Sunday, March 25, 2007

Giving 'The Secret ' A New Meaning



Here we go again…another phenomenon has entered our sensibilities with The Secret. Fueled by the Oprah Winfrey marketing machine, the book, movie, and discourse on many online and offline discussion boards are superlative and getting stronger. We also witnessed just recently Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven Life platforms, which in my opinion are on the same wavelength as the former. This time around, it’s Rhonda Byrne attempting to hit us up side the head with truths that are already prevalent in the Bible and elsewhere in literary lore. Is this a new thing, or do we have other vestiges that can give us just the things we need to enjoy the quality of life we seek? Life-changing information is not new to those that need it most, nor is it hidden where we can’t find it.

People of color have always trusted in the Lord, and have read His word, and have gone out and lived the life to boot. So what’s so masterful about this subject that The Secret has wrought? It’s easy and really doesn’t need Oprah or anybody else of noted fame to bring them to the fore. Getting the concept of The Secret can be assessed along practical lines where children, teenagers and adults of all ages can report a new lease on their lives in a positive way without some entrepreneurial marketing scheme.

I’ve discussed this issue with various members of my inner circle and we all came to the same conclusion that this theme is attributed to Faith-based initiatives. As quoted by one of my friends -- All The Secret is to me is the Faith concept repackaged to make someone really rich. You can get the same from the Bible…’name it and claim it’ was introduced by the Bible, and Mark chapters 4 and 5 are excellent examples of Faith”. I agree. All one has to do is decipher what the Lord wanted to be discerned by reading the Parable of the Sower, Mark 4:1-12; The Seed, Mark 4:26-29; and The Mustard Seed, Mark 4:30-41. These passages are adamant with explanation giving reasons why we should have faith, and why believing solely in Him is all you’d need. There's nothing monetary, of egotistical value, nor the need to sell anything other than Divine Order.

The laws of conjecture I'm sure, will have people believing what they want and using other examples of faith to draw upon. So, do we really need Oprah and Rhonda Bryne giving us something supposedly new, that we can readily find on our own through Biblical reference? I keep harking back to that which has always been a staple in my life when it comes to relying thusly on the Lord's dictates. It's all about the Bible stating without question that whosoever asks in Jesus' name, and believes wholeheartedly in Him shall be prosperous and live a great life. And that’s all I’ll ever need without me having to seek a ‘secret’!

2 comments:

RM said...

Alvin, I couldn't have said it better myself. "The Secret" is something we've been taught since we were old enough to sit in a Sunday school class. As my pastor always says "As a man thinks so is he." We would do well to remember this then we wouldn't need "The Secret" at all.

Vanessa A. Johnson said...

Amen, Alvin. I've thought the exact same thing, but you've stated it so eloquently.

Love & Peace,
VeeJay