Does the Christian worldview provide a

place for the law of attraction? An

Apologetic study

D.J. Maritz

21683514

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements

for the degree Magister Theologiae in Missiology at the
Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University

Supervisor: Prof dr H.G. Stoker

May 2016
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The first One I want to thank is my heavenly Father. Apart from giving me health, strength and
everything I needed to complete this study, He gave me eternal life through His only beloved
Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord.

I want to thank my supervisor, Professor Henk Stoker for all his time, advice, insights and
patient guidance. He dedicated lots of his time and effort to the production of this document.
Apart from his intellectual input, I would like to thank him for his valuable friendship and
mentorship for the most part of my life.

I am very grateful to my father and mother for their prayers and support during all my years of
study, especially this one. Thank you for always taking an interest in my research, but above all,
thank you for all your loving care as parents.

Heartfelt thanks to my dear fiancé, Ansie Kriel. Thank you for your prayers, loving support and
encouragement. I am grateful for your efforts to help me think about this study and to reflect on
it – it means an awful lot. Lots of love.

I give thanks to my brother, Theunis Maritz, for your prayers and support. Thank you for always
colouring the hard study atmosphere with your gleam of humour.

My language editor, Susan Swanepoel, attended to the language quality of this document.
Thank you very much, Susan.

I say thanks to all my friends who, without always knowing it, encouraged and supported me in
one way or another.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... I

SECTION A: RESEARCH PROPOSAL ................................................................................... IV

1. Proposed title................................................................................................... iv

2. Abstract ............................................................................................................ iv

3. Background ...................................................................................................... v

4. Problem statement ......................................................................................... vii

5. Aim ................................................................................................................. viii

6. Objectives ...................................................................................................... viii

7. The central theoretical argument ................................................................... ix

8. Methodology .................................................................................................... ix

9. Concept clarification ....................................................................................... ix

SECTION B: ARTICLE ........................................................................................................... XII

ABSTRACT… ......................................................................................................................... XII

OPSOMMING… ...................................................................................................................... XII

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1

2. PRELIMINARY ISSUES REGARDING THE LAW OF ATTRACTION................ 3

2.1. What is the law of attraction? .......................................................................... 3

2.2. How does the law of attraction work according to its proponents ............... 3

2.3. The origin of the idea of a spiritual law of attraction ..................................... 6

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3. THE NEW AGE WORLDVIEW AND THE LAW OF ATTRACTION ................... 9

4. THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE LAW OF ATTRACTION AND

POSITIVE CONFESSION................................................................................. 12

5. PREACHING THE LAW OF ATTRACTION: IS IT BIBLICAL? ........................ 16

5.1. The issue at hand ........................................................................................... 16

5.2. A broad outline of Boshoff’s sermons on the law of attraction .................. 16

5.3. Evaluating Boshoff’s use of Scripture .......................................................... 19

5.3.1. Do Proverbs 4:23 and 23:7 support the law of attraction? ................................. 19

5.3.2. Does Matthew 12:33-35 support the law of attraction? ..................................... 21

5.3.3. Did Joseph use the law of attraction? ............................................................... 23

5.4. Evaluation of the doctrinal implications of the law of attraction................. 24

5.4.1. The dethronement of God ................................................................................. 24

5.4.2. The enthronement of man ................................................................................ 26

5.4.3. God’s all-encompassing providence and the question of suffering .................... 28

5.4.4. Evaluating the worldview behind the law of attraction ....................................... 30

6. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................. 32

SECTION C: CONCLUSION ................................................................................................... 34

BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................... 36

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SECTION A: RESEARCH PROPOSAL

1. Proposed title

Does the Christian worldview provide a place for the law of attraction?

An Apologetic study.

Keywords: Law of attraction; Positive confession; New Age movement; New Thought
movement; Word of Faith movement; Prosperity gospel; Charismatic churches; Christian
worldview.

Sleutelwoorde: Wet van aantrekking; Positiewe belydenis; New Age-beweging; New Thought-
beweging; Word of Faith-beweging; Voorspoedsteologie; Welvaartsteologie; Charismatiese
kerke; Christelike wêreldbeskouing.

2. Abstract

This study is an apologetic evaluative study of the so-called spiritual law of attraction as used by
certain Christians, focusing as an example on sermons of Pastor Boshoff of the Christian
Revival Church (CRC). Many people, under the influence of especially Eastern religions, believe
that they can shape their own lives through the power of their thoughts and words. Even though
the idea to influence your own future with your thoughts and words originated from New
Thought teachings, that underwent great influence from Eastern religions, there are Christian
pastors preaching the law of attraction in the name of Christianity. This study evaluates this
phenomenon in the light of Biblical teaching, to establish whether there is a place for the law of
attraction in the Christian worldview. If it is established that the law of attraction is in conflict with
the Christian worldview, the implications of preaching it from the Bible are far-reaching.

Opsomming

Hierdie studie is ’n apologeties evaluerende ondersoek na die sogenaamde geestelike wet van
aantrekking, soos gebruik deur sekere Christene. Daar word as voorbeeld gefokus op preke
van Pastoor Boshoff van die Christian Revival Church (CRC). Baie mense, onder die invloed
van Oosterse gelowe, glo dat hulle hul eie lewens kan vorm deur die krag van hul denke en
woorde. Alhoewel die idee dat mens jou eie toekoms kan beïnvloed deur jou denke en woorde
afkomstig is van New Thought leringe, wat grootliks deur Oosterse gelowe geïnspireer is, is
daar Christenpredikers wat die wet van aantrekking verkondig in die naam van die Christelike
godsdiens. Hierdie studie evalueer die verskynsel in die lig van Bybelse lering om vas te stel of
daar plek is vir die wet van aantrekking in die Christelike wêreldbeskouing. Indien vasgestel kan

iv
word dat die wet van aantrekking in konflik is met die Christelike wêreldbeskouing, hou dit
verreikende implikasies vir die verkondiging daarvan vanuit ’n Bybelse perspektief in.

3. Background

Since I started my studies at the Faculty of Theology on the Potchefstroom campus of the
North-West University in 2009, I was gradually exposed to people from different church
denominations – especially from the Charismatic churches, proclaiming a prosperity gospel. As
debates intensified I realised the importance to find answers in this regard about the hope that
is in me (1 Pet. 3:15-161), not only for the purpose of engaging in a conversation, but also in
order to express sound Biblical convictions and beliefs concerning these teachings. Although I
always felt discomfort with most of the prosperity gospel’s teachings, I didn’t understand exactly
why. During conversations questions were asked and statements were made about topics such
as the following: speaking in tongues, miracles, healings, direct revelations from God, first-hand
meetings with God, heaven experiences, the power of words, positive confession, as well as
wealth, health and prosperity through faith. These questions and statements prompted me to
start reading books about the prosperity gospel, which brought me to researching the Word of
Faith movement.

Researchers consider the Word of Faith movement as a cultic infiltration of the Charismatic
movement that teaches the same doctrines of positive confession and prosperity, clearly seen in
New Thought and Christian Science (McConnell, 1995:16, 20). Hanegraaff (2009:13)
emphasises that it would be wrong to put the Word of Faith movement on the same level as the
Charismatic movement. According to him, teachers of the Word of Faith movement successfully
disguise themselves as Charismatics.

The reason why this movement is called the Word of Faith movement is because the name
‘Word of Faith’ emphasises the importance and power of your words. Faith, as seen by the
teachings of this movement, does not imply the usual Christian understanding of faith in God,
but rather faith in the power of your own words. Kenyon (1998:66-67), who is considered the
grandfather or father of the Word of Faith movement, explains that people with negative
confessions will certainly go to the level of their confession. According to him it is a spiritual law
that we are ruled by our confessions. Hagin (1979a:8) further explains this idea when he writes:
“For you can have what you say. You can write your own ticket with God. And the first step in
writing your own ticket with God is: Say it!” The term for this teaching is widely known as
‘positive confession’ (MacArthur, 1992:342; Sarles, 1986:332). Through positive confession

1
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks
you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that
when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”
v
many people believe that their words can cause good or bad things to happen to them or
someone else.

In my research I came across references to the ‘law of attraction’ as a theological and

philosophical term. The literature clearly indicates that positive confession bears striking
similarities to the law of attraction, as practised and taught by New Thought pioneers such as
Rhonda Byrne (Hanegraaff, 2009:97-98; McConnell, 1995:136). The law of attraction states that
your thoughts and words determine or create your entire reality and life experience. It literally
draws the things you desire or fear into your life (Atkinson, 1906:2; Byrne, 2006:5). Thus the law
of attraction shows a strong resemblance with the teaching of positive confession, since positive
confession relies on the power of words in order to bring about physical environmental changes
in your life (Souders, 2011:121).

In discussions with people who advocate the positive confession teaching, I came to the
conclusion that the belief that your words and thoughts can determine your reality must be
addressed through more thorough research. What urged me even more was the fact that the
well-known South African church leader, Pastor A. Boshoff from the Christian Revival Church
(CRC) proclaimed from the pulpit the law of attraction as a Biblical, and thus a Christian
principle – especially in two of his sermons in 2010 (Boshoff, 2010a; Boshoff 2010d). Pastor
Boshoff established the CRC in 1994 and today the combined membership of the CRC is more
than 53 000 members (CRC, 2015a). These two sermons will serve as valuable sources during
this study, especially since the law of attraction is preached, supported and explained from the
Bible. I will refer mostly to these two sermons to establish the motivation of preachers who
support this doctrine of the law of attraction within a Christian worldview.

Other contributions to this research, expanding on the law of attraction as a New Thought
principle and teaching, are: Thought vibration or the law of attraction in the thought world
(Atkinson, 1906), The Secret (Byrne, 2006), The law of attraction: the basics of the teachings of
Abraham (Hicks & Hicks, 2006), The everything law of attraction book: harness the power of
positive thinking and transform your life (Lester, 2008) and, Law of attraction: the science of
attracting more of what you want and less of what you don’t (Losier, 2006).

Besides the Bible, supplemented by Christian creeds, the contribution of the following authors,
among others, will be referred to in this evaluative study: Christianity in Crisis: 21st century
(Hanegraaff, 2009), Charismatic chaos (MacArthur, 1992) and A different gospel (McConnell,
1995).

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4. Problem statement

The need to address and evaluate the law of attraction, preached as a Biblical, and a Christian
principle, is of vital importance. The fact that the teachings of the Word of Faith movement are
growing around the world also makes it an urgent matter to address from a theological
perspective (Hunter, 2007; Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:16). If this phenomenon is false, it
places the church before a crisis that amounts to a struggle between orthodoxy and heresy, or
even greater, between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the cults (Hanegraaff,
2009:14). There is a serious need for this study, and therefore this study aims to address this
need with a specific evaluative focus on the law of attraction.

In the first of two sermons on the law of attraction in 2010, Pastor Boshoff (2010a) started by
explaining that he wanted to talk about a powerful law that governs your life. Later he defined
this powerful law – the law of attraction – as follows: “The law of attraction simply says: like
attracts like. You’re attracting to yourself who you are.” In his second sermon on the law of
attraction Boshoff (2010d) further explained: “You live by the simple law of attraction. All the
time you’re attracting things into your life, good or bad, wanted or unwanted. You attract what is
at the core of your heart.” Later on he made it clear that your biggest enemy is nothing or
nobody else than what you allow to go on in your heart, mind and thoughts.

When we turn to Byrne’s (2006:5) definition of the law of attraction in her book The Secret, it is
clear that, according to her, everything that happens in your life happens because the law of
attraction formed it through your thoughts. It must be added that, whatever you attract into your
life by giving it your attention, energy and focus, can be positive or negative (Losier, 2010:12).
The law of attraction fully responds to your thoughts, so that you will attract into your life
whatever it is you are thinking about most. When you look at your life experiences thus far, you
will be able to determine your dominant thought on every subject of your life (Byrne, 2006:7, 9;
Hicks & Hicks, 2006:30).

