I must admit, I have a heavy heart. Last night, I decided to listen in on Oprah's online web class based on Eckart Tolle's book,
A New Earth: Awakening to your Life's Purpose.
Every so often, I listen in to what Oprah has to say because the truth of the matter is, she has quite a following. Many people (women in particular) tune into what she has to say and in turn, take it as truth. Dear friends, can I be honest with you? Guard your hearts. It truly saddens me to see the amount of people, even those who call themselves Christians (including Oprah), who not only take to heart what Oprah says, but in turn, take it as truth. Oprah is so far from the truth, that is scares me as to what we are allowing ourselves to believe in.
As I listened in on the first session, one of the things that Oprah states is that she is a Christian. She states that when she was in her twenties she was attending a Bible believing Baptist church that was all about rules, beliefs, and doctrines. During that service, she said that the pastor said something that struck a cord with her. The pastor said that our God is a jealous God. When she heard that, she commented that it did not sit well with her and that this was the time when the doctrine of the church really got to her. She could not believe that God was a jealous God-that God was jealous of her. She continued by stating that God is love, not jealousy.
Of course when I heard this, my heart sunk because the truth of the matter is, our God is a jealous God. He's not jealous of us, but rather, He wants our total devotion. He clearly states in Exodus 20:4-5:
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..."
"During this time period, the Israelites had just come from Egypt, a land of many idols and many Gods. Because each god represented a different aspect of life, it was common to worship many gods in order to get the maximum number of blessings. When God told his people to worship and believe in Him, that wasn't so hard for them-He was just one more god to add to the list. But when He said, You shall have no other gods before me, that was difficult for the people to accept. But if they didn't learn that the God who led them out of Egypt was the only true God, they could not be His people, no matter how faithfully they kept the other nine commandments" (Life Application Study Bible).
Ladies, the truth of the matter is that our God is a jealous God and that He wants us to have no other gods before Him. Unfortunately, today's thought process (which Oprah helps to deliver) is that there are many ways to God. That it's OK to worship many gods in order to get the maximum number of blessings. This is so far from the truth. God's word clearly states:
"Jesus answered, I am the way and the the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
There is no other way to God, it's only through Jesus Christ. Oprah went on to state that so many times, we as Christians tend to put God in this box, that we make God too narrow. "Jesus says He is the only way to God the Father. Some people may argue that this way is too narrow. In reality, it is wide enough for the whole world, if the world chooses to accept it. Instead of worrying about how limited it sounds to have only one way, we should be saying, Thank-you God, for providing a sure way to get to you" (Life Application Study Bible)! Oprah clearly stated that she believes that she is a Christian and that there are many other paths to God rather than just Christianity. She is far from the truth.
What amazes me is that the Bible clearly states that there is only one way to God the Father, and that it is through Jesus Christ. But yet, she refuses to acknowledge this truth all the while, accepting other truths that are within the Bible. It's more of a let me pick and choose what I want to believe and whatever it is I disagree with, then so be it.
The truth of the matter is, you are either for God or against Him. There's no picking or choosing.
Oprah also stated a book (that she subscribes to) that describes old spiritual thinking and new spiritual thinking. She states that old spiritual thinking is thinking that includes believing that there is only one path to God and that the path to God and to worship Him has already been set.
New spiritual thinking (which is what Oprah believes in) states that you are your own authority and that there are many paths to spiritual freedom. She along with Tolle goes on to state that the problem today is that we tend to deny other people's belief systems when the reality is, that we should accept those.
You know, I just can't accept this when I know that Jesus clearly stated the only way to the Father is through Him. And here's my point-many people claim to believe in Jesus and in turn, state that He was a great man-honest, full of integrity, kind, compassionate, etc. They believe all of these characteristics of Him, but yet, choose to believe that He is not the Son of God-that He is not the Savior of the world and that He is not the only way to God the Father. Well, how can you believe that He was an honest, kind, compassionate man, and yet, believe that He is not the Savior of the world? That would in turn make Him out to be a liar and thus, you have no grounds to stand on when you state that He was an honest man. Instead, you would have to call him a liar and a lunatic.
With this thought in mind, Oprah states that she believes that Jesus came to earth to show us His heart-to show us how to live. Again, if you believe this, then how can you not believe anything else about Him? She clearly states that Jesus did not come to start Christianity.
"Therefore Jesus said again, I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:7-10).
"In the sheep pen, the shepherd functioned as a gate, letting the sheep in and protecting them. Jesus is the gate to God's salvation for us. He offers access to safety and security. Christ is our protector" (Life Application Study Bible).
Jesus came so that we may have life and have it to the fullest-being able to spend not only time with Him now, but for all of eternity. He didn't just come to show us how to live lives of honesty, integrity, etc. He came to not only show us those things, but to give us life!
Ladies, guard your hearts. After hearing all of this crazy talk from Oprah and the "spiritual advisor", my heart sank because I know the world is falling for these lies. What broke my heart is that much of what I have listed came from the mouth of Oprah as she was answering a young women's question about aligning her Christian beliefs with what Tolle's book is all about.
Ladies, the truth is found in God's word and God's word alone. You either believe it whole heartedly, or you don't.
When you are searching for answers and guidance, seek God, not Oprah. God will not lead you astray. God will awaken your purpose for you life if you will give Him the opportunity to do so. Don't depend on Tolle's book or "The Secret" for answers. Turn to God-He'll give you what you need.
Time Management-something we all struggle with at different points in our life. This past week I had the opportunity to meet with a variety of parents and students who are thinking about enrolling (students) in my AP Literature course for next year. As many of you know, AP Literature is a college level course that is offered to high school students who want to get college credit. Within this course, there is LOTS of reading and writing. The point I kept making clear to all students and parents is that this course requires time management skills. If a student is going to succeed, the student must have good time management skills.