'The church of Oprah exposed.'
I do not watch Oprah. For years now there has just been something that rubs me wrong about her. I've been disturbed by the magazines in the check out line that month after month have her on the cover. I'm perplexed as to who buys it.
Last month I wrote a blog post "Does more harm than good" because someone had posted on my blog their advice to me, that I was causing my ailments to myself and that I needed to read this book they learned about from Oprah. I ignored it for the most part, the Oprah reference, and made my reply publicly known, but now I'm reflecting on how there really is a 'church of Oprah' and that commenter on my blog post was simple one of her followers, so blinded by a false truth that she accused me of causing my own issues and offered no real help at all.
I've come across several videos on YouTube tonight... just random surfing brought me to this, but it seems important to share what I landed on, and it made me think about that post from last month.
Now keep in mind, I firmly believe that the Bible is God's Holy word. That verses quoted are quoting God, with this in mind I quote the following...
Exodus 20:5 (English Standard Version) You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me.
In this video Oprah talks about her departure from traditional Christianity as a response to hearing a pastor talk about God being jealous. Now I agree that it is hard for us to understand in our limited human nature, but I want to point something out here. God is saying this because of idols and false gods, wanting His children to follow Him, the ONE TRUE GOD! It's our limited human understanding of the word jealous that makes us think of some wounded kid pouting about not having something, but that isn't all jealousy is, and it's not all God is. The bible is full of examples of the character of God. This is one of them, as is love, but it doesn't mean one negates the other. Just like people who know me could describe me as shy and open, just because I am shy doesn't mean I hide who I am, and just because I'm open doesn't mean I don't shy away sometimes... The same thing follows here.
So with this in mind, I leave you with one of the videos I came across tonight.
This next video is of Oprah on Larry King talking about that book that I was 'recommended' and she's describing the 'Law of Attraction' I guess something that is described in the book. As I'm listening to this I'm thinking this again limits God, and our relationship with Him. The good AND the bad in our lives are all gifts and journeys that God gives us and puts us on. To say that there is a 'Law of Attraction' to attain the things we desire not only limits God's gifts, but says, "God, I don't want what you want for me, but to dictate to you God what I want from you." and I think that's a very dangerous and shallow place to be.
So I post all this not to bash Oprah, but because I was suprised by all of this. I wanted to point out what God showed my heart while watching this, and simply to say why I dismissed that recommendation last month.
In all honesty I haven't given this woman much thought because I don't follow her, but as the first video rightly points out, there are many who do read her articles and watch her shows, and we need to be mindful of what we allow into our lives and homes.
Deuteronomy 5:29
Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
1 Chronicles 22:18-19
"Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people. Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the LORD."
Isaiah 26:2-4
Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Nehemiah 6:7-9
And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, 'There is a king in Judah.' And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together." Then I sent to him, saying, "No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind." For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
Proverbs 19:20-22
Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar.
Proverbs 28:25-27
greedy man stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
Whoever gives to the poor will not want,
but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
Last month I wrote a blog post "Does more harm than good" because someone had posted on my blog their advice to me, that I was causing my ailments to myself and that I needed to read this book they learned about from Oprah. I ignored it for the most part, the Oprah reference, and made my reply publicly known, but now I'm reflecting on how there really is a 'church of Oprah' and that commenter on my blog post was simple one of her followers, so blinded by a false truth that she accused me of causing my own issues and offered no real help at all.
I've come across several videos on YouTube tonight... just random surfing brought me to this, but it seems important to share what I landed on, and it made me think about that post from last month.
Now keep in mind, I firmly believe that the Bible is God's Holy word. That verses quoted are quoting God, with this in mind I quote the following...
Exodus 20:5 (English Standard Version) You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me.
In this video Oprah talks about her departure from traditional Christianity as a response to hearing a pastor talk about God being jealous. Now I agree that it is hard for us to understand in our limited human nature, but I want to point something out here. God is saying this because of idols and false gods, wanting His children to follow Him, the ONE TRUE GOD! It's our limited human understanding of the word jealous that makes us think of some wounded kid pouting about not having something, but that isn't all jealousy is, and it's not all God is. The bible is full of examples of the character of God. This is one of them, as is love, but it doesn't mean one negates the other. Just like people who know me could describe me as shy and open, just because I am shy doesn't mean I hide who I am, and just because I'm open doesn't mean I don't shy away sometimes... The same thing follows here.
So with this in mind, I leave you with one of the videos I came across tonight.
This next video is of Oprah on Larry King talking about that book that I was 'recommended' and she's describing the 'Law of Attraction' I guess something that is described in the book. As I'm listening to this I'm thinking this again limits God, and our relationship with Him. The good AND the bad in our lives are all gifts and journeys that God gives us and puts us on. To say that there is a 'Law of Attraction' to attain the things we desire not only limits God's gifts, but says, "God, I don't want what you want for me, but to dictate to you God what I want from you." and I think that's a very dangerous and shallow place to be.
So I post all this not to bash Oprah, but because I was suprised by all of this. I wanted to point out what God showed my heart while watching this, and simply to say why I dismissed that recommendation last month.
In all honesty I haven't given this woman much thought because I don't follow her, but as the first video rightly points out, there are many who do read her articles and watch her shows, and we need to be mindful of what we allow into our lives and homes.
Deuteronomy 5:29
Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
1 Chronicles 22:18-19
"Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people. Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the LORD."
Isaiah 26:2-4
Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Nehemiah 6:7-9
And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, 'There is a king in Judah.' And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together." Then I sent to him, saying, "No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind." For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
Proverbs 19:20-22
Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar.
Proverbs 28:25-27
greedy man stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
Whoever gives to the poor will not want,
but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
Labels: faith, midnight blogging, scripture, YouTube
posted by Celestial Freak @ 10/30/2008 02:24:00 AM
1 Comments:
Yea... i totally am thankful you wrote this. There really is a "Church of Oprah" out there and its sooo scary! She mad eup her own religion adn people are dumb enough, or desperate enough to actually ambrace and take it as truth! We as a culture have elevated this woman to almost Apostolic stauts! Its crazy! She doesnt even know what she belives! Everytime someone is on her show with a different religion, she agrees with them. You cant agree with EVERYONE, without disagreeing with someone.
And these books she endorses, they are total new age demonic crap-ola!
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