It is important to investigate whether the New Thought and New Age pioneers embrace a
monistic, pantheistic worldview (all is one, and all is God) under the influence of Eastern
religions (Finnegan, 1992:353-354; Martin & Zacharias, 2003:412).

The law of attraction is also supported and advocated by New Thought pioneers as a universal
law, important in our theological thinking (Rinaldi, 2008:7). They believe that there is a place for
the law of attraction in the Christian worldview because you determine your reality with your
words and thoughts. It differs from the orthodox Christian belief that God, in His infinite wisdom,
determines our lives.

vii
In view of the fact that the law of attraction is preached as an important Biblical teaching, the
central research question is: Does the Christian worldview provide a place for the law of
attraction in theology?

Specific questions to be asked include:

1. What is the law of attraction?

a. Definition.

b. Origins and development.

c. Philosophical and worldview background.

d. How does it function in practice?

e. How can one use it?

2. Does the law of attraction correspond with New Age and New Thought teachings?

3. What are the similarities between the law of attraction and positive confession?

4. Can the law of attraction be preached as a Biblical principle?

a. How does A. Boshoff explain the law of attraction in his sermons?

b. What does the Bible say?

i. Analysis of the key Biblical passages.

ii. What are the doctrinal implications of the law of attraction?

5. Does the Christian worldview provide a place for the law of attraction?

a. What is the outcome of the evaluation?

b. What is the comfortless alternative if there were a place for the law of attraction?

c. What is the conclusion concerning the law of attraction?

5. Aim

The main aim of this study is to evaluate the law of attraction, preached as a Biblical principle, in
order to determine whether the law of attraction has a rightful place in the Christian worldview.

6. Objectives

The specific objectives of the study are:

viii
 1. To discuss in detail what the law of attraction is, where it comes from, how it works,
whether it can be used, the corresponding features of the law of attraction and New Age,
as well as New Thought teachings, and the similarities between the law of attraction and
positive confession;

2. To determine whether the law of attraction can be preached as a Biblical principle, by

examining Pastor Boshoff’s sermons on the law of attraction, and by formulating the
evaluative Biblical perspective concerning the law of attraction;

3. To determine whether the law of attraction has any rightful place in the Christian
worldview, according to the Bible, and what the possible destructive effect may be if the
law of attraction has a place in the Christian worldview.

7. The central theoretical argument

The central theoretical argument of this study is that the law of attraction does not have any
place in the Christian worldview, and therefore can’t be preached from the pulpit as a Biblical,
and thus a Christian, principle.

8. Methodology

This evaluative study will be done from the perspective of the Reformed tradition. The entire
discussion will henceforth assume that Reformed theology, based on the Bible as the infallible
Word of God, is the best and most consistent expression of the Christian faith. A brief summary
of the Reformed theology, can be found in the three forms of unity, namely The Belgic
Confession of Faith, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dort.

This is a literary study in which I will make use of the relevant literature and audio-visual
material.

Where appropriate, the applicable passages of the Bible will be identified. Exegesis of these
texts will be done according to the grammatico-historical method.

9. Concept clarification

The following concepts need clarification:

• The law of attraction: It refers to an all-powerful universal law that is always working,
without any exceptions. It is the law that determines every moment of your entire life by
responding to your thoughts, whether they are positive or negative. If your thoughts are
positive, you’re attracting good things into your life, but if your thoughts are negative,

ix
 you’re attracting bad things into your life. It responds utterly to your thoughts and
everyone can use this universal law to create their own lives (Boshoff, 2010a; Byrne,
2006:5, 15, 17; Rinaldi, 2008:7).

• Positive confession: It refers to the teaching that words have creative power to bring
about physical environmental changes in your life. Thus, what you say will determine
what happens to you and what you get from God. This is undoubtedly the most
distinctive teaching of the Word of Faith movement that, like the law of attraction, relies
on a positive mental attitude (MacArthur, 1992:342; McConnell, 1995:135; Souders,
2011:121).

• New Age movement: It refers to an extremely widespread, but loosely structured, mega-
network of individuals, groups and organisations who share common values,
characterised by mysticism and monism, and a common vision of a coming age of peace
and mass enlightenment. Since this mega-network portrays the growing penetration of
Eastern and occult mysticism into Western culture, it brings a powerful syncretism to the
table. Although this movement includes cults, sects and even denominations, it is not
restricted to any one of these (Finnegan, 1992:353-354; Groothuis, 1988:18; Martin &
Zacharias, 2003:409). It is important to keep in mind that the New Thought movement is
considered to be a forerunner and in effect a tributary to the New Age movement. In this
way there is clearly a direct connection between the two movements and representative
sub-movements (Clarke, 2006:27; DeChant, 1990:331; Hanegraaff, 2000:299; Steyn,
1994:61).

• Prosperity gospel / Word of Faith movement: It refers to the modern faith movement
which is sometimes also known as the Health, Wealth and Prosperity gospel. It is found
in churches that preach a promise of health and wealth to Christians who are prepared
to exercise their faith in the proper way (King & Theron, 2006:309-310). Hollinger
(1988:131) defines it as follows:
The health and wealth gospel is an identifiable religious movement comprised of distinct
teachings, key preachers, a particular clientele, conferences, massive publications,
media ministries, local congregations that identify with the teachings and preachers,
educational institutions, and a loosely-knit organization called the International
Convention of Faith Churches and Ministries (ICFCM). Adherents have often labelled
themselves "Word" or "Word of Faith Churches" as well as "faith movement".

• The Charismatic movement: It refers to a loosely-structured, predominantly lay

movement that has made its presence felt throughout the churches. It began in North
America and is now world-wide. The characteristics of this movement include the

x
 exercise of spiritual gifts, especially divine healing, baptism in the Holy Spirit and
speaking in tongues (glossolalia). The theology of the Charismatic movement is
progressively less rigid with the immediate allowance of greater diversity of experience
(Mather, 1984:17, 21; Cross & Livingstone, 2005:324).

• Worldview: “The comprehensive framework of one’s basic beliefs about things” (Wolters,
2005:2)

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SECTION B: ARTICLE

ABSTRACT

This article investigates the infiltration of secular practices in the Christian church with specific
evaluative focus on the so-called law of attraction. In 2010 Pastor At Boshoff of the Christian
Revival Church (CRC) preached two sermons on the law of attraction in which he claimed it as
being a powerful principle in the Word of God. This spiritual “law” provides you with a physical
manifestation of your thoughts and words. The prominent claim is that you can create your own
future realities using this law. The law of attraction evidently is a New Age practice that flows
from a New Age worldview. It bears striking similarities to the positive confession doctrine as
taught by popular Word of Faith teachers. Boshoff’s claim regarding the law of attraction cannot
be deduced from the key Scripture passages he uses, which reflects a unfounded use of
Scripture. Preaching prosperity through the law of attraction is not in accordance with orthodox,
historical Christianity or the Christian worldview.

Keywords: Law of attraction; Positive confession; New Age movement; New Thought
movement; Word of Faith movement; Prosperity gospel; Charismatic churches; Christian
worldview.

OPSOMMING

Hierdie artikel ondersoek die infiltrasie van sekulêre praktyke in die Christelike kerk, met ’n
spesiale, evaluerende fokus op die sogenaamde wet van aantrekking. In 2010 het Pastoor At
Boshoff van die Christian Revival Church (CRC) twee preke gelewer oor die wet van
aantrekking, waarin hy die aanspraak maak dat dit ’n kragtige beginsel in die Woord van God
is. Die geestelike “wet” laat jou woorde en denke fisies manifesteer. Die belangrikste aanspraak
is dat ‘n mens jou eie toekomsrealiteite kan skep deur hierdie wet toe te pas. Die wet van
aantrekking is ’n praktyk wat voortvloei uit die New Age wêreldbeskouing. Dit toon treffende
ooreenkomste met die leerstelling van positiewe belydenis, soos verkondig deur populêre Word
of Faith leermeesters. Dat Boshoff nie sy aanspraak oor die wet van aantrekking skriftuurlik
bewys nie en tog hom op die Skrif beroep, bring ‘n wanaanwending van die Skrif mee. Die idee
om die wet van aantrekking te gebruik om eie voorspeod te bewerkstellig, is nie in
ooreenstemming met die ortodokse, historiese Christendom en die Christelike wêreldbeskouing
nie.

xii
Sleutelwoorde: Wet van aantrekking; Positiewe belydenis; New Age-beweging; New Thought-
beweging; Word of Faith-beweging; Voorspoedsteologie; Welvaartsteologie; Charismatiese
kerke; Christelike wêreldbeskouing.

xiii
1. INTRODUCTION

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers
among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who
bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their
destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness
they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle,
and their destruction does not slumber. (2 Pet. 2:1-3).

These are the words of the apostle Peter, which are not only meant for the church of his time,
but, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, for the true church of Christ throughout the ages. It
is these and similar words that inspired the New Testament church through centuries to look
apologetically, not only at arguments that are brought against the Christian faith, but also to
maintain a watchful eye for those in her midst that deviate from the true Scriptural
understanding of Christian doctrines (Edgar & Oliphint, 2009; Edgar & Oliphint, 2011).

With regard to 2 Peter 2:12, Calvin (2010a:393) writes: “As to the word opinions or heresies, it
has not, without reason, been always deemed infamous and hateful by the children of God; for
the bond of holy unity is the simple truth. As soon as we depart from that, nothing remains but
dreadful discord.” Oliphint (2013:29) explains that Christian apologetics is the application of
Biblical truth to unbelief and that there have been, are, and will continue to be attacks of every
sort that seek to destroy the truth of the Christian faith.

The founder and leading pastor of one of the biggest charismatic churches in South Africa, the
Christian Revival Church (CRC), Pastor At Boshoff3 delivered two sermons in 2010 that caused
the writer to consider the need for the Christian church to address it apologetically. In these
sermons, titled The law of attraction part 1 and part 2, Boshoff (2010a) claimed that the spiritual
law of attraction is indeed a powerful principle in the word of God (Boshoff, 2010d). Even though
the term ‘law of attraction’ never occurs in the Bible, it is proclaimed to be a central doctrine of
Christianity based on the Bible.

While the task of apologetics is to defend the Christian faith against any deviation from Biblical
truth or heresy, this article tests this teaching of the law of attraction against Holy Scripture to
answer the question whether it is indeed a Biblical doctrine, by applying sound hermeneutical
use of the Scripture.

2
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you,
who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on
themselves swift destruction.”
3
Boshoff established the Christian Revival Church (CRC) in 1994 and today the combined membership of
the CRC is more than 53 000 members (CRC, 2015a).
1
This article aims to discuss and evaluate the law of attraction. It will seek to answer preliminary
questions with regard to this so-called spiritual law. It will attempt to connect the law of attraction
directly to the modern New Age movement. It will further attempt to point out the similarities
between the law of attraction and positive confession, and ultimately evaluate Boshoff’s
sermons on the law of attraction apologetically. All of this will be done to establish whether there
is a place for the law of attraction in the Christian church and worldview.

2
2. PRELIMINARY ISSUES REGARDING THE LAW OF ATTRACTION

2.1. What is the law of attraction?

The law of attraction as a theological and philosophical concept4, refers to an all-powerful,

impersonal, unbiased and universal law that is always working without any exceptions (Byrne,
2006:5, 13; Gray, 2015:7; Lester, 2008:8; Rinaldi, 2008:7). According to its proponents it is the
law that determines every moment of your entire life by responding to your thoughts, whether
they are positive or negative (Byrne, 2006:5, 7, 13; Gray, 2015:29-30; Hicks & Hicks, 2006:32).
If your thoughts are positive, it is meant to attract good things or circumstances into your life, but
if your thoughts are negative, it is meant to attract bad things or circumstances (Byrne, 2006:9;
Byrne, 2010:15; Che, 2010: 16; Lester, 2008:10; Rinaldi, 2008:11).

