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Oprah Winfrey and New Age Religion Introduction:
The Bible gives us accounts of false teachers and prophets in the Old Testament.
Jeremiah describes those that preached peace, peace when there was no peace, Jeremiah
6 & 8. Jesus warns us of false prophets that would come in sheep’s
clothing, Matthew 7.15. Paul tells us of those that would be servants of Satan
but appear as “angels of light.” Finally, John identifies the
“antichrist” in 1 John 4.1-3. These
warnings were not just for 1st century Christians but for us today.
False teachers and prophets still exist because we have false religions. We want
to study one of those today. I)
Oprah Winfrey A)
Background 1.
Born January 29, 1954 in 2.
Family moved to the 3.
Victim of child abuse, raped at age 9. 4.
Age 19 she became news anchor for WTVF in 5.
1984 hosted morning show for WLS- TV in 6.
1985 the show was renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show” 7.
1986 the Oprah Winfrey Show entered national syndication. 8.
1988 Harpo Studios were formed. Make Oprah Winfrey one of only 3 women in the
entertainment industry to have her own production company. 9.
For twenty one season “The Oprah Winfrey Show” has been the #1 talk show on
TV. 10.
This show has an estimated 46 million viewers a week. 11.
Oprah Book Club where Oprah and guest talk about a book; being recommended by
Oprah almost guarantees being on the best sellers list. 12.
Today Oprah Winfrey is worth over 1.5 billion dollars and is considered one of
the most influential people in the world. 13.
Involved in projects to help the disadvantaged in this country and abroad. B)
A gradual change 1.
The show started to take on a more spiritual nature. 2.
1998 “Change Your Life TV” was formed. 3.
In 2002 Christianity Today ran an article called “The Church of O” 4.
Many of the books she recommends and authors on her show are connected to the
New Age Movement.
. a. Betty Eadie author of Embraced
by the Light and The
Awakening Heart
b. Dannion
Brinkley author of Saved By the Light
and At Peace With in the Light
c. Sophy Burnham
author of A Book of Angels and Angel
Letters II)
Oprah’s Religious Beliefs A)
About God and man 1.
All of us are God, worship yourself, you are light 2.
If God is about a belief then your
God is not really a God 3.
“If believe in the FORCE, I call it God. 4.
My mind is part of God’s; I am very Holy 5.
My Holiness is My Salvation; My salvation comes from me. 6.
Let me remember that there is no sin. B)
About Jesus 1.
The man on the cross is an archetypal image. He is every man and every woman. 2.
Do not make the mistake of “clinging to the Old Rugged Cross” 3.
The only message of the crucifixion is that you can overcome the cross. 4.
There can not be only one way to heaven. C)
Other comments 1.
Heaven is not a location but refers to the realm of consciousness 2.
Don Curtis on the Bible says no one really knows what the Bible really says
because most of it was thrown out in 325A.D. at the Council of Nicea. 3.
Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now
in an conversation with Oprah said the following:
a. You are the light (referring to each person being the spiritual light)
b. When asked by Oprah about what happens after death said, “I
don’t give it much thought. 4.
Finally, Rosanne Barr in speaking to Oprah said, “You’re the African Mother
Goddess of us all” III)
Rebuttal of Oprah’s Religion A)
What Bible passages that are used are abused. 1.
Jesus says we are the light of the world, Matthew
5.14-16
a. In what sense are we the light of the world? Is it the idea that each
one of us determines truth for ourselves and by our intrinsic nature we are
“the Light.”
b. We as His disciples, His followers and keepers of His word will be as
lights in the world about us. 2.
Why use Bible passages at all since they do not believe the Bible to be
accurate? They are appealing to the mass of people in this country; most belief
in the Bible as the word of God and Jesus as the Son of God. B)
God is 1.
Our creator, Genesis 1.26-27 2.
He is eternal, Exodus 3.14 3.
He is a jealous God, Exodus 20.5
a. Oprah rejects the God of the Bible. How can God be jealous of
me?
b. God will not share His people with others gods. We must serve Him with
our whole heart, mind, and soul, Matthew
22.37ff. 4.
Man gets his nature from God but man is not God. C)
Jesus is 1.
The Son of God, Hebrews 1.2, 5-7; 2.6-8; remember
Peter’s confession in Matthew 16.16ff. 2.
He came in the flesh to die on the cross for every person, 2 Corinthians 5.21.
a. He is the author and finisher of our salvation. 3.
He is the Light coming to reveal the will of the Father to us, John 1.6-10.
a. I am the light of the world, John
9.5 D)
There is only one way to the Father, John 14.6 1.
Note Jesus did not say there is a multiplicity of ways to the Father or numerous
truths for us to discover. 2.
Is there more than one way?
a. Phil. 2.9-11
b. Acts 4.12; 5.29-32 Conclusion:
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