In today's episode of the Marriage After God podcast, Aaron interviews Melissa Dougherty, author of "Happy Lies" and Christian apologist with over 285,000 YouTube subscribers. Melissa shares her remarkable journey from New Thought spirituality to biblical Christianity after being deceived by metaphysical teachings that masqueraded as Christian wisdom. Now through her ministry, books, and videos viewed over 18 million times, she helps believers identify and reject what she calls "a stealthy message of encouragement to live your truth, seek happiness, find your identity through sexual freedom, and think your desires into existence—often with the name of Jesus attached as an endorsement."

In this enlightening conversation, we explore:

• How subtle New Thought philosophies infiltrate Christian churches by posing as "metaphysical Christianity"
• Why New Thought ideas are more dangerous to Christians than New Age concepts
• The deceptive allure of "law of attraction," toxic positivity, and manifestation teachings
• Four key questions to identify counterfeit teachings: Is it new? Is it secret? Who is emphasized? Who gets the glory?
• The connection between New Thought and modern movements like progressive Christianity and prosperity gospel
• How to differentiate between authentic biblical teachings and counterfeit theology that elevates self over Christ
• Practical ways to test spiritual concepts against the authority of Scripture

Whether you're questioning beliefs you've unknowingly adopted, supporting someone caught in deceptive teachings, or simply wanting to strengthen your discernment against what Melissa calls "happy lies," this conversation offers biblical wisdom and practical steps for recognizing truth in our self-obsessed world.

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Connect with Melissa Dougherty:

• Book: "Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World" (Zondervan, January 2025)
• Website: https://melissadougherty.co/
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/MelissaDougherty
• Podcast: The Melissa Dougherty Podcast
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/MelissaLDougherty

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KEY WORDS: Marriage After God, Aaron Smith, Melissa Dougherty, New Thought, New Age, biblical discernment, spiritual deception, Happy Lies, law of attraction, manifestation, prosperity gospel, Christian apologetics, biblical truth, spiritual warfare, testing spirits, divine image, metaphysical Christianity, toxic positivity, progressive Christianity, self-empowerment, spiritual counterfeits

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