The law of attraction is also connected to certain sayings in life such as “like attracts like”, “birds
of a feather flock together”, “as above, so below” or “ask and ye shall receive” (Boshoff, 2010a;
Byrne, 2012:7; Hicks & Hicks, 2006:29; Lester, 2008:2). Consequently everyone can use this
universal law to create and dictate the course of their own lives with their thoughts and also with
their words (Byrne, 2006:5, 15, 17, 66; Gray, 2015:6, 68; Hicks & Hicks, 2006:83-84; Rinaldi,
2008:7).

2.2. How does the law of attraction work according to its proponents

Hicks and Hicks (2006:29) considered it essential to understand how the law of attraction
functions, because without this knowledge one can apparently never live a purposeful life.
Byrne (2006:15) believes that the law of attraction has always been working in every person’s
life throughout history (see also Gray, 2015:7). In her opinion this law governs all the energy in
the universe and it affects and forms every single person’s life experience, whether they are
aware of it or not, whether they understand it or not, whether they like it or not, or whether they
believe in it or not (Boshoff, 2010a; Byrne, 2006:5; Byrne, 2012:6; Hicks & Hicks, 2006:32;
Losier, 2010:19). It is totally unbiased in the sense that your own personal background and
worldview doesn’t concern the working of the law (Byrne, 2006:13; Lester, 2008:8; Rinaldi,
2008:7-8). The law of attraction functions permanently and universally without any exceptions
(Byrne, 2006:5; Gray, 2015:7; Trine, 1897:522).

Even though it is held that the law of attraction is a universal law and that it works without any
exceptions, affecting absolutely everyone in every corner of the globe, there seems to be some

4
It’s not the same as the physical law that describes the influence of material things on one another, such
as magnetism.
3
extent of ignorance towards this law that supposedly determines the order in the entire universe
(Atkinson, 1906:1-2; Byrne, 2006:5, 15; Gray, 2015:7; Hicks & Hicks, 2006:31). Proctor (s.a.)
clearly expresses his concern regarding this profound ignorance as follows: “Most people are
ignorant of one very important law of life – the law of attraction: You attract to you everything
that is in harmonious vibrations with you.”

Proctor (s.a.) also explains that you can’t understand the law of attraction without first
understanding the law of vibration. The law of vibration states that everything in the universe is
energy, and energy is firstly a vibration before it is matter. Everything is therefore always moving
or vibrating at one speed or another (Burras, s.a.:1; Taylor, 2010:26; Proctor, 2011). These
vibrations, in which everything is constantly moving, can either be positive or negative (Losier,
2006:13; Proctor, 2011).

According to this worldview of cause and effect, the moment a person thinks about something,
that thought will dictate the vibration in which that person’s mind and body are (Hicks & Hicks,
2004:25; Proctor, 2011). The reason for this is that a thought affects the brain cells and, in turn,
these brain cells, depending on the thought, start to vibrate positively or negatively (Hicks &
Hicks, 2004:26; Proctor, s.a.). Lester (2008:5) refers to this as thoughts that have become
energised and these thought vibrations will then send out electromagnetic waves or extended
vibrations or signals of some kind and soon the individual will become aware of the vibration in
which he/she is (Hicks & Hicks, 2004:25; Proctor 2011). Your general feeling therefore
describes the conscious vibration in which you currently are. In other words, if you feel good,
you are in a positive vibration and vice versa (Byrne, 2006:32; Hicks & Hicks, 2006:84-85;
Losier, 2006:14; Proctor, 2011). Byrne (2006:33) goes further to suggest that your feelings are
in fact communication from the universe itself to inform you about your thoughts.

Because everyone is allegedly always sending out these positive or negative vibrations, which
are determined by their thoughts, this is the point where the law of attraction comes into play
(Hicks & Hicks, 2006:63; Losier, 2006:13-14). When these positive or negative vibrations are
sent out by your thoughts, it will attract positive or negative things and circumstances into your
life (Byrne, 2006:9; Lester, 2008:2, 5; Losier, 2006:19). Eventually positive vibrations that are
caused by positive thoughts are viewed to bring positive and good things into your life, while
negative vibrations that are caused by negative thoughts are viewed to bring negative and bad
things into your life (Byrne, 2010:15; Che, 2010:16; Hicks & Hicks, 2004:26-27; Lester, 2008:2;
Rinaldi, 2008:11). Byrne (2006:28) writes: “Nothing can come into your experience unless you
summon it through persistent thoughts.” Lester (2008:19) compares this principle to the positive
and negative poles of a battery. Just as a battery functions to attract and repel, so your thoughts
possess the power to attract and repel things and circumstances.

4
Byrne (2006:7) illustrates the principle of the law of attraction by suggesting that you should
think about yourself as a magnet. Every single individual is the most powerful magnet in the
universe and this unfathomable magnetic power that is within every individual can only be
emitted through your thoughts. Through the law of attraction it seems that your thoughts
become reality in your life (Atkinson, 1906:4-5; Byrne, 2006:9). The magnetic power of the law
of attraction apparently reaches out from your thoughts into the universe and attracts the things
that are at the same positive or negative vibrational level (Hicks & Hicks, 2006:83; Proctor,
2011). The law of attraction’s reaction to a person’s predominant thoughts is therefore
responsible for every little detail that comes into that person’s life experience (Gray, 2015:23;
Haanel, 1917:627; Hicks & Hicks, 2006:32-33).

Ponder (1984:37) presents a clear explanation of this magnetic illustration:

… as a magnet, you do not have to force success and prosperity to yourself. Instead, you
can develop that exalted, expectant, prosperous state of mind that is a magnet for all good
things of the universe to hasten to you, rather than entertaining the tense, critical, anxious,
depressed, unforgiving, possessive state of mind that is a magnet for all kinds of trouble and
failure.

This far it is clear that the law of attraction responds to your thoughts and sooner or later it is
should provide you with a physical manifestation of whatever is mostly in your thoughts (Byrne,
2006:7, 13; Gray, 2015:53; Hicks & Hicks, 2006:31, 45; Lester, 2008:5). According to Lester
(2008:7), the law of attraction makes anything possible and all that a person needs to change is
his/her mindset, in order to decide what one wants to be, do and have in life – because the law
of attraction guarantees it (Byrne, 2006:23, 36; Lester, 2008:5; Proctor, 2011). This is valid for
experiences, relationships, prosperity, money, wealth, and all the things one desires most
(Byrne, 2006:98; Gray, 2015:8; Lester, 2008:7; Trine, 1897:522, 575).

It must be added that the consequence of this law for each individual is that no one can ever be
surprised by what happens, because thoughts determine reality (Byrne, 2012:7; Gray, 2015:68;
Haanel, 1917:643; Hicks & Hicks, 2004:27; Hicks & Hicks 2006:30). The law of attraction makes
each individual the sole creator of his/her entire life by using his/her thoughts and words (Byrne,
2006:15, 46; Gray, 2015:68; Hicks & Hicks, 2006:83-84; Taylor, 2010:29). When you look at
your life experiences so far, you should be able to determine your dominant thought on every
subject of your life (Byrne, 2006:9, 15; Lester, 2008:6, 8).

An important presupposition of these authors is that, according to them, the principle of the law
of attraction is real and functioning on the grounds that there is some kind of energetic or
quantum connection of oneness between everything in the entire universe (Byrne, 2006:160-
163; Che, 2010:73; Taylor, 2010:68, 121, 135). In this great oneness and interconnectedness
5
the universe is regarded to be an infinite supplier from where everything in your life is delivered
by using such means as the law of attraction (Byrne, 2006:163; Proctor, 2011; Taylor, 2010:68).
In this way the universe also plays a godly providing part, by arranging or rearranging certain
elements to provide a manifestation of people’s thoughts through the law of attraction (see
Byrne, 2006:40, 150-151; Lester, 2008:7).

2.3. The origin of the idea of a spiritual law of attraction

Apart from the questions of what the law of attraction is and how it works, we must also consider
the origins and the development of the underlying principle of the law of attraction.

Although Lester (2008:3) believes that it is impossible to pinpoint exactly when and where the
concept of the law of attraction entered into human consciousness, she still provides a couple of
explanations. According to one of these explanations the law of attraction most probably
originated at the very moment of creation, with the beginning of thought. In another explanation
Lester (2008:4) adds that it may date back 6000 to 7000 years ago, where it found expression
in the mystical traditions and beliefs of ancient magicians and sages. The Emerald Tablet of
Hermes seems to be an example of this phenomenon, and states that everything in the world is
interconnected and that thoughts always influence things.

Taylor (2010:32-66) spends a whole chapter explaining his view on the origins of the law of
attraction. According to him, it was used throughout the ages by ancient religions and
philosophies. After mentioning religions such as Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism,
Judaism and Christianity, together with Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras, Socrates and
Plato, he comes to the conclusion that the law of attraction is deeply rooted in the history and
mind of humanity, which is also somehow in tune with the rest of the universe (Taylor, 2010:15,
66).

Burras (s.a.:1) assumes that the law of attraction has most certainly been around for ages, but
that it was always hidden from the masses to keep the people uninformed, or, as he puts it
‘unconscious’. Rinaldi (2008:8), in turn, is of the opinion that Buddha was the first to introduce
the human race to the principle of the law of attraction and that the whole concept of karma in
Eastern religions is based on the principle behind the law of attraction5. Proctor (2011) also
mentions that all the great leaders throughout history were in agreement of the apparent fact
that you become what you think.

5
If the concept of karma is based on the law of attraction, it could not have originated in Buddhism,
because centuries before Buddhism, Hinduism taught the concept of karma.
6
Byrne (2006:4) elaborates by explaining that religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism,
Christianity and Islam, together with ancient civilisations like the Babylonians and Egyptians,
allegedly delivered it throughout the ages in their writings and stories. She adds that, since the
law of attraction began at the beginning of time, there is no limit to its existence – it has always
been and will always be (Byrne, 2006:5).

Even though it is claimed that the principle of this ‘universal law’ has been around for a long
time, it has not always been officially labelled the ‘law of attraction’ until recently. P.P. Quimby6
never called his theory the ‘law of attraction’, but he did lay the foundation for a mind-cure
philosophy, which stated that the source of all health was in the mind and any cure for sickness
must also begin in the mind (Clarke, 2006:113; Hanegraaff, 1998:485; Quimby, 1921:186, 194).
Hanegraaff (1998:485-486) recognises Quimby as the father of the New Age belief that you can
create your own reality.

Rinaldi (2008:9) claims that the term ‘law of attraction’ was first introduced to the public in a
book titled Thought vibration or the law of attraction in the thought world, by W.W. Atkinson7 in
1906. This is actually not correct since the term ‘law of attraction’ already appeared in P.
Mulford’s8 book Thoughts are things, in 1889, and later in R.W. Trine’s9 book In tune with the
infinite, in 1897.

As far as this research could establish, the term ‘law of attraction’ was first used in a more
theological and philosophical manner in 1877 by H.P. Blavatsky10 in her two-volume book titled
Isis unveiled: the master-key to the mysteries of ancient and modern science and theology
(Taylor, 2010:55). Unfortunately it is not clear what exactly she meant when she used the term.

