Why Many Christians Are Leary of the Law of Attraction
Just mention the Law of Attraction to a group of, how you say, conservative Christians and you’re bound to get a passionate reaction. The term conjures up New Thought giants from the early 20th century, inspired men such as Napoleon Hill, Wallace Wattles, and James Allen who, were they alive today, mostly likely would not define themselves as evangelical Christians.
In short, the Law of Attraction proclaims “like attracts like” — that if we think negative thoughts, we’ll bring about negative results. If we focus on the positive, however, and truly believe in the object of our desire, then positive results shall ensue. The belief, as I understand it, is based on the idea that people and thoughts are made from pure energy which seems to beg the question: Where is Christ in this equation? If we can just think something into existence, why pray? Why develop a relationship with Jesus? The Law of Attraction appears to put a heavy emphasis on energy and thought and, at first blush, little to no emphasis on traditional tenets of the Christian faith. So… should we evangelicals pitch the whole thing?
What Christians Can Learn from the Law of Attraction
We would be foolish to do so. Let me give you a personal example.
My dad was the eternal optimist; my mother not so much. Truth be told, my mother, until she became a Christian late in life, was one of the most pessimistic people I’ve ever met. The more she complained, the worse life became for her (and me). I grew up with a clear understanding of “like attracts like” and made a conscious decision to choose to see the positive even in negative situations. The alternative was not pretty.
I think my dad and Mr. Rogers’ mother grew up in similar neighborhoods. As the horrors of the Boston massacre unfolded last week, and people struggled to explain what was going on to their kids, Huff Post printed this quote from The Mister Rogers Parenting Book.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” ~Fred Rogers
And so we do. If we look for the good, we will see the good. We will attract the good. We will bring about the good. If we get caught up in fear and doubt and self-flagellation, however… we will repel everybody.
How Christian Business Owners Can Apply the Law of Attraction
You wouldn’t be in business if you didn’t have a service or a product to offer. Agreed?
You won’t be in business long if you don’t have clients and customers.
Your first step is to get crystal clear on who you are, whom you serve, and how you serve them.
Your second step is to prepare your message, that is, what you communicate to your prospective clients and customers, in such a way that your written and spoken words attract those whom you’re meant to serve.
[If I wanted to work with 20 something male mechanics who’d rather eat dirt than read a blog post on faith and the Law of Attraction, believe you me. I wouldn’t be writing this message!]
Your third step is to gain confidence and reflect your Christ-centered confidence in the marketplace. To attract your ideal client and customer, you have to believe–even just a little at first–that with the Lord’s help you are fully equipped to serve them well.
Sounding rather like the Law of Attraction, don’t you think?
- Exude the energy of “I gotta get a client to pay the bills,” and people will go running.
- Exude the energy of “I don’t know what I’m worth,” and you won’t even be able to ask for the sale.
- Exude the energy of “I’m not sure if I can deliver these goods or services,” and you’ll offer them at a reduced rate–maybe even free.
If we think negative thoughts, we’ll bring about negative results. Period.
So… where is God in the equation?
God created everything, including the Universal Laws, including the Law of Attraction. We must carefully and regularly examine Scripture, however, to ensure that our understanding of His laws is correct.
And we must pray for guidance. As Jehoshaphat King of Judah admonished Ahab King of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.” (I Kings 22:5) In everything. For everything. Including help in discerning our ideal client. Including help with how to attract the people we’re meant to serve. Including help with paying the bills and crafting our products and services.
“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” ~Philippians 4:6
And by all means, we must focus on giving… not getting. If you’re all caught up in “getting clients now,” your fears and doubts will overtake you. Focus instead on giving… through your articles and speeches and complimentary info products and blog posts… and your business will flourish in due time.
“Give and it will be given unto you.” ~Luke: 6:38
Sounds a lot like the Law of Attraction to me!
Before you go, take a few more minutes to read my post “Who Am I?” Self Reflection Helps Us Serve Others With Excellence. I firmly believe that the better we know ourselves, the better we’ll attract our ideal clients and customers and fill our practice with clients we love.
As Christian business owners, there is much we can learn from the Law of Attraction. Agree? Disagree? Please share your views in the comment box below.
To your success!
Jory,
The reason I pray and seek God’s guidance in my business through the Holy Spirit is because I want to attract God’s best for my clients. I become more Christ-like as I pray and in joyful obedience follow God’s business plan.
Whom would I want to be more “like” than Christ?
“Like attracts like” is a principle woven into the tapestry of the universe by our Creator. As with all such matters, we can work with God’s divine design or misappropriate it.
Thanks for your stimulating words. They attracted me…
Dr. Joey, how insightful! You are certainly doing your part in carrying out God’s work here on earth. I’m honored to be on the journey with you.
Warmly in Christ,
Jory
Wow. Great Post Jory!
