Last week a friend from our church sent me an e-mail with a link to the youtube video “Church of Oprah.” I watched it, showed to the people at the prayer meeting, and talked with few people about the impact of the media on Christians. Since we do not have a cable or a secular satellite TV at home I am not following the latest in the media, and missed spiritualistic developments taking place.
Oprah Winfrey, raised as a Baptist, good friend of many popular people, supporting many charities, including Adventist ministries. Her “Angel’s Network” donated $100,000 for the work of Wintley Phipps with prisoners. Her approval carries significance and authority with many. Some suggest that she should add the title “Reverend” in front of her name, since her religious views are so influential. Some have been concerned about an emerging “cult.”
Last month things were said on the show, and published on the website that dispelled doubts about the direction of her influence. On February 28, 2008, Oprah said, "I really do believe I was born to be a vehicle for this information to come to all of you. If you want to be a part of it, if you want to find out who you really are, join the largest interactive classroom in the world. It’s free, because I want to begin to transform the world one reader at a time." The book was by Eckhart Tolle, a New Age guru, the author of “A New Earth” curriculum. March 3rd 300,000 people participated. March 10th – one million, March 17th – 2,000,000 and growing.
Many professed Christians turning to it. In a world of political correctness and tolerance of all views the Biblical faith in Only One Lord Jesus Christ is considered “narrow-minded.” Epistle of Jude warned believers almost 2000 years ago that “certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 4)
It is significant that Adventist believers are studying the Wonder of Jesus for the next 3 months. Our quarterly Bible lessons are designed for us to thing of Jesus and His accomplishment of Salvation. We believe that Jesus is THE WAY and THE TRUTH and THE LIFE. He is the ONE MEDIATOR and REDEEMER of all. His is the SAVING NAME. There is no other Name under heaven by which we may be saved. There is no other WAY TO THE FATHER than through Jesus Christ. We believe that he SUFFERED and DIED for sinners, making himself a ransom or sin-offering for many. We believe that Jesus is both GOD and MAN. We see the CROSS, not as a sign of defeat but as CHRIST’S VICTORY. He RISES FROM THE DEAD and offers his friends a share in HIS LIFE. We believe that God desires for all men and women TO KNOW, TO LOVE, and to HAVE FAITH in Christ. We are called to be his witnesses in faith and charity in the world. None of us should ever be embarrassed by the cross or ashamed to preach Jesus Christ.
Things said on the show and in the book are not worth repeating. Beware, do not be deceived. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. (1st John 4:2-3)
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