6
Quimby (1802-1866) is regarded as the founder of the metaphysical New Thought movement, which is
considered to be a forerunner or a tributary of the modern New Age movement (Clarke, 2006:27;
Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:29; Peters, 2013; Steyn, 1994:61, 105; Travis, 2007:1022). M.B. Eddy,
the founder of the Christian Science movement, was one of Quimby’s patients whom he apparently
cured using his theory (Fogarty, 2008:22; Steyn, 1994:105).
7
Atkinson (1862-1932) was an active participant in the New Thought movement and also the editor of the
New Thought magazine (Weinberger, 2006:188). He claimed that the doctrines of karma and
reincarnation serve as a key that can unlock the most mysterious aspects of the Christian doctrine
(Bender, 2007:598).
8
Mulford (1834-1891) is considered to be one of the earliest writers and founders of the New Thought
movement (Byrne, 2006:193).
9
Trine (1866-1958) is mentioned as a significant individual who contributed to the circulation of theories
on positive thinking (Steyn, 1994:105). He is considered to be the most prolific New Thought writer in
th
the early 20 century (Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:32). Butler (2006:58) vividly mentions Trine’s book
In tune with the infinite as one of the New Thought movement’s most popular publications.
10
Blavatsky (1831-1891), under the influence of spiritualism and eastern sources, embraced the practice
of contacting advanced upper spirit beings to ensure that their plans were fulfilled (Clarke, 2006:28;
Heelas, 1996:44). She was also the co-founder of The Theosophical Society in 1875 (Honsberger &
Halverson, 1996:161).
7
The ‘law of attraction’ was further popularised by C.H. Haanel’s11 book The master key system,
in 1917, and N.V. Peale’s12 book The power of positive thinking, in 1952. In 2006 the concept of
the ‘law of attraction’ gained a lot of renewed interest with the appearance of R. Byrne’s book
titled The Secret. Bond (2007:20) expressed her big surprise regarding the large number of
copies of The Secret that were sold and further mentioned that the appearance of The Secret
caused great curiosity among people to explore similar concepts of how you can use thoughts
to attract prosperity and happiness.

The multiple explanations of the origin of the law of attraction is an indication of this spiritual
law’s unreliable grounding. When the proponent’s backgrounds are taken into consideration
nearly all of them were involved in New Thought practices.

11
Haanel (1866-1949) was a very successful businessman who advocated his own methods that he
allegedly used to achieve greatness (Byrne, 2006:191). In his book The master key system, he
developed an entire plan to instruct people how to live by the law of attraction (Jones & Woodbridge,
2011:40).
12
Peale (1898-1993) is considered to be a well-known advocate of New Thought, who dangerously
merged secular thought with Biblical ideas (Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:33-34).
8
3. THE NEW AGE WORLDVIEW AND THE LAW OF ATTRACTION

When considering the development of the law of attraction above (2.3), it became clear that it’s
relation to the beliefs and practices of the New Age movement13 should also be contemplated
and discussed. According to Deck (cited by Bond, 2007:20) The Secret has certainly revitalised
the New Age knowledge base, and one should prepare for many more books on the same
subject. It is important to keep in mind that the New Thought movement is considered to be a
forerunner, and in effect a tributary, of the New Age movement. In this way there is clearly a
direct connection between the two movements and representative sub-movements (Clarke,
2006:27; DeChant, 1990:331; Hanegraaff, 2000:299; Steyn, 1994:61).

Finnegan (2003:346) emphasises that the New Age movement will be present for some time to
come (Clarke, 2006:39-40). It has swept across the U.S.A., Europe and Asia, and it is also
penetrating the continent of Africa to the point that it is very much alive in South Africa
(Chepkwony, 2006:313; Steyn, 2007:265).

It is considered extremely hard to describe, locate and capture the New Age movement
because there are no fixed creeds and just one identifiable organisation connected to it
(Chepkwony, 2006:313; Clarke, 2006:25; Collins, 1998:91; Hanegraaff, 1998:1; Heelas,
1996:16-17; Klippenstein, 2005:391; Redden, 2012:55). Zacharias (2012b) describes the New
Age spirituality as a jellylike substance which is very hard to identify. The New Age movement is
rather a loose umbrella term referring to a variety of people, organisations, events, practices
and ideas. Although this movement includes cults, sects and even denominations, it is not
restricted to any one of these (Aupers & Houtman, 2007:201; Chepkwony, 2006:313; Eide,
2010:130; Groothuis, 1988:18; Steyn, 1994:6; Steyn, 2007:267).

Accordingly, the New Age movement can be described briefly as an extremely vast and
widespread, but loosely structured, mega-network of individuals, groups and organisations, who
share common values and ideas characterised by mysticism and monism, and a common vision
of a coming age of peace and mass enlightenment (Finnegan, 1992:353). Martin (2015)
considers the New Age movement to be the enthronement of man and the demotion of God.

It is of paramount importance to note that the basic beliefs of the New Age movement do indeed
portray the growing infiltration of Eastern and occult mysticism into Western culture, which

13
The term ‘New Age’ is derived from astrology to indicate the arrival of the supposed new age of
Aquarius (Matzken, 1990:15; Zacharias, 2012a:8). Zacharias (2012b) also refers to this as ‘New
st
spirituality’ and ‘21 century spirituality’. Although Steyn (2007:266) mentions that it is trite to assume
there is nothing new to the New Age movement, Martin and Zacharias (2003:407-408) indeed
describe it as nothing new.
9
brings forth a strong syncretism of Eastern and Western worldviews (Honsberger & Halverson,
1996:161, 163; Campbell-Jack, McGrath, & Evans, 2006:484-485; Martin & Zacharias,
2003:409; Steyn 2007:266). Consequently, the New Age ideology is presented by a mixture of a
wide variety of sources that often contradict one another (Aupers & Houtman, 2007:201;
Finnegan, 1992:354; Redden, 2012:56). Due to the strong influence of Eastern religions and
philosophies, New Age pioneers commonly adhere to a monistic, pantheistic worldview. The
simplest way to describe this worldview is “all is one, and all is God” (Chepkwony, 2006:317-
318; Finnegan, 1992:353-354; Joseph, 2012:180; Martin & Zacharias, 2003:412).

Monism views ‘God as one’ in the sense that there is absolutely no duality or differentiation
within this oneness. Within this view the whole universe is made up of one substance and there
is only one unified consciousness, of which everybody is part. This absolute oneness is then
characterised as a kind of force or energy, which is not a lifeless energy, but rather a Cosmic
Mind or Consciousness, often called the Universal Self, the Divine Mind, the Universe, the
Source, Divine Intelligence, the Force of the Universe, the One Supreme Power, the totality of
Universal Life Energy, et cetera (Byrne, 2006:162; Chepkwony, 2006:317; Finnegan, 1992:356;
Gray, 2015:69; Honsberger & Halverson, 1996:163-164; Lester, 2008:4; Skinner, 2006:104-
105).

In turn, pantheism is the belief that ‘all is God’, which means that everything is somehow
inherently a manifestation of God. The divine oneness emanates in absolutely everything, so
that everything is God and God is everything. Thus, if God is the impersonal Universal Self, then
we as humans are the particularisation of that Universal Self (Chepkwony, 2006:318;
Honsberger & Halverson, 1996:164; Skinner, 2006:105-106).

Honsberg and Halverson (1996:164) explains this concept by referring to each individual as a
stream that flows from the infinite lake, and just as the water in each stream is of the same
essence as the water in the lake, so every individual’s essence is one with God. According to
this monistic pantheistic worldview, the oneness or the interconnectedness between all things
should be viewed as a manifestation of the Divine. This causes New Agers to believe that each
individual is inherently a divine being who is capable of great and powerful things (Chepkwony,
2006:318; Collins, 1998:93; Skinner, 2006:107; Velarde, 2007:3).

Byrne (2006:164), for instance, seems to underline this when she writes:
You are God in physical body. You are Spirit in the flesh. You are Eternal life expressing
itself as You. You are a cosmic being. You are all power. You are all wisdom. You are all
intelligence. You are perfection. You are magnificence. You are the creator, and you are
creating the creation of You on this planet.

10
The beliefs and practices within the New Age movement place a strict emphasis on the self. The
main focus is about empowering yourself rather than a transcendent being with absolute
authority (Farias & Lalljee, 2008:277-278; Klippenstein, 2005:397; Martin, 2015). Everything
revolves around the principle that you must turn inward to reach a higher consciousness and to
experience the God-self (Collins, 1998:93; Hanegraaff, 2000:305; Huss, 2014:50). Maclaine
(cited by Chepkwony, 2006:318) explains that every individual is his/her own best teacher and
that there is no place for any other idol to be worshipped, because the God everyone is seeking,
apparently lies within yourself and not outside.

Many of the New Age beliefs and practices are in one way or another based on creating your
own reality, as some of the law of attraction authors also claim (Amarasingam, 2009:279; Byrne,
2006:15; Haanel, 1917:643; Hanegraaff, 1998:230-231; Hicks & Hicks, 2004:27; Hicks & Hicks
2006:30; Honsberger & Halverson, 1996:164; Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:38-39; Steyn,
2007:267; Velarde, 2007:2). Proctor (2011), for instance, says:
“Do you know that you are the architect of your own life? You truly are and you can tap into this
infinite source of supply – and it is an infinite source of supply.” Taylor (2010:68) also
contributes to this belief when he writes: “What we have to do is prove to ourselves that the
universe is abundant, we are all connected with each other and the universe, and our thoughts
shape our reality.” Lastly, Byrne (2006:150) leaves one with no doubt when she writes:
The Universe offers all things to all people through the law of attraction … Each of us has the
ability to tap into that unlimited invisible supply through our thoughts and feelings, and bring
it into our experience. So choose for You, because you’re the only one who can.

Zeller (2011:6) adds that New Agers usually have a high regard for science, but that science is
then used in their practices to support and legitimise spiritual worldviews and also to criticise the
existing scientific consensus (Hanegraaff, 1998:62; Heelas, 1996:36). Zacharias (2012a:62)
also affirms that the perils of the New Spirituality are made to look wonderful and that
pseudoscience is connected to a mystical vocabulary that results in absurd deductions. This
might also be the case with the law of attraction, since it is claimed to be a phenomenon in
quantum physics (Byrne, 2006:15; Che, 2010:3; Taylor, 2010:68). However quantum physics is
often hijacked by New Age spirituality to support their worldview that everything is
interconnected energy in a pantheistic, religious sense (Ankerberg & Weldon, 1996:509;
Velarde, 2007:4; Zacharias, 2012a:87). The implication of encouraging a science of
consciousness is that it opens the door to mysticism and the occult (Ankerberg & Weldon,
1996:513). Physicist Pagel (cited by Zacharias, 2012a:87) states that no qualified physicist
would claim these kind of connections without committing fraud.

11
4. THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE LAW OF ATTRACTION AND
POSITIVE CONFESSION

The law of attraction is a New Age practice that accordingly flows from a New Age worldview.
Peters (2013) points out that there are a lot of New Thought and New Age overtones in the
modern Word of Faith movement14. Hanegraaff (2009:15-16) also emphasises that the
similarities between the Word of Faith movement and New Thought metaphysics are significant.
This research considers it important to look at the similarities between the law of attraction and
the doctrine of positive confession within this Word of Faith movement.

The reason why this movement is called the Word of Faith movement is because the name
‘Word of Faith’ emphasises the importance and power of your words (MacArthur, 1992:342).
Faith, as seen by the positive confession teaching of this movement, does not imply the usual
Christian understanding of faith in God, but rather faith in your own faith and consequently the
speaking of so-called faith-filled words. Faith is therefore not faith in God but a force you direct
at God to manipulate Him or to equip Him to do as the faith practitioner sees fit (Frigulti,
2015:25; Hanegraaff, 2009:93-95, 97; Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:87-88; Kenyon, 2013:36;
MacArthur, 1992:342, 346; Peters, 2013).

The doctrine of positive confession is considered to be the most distinctive and dominant
doctrine of the Word of Faith movement. The working presupposition of this doctrine is that your
mental attitude determines what you believe and confess, which in turn determines what you
get from God. If you think rightly, believe rightly and confess rightly, nothing is impossible. It is
seen as some kind of spiritual shove that sets into motion the spiritual laws governing the
universe (McConnell, 1995:135-136; Neuman, 1990:32, 34). Souders (2011:121) refers to
positive confession as the power of words in order to bring about physical environmental
changes in your life. It can also be summarised as ‘what you say is what you get’ (Togarasei,
2011:341). Positive confession is seen as the vehicle through which God’s promises have the
opportunity to influence your life (Hollinger, 1988:136).