I really appreciated these questions: “The belief, as I understand it, is based on the idea that people and thoughts are made from pure energy which seems to beg the question: Where is Christ in this equation? If we can just think something into existence, why pray? Why develop a relationship with Jesus?”
The fact of the matter is that those who do not desire a relationship with Jesus, or have a desire to pray to the Creator, must explain supernatural phenomena, and energy becomes the word of choice.
anyway, back to the subject at hand. I believe that God created us to belong. To clan. To love order and organization. To value relationships with those whose convictions, beliefs and values are shared with us.
Because of this innate makeup, we are attracted to be with people like that. People that believe like us and share the same convictions.
So, what I think you are saying in this post, correct me if I’m wrong, is that we as internet marketers should be willing to say who we are and and share confidently what we stand for and believe in. This will not push folks away, but will rather draw them towards us.
… And in the case of business, folks buy from those whom they know, like and trust. Therefore, what a better way to help others know us, like us, and trust us, than by being who we are… and teaching what we believe… and that online.
I’m done,
Great post
Martin
from http://www.vinotecsolutions.com
Martin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amen, bro. Ya dun good. Given that we were naturally drawn to each other, though we’ve never met in person, I think you and I are a perfect example of “that of which you speak.”
Along with a gazillion Scripture verses related to living our faith out loud (and at times using words…), your points inspire us to reflect who we are at our core online, offline… everywhere!
Thank you for taking the time to reflect on this post and your response. I look forward to further engagement!
Jory
Jory, interesting post. I agree whole heartedly with your premise that we should do all that we do in a manner becoming to our faith. How do you react to some who ‘trade’ on their faith, that is, promote that we should do business with them ‘because I’m a Christian’? Seems to me that the value we deliver should be apparent without our ‘preselling’ our faith!
Sadly, for my husband, seeing a “fish” on the back of a truck or in a phone book ad makes him run the other way. He’s been disappointed by people who “trade on their faith,” as you say, then don’t deliver high value. Not a good testimony, is it?
I try not to concern myself with other people’s motives as it is nothing but speculation and usually wrong. It could be that the “target market” of the business owners you describe is fellow Christians. In drawing attention to their (our) faith, just like the truck driver who sports a bumper sticker “How’s my driving?,” they (we) have a responsibility to comport themselves (ourselves) to a high standard. Should we be doing so anyway??? Absolutely. I couldn’t agree with you more.
Thank you for your insight, Rachel.
Warmly,
Jory
Jory, I’m with your husband regarding the fish. I may run the other way, but I definitely put on my critical thinking cap. I’ve even seen LinkedIn posts arguing that we have an obligation to support businesses because they are run by Christians.
Good post! I don’t know the “ins and outs” of the Law of Attraction, but what you wrote makes sense to me=)
Hey Renee! Good to see you over here! I just told my husband what you said, and he chuckled. This would be a good poll question, don’t you think?
Come back often!
Warmly,
Jory
Jory – good article. Too many Christians throw the baby out with the bath water. Jesus designed and created everything, including the laws of attraction. Like money it can be used for God’s Glory – or Not. Humans (including Christians) tend to fear what they don’t understand -and build their defenses accordingly.
True that, Curt. True that. Thank you for your comment. I know you are well-versed in this topic! I look forward to having you back on Heart & Soul for Women of Faith.
Jory
One of your best blogs Jory! Thanks…yep, I agree, “…as a man thinks in his heart, so is he…” He thinks negative thoughts and then reflects those negative thoughts in his life. “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to myself…” We just need to lift up Christ and He will do the drawing (attracting) of men to Himself and thus to us. It’s not a hard sell – gospel, these days, it’s a loving attraction of the gospel. This goes hand in hand with the video I shared today in CBS-Marketing. Nice!
Keen insight, Bill. “It’s a loving attraction of the Gospel.” Beating people over the head with the Bible will only send them running. Chasing after people with our products and services will only repel them. I often think of evangelism and marketing as being so very similar. Getting more and more comfortable with one helps us become more and more comfortable with the other.
Thank you for taking time to read and comment.
Jory
Hey Jory! Must confess I’ve been on the other side of the fence because most of the stuff I’ve seen/heard on laws of attraction are filled with a bunch of feel-good ethereal jargon with no substance and certainly NO JESUS.
After reading your post I get the concept and (as with so many other issue) it may come done to words. Semantics.
Everything you shared is on the mark in my humble estimation. Thanks for boldly posting about something that can cause controversy. (We may have to do a sement on my show about this together!)
Diane, thank you!!! Guess what. My next guest on Heart & Soul wrote a book entitled “Jesus and The Secret”! You’ll have to listen to Beth Misner and possibly have her on YOUR show!
Oh yes. It’s controversial alright. That’s why I just HAD to put my toe in the water! lol
Keep on keepin’ on, Diane. Love your faithfulness to your family and work.
Hugs,
Jory