Question: "What is the "church of Oprah
Answer: Oprah Winfrey is arguably one of the most influential women in the world. With a daily viewership that has peaked at around 10 million, the Oprah Winfrey Show definitely has the potential to impact the lives of many people. The Oprah Winfrey Show definitely promotes much that is good. However, there is another side of Oprah that has only recently become an integral part of her show—and that is her rejection of biblical Christianity. Oprah has made statements on her show in the past that have given a small glimpse into her personal spiritual beliefs, speaking mostly about her belief that there are many ways, millions even, for a person to "get to what some call God."
This more recent exposure of her beliefs revolves around the book "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle, which she helped to make a best-seller by promoting it on Oprah's Book Club and on her website. Beyond simply promoting the book, Oprah has partnered with Tolle in presenting weekly online webcast classes in order to explore the ideas and principles expressed in "A New Earth."
Some have gone as far as labeling Oprah a cult leader—and with good reason. She is a figurehead for the promotion and propagation of anti-biblical beliefs which deny every foundational truth of historical Christianity. Her webcasts have attracted hundreds of thousands of participants with the promise of gaining new perspectives on how to live a life of enrichment, peace, newfound self-worth, and spiritual freedom.
Eckhart Tolle, a well-known New Age author and speaker, promotes nothing short of personal divinity in his teachings. In an attempt to deceive people into thinking that his religion is compatible with Christianity, Tolle occasionally quotes from the Bible and refers to biblical principles. The problem is that Eckhart Tolle's book, "A New Earth," is in complete opposition to biblical Christianity from cover to cover. Nearly every reference to, or quote of, Scripture, is twisted by Tolle's consistent misinterpretation and misunderstanding.
Consider what can be found in just the pages of the first chapter: evolution of life over millions of years is accepted, assumed, and understood to be fact; Jesus is misquoted; flowers, crystals, precious stones, and birds are believed to be temporary manifestations of the Universal Consciousness and are themselves considered enlightened life-forms; the definition of sin is misinterpreted; Jesus Christ is thought of as just one of those rare people who, like the Buddha, achieved divine consciousness; other religions, such as Buddhism, are considered just as valid and true as Christianity; an early Christian cult, Gnosticism, is portrayed as one of the few groups who actually understood the teachings of Jesus; original sin was simply a forgetting of the connectedness and oneness with the Source, along with everything else connected with the Source—a delusion of separateness; heaven is portrayed as merely an "inner realm of consciousness."
These beliefs, these teachings, are found in just the first chapter. Obviously, and without a doubt, Eckhart Tolle is promoting a new religion, one which combines the most mystical aspects of every major religion. The first chapter, of course, sets up the tone and direction for the rest of the book. This direction happens to be as far from biblical truth as is possible. If you are concerned at all with whether or not this book is compatible with the Christian faith, you need not read any further than the first chapter to understand what Tolle believes and what Oprah is encouraging others to believe.
Tolle ends the book writing about the new Heaven and new Earth spoken of in Revelation 21. He states near the end of chapter ten:
"The only existence the future actually has is as a thought form in your mind, so when you look to the future for salvation, you are unconsciously looking to your own mind for salvation. You are trapped in form, and that is ego. 'And I saw a new heaven and a new earth,' writes the biblical prophet. [T]he foundation for a new earth is a new heaven - the awakened consciousness. The earth - external reality - is only its outer reflection. The arising of a new heaven and by implication a new earth are not future events that are going to make us free. Nothing is going to make us free because only the present moment can make us free. That realization is the awakening. Awakening as a future event has no meaning because awakening is the realization of Presence. So the new heaven, the awakened consciousness, is not a future state to be achieved. A new heaven and a new earth are arising within you at this moment, and if they are not arising at this moment, they are no more than a thought in your head and therefore not arising at all. What did Jesus tell his disciples? 'Heaven is right here in the midst of you.'"
In line and in continued progression with chapter one, chapter ten places the final stamp of approval on a belief system completely void of biblical truth. Salvation is presented as a state of being achieved through one's own power; heaven is referred to as simply a state of consciousness; and Jesus Christ is relegated to a spiritual master who taught that one only need look within oneself to find spiritual release. Scripture is used only out of context and presented as obscurely as possible.
There is no room for Jesus Christ the Messiah, the God-Man, nor His teachings in Oprah's and Tolle's belief system. In fact, they propose that all people free their minds from such beliefs. Truly, deception is the only true thing that Eckhart Tolle and Oprah Winfrey offer. They, and those that follow their teachings, have fallen for Satan’s original lie, “you will be like God”
Answer: Oprah Winfrey is arguably one of the most influential women in the world. With a daily viewership that has peaked at around 10 million, the Oprah Winfrey Show definitely has the potential to impact the lives of many people. The Oprah Winfrey Show definitely promotes much that is good. However, there is another side of Oprah that has only recently become an integral part of her show—and that is her rejection of biblical Christianity. Oprah has made statements on her show in the past that have given a small glimpse into her personal spiritual beliefs, speaking mostly about her belief that there are many ways, millions even, for a person to "get to what some call God."
This more recent exposure of her beliefs revolves around the book "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle, which she helped to make a best-seller by promoting it on Oprah's Book Club and on her website. Beyond simply promoting the book, Oprah has partnered with Tolle in presenting weekly online webcast classes in order to explore the ideas and principles expressed in "A New Earth."
Some have gone as far as labeling Oprah a cult leader—and with good reason. She is a figurehead for the promotion and propagation of anti-biblical beliefs which deny every foundational truth of historical Christianity. Her webcasts have attracted hundreds of thousands of participants with the promise of gaining new perspectives on how to live a life of enrichment, peace, newfound self-worth, and spiritual freedom.