14
The Word of Faith movement is sometimes also known as the Health, Wealth and Prosperity gospel. It
is found in churches that preach a promise of health and wealth to Christians who are prepared to
exercise their faith in the proper way (King & Theron, 2006:309-310). Hollinger (1988:131) defines it
as follows: “The health and wealth gospel is an identifiable religious movement comprised of distinct
teachings, key preachers, a particular clientele, conferences, massive publications, media ministries,
local congregations that identify with the teachings and preachers, educational institutions, and a
loosely-knit organization called the International Convention of Faith Churches and Ministries
(ICFCM). Adherents have often labelled themselves ‘Word’ or ‘Word of Faith Churches’ as well as
‘faith movement’.”
12
Essek W. Kenyon15 (2013:66-67), who is considered to be the grandfather or father16 of the Word
of Faith movement, describes it as a spiritual law that everyone is governed by their own
confessions (Hanegraaff, 2009:17; King & Theron, 2006:311; McConnell, 1995:24; Peters,
2013). Accordingly, everyone sooner or later becomes what they confess. He further adds that it
is not only your thinking, but also your words, that build power or weakness in yourself (Kenyon,
2013:72). Kenyon and Gossett (2009:33-34) also explain that ‘confession’ is not the confession
of sin, but rather that of faith and that faith as such is not faith until a positive confession comes
from the lips. It is a positive mindset that becomes faith by confession. You must therefore
cultivate the habit of thinking big things, and then learn to express those big thoughts in words,
because you intently become what you think you are (Gossett & Kenyon, 1977:66; Kenyon &
Gossett, 2009:70). This is considered possible because exactly the same creative ability that
God possess apparently also lies in yourself, and it can only be manifested through your
confession (Kenyon & Gossett, 2009:39).

According to the faith teacher Kenneth E. Hagin17 (1979b:2), your words will either lead to
destruction or it will lead to life, happiness and health. According to him, the words one spoke
yesterday made life what it is today (Hagin, 1979a:23). Everyone is considered to be a product
of their own words, because in life you always get and receive what you believe and say (Hagin,
1979b:14; Hagin, 1979c:3). Hagin (1979a:8), for instance, writes: “For you can have what you
say. You can write your own ticket with God. And the first step in writing your own ticket with
God is: Say it.” Furthermore, your words are allegedly able to create spiritual things, as well as
natural and physical things (Hagin, 1979b:12). Hagin (1979b:29, 32) uses Mark 11:2318 as the
supposed Biblical teaching to motivate the statement that one will have whatever one speaks.

15
Kenyon (1867-1948) was born one year after the death of Quimby. He attended the Emerson School of
Oratory in Boston where New Thought metaphysics flourished. Trine was one of Kenyon’s
classmates there. Kenyon quickly became familiar with the tenets of New Thought and Christian
Science (McConnell, 1995:15, 24). This is evidenced by his advancement of positive confession
theology, his elevation of human beings and explicit teachings on health and wealth (Jones &
Woodbridge, 2011:51).
16
Most faith teachers will refer to Hagin as the father of the Word of Faith movement, but in truth it is
Kenyon (Hanegraaff, 2009:17).
17
Hagin (1917-2003) is widely accepted as a guardian, teacher and prophet by faith teachers. He claimed
to have died and been resurrected on three separate occasions (Hanegraaff, 2009:21). He further
stands accused of extensively plagiarising Kenyon’s work. Although Hagin denied this accusation, it
evidently seems to be correct when his writings were compared to Kenyon’s (McConnell, 1995: 6-8,
50; Neuman, 1990:54). The health and wealth theology can thus clearly be traced from the mind-
healing cults via Kenyon to Hagin (Neuman, 1990:54). He embraced and spread the teachings of
Kenyon with great success (Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:54).
18
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea’, and
does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have
whatever he says.”
13
The well-known faith teacher Kenneth Copeland19 (1974:14-15), speaks of the so-called force of
faith, which makes the universal laws of the spirit world function (Copeland, 1983:15). He also
explains that God created the entire universe using this force of faith. Each time God spoke, He
released His own faith, which is considered to be the creative power by which His words came
to pass (Copeland, 1980:6-7). Because God created the universe through His faith-filled words,
this universe is also controlled by words. Copeland (2010:5) suggests that we live under a so-
called word-activated system that no one can change. However, in this word-activated system,
each individual can choose his/her words to change their environments and circumstances
(Copeland, 1983:15; Copeland, 2010:5). Copeland (2015) also says: “Any image that you get
down on the inside of you that is so vivid when you close your eyes you can see it, it’ll come to
pass.” According to Copeland, intangible words do indeed take on tangible reality (Hanegraaff,
2009:25).

In turn, Joyce Meyer20 (2015) also seems to adopt a similar concept when she explains the
importance of one’s thoughts. She says that what you think about is what you end up doing, to
the extent that it becomes your reality. If someone keeps sowing negative thoughts, attitudes
and words, it will produce negative results in life (Meyer, 2013:11). Therefore you must rather
speak of the things you desire most, as if they already exist in your life, even if they don’t.
Apparently you can reach into the spiritual realm with your faith and talk of the things you want
most, as if it is already a reality in your life, and it will be delivered (Meyer, 2013:51-52). Words
are to be understood as containers of creative and positive or destructive and negative power,
with the consequence that, what you say today you will end up having tomorrow (Meyer, cited
by Hanegraaff, 2009:96). Meyer (2005:9-10) also writes about a principle that she finds in
Matthew 9:2921: “The Bible says it will be unto us as we believe (See Matt. 9:29). That principle
works in the negative as well as the positive. We can receive by fear as well as by faith.” She
applies this principle to Job who feared the bad things that happened to him (Job 3:2522) and so
he seemingly brought the bad things upon himself. Peters (2013) connects this statement of
Meyer directly to the law of attraction.

19
Copeland started his ministry as a direct result of memorising Hagin’s messages. In 1988, on the Trinity
Broadcasting Network (TBN), he called God the greatest failure in the Bible (Hanegraaff, 2009:24-
25, 387).
20
Meyer earned a PhD in theology from Life Christian University (LCU), which lacks scholastic
accreditation. Apart from Meyer’s belief that your words create future realities, she also adheres to
the so-called little gods doctrine (Hanegraaff, 2009:40-42; Meyer, 2011).
21
“Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you.’”
22
“For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.”
14
It is clear that Joel Osteen23 (2004:129, 139) also underlines this same principle when he
explains that everyone draws into their experience what they’re constantly thinking about. It is
not just thoughts that are important, but also words. According to Osteen (2004:165), it is not
enough to just imagine things, one must also speak words of faith over one’s life to give birth to
it with enormous creative power. This is considered to be a spiritual principle that works
positively or negatively, depending on the words one use.

To some extent it seems that At Boshoff (2008:40) also writes about this positive confession
doctrine, explaining that we must change from the negative to the positive because, in the same
way our faith can be seen and heard, our unbelief is also very visible and audible. Although God
is all-powerful, He can’t override our will since He gave men free will. Accordingly, God can only
work with the positive or negative power that is within us. Everyone must therefore be careful
with their thoughts and words since God, the angels and the demons are all always listening to
our faith or unbelief. The moment we open our mouth to speak, we can invite God into the
equation or leave Him out of it. If there is a ‘no’ in our words, God can’t intervene on our behalf
(Boshoff, 2008:40-41).

Jones and Woodbridge (2011:59) compare proponents of the New Thought with many of the
faith preachers24 who believe that words – both thought and spoken – are a force that somehow
has creative power over reality (Coleman, 2004:425). Until believers visualise, and speak with
faith-filled words, God is unable to act on their behalf. Positive confession seems to be a
doctrine that is proclaimed to be Christian, but it works on exactly the same basis as the law of
attraction (Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:62; Peters, 2013). Some critics connect positive
confession to the world of the occult as a New Age practice (Simpson, 2007:85). Frigulti
(2015:61) even affirms a strong link between the doctrine of positive confession and the occult,
specifically the use of the law of attraction.

While New Agers use the law of attraction to obtain what they desire from the universe,
Christians who advocate positive confession believe they are ordering their desires from God, or
ordering God for their desires (Hanegraaff, 2009:103; Peters, 2013). Peters (2013) describes
this practice as cultic doctrine, wrapped in Christian terminology, which obscures the line
between God the Creator and humans as His created.

23
Osteen is the pastor of the largest church in America (Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:72). Jones and
Woodbridge (2011:76) affirm that, in his teachings, he is simply reciting New Thought metaphysics.
He explained that the reason why God took Zachariah’s speech away is because God knew how
powerful our words are and that Zachariah’s negative words would somehow cancel out His plan
(Peters, 2013).
24
Some of the other popular faith preachers not mentioned include: P. Crouch, T.D. Jakes, B. Hinn,
F. Price, J. Hagee, C. Dollar, E. Long, J. Duplantis and P. White (Hanegraaff, 2009:26-82; Jones &
Woodbridge, 2011:15, 56).
15
5. PREACHING THE LAW OF ATTRACTION: IS IT BIBLICAL?

5.1. The issue at hand

In light of the discussion this far, the preaching of the law of attraction as being Biblical is
profoundly important. This issue can best be described in the words of Hanegraaff (2000:311):
“… what we are dealing with is the way in which secular religion manifests itself in the context of
the Christian churches. This is a phenomenon too important to be passed over lightly.”

The South African church leader, Pastor At Boshoff from the CRC, proclaimed the law of
attraction as a Biblical, and a Christian principle, from the pulpit – especially in two of his
sermons in 2010 (Boshoff, 2010a; Boshoff 2010d). According to the CRC’s statement of faith,
the CRC believes in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible as the inspired word of God and
the final authority for faith and life (CRC, 2015b). This church clearly claims to hold the
Scriptures in high regard, as any Christian church should.

Seeing that the law of attraction was preached from the Bible by Boshoff, the question that must
be answered, is: Is it Biblical to preach the law of attraction? To answer this question one must
search the Scriptures to see if it is biblically true (Acts 17:10-1125). If the following analysis of the
two sermons of Boshoff (2010a; 2010d) is valid, it places the church before a crisis that
amounts to a struggle between orthodoxy and heresy, or even greater, between the kingdom of
Christ and the kingdom of the cults (see Hanegraaff, 2009:14).

This analysis will take the following form: First a broad outline of Boshoff’s two sermons will be
provided after which his exegesis and understanding of Scripture will be evaluated. The
evaluation will be done by consulting different commentaries within the reformed tradition.
Finally the dogmatic implications of the law of attraction will be indicated by referring to the Bible
and using other supplementary dogmatic sources. In At Boshoff’s sermons he used the New
King James version (NKJV) of the Bible. To ensure that the study is reliable, the same Bible
translation will be used in this analysis.

5.2. A broad outline of Boshoff’s sermons on the law of attraction

Boshoff (2010a) begins his series of sermons on the law of attraction in 2010 by explaining that
he wants to talk about a powerful law that governs one’s life. He defines this powerful law – the

25
“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they
went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in
that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether
these things were so.”
16
law of attraction – as follows: “The law of attraction simply says: Like attracts like. You’re
attracting to yourself who you are.” He elaborates further on this by saying: “… we’re creating
our own future all the time, whether we like to know it or not.” (Boshoff, 2010a).

In these sermons he claims that every child of God should always live a blessed life, because
the life blessed with goodness is God’s highest desire for every Christian. He refers to Bible
verses such as Jeremiah 29:1126, John 10:1027, 1 Corinthians 2:928, Galatians 3:13-1429,
Ephesians 1:330, 2 Peter 1:331, and 3 John 232 to support this claim. When he refers to 3 John 2,
he states that if it is translated literally it would mean to succeed in financial matters. Accordingly
every Christian has already been blessed to live a great and prosperous life in material wealth
(Boshoff, 2010a).

After this claim he asks his listeners the following question:

How come so many people still falter and fall and live in defeat and just don’t live this life that
the Bible guarantees? How come? I believe it’s very simply, people don’t understand this
powerful law (Boshoff, 2010a).

Boshoff (2010a) then goes on describing the working of this law:

Whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, you’re attracting things into your life all
the time, good or bad, wanted and unwanted. All the time you are sending out a force, a
power, an energy, that either attracts good things and good people into your life, or it repels
good things and good people.

