The Church of Oprah Exposed
It congregates daily in the middle of the afternoon, and millions of Christians faithfully attend. Is that a problem? Consider this:
So what is this? It's the new face of Eastern Mysticism and Existentialism.
HT: CE
Labels: Buddhism, Cults, Eastern Mysticism, Existentialism, Hinduism, New Age, Oprah Winfrey
posted by Ken Fields at 9:11 AM
21 Comments:
This is another reminder why we need to teach doctrine, and teach doctrine, and teach doctrine. People that we rub shoulders with daily believe these lies of Oprah and some are actually church members in "good churches." Most people don't know what they believe or why they believe it. (It is not uncommon for me to talk to people who have never even read the Bible here in the United States!)
Thank you for this post.
Just last night in our student ministry we studied out Colossians 2:8 which says, "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." In verse 7 Paul speaks of us being "rooted" and "built" up in Him. I am not surprised by this at all, especially coming from Oprah. She has a huge listening audience.
If we "get back to the basics," we will realize this philosophy from Oprah is just Genesis 3 all over again. Adam and Eve wanted to be "just like God," to be God in their own lives according to their own desires. All the false religions of the world ultimately let us be in control of our destinies in some way, either by denying the Scripture, as Oprah does, or adding to it our human works to achieve salvation. Either we are helpless sinnners absolutely dependent upon God's forgiveness, or we are "gods" in our personal universes. John and Derek are right - we must teach the Word diligently and consistently.
Dick Dayton, Des Moines, IA
Paraphrasing Oprah: "I heard something about God from the Bible that I didn't like, so I decided to create my own God."
Wow! (Not "wow" Oprah is lost - I already new that) but "wow" I went to school with Kelly from Alton who was having that conversation with her at one point. Small world indeed.
Thanks Ken for the post. It kills me when I hear "Christians" (some who no doubt are but just are ignorant) speak highly about Oprah. I cringe every time I see that new show of hers advertised. I think she has a much greater influence then a lot of people give her credit for. Scary.
Oprah states that something "felt wrong in her spirit" when she heard her pastor say that God is jealous. Personally, I'm very thankful that He is so.
Zechariah 1:14 says, "Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion..."
I hope that I'm not plagiarizing when I quote Barry G. Webb from his commentary on Zechariah,
"'Jealousy' has negative overtones for us today. It suggest selfishness, envy, and malicious resentment of what others have. But the jealousy of God, as the Bible describes it, is something utterly untainted by any such mean-spiritedness. It is his intense, protective concern for what is rightly his own: his name, his land, his city (Jerusalem), his house (temple) and his people. They are his, and he will defend and protect them against all assailants, and avenge every wrong committed against them. He is utterly, even fiercely, committed to their welfare... Jealousy, in this sense, is another name for love; the kind of love a deeply devoted, honourable man has for his wife. And there is great security in knowing that you are the object of such love; indeed, to be so loved - especially by God - is the true comfort we all need and long for."
Thank God for this kind of love that holds me so secure in the midst of the storms of life. In His hands, who can be against me? What can separate me from this kind of love? (Romans 8:31-38) Thanks be to God!
The matter of having a method for teaching members of my church has been on my mind a great deal lately.
We don't expect it, we don't require it. The average person sitting in a pew on Sunday isn't going to hear enough to piece together doctrine from that message to understand what Christianity is. Some of the responsibility for that mistake rests on that person, some of it rests on church leadership.
Oprah is teaching doctrine and her doctrine is clearly not Christian. Aside from the fact that it is being led by Oprah this video isn't overtly entertaining.
Why is it that as Christians we think that we have to be entertaining AND stay away from teaching doctrine?
...so like the philosophers at Mars Hill. Urgently seeking an "unknown god" while ignoring the true God. Some of the wisest people on Earth see the existence of a transcendental being at work here. Unfortunately, their reason takes them on lots of little, unfortunate rabbit trails away from God and His Word.
dprocktoberisjustasummeraway
Since the onset of this new class of Oprah's online and every Monday night, where millions are participating and being lead astray or misguided, I have been waiting in honest prayer that Christians would rise up and see THIS with Oprah and speak out. Thank YOU so very much for posting this and calling upon us to react and take a stand. I live in Mexico but still fear the influence this may have. God saves US!
This post has been removed by the author.
You said...
"Paraphrasing Oprah: "I heard something about God from the Bible that I didn't like, so I decided to create my own God.""
What proof do you have that Oprah said this? What was her original comment before you "paraphrased" it and made it mean what you wanted it to mean? Funny how you left what she really said out.
What are your sources? Let me guess, your brother-in-law told you that his mother's friend heard someone say that Oprah said this so now it is a fact, and you spread it as fact.
The spreading of IGNORANCE that people like yourself do is down right SCARY!
Brad said:
"What proof do you have that Oprah said this? What was her original comment before you 'paraphrased' it and made it mean what you wanted it to mean? Funny how you left what she really said out."
Here is what Oprah said (starting at around 3:45 in the video):
"And this great minister was preaching about how great God was, and how omniscient and omnipresent and God is everything, and then he said, ‘and the Lord thy God is a jealous God,’ and I was, you know, caught up in the rapture of that moment until he said ‘jealous,’ and something struck me, and I was like, I think about 27 or 28. I was thinking, God is all, God is omnipresent, and God’s also jealous? God is jealous of me? And something about that didn’t feel right in my spirit, because I believe that God is love and that God is in all things. And so that’s when the search for something more than doctrine started to stir within me. And I love this quote that Eckhart has. This is one of my favorite quotes in chapter one, where he says, ‘Man made God in his own image. The eternal, the infinite and unnamable was reduced to a mental idol that you had to believe in and worship as my God or our God.”