Eckhart Tolle, a well-known New Age author and speaker, promotes nothing short of personal divinity in his teachings. In an attempt to deceive people into thinking that his religion is compatible with Christianity, Tolle occasionally quotes from the Bible and refers to biblical principles. The problem is that Eckhart Tolle's book, "A New Earth," is in complete opposition to biblical Christianity from cover to cover. Nearly every reference to, or quote of, Scripture, is twisted by Tolle's consistent misinterpretation and misunderstanding.
Consider what can be found in just the pages of the first chapter: evolution of life over millions of years is accepted, assumed, and understood to be fact; Jesus is misquoted; flowers, crystals, precious stones, and birds are believed to be temporary manifestations of the Universal Consciousness and are themselves considered enlightened life-forms; the definition of sin is misinterpreted; Jesus Christ is thought of as just one of those rare people who, like the Buddha, achieved divine consciousness; other religions, such as Buddhism, are considered just as valid and true as Christianity; an early Christian cult, Gnosticism, is portrayed as one of the few groups who actually understood the teachings of Jesus; original sin was simply a forgetting of the connectedness and oneness with the Source, along with everything else connected with the Source—a delusion of separateness; heaven is portrayed as merely an "inner realm of consciousness."
These beliefs, these teachings, are found in just the first chapter. Obviously, and without a doubt, Eckhart Tolle is promoting a new religion, one which combines the most mystical aspects of every major religion. The first chapter, of course, sets up the tone and direction for the rest of the book. This direction happens to be as far from biblical truth as is possible. If you are concerned at all with whether or not this book is compatible with the Christian faith, you need not read any further than the first chapter to understand what Tolle believes and what Oprah is encouraging others to believe.
Tolle ends the book writing about the new Heaven and new Earth spoken of in Revelation 21. He states near the end of chapter ten:
"The only existence the future actually has is as a thought form in your mind, so when you look to the future for salvation, you are unconsciously looking to your own mind for salvation. You are trapped in form, and that is ego. 'And I saw a new heaven and a new earth,' writes the biblical prophet. [T]he foundation for a new earth is a new heaven - the awakened consciousness. The earth - external reality - is only its outer reflection. The arising of a new heaven and by implication a new earth are not future events that are going to make us free. Nothing is going to make us free because only the present moment can make us free. That realization is the awakening. Awakening as a future event has no meaning because awakening is the realization of Presence. So the new heaven, the awakened consciousness, is not a future state to be achieved. A new heaven and a new earth are arising within you at this moment, and if they are not arising at this moment, they are no more than a thought in your head and therefore not arising at all. What did Jesus tell his disciples? 'Heaven is right here in the midst of you.'"
In line and in continued progression with chapter one, chapter ten places the final stamp of approval on a belief system completely void of biblical truth. Salvation is presented as a state of being achieved through one's own power; heaven is referred to as simply a state of consciousness; and Jesus Christ is relegated to a spiritual master who taught that one only need look within oneself to find spiritual release. Scripture is used only out of context and presented as obscurely as possible.
There is no room for Jesus Christ the Messiah, the God-Man, nor His teachings in Oprah's and Tolle's belief system. In fact, they propose that all people free their minds from such beliefs. Truly, deception is the only true thing that Eckhart Tolle and Oprah Winfrey offer. They, and those that follow their teachings, have fallen for Satan’s original lie, “you will be like God”
6 comments:
Good post Jon. This issue has been on my mind lately as I have family who watch Oprah everyday. So when I heard about this book "A New Earth", I did some investigating myself. In addition to this book, she is doing a web course called "A Course in Miracles". Do some research on that and what you'll find is equally disturbing.
Hi Chris -
Thanks for stopping. I've checked out the webcast, it's also all over youtube and godtube - I agree...disturbing to say the least.
Hope all is well with you and the fam!
JL
To (badly) quote Clay Jenkinson when he was talking about a separate issue: complaining about (this) is like complaining about an ingrown toenail when your entire leg has gangrene. All I can say to your post is: So what? So what if Oprah touts a non-Christian-fundamentalist viewpoint? If you get your nose out of the Bible for a moment, you'll see that the greater vision here is peace within to create peace throughout. And if someone does that through Jesus or meditation or collecting pet rocks, does it really matter? And does this negate the good that she has done by giving South African girls an education and getting America to read again?
Just another viewpoint. Keep doing your thing. That's the beauty of blogs.
Beth -
Hi - thanks for stopping by. I'm not complaining, but more, saddened by Oprah's worldview, especially considering the huge audience she holds. It's sad to me because her views have no authority, they are completely subjective. I do agree, as far as this temporal life is concerned, with your comment "So what.." - my grief is for the eternal consequences reaped by her sowing untruth. As far as the good she has done in Africa, I applaud her for making the world a better place.
However, I think any all acts of goodness and kindness should be commended - even if they are done by a heinous criminal - that doesn't mean we should agree with everything the criminal has done or continues to do. (just using an analogy - I'm not implying Oprah is a criminal!)
That being said - I'm all for peace (inner and outer), loving your neighbor like yourself and the writings of Clay Jenkinson!
In Christ,
JL
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (II Timothy Chapter 4)
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:22-25)
That pretty much sums it up. Nobody wants to have to submit to the real God, so they'll turn to one of their own making...even to the point of convincing themselves that they can achieve divinity through some sort of enlightenment and be their own gods.
I think you could make a connection between this approach and the desire of people to seek legitimacy for their sin. For instance, the homosexual agenda. (Being queer isn't any more of a sin than being a thief; sin is sin, period...but you don't see thieves out there forming parades trying to legitimize their sin.) Rather than face a God who says there's a right and wrong, they'll just create their own gods and their own set of boundaries..."after their own lusts..."
Clint
Hi Jon. All done blogging? Take care.
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