After referring to Matthew 12:33-3533, Boshoff (2010a; 2010b) explains that some people seem
to struggle in life, because they’ve never allowed the grace of God to change their inner
treasure. He explains further with regard to these people: “Although they say the right thing, on

26
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to
give you a future and a hope.”
27
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have
life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
28
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has
prepared for those who love Him.”
29
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written,
“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the
Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
30
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…”
31
“… as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the
knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue…”
32
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
33
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is
known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings
forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”
17
the inside they are controlled by something else, and that something else all the time is sending
out an invisible signal.” He claims, according to Matthew 12:33-35, that our entire life flows forth
from our heart and for that reason we must develop and build our treasure on the inside
(Boshoff, 2010b).

Referring to Matthew 12:33-35, he also states:

Notice that the Bible says what is in your heart you’re attracting into your life all the time,
whether you like it or not. You live by the simple law of attraction. All the time you’re
attracting things into your life, good or bad, wanted or unwanted. You attract what is at the
core of your heart (Boshoff, 2010d).

According to Boshoff (2010d), it is the thoughts of man that limit his life and one must somehow
enlarge oneself on the inside. He makes it clear that your biggest enemy is nothing or nobody
else than what you allow to go on in your heart, mind and thoughts. That seems to be the place
where you can neutralise yourself.

Boshoff (2010b) also refers to Proverbs 4:2334 to assert that, whatever we hold in our heart, we
will attract into our life. It is from within ourselves that we constantly release some kind of energy
that attracts things and people to us. He writes:
So whatever you think about all the time you’re attracting in your life all the time. Whatever
you give your energy and whatever you put your focus upon you’re attracting to yourself – all
the time (Boshoff, 2010b).

As an illustration of Proverbs 23:735 he lists many possible negative thoughts one can think
about and then elaborates on it:
If you’re thinking those negative thoughts all the time you’re releasing a negative energy
from your heart that repels good things from you. It’s like you have this invisible shield that
repels and whatever you fear you begin to bring into your life. (Boshoff, 2010b).

According to Boshoff (2010b) one’s heart was created by God to produce one’s future. He
describes it as the soil that brings forth whatever you put in it and this is then the reason why
the Bible says you must guard it more than anything else. Your heart is consequently releasing
and attracting things, people and circumstances into your life (Boshoff, 2010c).

When Boshoff (2010c) turns to Genesis 39:2-436, he directly connects the favour that Joseph
found in the sight of his master to the law of attraction. Joseph supposedly attracted this favour

34
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
35
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ‘Eat and drink’” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”

18
because he believed in the good will of God for his life. Boshoff (2010c) applies this to his
listeners by explaining that they can also attract favour to themselves if they believe.

With all this said, Boshoff (2010a; 2010c) has to admit that, to a certain extent, there are
tribulations in our life that is beyond our control. He vividly refers to Psalm 27:337 and 1338, Psalm
23:139, 440 and 641 and Psalm 30:542 to motivate this. Following these verses he explains that one
must always expect good things in bad situations. In the light of the totality of his sermons on
the way the law of attraction works, these comments seem to be in contradiction with what was
explained, and it raises inevitable questions.

5.3. Evaluating Boshoff’s use of Scripture

5.3.1. Do Proverbs 4:23 and 23:7 support the law of attraction?

Two key Scripture texts that Boshoff (2010b) uses to support the law of attraction are from the
book of Proverbs. Following Proverbs 4:23, it must first of all be mentioned that the ‘heart’ is
considered to be the central organ in wisdom literature. It does, however, not refer to the
physical organ of the human body, but rather to the mind, or as Lange et al. (2008:73) describe
it: “the pure moral consciousness of man …” (Garret, 1993:88; Keil & Delitzsch, 1996:82;
Murphy, 1998:28).

In this way, the heart as one’s innermost being, is portrayed as a water source from which life
erupts in a figurative sense (Longman, 2006:154; Murphy, 1998:28). It is the wellspring of life in
that the capacity to live with true joy comes from within and not from our circumstances (Garret,
1993:88). A true meaningful life can be described as the spiritual vitality which wells up as truth,
is made man’s own, and flows abroad wherever his renewed outlook makes itself felt (Kidner,
1964:65). It is sufficient to state that the heart as your intellectual, and especially moral centrum,

36
“The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the
Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to
prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer
of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.”
37
“Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in
this I will be confident.”
38
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of
the living.”
39
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
40
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
41
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the
LORD forever.”
42
“For His anger is but for a moment, is favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in
the morning.”
19
will determine your everyday approach to life. A person with a bad heart will sooner or later
reflect that in his/her everyday life (Keil & Delitzsch, 1996:82). The verb ‘spring’ can hardly refer
to the heart’s ability to attract or repel things into or from one’s life. It seems that Boshoff’s
(2010b) remark regarding Proverbs 4:23, namely, “Whatever is in your heart you’re attracting
into your life”, is foreign to this passage.

It is clear that the heart was not created by God to literally produce your own future (Boshoff,
2010b). If you read verses 10-2743, it is also clear that the common Biblical metaphor of
comparing two paths with each other is initiated here (see Matt. 7:13-1444). It is the path of the
wicked and the path of the righteous which serves as a metaphor to compare the behaviour,
lifestyles and fate of these two paths (VanGemeren et al., 1997:1097).

When one further considers the broader context of this verse (verse 20-2745), Longman
(2006:154) makes the following remark:
The father is not interested in just a superficial response from his son, some kind of
behaviour modification; he desires that his child be wise at his very core. Action and speech
will flow from a wise character. Verse 22 gives motivation to the son to pay attention to his
father. If he takes the message to heart, then that will lead to a life wholeness … It is most
important that the son preserves the integrity of his heart. It is from the heart that life derives.
The father is not speaking literally. The heart can remain beating, but a person be dead in
other ways. An evil heart is a dead heart.

43
"Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the
way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And
when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is
your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not
travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And
their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, And
drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter
unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them
stumble. My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart
from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And
health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put
away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight
ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be
established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil."
44
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there
are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and
there are few who find it.”
45
“My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your
eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them; and health to all
their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you
a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your
eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do
not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.”
20
When one turns to Proverbs 23:7, both Keil and Delitzsch (1996:339) and Murphy (1998:173)
emphasise the fact that the translation of the first phrase in this verse is difficult and uncertain.
Toy (1914:430) proposes a possible translation to read as follows: “as he reckons within
himself, so is he.” Longman (2006:425) adheres to the translation of the New Revised Standard
Version (NRSV): “For it is like a hair in the throat.” In turn, Geisler (1997:73) rests with the
translation of the New International Version (NIV), which reads: “He is the kind of man who is
always thinking about the cost.” None of these different translations can support the teaching of
the law of attraction.

Apart from the difficulties concerning the translation, it is clear that verse 7 must be interpreted
together with verses 646 and 847. Where Proverbs 23:1-348 gives advice about table manners with
a ruler, here one finds advice about eating with a stingy person (Longman, 2006:425). Geisler
(1997:73) explains the whole context of this passage as follows:
The whole context of this passage (vv. 6-8) is warning about eating “the bread of a miser”
(v. 6). Speaking of the miser, the last verse says, “ ‘Eat and drink,’ he says to you, but his
heart is not with you.” This fits with the idea that the miser’s heart is not there because “he is
always thinking about the costs,” as the NIV translates it.

After listing a couple of negative thoughts and referring specifically to Proverbs 23:7, Boshoff
(2010b) says: “If you’re thinking those negative thoughts all the time you are releasing a
negative energy from your heart that repels good things from you. It’s like you have this invisible
shield that repels and whatever you fear you begin to bring into your life.”

Boshoff’s (2010b) exposition of this passage is totally foreign to it. Proverbs 23:7 doesn’t
support the law of attraction in any way, because it says nothing about changing your reality
through thoughts (Geisler, 1997:73).

5.3.2. Does Matthew 12:33-35 support the law of attraction?

It seems that Matthew 12:33-35 is the key text in Scripture that Boshoff (2010a; 2010b; 2010d)
relies on in his attempt to support the law of attraction. Hagner (1998:350) mentions that the
point being made in this text is the same as in Matthew 7:1749. A good tree automatically
produces good fruit while a bad tree automatically produces bad fruit. The conclusion is
therefore obvious in the sense that a tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces.

46
“Do not eat the bread of a miser, nor desire his delicacies”
47
“The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, and waste your pleasant words.”
48
“When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you; and put a knife to your
throat if you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.”
49
“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”
21
Blomberg (1992:205), Hagner (1998:350), Hendriksen and Kistemaker (2001:530) and Calvin
(2010b:79) are all in accord that Jesus in Matthew 12:33-35 is addressing the Pharisees and
applying the similarity between the tree and the fruit to nothing more than our heart and speech.
Hendriksen and Kistemaker (2001:530) write:
As a teeming population will overflow into adjoining territory, and a too full cistern into an
overflow pipe, so also the overplus of the heart will burst out into speech, as it certainly did in
the case of these wicked Pharisees. The opposite is also true: when the heart is filled with
good and noble intentions the good man’s speech will prove this to be a fact. The rule
according to which whatever a man has set his heart on, so that the very core and center of
his being is full of it, will sooner or later be disclosed in his speech, holds for good and bad
alike.

The heart is considered to be the centre of a person’s being and according to Matthew 12:33-
35, the mouth will speak accordingly (Hagner, 1998:350; Hendriksen & Kistemaker, 2001:350).
The New Testament usage of the word ‘heart’ agrees with the Old Testament use thereof, for it
is seen as a person’s main organ of spiritual life. It is the seat of understanding and the source
of thought and reflection (Kittel et al., 1964:611-612). But does this mean that your entire life
flows forth from your heart and that the things you cherish in your heart, you will always attract
to yourself, as Boshoff (2010b; 2010d) claims? Boshoff (2010b; 2010d) even replaces the words
‘good’ and ‘evil’ in verse 35, with ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ to try to bring his ideas into the text so
that it reads: “A positive man out of the positive treasure of his heart brings forth positive things,
and a negative man out of the negative treasure brings forth negative things.”

When Jesus calls the Pharisees a “brood of vipers” it is a clear indication that He believes the
Pharisees to represent the bad tree with its bad fruit (Blomberg, 1992:205). Therefore they are
described as being incapable of speaking good things, since their bad speeches are indications
of bad hearts (Blomberg, 1992:205; Hagner, 1998:350; Hendriksen & Kistemaker, 2001:530;
Calvin, 2010b:80).

It is clear that the word “treasure” in verse 35 is used figuratively, referring to the inner store of a
person’s heart. In the New Testament this word is normally used in situations where there is a
contrast between heavenly and earthly treasures (see Matt. 6:19-2150). In this way Jesus takes
up the Jewish teaching that man should not assemble earthly and material things through un-
godly deeds, but rather do godly deeds, by which the righteous lay up treasure in heaven (Kittel
et al., 1964:137).

50
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break
in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and
where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
22
The verb “brings forth” in verse 35 can hardly be applied to anything other than a person’s
words. Sayings of Boshoff (2010a; 2010b; 2010d) such as “sending out an invisible signal”,
“from within you release the energy that attracts things and people to you all the time”, “… what
is in your heart you’re attracting into your life all the time whether you like it or not” and “Your
heart is going to attract to you.” is once again foreign to Matthew 12:33-35. In fact, Calvin
(2010b:80-81) rather describes the purpose of this passage as follows:
We must also observe the purpose for which Christ employs those parables; for he
reproaches the Pharisees with having manifested by words the malice which they had
inwardly conceived. Besides, knowing them to be sworn enemies, he takes occasion from a
single calumny to expose their whole life, and to destroy their credit with the people, which
gave them too great influence in deceiving and in doing mischief. Though good speeches do
not always proceed from the inmost heart, but originate (as the phrase is) on the tip of the
tongue, yet it is an invariable truth, that bad speeches are indications of a bad heart.

