John MacArthur: Becoming a Better You?

As mentioned earlier, the presentation provided a thorough, insightful, and pragmatic overview of the situation—helpful, big-picture, and with a bird’s-eye view of the matter. Now, I have been tasked with offering a different perspective—the “worm’s eye view,” as it were. My assignment involves delving deeper into the details, focusing on one person, and even getting into the gritty aspects of the situation. While I’m not entirely sure why I’ve been given this role, by the time I finish this introduction, you may feel like you need to cleanse yourself, metaphorically, due to some of the harsh truths that may come up.

I completely agree with Michael Horton’s analysis; it’s an accurate reflection of the situation, rooted in historical context, with no major surprises—it’s the same issues we’ve been grappling with, though in America, we’ve turned them into an art form. We all understand this concept, and we’ve received a broad understanding that this is a pervasive element in church life.

This issue can be observed generally, but it can also be seen in more specific examples. Over the years, I’ve had individuals come up to me and share how profoundly their spiritual lives were transformed after reading The Secret, a book by Rhonda Byrne. You’ve probably seen it in airport bookstores. It has sold millions of copies and continues to do so, with sales reaching 150,000 copies per month at its peak.

The Secret is built on Eastern pantheism, claiming that all things are interconnected—that we are one with the universe. It promotes the idea that we, as individuals, are the light, the “I am,” and even God. This concept shares similarities with Eckhart Tolle’s ideas. The book’s appeal lies in its message that within each of us is the energy and power to manifest our desires and create the life we want.

Interestingly, The Secret is now available in Christian bookstores, although if it’s not stocked, they’re likely willing to order it for you. But there’s another book that might be just as popular: The Shack. I’ve had long-time Christians, some of whom have been believers for decades, tell me how they felt spiritually uplifted after reading The Shack. For example, one person recently shared their enthusiasm for it during dinner, which, honestly, ruined my meal. The Shack is another bestseller, written by William Young, and has inspired several related books on the subject of finding God within its pages.

Once again, the message is about the power within us to create our reality. By speaking our desires into existence, we supposedly hold the key to manifesting the world we envision—one that fulfills our needs, desires, and aspirations.

There are, however, some issues with The Shack that raise concerns. First, the portrayal of God in the book is troubling. For one, God is depicted as an obese African American woman, which is an odd choice. But beyond that, the central issue is the concept of the “Law of Attraction.” The idea is that our thoughts and words control the universe, and by speaking something into existence, we attract the desired outcome.

According to this philosophy, the universe operates on the law of attraction. By voicing your intentions, you are said to have the power to shape your reality. The steps to manifesting this power are simple:

Know what you want.
Believe you will receive it—this is crucial, as faith in yourself is considered the key to achieving your desires.
Visualize the experience of fulfillment as if it has already happened.
Speak your desires aloud, thus unleashing the power to attract your reality.

In The Secret, one quote stands out: “It works every time and for every person… Just place your order, and it is yours.” You might wonder how anyone could believe such an idea—that our thoughts and words could literally shape reality. But this is the message that many are buying into.

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