While on vacation I happened to read an article in USA today about how many view Oprah as a spiritual leader. I suppose in a postmodern culture where people piece together their own religion, why not have her as a spiritual leader? In fact, in the article a professor named Kathryn Lofton was quoted as saying, "She's a really hip and materialistic Mother Teresa." Isn't that quite an oxymoron? Needless to say, I've been uneasy about the article ever since.
Just as a quick disclaimer, I don't claim to know Oprah's beliefs nor do I want to judge any good she is trying to accomplish.
However, any good news offered by Oprah is shallow to say the least. The same is true of Angelina Jolie, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and many others. We get carried away by the warm fuzzy feeling but it all falls short. Improving someone's physical conditions is only part of the picture. I even find myself chasing after the gospel of good works, as if the good I do can possibly accomplish anything in the world apart from God. And on another level, my sub-conscious believes that what I do will somehow bring me closer to God.
During Paul's time there were also many false, shallow gospels being preached. In Romans 1 he strives to set Christ's Gospel apart from the others of the time and says in verse 17, "This (emphasis mine) Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, 'It is through faith that a righteous person has life.'" (NLT version) So do not be persuaded by one of Oprah's "Remembering your spirit" segments, the only true Gospel is the power of God at work in you and me.
I think this is a good time to throw in one of my favorite passages, 1 Peter 1: 3-5, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
Monday, May 29, 2006
A shallow gospel
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
The thing about the "Oprah gospel" is that the Christ figure ends up being yourself- only you have the power to fix everything. Quite a distortion of Scripture.
You know, I still believe Oprah is well-intentioned. Unfortunately, she had no one around to check her ego [or theology] and she now believes the crap she says.
I've heard that a number of people avidly follow Oprah. I don't and from what I've heard of her, I won't. From what I've seen, she is a very savvy businesswoman. She IS one of the great success stories in this country. However, I definitely don't believe she has the answers to life's problems. On the other hand, I know God does have the answers so I'll stick with the tried and true and I think you're smart for doing the same.
Post a Comment