Matthew 12:33-35 clearly doesn’t support the law of attraction. The principle can only be applied
to your speech and not to the idea of attracting things into your life. If you were to use Matthew
12:33-35 in a sermon, verse 36 and 3751 should also be added to your reference, since it is
considered to be appended as a climax to the preceding verses, which point not only to the
danger of bad words, but even useless words. It assumes the view of the preceding verses that
the words of a person reflect his/her inner identity, since words, like deeds, are indicators of a
person’s discipleship of Jesus and relationship to the kingdom (Hagner, 1998:350-351;
Hendriksen & Kistemaker, 2001:531).

5.3.3. Did Joseph use the law of attraction?

According to Boshoff (2010c), Joseph used the law of attraction to attract the favour he received
in Genesis 39:2-4. Potiphar, the officer of Pharaoh, bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites and
Joseph served in his house as a slave. Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph and so
Joseph found favour in the sight of his master, who then made him overseer of his house.

The word describing Joseph as a ‘successful’ man is a verb in the original Hebrew. It is
important to notice that the success is merely stating God’s grace in Joseph’s life. Theologically
this verb emphasises that only God is the one who gives success and the success this passage
is referring to is about the intended accomplishment in the different activities of life
(VanGemeren, 1997:804).

51
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of
judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
23
Mathews (2005:731-732) notes that the phrase: “The Lord was with Joseph …” occurs again in
verse 2152. This draws an explicit parallel between Joseph’s success in the house of Potiphar
and his achievement in prison. One can conclude that Joseph’s success must be connected to
God’s graceful presence in his life and not his ability to attract favour and success. Wenham
(1998:374) adds to this that the Lord’s presence in his life also places the coming unfortunate
events into perspective (see Gen. 39:19-2153). Despite the setbacks Joseph was about to face,
God was always with him.

Calvin (2010d:293) rightly draws attention to the following principle in this narrative of Joseph:
How much more base is our ingratitude, if we do not refer all our prosperous events to God
as their author; seeing that Scripture often teaches us, that nothing proceeding from men,
whether counsels, or labours, or any means which they can devise, will profit them, except
so far as God gives his blessing.

Notice that Boshoff (2010c) sets a condition to his listeners when applying this passage to them:
just as Joseph attracted this success and favour because he believed correctly and used the
law of attraction correctly, so they can also attract success and favour using the law of attraction
correctly and believe correctly.

Joseph’s success and favour can’t be attributed to him using the law of attraction in the correct
way. He didn’t attract Potiphar’s favour into his own life. It was God’s gracious act to provide it
for him in his circumstances. God sovereignly set the course for Joseph to receive this success
and favour. Using the law of attraction through the correct way of believing to channel prosperity
into existence can’t be called faith. Faith is rather a channel of living trust between a creature
and his Creator (Hanegraaff, 2009:277).

5.4. Evaluation of the doctrinal implications of the law of attraction

5.4.1. The dethronement of God

The first doctrinal implication of the law of attraction is the dethronement of God. If one believes
that the idea of the law of attraction is true, God can’t act on your behalf unless you visualise,
speak and believe correctly. Immediately God is limited to a genie in service of people (Peters,
2013). He cannot operate outside of the universal law of attraction because even He is

52
“But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the
keeper of the prison.”
53
“So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, ‘Your servant did to
me after this manner,’ that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into
the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the
LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of
the prison.”
24
governed by it (Hanegraaff, 2009:119-121; Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:62). Accordingly, God
must obey this spiritual law of attraction and deliver whatever his children desire in life. Boshoff
(2010a) starts with the assumption that our lives are governed by the law of attraction without
even mentioning God in the sentence. The teaching of the law of attraction and similar ideas is
a direct disregard of the sovereignty and omnipotence of God – it destroys the essentials of
historical Christianity (Hanegraaff, 2009:147; MacArthur, 1992:350-351; McConnell, 1995:140).

When it comes to the truth about God, Van Til (1955:241) rightly emphasises that one must
appeal to his authoritative Word: “My primary interest is now, as it always has been, to teach
what the Bible contains as the infallible rule of faith and practice in the way of truths about God
and his relation to man and the world.” In Revelation 1:854 God clearly makes himself known as
“the Almighty”. When one considers Psalm 115:1-355, it is clear that God always does whatever
he wants. He is therefore not governed by anything outside of Himself – especially not the plans
in the heart of man (see Prov. 21:156 and 19:2157). Following Psalm 115:3, Calvin (2010c:334)
warns one not to abuse the sovereignty of God:
That God can do whatsoever he pleaseth is a doctrine of great importance, provided it be
truly and legitimately applied. This caution is necessary, because curious and forward
persons, as is usual with them, take the liberty of abusing a sound doctrine by producing it in
defence of their frantic reveries. And in this matter we daily witness too much of the wildness
of human ingenuity. This mystery, which ought to command our admiration and awe, is by
many shamelessly and irreverently made a topic of idle talk. If we would derive advantage
from this doctrine, we must attend to the import of God’s doing whatsoever he pleaseth in
heaven and on the earth.

God is absolutely sovereign in His decisions and actions and it is not determined by anything
outside of Himself (Smith, 2012:90; Van Genderen & Velema, 2008:183, 194). The greatness of
His power and might is more than enough ground to praise Him and there are many more
passages from Scripture58 to support the absoluteness of God’s almighty power, who certainly
has the last say (Frame, 2013:337).

It is clear that no man can force the hand of God using some formula or spiritual law. The Bible
teaches the absolute reign of God in the universe and it seems that the law of attraction places

54
“’I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and
who is to come, the Almighty.’”
55
“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of
Your truth. Why should the Gentiles say, ‘So where is their God?’ But our God is in heaven; He does
whatever He pleases.”
56
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”
57
“There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.”
58
Consider 2 Chron. 20:6, Job 23:13, Ps. 24:7-8, Ps. 135:6, Prov. 16:1, Isa. 14:24-27; 43:13, Dan. 4:35,
Mk. 14:36, Eph. 1:18-23, Phil. 3:21.
25
a limit on God which is unbiblical (McConnell, 1995:140-141). Oliphint (2012:218) sets this
unbiblical assumption right: “There is nothing outside of God that initially limits Him; nor is there
anything that ever limits His essential character.”

5.4.2. The enthronement of man

Another doctrinal implication of the law of attraction is the enthronement of man. It is considered
theologically inevitable that a demotion of God leads to an exaltation of man (McConnell,
1995:142). Boshoff’s (2010a) claim that we’re creating our own future through the law of
attraction rather seems like a way to invert the relationship between the Creator and the
creature (Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:63). According to the law of attraction, humans can use
thoughts to attract things into their lives (Boshoff, 2010b). This gives humans the leading part in
the universe, and the only part left for God to play is to meet all their needs, including good
relationships, sound health, and financial gains (Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:63; Peters, 2013).
The teaching of the law of attraction dangerously exalts man to the extent where he can
manipulate God to control his own future (Hanegraaff, 2009:121).

In Genesis 3:4-559 one reads of the big lie of the serpent to Eve: “You will not surely die. For
God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,
knowing good and evil.” The serpent depicts God to be selfish and deceptive trying to prevent
Adam and Eve from achieving the same position as Elohim (Matthews, 1996:236). Regarding
this first sin of man, Van Genderen and Velema (2008:390) remarks: “Man sought to usurp
God’s position. He reached for God’s crown and claimed what was only due to God.” Mere
humans as creatures of God can never claim to be like God or to whatever extent try to play
God’s role in their own lives. The desire to do so was the sin that led to the fall in the first place
(see Isa. 14:12-1560; Peters, 2013).

According to James 4:13-1661 it is clear that your future is in God’s hands and that you must
therefore not pretend to know more about it than what you do (Frame, 2013:155, 670). The

59 5
“Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of
it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’”
60
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will
exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the
farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the pit.”
61
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there,
buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is
your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought
to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All
such boasting is evil.”
26
claim that we can create our own future rather seems like a secularised attempt to elevate man
to the king of creation in God’s place (Boshoff, 2010a; Van Genderen & Velema, 2008:378).
There should be a very crisp line between us as God’s creatures and God as our Creator, which
Calvin (1845:49) expresses very clearly in his Institutes of the Christian religion:
So long as we do not look beyond the earth, we are quite pleased with our own
righteousness, wisdom, and virtue; we address ourselves in the most flattering terms, and
seem only less than demigods. But should we once begin to raise our thoughts to God, and
reflect what kind of Being he is, and how absolute the perfection of that righteousness, and
wisdom, and virtue, to which, as a standard, we are bound to be conformed, what formerly
delighted us by its false show of righteousness will become polluted with the greatest
iniquity; what strangely imposed upon us under the name of wisdom will disgust by its
extreme folly; and what presented the appearance of virtuous energy will be condemned as
the most miserable impotence. So far are those qualities in us, which seem most perfect,
from corresponding to the divine purity.

Scripture clearly indicates that there is only one God and that it is a sin to claim otherwise62.
When writing with regard to the first commandment, Frame (2008:415) emphasises that it is a
clear violation thereof when we worships our own power and capabilities or ourselves. In
question and answer 95 of the Heidelberg Catechism, the answer to the question: “What is
idolatry?”, is: “It is, instead of the one true God who has revealed Himself in His Word, or along
with the same, to conceive or have something else on which to place our trust.” (Schaff,
1882:342). If you believe in the law of attraction you place your trust in something else than
God. It gives man the power and capabilities to play god over their own lives and instead
trusting their own plans, while any man’s plans are in fact totally contingent (Smith, 2012:89-90).
The life of a Christian should always be a pursuit of God’s will and not a strategy to get Him to
go along with ours (MacArthur, 1992:351). Our will, heart, plans and everything is in a state of
total depravity63, there is nothing in us worthy of any praise (Hanko, 2012:114).

The law of attraction clearly steals the glory of God and gives it to man. Instead of glorifying
ourselves, we must turn to God who makes all things possible, and confess in absolute humble
dependence upon Him:
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable
are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him, and it shall be repaid to
him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
(Romans 11:33-36).

62
See Ex. 20:3-4, 2 Sam. 22:32, Ps. 50:1, Isa. 44:6-8, Mk. 12:29, Rom. 16:27, 1 Cor. 8:6, Eph. 5:6, 1 Tim.
1:17; 2:5 and Jm. 2:19.
63
See Gen. 6:5, Ps. 14:2-3, Isa. 64:6, Jer. 17:9 and Eph. 2:1-3.
27
5.4.3. God’s all-encompassing providence and the question of suffering

Another doctrinal implication to discuss concerns the doctrine of God’s providence64. Boshoff’s
(2010a; 2010d) claim that the law of attraction governs our life, that we are creating our own
future and that we live by the law of attraction, is a direct assault on God’s providence
(MacArthur, 1992:350-351). God’s providence refers to His most holy, wise, and powerful
preserving and governing of all His creatures, and their actions65 (Frame, 2013:141).

Boshoff (2010a) refers to seven passages in the Bible to support his claim that a materially
prosperous and blessed life is always God’s will for a Christian. According to him, Christians
who still struggle in life and don’t live such a blessed, prosperous life simply do not understand
the law of attraction. Piper (2010:24) explains that, on the one hand we may trust in the Lord to
be our helper, because He will provide and protect us – there is thus a measure of prosperity
He will give us. But on the other hand there is a line between trusting God for our needs and
using God for our wants. The law of attraction rather seems like an attempt to use God for our
wants, than trusting in His providence.

God gracefully provides for all of creation. His children who know that in God we live and move
and have our being, will be forever thankful, not only because God protect our spiritual life, but
also because God gives us, day by day, life and breath and all things (see Acts 17:2566). One
who trust God for everything can die in peace in the confidence that the One who gives and
preserves life also takes it away again, and that God is the faithful Father of His children, even
in suffering and death (Hanko, 2012:93; Van Genderen & Velema, 2008:291).

