ; He had no credentials except for Himself but yet He was despised and then crucified for all these things. Did Jesus speak “negative confessions” or “negative affirmations” about life when He said such things and many more?

So against a perfect Man, who had perfect thoughts, perfect speech and perfect deeds – the Law of Attraction teachings and principles fail completely.

Even when these new thought principles are compared with the lives of such people as the prophets, the apostles and many genuine Christians throughout Scripture and history, the concepts of the Law of Attraction can be proved to be unbiblical and dangerous.
If the Law of Attraction were true then many Christians throughout the Bible and in history would not have been martyred or persecuted for their faith.
Most proponents of the Law of Attraction do not believe that people or Christians should suffer. They falsely believe that people who experience tribulation and hardships in life, attract such circumstances by “confessing” negative thoughts and negative words.

 

2. The Law of Attraction Teaches That You Are Just Like God

The concept of the Law of Attraction promotes the oldest and most ancient lie that was given to Adam and Eve by the devil – It’s the lie that man can be just like God (Genesis 3:5).
For example, the Word of Faith movement promotes the Law of Attraction by teaching that humans are “little gods” and they additionally claim that just as God spoke things into existence – then man too can also speak or create things into existence.
The Word of Faith movement believes and teaches that we are all our own gods. They claim that a person can change the weather, perform supernatural acts or attract health and wealth by applying various Law of Attraction techniques.
So the deception of the Law of Attraction and the Word of Faith movement is that man can rise above being a mere mortal. He ascends to a realm where he has godlike abilities through the power of his mind and the power of his tongue.
Similarly and ironically, even the New Age and occult movement has the same views as the Word of Faith movement regarding the little gods doctrine. They teach that man can be just like God, and the pantheistic view that everyone and everything is “god” or can become a god. They teach that you can ascend to godlike status and abilities if you practice the Law of Attraction.
So the idea that man can change reality by his words, or control the weather, or create something from nothing – it all appeals to the fallen flesh of sinful men which began in the garden of Eden when satan lied that man can be just like God.
However, the Bible is clear that only God can create something from nothing (Romans 4:17; Genesis 1:1-31). Only God alone has the power to change reality. If man could do what the Law of Attraction claims can be done by our thoughts and words – then the world would be full of superhumans or “superheroes”.

 

3. The Law of Attraction Is About Achieving the Will of Man and Not the Will of God

Because of the Law of Attraction, God takes a backseat and man is exalted above God. For example, many who belong to the Word of Faith movement will make such claims like: “God cannot do anything without your permission.”
Within the deceived church, the Law of Attraction is a concept where man uses God to get what he wants through applying Law of Attraction concepts and mantras. So God becomes the servant and man is the master.
The Law of Attraction does not promote submission to the will of God. Instead it promotes human pride and the desire for man’s personal and self-ambitious goals to be fulfilled above the will of God.
In its original and extreme form, the Law of Attraction submits to a different “god” in the form of the universe or “spiritual energy” or man himself.
In its original and extreme form, the Law of Attraction teachings have no need of the true God, because man has replaced God. Therefore if man is capable of calling all things into existence, then why would he still need God, and why would he need to pray?

So the core objective of the Law of Attraction is for man to get what he wants and not necessarily what God wants. This concept appeals to the fleshly desires of our human nature.
Many books such as The Secret, Think & Grow Rich and others which promote the Law of Attraction encourage the pursuit of money as a god and that if you do not have it – then something is wrong with you.
Jesus taught that life does not consist in the abundance of things (Luke 12:15). Jesus taught that our pursuit should be to ultimately seek God first and to seek the treasures that are above and not on the earth (Matthew 6:19-21).
The Bible has consistently taught that the pursuit and the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10).

Furthermore, when we pray, we do not pray for our own will to be done. Instead we must pray for God’s will to be done, which is something the Word of Faith movement and Law of Attraction believers do not like to hear (Matthew 6:10; Luke 22:42; 1 John 5:14)
So the Law of Attraction and its objectives have nothing to do with pursuing the will and heart of God – instead it is all about pursuing the deep desires of man’s will and wants.

 

4. The Law of Attraction Redefines Terms or Words

One of the clear signs that deception is taking place is when words, terms or phrases in the Scriptures are redefined from their original or intended meanings.
Both the New Age movement and the Word of Faith movement have redefined the words “faith” or “belief”. They have also redefined words such as “prosperity” and aligned it with the world’s definition instead of the Biblical definition.
The Word of Faith movement has also misinterpreted scriptures such as Mark 11:24, Matthew 7:7-11 and Proverbs 18:21 as scriptures which supposedly support the occult principles of the Law of Attraction.
According to the Word of Faith movement, faith is a “force” that can work to help you achieve whatever you so desire by speaking the “correct” or “positive” words. Hence why the movement is called “Word of Faith / Word-Faith”.
The emphasis of the movement is on their misuse or misunderstanding of Biblical faith. The Word of Faith movement has faith in their own faith and not necessarily faith in the true God. They believe that if one conjures up enough of the “faith force”, combined by speaking “positive” words, then God has no choice but to do what they want Him to do.
So Word of Faith theology does not practically acknowledge the sovereignty of God and nor does it teach one to submit to the sovereign will of God.
Instead the deception of Word of Faith theology is that one can use faith as a means to control God and to use Him to get what you want.
However, the god of the Word of Faith movement is a “god” who submits to man and has no sovereignty. The god of the Word of Faith movement is not the true God of the Bible.

