Dial In with Jonny Ardavanis

The Dangerous Lie Inside the Church: New Thought, Mysticism & the Law of Attraction Exposed

Dial In with Jonny Ardavanis

Show Notes

Is mysticism creeping into your church? Are you unknowingly influenced by New Age or New Thought beliefs? In this eye-opening conversation, Jonny Ardavanis sits down with apologist and author Melissa Dougherty to unpack the subtle but dangerous ideas infiltrating modern Christianity — from the Law of Attraction and Christ consciousness to Christian mysticism, universalism, and the teachings of Richard Rohr. Melissa shares her personal story of being deeply involved in the church while unknowingly holding occultic, unbiblical beliefs — and what finally woke her up. 📖 Topics covered: — What is New Thought and how is it different from New Age? — Law of Attraction, manifestation & Christ consciousness explained — How Oprah, Joel Osteen & the Word of Faith movement connect to New Thought — The danger of Christian mysticism and chasing spiritual experiences — Richard Rohr, universalism & progressive Christianity — The Enneagram's roots in New Thought — How to discern truth from deception 📚 Get Melissa's book Happy Lies: https://a.co/d/0e2lMldd 📺 Melissa's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDougherty

More from Dial In with Jonny Ardavanis

Oct 20, 2026

“How do you know if your repentance is genuine? In this episode, Jonny sits down with pastor and hymn writer Matt Boswell to walk through Psalm 51, David’s prayer of confession after his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. You’ll learn: The four movements of Psalm 51: repentance, inner restoration, renewal, and response Why David appeals to God’s mercy, not his own résumé Why “against you, you only have I sinned” is the key to true brokenness The difference between godly sorrow and beating yourself up What it means to ask God to “create” a clean heart (the same word used in Genesis 1) How to move through repentance into restored joy, not stay stuck in shame Why God uses broken people after they repent

Oct 13, 2026

“Why did God build rest into creation before he ever gave a single command to work? In this episode, Jonny and Hank trace the Sabbath from Genesis through the Ten Commandments to Jesus, and ask what it means for our rhythm of work and rest today. 📖 Pre-order Jonny Ardavanis's new book Get to Work: Seeing Your Daily Grind as God’s Good Gift here: https://a.co/d/0aFMdjNp You’ll learn: • Why God rested on the seventh day — not from exhaustion, but completion • How the Sabbath pointed forward to Christ, and why it’s no longer binding law • The difference between biblical rest and mere relaxation • Why busyness (not just laziness) can be a spiritual danger • How Jesus modeled withdrawing to be alone with the Father • Practical questions to evaluate your own rhythm of restIf you’ve ever felt guilty resting, or like you can’t stop producing or distracting yourself long enough to be still, this conversation will reframe rest as a gift from God, not an obstacle to productivity. This episode is part 5 in an ongoing series tied to Jonny’s book, “Get to Work.” 📱 This episode is also sponsored by Accountable2You. Stay accountable in a digital world: check out Accountable2You at accountable2you.com/dialin — use code DIALIN for 25% off your first year.

Oct 6, 2026

Are you accidentally raising a lazy adult? In this episode, Jonny sits down with Joel and Mary Beeke (author of "Teach Them to Work") to talk about why — and how — parents should train their children to work from an early age, not wait until adulthood. 📖 Pre-order Jonny Ardavanis's new book Get to Work: Seeing Your Daily Grind as God’s Good Gift here: https://a.co/d/0aFMdjNp You'll learn: • Why waiting until your kids are grown to teach them to work sets them up to fail • Practical ways to teach work to toddlers, young kids, and teens • The "5 E's" of raising a hard worker: entreaty, example, expectation, equipping, enjoyment • How to respond to the myth that "they have their whole life to work" • Why screens and overindulgence are quietly harming your kids • How moms play a uniquely powerful role in shaping a child's work ethic Whether you have toddlers, elementary-age kids, or teenagers, this conversation offers practical, biblical wisdom for raising children who see work as a gift from God — not a curse. Featuring Mary Beeke, author of "Teach Them to Work": https://a.co/d/00gl2kNs We're excited to announce a new partnership with Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, which equips leaders for the church through programs from undergraduate to master's and doctoral degrees. To celebrate, Midwestern is giving away $10,000 to one pastor this October for Pastor Appreciation Month ($5,000 for a family vacation and $5,000 for a church need), so nominate your pastor today at mbts.edu/dialin This episode is also sponsored by Accountable2You. Stay accountable in a digital world: check out Accountable2You at accountable2you.com/dialin — use code DIALIN for 25% off your first year.

Sep 29, 2026

"Is laziness just a bad habit, or is it a sin? In this episode, Jonny Ardavanis and Hank Bowen dig into the Book of Proverbs to unpack what the Bible really says about the sluggard — and why laziness is a character issue, not just a productivity issue. 📖 Pre-order Jonny Ardavanis's new book Get to Work: Seeing Your Daily Grind as God’s Good Gift here: https://a.co/d/0aFMdjNp You'll learn: • The 4 types of laziness: physical, mental, spiritual, and vocational • 5 traits of the "sluggard" from Proverbs 26 • Why laziness and godliness are total opposites • The real cost of laziness: poverty, disgrace, fractured relationships, and lost spiritual usefulness • Practical steps to repent of and fight off laziness Whether you're a student, parent, pastor, or professional, this conversation will challenge you to examine areas of your life where comfort has replaced diligence — and point you back to Christ's power to change.

Sep 22, 2026

What does the Bible actually say about your 9-to-5? In this episode, Jonny Ardavanis and Hank Bowen dig into the theology of work—why the curse of Genesis 3 made labor hard, and how believers are called to work with enthusiasm, enjoyment, excellence, integrity, and gratitude, no matter the job. 📖 Pre-order Jonny Ardavanis's new book Get to Work: Seeing Your Daily Grind as God’s Good Gift here: https://a.co/d/0aFMdjNp You'll learn: • Why work was designed to be an act of worship (not just a paycheck) • The three consequences of the Fall on our relationship to work • How to find joy in a job that feels mundane or difficult • Why grumbling and complaining undermines your gospel witness • What it means to "work as unto the Lord" — even for a bad boss Whether you're a stay-at-home mom, a CEO, a mechanic, or a student working part-time, this conversation will reshape how you think about vocation, calling, and Christian work ethic. 🙏 This episode is brought to you by The Master's University — committed to Jesus Christ and the authority and sufficiency of His Word. Learn more at masters.edu Stay accountable in a digital world: check out Accountable2You at accountable2you.com/dialin — use code DIALIN for 25% off your first year. #ChristianWorkEthic #TheologyOfWork #FaithAndWork #ChristianLiving #BiblicalWorldview #WorkAsWorship #DialInMinistries"

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