Can We Be Clear Here?

I've been thinking a lot about how deception gets started around matters of faith. When you are trying to get a handle on a person's spiritual beliefs, one of the problems is - so many people are vague about it all.

For instance, how many people do you know who describe themselves as "spiritual"? How many people will say that they believe in "a higher power"?

Okay, now, how many people, when the subject comes up, are specific about what being "spiritual" means to them? How many are willing to name that that "higher power" they speak of?

When people ask me about my beliefs, I am careful to say that I am a Christian and that I believe in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I am clear because I don't want to mislead anyone. The sooner a person understands my "spiritual" identity, the sooner we can get on with being honest about everything else.

This is one of the big problems I have with influential people. I have said again and again how Oprah Winfrey disappoints me. I just don't like that she is misleading people. Because she talks about "Christianity" and uses terms like "god" and "spirit," so many people assume she is talking about orthodox Christianity and God and the Holy Spirit. She's not, folks. She's got her own definitions of all those things and because she is so intelligent and seemingly "good," people are being fooled by her every day. (By the way, I will repeat here that we Christians do need to continue praying for Oprah, Eckhart and all her other new age buddies...)

I was mentioning on Twitter that while Oprah touts the beliefs of Helen Schucman, she's not so quick to tell the whole story about this poor woman. I will try to do a little summary here:

Helen Schucman wrote the "A Course In Miracles." That right there sounds pretty good, right? Well, it does until you realize the work was dictated to her by a demon spirit. (A lot of new age books were written the same way, such as "Conversations With God." See my P.S. on this at end of post!)

The eulogy at her funeral by Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, a psychologist and an acquaintance of Schucman's, wrote about her:

"This woman who had written so eloquently that suffering really did not exist spent the last two years of her life in the blackest psychotic depression I have ever witnessed."

I've heard one minister lament that Schucman had been decieved by Satan and then deserted by him at the end. This always brings to my mind what Pastor G. Craige Lewis says about the devil demanding a sacrifice...

Now, if all that Schucman believed (and taught millions of others) was true, why did her life end in such a way? It's completely contrary to all she spoke about.

It's my opinion that people who are spiritually hungry and searching will find something. Either they find the true and living God and accept His gift, or they find some other deceiving god. With people like Oprah, she knew of the true God, but she decided that she needed to mold Him to her own liking - sort of like she is playing Sims! - and she ended up serving some piecemeal god.

We need to be praying for Oprah and others like her. Our God made THE Sacrifice for us, but one day, Oprah's god is going to be demanding his sacrifice of her.

Peace
--Free

P.S.: One of my nieces was almost sucked in by that book "Conversations With God" simply because of the title and her own ignorance and lack of Christian discernment. When she called to ask me about the book, I was able to point her back to the Bible.

BTW, here are some hastily looked up links to info about the subject. PLEASE pray and be discerning because I have not studied all the info on the links.

Link1 (lot of info)
Link2 (more info on twisting of messages)

And here is a video that covers some info on the whole Oprah new age mess...

PART 1




PART 2




Matthew 24:11
Matthew 24:23

Questions For Oprah Fans

A great many people admire Oprah Winfrey. Her fans admire her for what she has accomplished, or because she is a black woman (double minority) who has done so much with her life, or because she seems to be so down-to-earth and compassionate. I have one niece who just cannot get over how Oprah has overcome so much to reach such heights of success. I heard one lady say that Oprah is the kind of woman she could see being great friends with - you know, someone fun to hang out with or share confidences with. I agree with all of that.

But I have a problem with Oprah. I think she is dangerous.

With all her fans and all her money, Oprah has a lot of influence. What frightens me is that she seems to be using that influence to - knowingly or not - lead people away from God. I'm not talking about people who never had an interest in God in the first place; I'm talking about Orthodox Christians.

Here is what I would like to know: how much do those Oprah fans (the ones who are Christian) know about Oprah's faith or lack of? Here is what those fans should want to know about a woman they look to for so much feedback on their lives and goals. (And, remember, I am asking this of Bible-believing orthodox Christians):

• Does she, like you, believe in Jesus, the Son of God, the second part of the Trinity?
• Does she believe that the ONLY way to God (not "a" god) is through His Son, Jesus Christ
• What exactly does she mean when she talks of "many paths" to God? Which path does she plan on using? Has she picked one and committed to it?
  
• Why did she do the New Earth classes with Eckhart Tolle? (His beliefs are clearly not in alignment with Christianity.)
• What does she think about the Bible and orthodox Christians who believe the Bible is God-breathed and the final authority on how we live our lives?
• If she has a particular belief or faith system, why not be more open about it so that people can decide if they still want to be influenced by her?
  

I'm not trying to be mean-spirited. I'm just tired of Christians thinking that it is okay to be vague about their beliefs. Who are we trying NOT to offend? Who are we trying to please? Oprah? It's not like she can get us into Heaven or send us into Hell. Oh - wait... Scratch that part about Hell. Actually, she - and anyone else teaching false doctrine - can lead the way to Hell.

Be careful, people. Be more aware of who and what you open your ears and minds and hearts to. I don't know whether or not Oprah is concerned about your soul, but you should be concerned about hers. We should all be praying that she quit following all those many paths and get on the right one.

Peace
--Free

2Cor 11:4
1Tim 4:1
Gen 3:1-6
(BTW: I got the Bible links to those verses via here)