Sounds to me like she heard something from the Bible she didn't like.
Isn't it odd that Brad and others who defend Oprah are so passionate about defending her and her words.
Yet when a Christian dares to say that God is AND God is who He said He is in His word, that is dogmatic, closed minded and just plain silly.
Dear "JustJan",
Why don't you "JustFindOut" your facts first.
I do not agree with everything that Oprah says. She also once said that Jesus is not the only way, which I do not agree with. However, she has helped me in my walk with God immensely whether or not she even realizes it. I have learned through this class and this book to just let go and just be present. (and my addition - to let God do the rest) You don't have to agree with every single word, syllable, and tone that every single person on planet earth says. If you did, you would spend your entire life boycotting, complaining and just being miserable.
However, I do take offense with people like Thirstydavid paraphrasing her and adding words to her mouth. She gets such a bad Rep by close minded people around the world.
Think before you speak.
Brad,
I assure you, I did think before I posted that comment, and I stand by it as an accurate representation of Oprah's words.
By the way, I am not at all offended at being called "close [sic] minded." My mind is closed to every unbiblical philosophy.
You're on very dangerous ground when you look to unbelievers and false religious systems for any kind of spiritual guidance. Certainly, something can be learned from almost anyone. The Mormons produce some pretty good "public service messages," don't they? But only God's Word is reliable, sufficient truth. There is nothing to be gained, and much to be lost, by following the teaching of an unbeliever who hates God.
Thirsty David,
Not sure who you are trying to convince: me or yourself.
Your words are hollow and shallow to me.
I know God, probably on an even deeper level that you. I do not ever however consided myself close minded and to be called so for me would be a slander.
When you close your mind - you restrict God's totality of His Goodness and Mercy in your life.
You are not going to convince me otherwise and I assume likewise vice versa.
I have already been down the road that you have walked and have grown and matured since then.
People who open their minds to false doctrine are being deceived by the Devil. Nothing but the Bible can provide spiritual nourishment for a true Christian.
Sometimes it's good to have an open mind and other times, especially when Christian truth is concerned, it is best to close one's mind to false teachings lest you be deceived. Oprah is certainly a false teacher.
Personally, most churches in the US have done a lousy job of teaching and instructing people if Christians are listening to this woman and embracing immoral conduct and false teachings. Most churches spiritually speaking are in a sad state themselves.
Odd how people have "open minds" to every teaching and path of spirituality EXCEPT the path laid out by Christ in Scripture.
Scripture clearly teaches that God is a jealous God. It teaches us that we are to live for His glory alone. Most importantly, it teaches us that if we are to truly have spiritual life we must submit our lives to Jesus as our Lord and King.
Brad, it does seem that you may be close-minded that THIS path--though certainly I agree you are very open minded to all other paths save this one.
Josh said..."Brad, it does seem that you may be close-minded that THIS path--though certainly I agree you are very open minded to all other paths save this one."
Josh - you really need to explain yourself. THIS path?
Just so you are informed about myself, since several people on here think they know me in and out, I attend a Nazarene Church every single Sunday morning. If you are not familiar with the Nazarene doctrine, check out... http://www.nazarene.org/
I do however slightly vary in my personal beliefs and convictions from the church.
"Old time Christians" in most but not all cases view being open minded as something that is satanic, worldly or sinful. Just on Sunday morning I was walking through the parking lot with a friend that greatly differs from my beliefs and he read a bumper sticker that said "Christian, not Close-Minded" and said "That's a great bumper sticker!"
Open mindedness does not involve being open to deception, but rather open to finding the TRUTH. The bible is the infallible word of God, but written by fallible men. Then it has been translated and translated and translated again. If you really think that everything present is 100% true as it reads then you might be yourself deceived. I believe in going back to the original greek and hebrew and finding the true meanings of the words present and I often find a much different essence of what it is saying.
I do believe that Jesus is the only way to God and to Heaven, but I don't think that Christians are the only ones going to heaven. To think so is garishly ignorant.
I have a real hard personal fight with the fact that God is jealous. God is not a punishing God either. God hates when we stray from him, but he does not punish us. He simply cannot watch us sin. Any torment from such is from our own demise.
THAT's my feelings.
Brad,
Thanks for sharing your feelings. But I think feelings are a dangerous thing to base eternity on.
By "this path" I was referring to the historic Christian position, held for over 2,000 years, that salvation is only possible through faith expressed in the Jesus Christ revealed in the New Testament. It means we must believe in the Virgin birth, the vicarious atonement, his life, miracles, death, and resurrection. It means that those who do not profess Christ as Lord and Savior will spend eternity in Hell, and those that do will spend eternity in heaven.
This is what scripture teaches. Either the entire thing in bunk, or the entire thing is true. The "pick-n-choose" option is logically absurd. You claim being open-minded is being open to finding the truth--yet you expressly reject much of the truth revealed in scripture (e.g. God is jealous, God judges, etc).
True open-mindedness is being open to what God has revealed in his word. As most of the world is blinded in stubborn refusal to believe the Bible, Christians are (by definition) the only open-minded people on the planet.
This goes to show the END is at hand.
False teachers are springing up, false Christ are also here.
We should not attack ourselves, the time spent attacking one another should be spent praying for one another.
In this present time, what we need is basically PRAYERS,for the church, families, friends and the world.
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