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How different from the message of Jesus: The first will be last, and the last will be first. Lose your life, and you will find it.

To illustrate the contrast, consider Pete Greig and his wife, Samie. The Greigs were energetic leaders of a prayer movement called 24-7, which began in England and expanded to dozens of countries. If anyone had the ability to move divine power, it was Pete. One morning six years ago, however, Samie awoke but felt as if her extremities were still asleep. Then, as Pete watched, helpless, Samie's body began to contort and convulse.

Testing revealed a brain tumor the size of an orange. Surgery followed. Successful surgery. But not complete healing. Samie had epilepsy, somewhat controlled by medication. At times, Pete still finds his wife convulsing on the ground where their two young boys go to school.

Pete, who wrote the new book God on Mute: Engaging the Silence of Unanswered Prayer, told me that on two occasions he prayed during a seizure and watched as the episode seemed miraculously to subside. But there have been hundreds of other seizures. Pete and Samie have experienced the kind of faith during which we throw ourselves on the mercy of God. We see such faith in the Thursday prayer of agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Jesus' prayer from the cross on Good Friday. In the silence of Saturday. And then, finally, comes Sunday—Resurrection day.

Contrary to the real gospel, The Secret proclaims: "The universe is supporting me in everything I do. The universe meets all my needs immediately."

Byrne says she is most gratified to hear of children discovering The Secret. But having raised two kids, I've always thought that one of the most important lessons young people must realize is that the universe does not revolve around them, that they are not God. When we believe in a God above us, apart from us, beneath us, and for us—then we find help and hope.

Mel Lawrenz, senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Mark Galli explored why we disdain feel-good spirituality in "The Real Secret of the Universe."

The Secret says it is an "astonishing program"—a DVD (trailer available) and book—that "reveals The Great Secret of the universe. It has been passed throughout the ages, traveling through centuries … to reach you and humankind." A blank check from the Bank of the Universe is also available on their website.

Oprah's website promotes the book in a slideshow, with photos, information on author Rhonda Byrne, and testimonials.

The Secret is at the top of the New York Times bestseller list (hardcover). This is its twentieth week on the list. The NYT Book review's "Inside the List" comments on the book's popularity.

Other responses to the book include:

The Secret's Out: A Review of The Secret by Rhonda Byrne | I just can't pile up enough superlatives about the new book The Secret!

Self-help gone nutty | A craze called 'The Secret' blends Tony Robbins with 'The Da Vinci Code,' telling people to have it all without trying. (The Los Angeles Times)

"The Secret" is out | New Age phenomenon claims you can have anything you want. (CBS News)

The power of negative thinking | We Americans believe instinctively in the power of positive thinking. But the key, it seems to me, is actually negative thinking. (The New York Times)

A giant doom magnet | So I was sitting around watching ''Oprah'' yesterday afternoon when I realized how I could stop W. and Crazy Dick from blowing up any more stuff. (Maureen Dowd, The New York Times)

Self-help's slimy 'Secret' | It's the publishing phenomenon of the year so far, a small book with a parchment-brown cover engraved with the image of a red wax seal. (The Washington Post)

Oprah's ugly secret | By continuing to hawk "The Secret," a mishmash of offensive self-help clichés, Oprah Winfrey is squandering her goodwill and influence, and preaching to the world that mammon is queen. (Salon)

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June 2007, Vol. 51, No. 6