The Word of Faith concept of faith as a “force” is very similar to the view of many New Agers where faith is applied towards the universe as being a force or spiritual energy.

Biblical faith is when we believe in what God says in His word whether what is said by God appears to be “negative” or “positive”. Faith comes by hearing and trusting in God’s word (Romans 10:17).

However, Law of Attraction believers create their own reality of what is negative and what is positive. They create their own reality of what is true and what is wrong. So they have redefined what they term to be “positive” or “negative”.

For example, with both New Age and Word of Faith concepts of the Law of Attraction – a person is not allowed to affirm things which are true but negative.
For example, if you are sick – you are not allowed to admit that you’re sick or else you are “attracting” sickness in your life. Therefore admitting the reality of your sickness with your words is deemed to be “negative”.
If you do not have money or if you’re broke, you should not verbally admit the reality that you do not have money or else you are “attracting” poverty in your life.
Even one’s associations is dictated by the Law of Attraction. So it is claimed that if one associates with a poor person, then he  might “attract” poverty in his life, but if he wants to be a millionaire then he needs to associate with the rich or like-minded people who are in pursuit of money.
So according to the Law of Attraction and Word of Faith believers – if a person dies from a sickness, it’s because he did not have or “attract” enough faith to get healed.
Or if a person is financially struggling, it’s because he has been “attracting” poverty in his life or has not been properly applying the Law of Attraction principles.

So by redefining terms, unbiblical perceptions sets in. The Bible teaches us to rightly divide the word of truth and not redefine its originally intended meanings (2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 1:20).

 

5. The Law of Attraction is Full of False Promises & False Prophecies

Naturally, nobody likes to hear bad news or negative news. However, if information is negative, it does not mean that the information is not true.
So not all things that are true can be defined as being “positive”.
The Biblical principle and outlook of how we should view life is that we should discern life in relation to True versus False instead of “negative” versus “positive”.
Viewing issues from the perspective of what’s true and what’s false is very different from the perspective of what’s “positive” and what’s “negative”.

In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah was tasked by God to present bad or negative news to the Jews (Jeremiah 1:12-19). It was news of coming judgment and disaster upon the people of God because of their sins.
The negative news which God told Jeremiah to proclaim may have been negative but it was true. In fact, God even told Jeremiah that the people would fight him because of the news (Jeremiah 1:19).

So no amount of “positive confession” mantras or positive thinking was going to change God’s sovereign plans.
However, despite Jeremiah proclaiming judgment according to the word of the Lord – there arose some false prophets who preached something “positive” to counter the message that was given to Jeremiah by God.
The false prophets proclaimed a “positive” message of “peace and prosperity” when peace was not coming (Jeremiah 8:10-11). Their message of “positivity” was not true because it did not agree with God’s specific plans or God’s specific word.

Jeremiah 23:16-17 says: Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.'”

Jeremiah’s example is just but a few examples where God’s true prophets always clashed with false prophets.

So in their attempt to redefine reality, the Word of Faith movement and Law of Attraction proponents proclaim false promises and false prophecies which oppose the sovereign plans and will of God.
The use of Law of Attraction principles and concepts is not for the pursuit of truth – but it is for the pursuit of personal gain.
The Law of Attraction does not encourage the pursuit of God, but it encourages the pursuit of man’s own self-ambitious desires.

Many who have attempted to follow the Law of Attraction principles have experienced false hopes, false visions and the effects of believing false prophesies either from the occult or from the Word of Faith and NAR movement.

 

Conclusion

The Law of Attraction is popular because of its emphasis on health and wealth – a common objective of the prosperity gospel movement, the Word of Faith & NAR movement . It is similarly a common objective of many in the occult who subscribe to the teachings of the New Age movement.
The Law of Attraction concepts deceive its believers into thinking that they can become just like God. The concepts deceive people into attempting to reduce the sovereignty and role of God in one’s life.
Overall – the Law of Attraction pollutes the mind and distorts the true character and nature of God. It leads people into idolatry. The Law of Attraction is a lie and a dangerous deception.
Because of the Law of Attraction – man learns to exalts himself and his abilities and eventually lacks humility but becomes clothed with narcissism and pride. He becomes his own god.

God does not prohibit us from thinking “positively” as long as it is aligned with God’s truth and not our own carnal will. Our every thoughts must be governed by the word of God and the desire to exalt Jesus Christ and not the philosophies of man or the pursuit of personal worldly pleasures.

In contrast to the Law of Attraction – our thoughts and meditations should ultimately honour Jesus Christ. Our method of thinking should ultimately reflect the character and nature of Jesus Christ. Our thinking should be in obedience to the written word of God. True Biblical thinking will always point us to Jesus Christ and a life that genuinely pleases God.

2 Corinthians 10:5 says: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Colossians 2:8 says: See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Philippians 2:5-8 says: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Christ-like thinking is not just “positive” for the sake of being positive and nor is it “negative” for the sake of being negative.
Christ-like thinking aligns with the truth of God’s word which has been rightly divided with the intention of glorifying God.
Christ-like thinking leads us to humility and to obedience to God even if the results or consequences of obedience might be negative.
The life of Jesus Christ was lived perfectly and without sin in word or deed – but yet He experienced or attracted all kinds of negativity from people around Him, to the point of death on the Cross.
His death though negative at the time, was meant for good in that it ultimately led to the opportunity that many people can be saved through placing their trust and faith in Him (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Our understanding of what is positive or negative is ultimately relative – but God’s truth is always absolute.

We must therefore beware of the false teachings of the Law of Attraction.