According to Velarde (2007:5) the fatal flaw of the law of attraction is its inability to adequately
solve the problem of suffering. If everything that comes into our life experience is the result of
our ability to create our own future, then what is the explanation for those that have been raped,
tortured or persecuted? Following the only logical outcome the law of attraction can provide,
everyone always brings these bad things upon themselves. Boshoff’s (2010a) claim that people

64
Article 13 of the Belgic Confession of Faith reads as follows with regard to God’s providence: “We
believe that the same God, after he had created all things, did not forsake them, or give them up to
fortune or chance, but that he rules and governs them, according to his holy will, so that nothing
happens in this world without his appointment; nevertheless, God neither is the author of, nor can be
charged with, the sins which are committed. For his power and goodness are so great and
incomprehensible, that he orders and executes his work in the most excellent and just manner even
when the devil and wicked men act unjustly.”
65
Here are some of the many passages in Scripture which expresses God’s acts of providence: Neh. 9:6,
1 Sam. 2:6-7, Job 42:2, Ps. 33:10-11, Ps. 37:23-24, Ps. 65:9-11, Ps. 145:15-16, Ps. 147:15-20, Isa.
14:24-27; 46:10, Jer. 5:24, Jer. 23:20, Lam. 3:37-38, Dan. 4:35, Matt. 6:25-26, Matt. 10:29-31, Jn.
3:27, Ac. 17:25-28, Eph. 1:11, Heb. 1:3,
66
“Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life,
breath, and all things.”
28
who struggle in life do not understand the law of attraction, implies that they are the cause of
their own suffering and struggles in life. A view such as this is atrocious (Velarde, 2007:5). It is
the same as to claim that all Paul’s imprisonments, hardships, hunger and afflictions were a
direct result of his own negativity that he allowed to dwell in his thoughts (see 2 Corinthians
11:22-2967). According to the law of attraction, Job, the righteous man, brought all the tragedies
in his life unto himself (Job 3:25).

Preaching prosperity through the law of attraction, as Boshoff (2010a; 2010b; 2010c; 2010d)
does, conceals the fact of suffering in the Christian life and it doesn’t provide any comfort for
someone enduring suffering in whatever way (Piper, 2010:26). More than the notion of material
prosperity, the New Testament emphasises the fulfilment of your calling amidst suffering68. Piper
(2010:26-27) considers it a disservice if one doesn’t tell young disciples of Christ about the
necessity of suffering. He further explains that God has definitive purposes for suffering, which
is crucial to know. One must indeed search very hard to find one person in the Old and New
Testament that lived a pain-free life on account of their faith (Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:109;
Van Genderen & Velema, 2008:289).

Jones and Woodbridge (2011:122) write the following with regard to suffering:
While the Bible does not present suffering as desirable, it likewise does not view suffering as
a hindrance to God’s plan of redemption. While a day is coming in the future in which there
will be no more pain and suffering, Scripture teaches that in the current world trials are a tool
that the Lord uses in order to foster the sanctification of His people.

There is no easy answer to the question of suffering, but the Christian faith, and specifically the
doctrine of God’s providence, is very unique regarding the incarnation of Christ. God Himself
took on flesh and voluntarily became part of human suffering. Christ is the only person in history
who, without any sin, went through the pain of immense and unjust suffering. Therefore, when
one as a believer suffers, the fact that the fellowship of suffering includes Christ, should be
comforting (Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:119-120; Van Genderen & Velema, 2008:311). The
implications of the law of attraction rob the Christian faith of this uniqueness.

67
“Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are
they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above
measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty
stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was
shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in
perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in
perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in
sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness – besides the
other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I
am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?”
68
Consider Matt. 10:25, Jn. 15:20, Ac. 14:22, Rom. 8:16-18, Eph. 6:10ff, 1 Pet. 4:12-14, 2 Tim.3:12.
29
God’s sovereignty includes both what He does, as well as His allowance of events that He
knows will happen. In His absolute sovereignty, God also uses suffering to accomplish His plans
and conform His children to His image (Jones & Woodbridge, 2011:121). The apostle Paul
writes:
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are
not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:17).

Suffering should remind us of the sovereignty of God (Frame, 2013:300). When Job wanted to
know from God why such dreadful suffering came upon him, God asked Job a question: “Where
were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” (Job
38:4). An answer like this reveals the truth that God is sovereign even amidst suffering. The
deepest hope for the Christian is eternal, not in health, wealth and prosperity in this lifetime, but
rather a resurrected body in the life to come. Christians have the certainty that their future are in
God’s hands and not theirs, for we don’t know what is best for us (Hanegraaff, 2009:277-278).
We can know that through God’s providence, whatever evil is sent upon us “… He (God) will
turn to my good; for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing also, being a faithful
Father.” Therefore “… we may be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and for what is
future have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us
from His love …” (Schaff, 1882:316).

5.4.4. Evaluating the worldview behind the law of attraction

The last doctrinal issue of the law of attraction to briefly evaluate is the worldview behind it. As
noted earlier, the core worldview behind the law of attraction is a combination of pantheism and
monism. Anderson (2014:81) notes that pantheism is very often associated with monism.

Within monism any diversity we experience is an illusion. Any distinctions that we make
between things are only in the mind, because any distinction between things destroys the
oneness of everything in monism. The implication is that any experience of the diverse world is
unreliable because, either all the diverse things are indeed identical, or it is unreal. In this great
oneness there is furthermore no fundamental difference between God and the world (Anderson,
2014:71-72; Van Genderen & Velema, 2008:249; Velarde, 2007:4).

At the heart of pantheism lies an impersonal god which can rather be described as a force or
energy. If everything is a manifestation of God, then everything is good, like God ought to be.
The implication is that the Holocaust was good, child abuse is good, cancer is good and
everything is good because everything is God. Pantheism consequently raises serious

30
questions when it comes to the reality of good and evil. The basis for this distinction disappears
and evil is completely denied (Anderson, 2014:81-82; Van Genderen & Velema, 2008:289;
Velarde, 2007:4).

When it comes to the Christian worldview, it begins with God, but not with God as man wants
Him to be in his service. It begins with the God who is really there and everything is about Him
and not about us. Christianity is therefore a God-given, Bible-based, Christ-centred worldview,
which begins with the personal, not-silent God (Ryken, 2006:13, 15).

31
6. CONCLUSION

Van Genderen and Velema (2008:1) start their book, Concise Reformed dogmatics, expressing
that there will be times when dogmatics are in demand, but also some periods when sound
doctrine is not highly regarded. It seems that the latter is an accurate description of the time in
which we find ourselves when we consider spiritual teachings such as the law of attraction.

Preliminary issues regarding the law of attraction have been answered adequately to describe
what it is, how it works and from where its underlying principle originated. The New Age
worldview, underlying the law of attraction, has also been described to establish that the law of
attraction is a New Age practice that flows forth from a New Age monistic, pantheistic worldview.
A direct line was drawn from the law of attraction to the positive confession doctrine within the
Word of Faith movement. Serious attention was given to the sermons of At Boshoff on the law
of attraction, to show that secularised practices are infiltrating the Christian church, with far-
reaching doctrinal implications that destroy some of the fundamental tenets of historical
Christianity.

All of this was done to answer the question: Does the Christian worldview provide a place for
the law of attraction? The answer to this question is evidently no. The Christian worldview
makes no place for an impersonal law that even governs and limits the almighty God of heaven
and earth.

When discussing 2 Peter 2:169, Kistemaker and Hendriksen (2001:281) write:

The word heresies derives from the Greek verb which signifies to take something for one’s
self, to choose, or to prefer. It refers to a chosen course of thought or action that an
individual takes or that a group of people adopts as an article of faith or way of life. The
inevitable result is the act of separation which gives the term heresy an unfavorable
connotation… What is the result? Peter leaves no doubt that he uses the term heresy in a
negative sense, for he says that false teachers “will secretly introduce destructive heresies.”
The literal reading is, “heresies of [for] destruction”. The false teachers, then, slyly entered
the Christian community with doctrines designed to destroy the spiritual and moral lives of
the Christians.

In the light of the entire discussion it would suffice to say that the law of attraction is a good
example of a “destructive heresy” that is “secretly” introduced to Christians. It is not the law of
attraction that governs our lives, but God. We do not create our own future through manipulating

69
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you,
who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on
themselves swift destruction.”
32
things with our minds; our future is safe in the hands of God alone. We do not live by the simple
law of attraction; we live only by the grace of our heavenly Father.

33
SECTION C: CONCLUSION

What urged this study was the fact that the well-known South African church leader, Pastor At
Boshoff from the Christian Revival Church (CRC) proclaimed from the pulpit the belief in a
spiritual law of attraction as a Biblical, and a Christian, principle – specifically in two of his
sermons in 2010.

The need to address and evaluate the law of attraction, preached as a Biblical, and a Christian
principle, is shown to be of vital importance. That teachings that built on it, such as the
prosperity gospel, are growing around the world, also makes it an urgent matter to address from
an apologetic perspective. If this phenomenon is false, it places the church before a crisis that
amounts to a struggle between orthodoxy and heresy, or even, between the kingdom of Christ
and the kingdom of the cults.

In the first of two sermons on the law of attraction in 2010, Boshoff started by explaining that he
wanted to talk about a powerful law that governs our life. Later he defined this powerful law –
the law of attraction – as follows: “The law of attraction simply says: Like attracts like. You’re
attracting to yourself who you are”. In his second sermon on the law of attraction Boshoff
explained it further: “You live by the simple law of attraction. All the time you’re attracting things
into your life, good or bad, wanted or unwanted. You attract what is at the core of your heart”.
Later on he made it clear that our biggest enemy is nothing or nobody else than what we allow
to go on in our heart, mind and thoughts.

According to Boshoff the teaching of the law of attraction is a powerful principle one finds in the
Holy Scriptures – an important law that every Christian must understand to be successful in life,
without struggling.

Far from encouraging the teaching of the law of attraction, the Holy Scriptures rather reject
teaching that forces like the law of attraction govern your life. Boshoff’s use of Scripture to
support the law of attraction testifies to poor and irresponsible hermeneutics. The term ‘law of
attraction’ doesn’t appear in the Bible and, considering the cultic origins and doctrinal
implications of teachings such as this, it is rather a good example of a destructive heresy
against which the Bible warns us.

34
The Research Proposal of this study (Section A) stated the following objectives:

1. To discuss in detail what the law of attraction is, where it comes from, how it works,
whether it can be used, the corresponding features of the law of attraction and New Age,
as well as New Thought teachings, and the similarities between the law of attraction and
positive confession;

2. To determine whether the law of attraction can be preached as a Biblical principle, by

examining Pastor Boshoff’s sermons on the law of attraction, and then by formulating the
evaluative Biblical perspective concerning the law of attraction;

3. To determine whether the law of attraction has any rightful place in the Christian
worldview, according to the Bible, and what the possible destructive effect may be if the
law of attraction has a place in the Christian worldview.

The law of attraction has been discussed in great detail, confirming the corresponding features
with a New Age worldview and practices. The great similarities between the law of attraction
and the heaven idea of positive confession have been shown.

Boshoff’s key references to passages in Scripture in his sermons on the law of attraction, for the
support of this idea, are not only hermeneutically ungrounded, but clearly show that his
applications thereof are rather a mirror of his own ideas. The key Biblical passages he used are
used to preach his own convictions and not the truths of the Bible. In light of the greater
doctrinal implications of the law of attraction, it is clear that teachings such as this are
dangerous – especially concerning the faith and hopes of suffering believers. It may turn
Christians away from being a living sacrifice unto God and His purpose (Romans 12:170), to
create a self-centred, and even selfish, world for themselves.

Evidently, the conclusion of this research is that there is no place for the law of attraction in the
Christian worldview. It clearly endangers and destroys important doctrines that the Church of
Christ held dear throughout the ages, and may change believers from being free in Christ to
being slaves of a self-focussed force.

An important future apologetic study can be to determine the connection between the law of
attraction and the little gods doctrine and the influence it has on the life and worldview of
Christians.

70
“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.”
35
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