I have been asked several times in the last few weeks, "Do you think Oprah is a Christian?" This question is often asked with a hint of disappointment in the person's voice. Oprah has such a large following and many are Christian women, so I am feeling compelled to speak His Truth.
Some of the things she says:
talking about how to "get to God"/salvation, she says a woman on the show being "loving, kindness, generosity brings her to the same point" as a Christian.
She also says, "there couldn't possibly be one way," but there are "many paths to God."
I think part of the confusion in our culture is that we are mixing up "Christianity" with "religion" or "spirituality." We read in our bibles about other religions, other "gods" and we mistakenly think this is only happening in Bible times. Well, there are religions out there, New Age being one of them, and it is finding itself in the Church of Jesus Christ. Believers are being deceived and following after other "ways" instead of The Way. This is not something new and Paul addresses it many times in 1Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Galatians.
So we are confusing being spiritual, having a form of religion, with Christianity. Being a Christian means that you are a CHRIST FOLLOWER. It means you have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord of your life. Christ gave His life for us. I'm sorry, if someone says that there are many ways to God, not just Jesus Christ, then they aren't a "Christian."
CHRIST makes it clear.
"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Is Oprah religious? yes! Is Oprah kind hearted? yes! Does Oprah do many kind, generous things? yes! Does she love children? yes! Does she try to help women? yes!
But, does Oprah accept Jesus Christ as her Savior, the Risen Lord, the only Way to salvation?We have gotten sloppy as Christians and we are unclear and unsure about God's Truth. When we continue to mix our faith in Jesus Christ with other things, things that sound "good", sound "reasonable", things that popular people are embracing, we have lost our true faith.
We can't get to the Father, to God by our good works. We can't be kind enough. We can't love enough. We can't give enough. We CAN'T DO IT! If we could, why would God send His one and only Son to die for us? To BECOME SIN for us? To suffer for us?
What would that say about God? Would that mean it is hopeless for those who could never be kind enough, give enough money, do enough???? And, can anyone be GOOD enough to earn salvation? Even Oprah?If there are many ways, then why would God make a way- a way of SUFFERING for His Son, and then allow other ways. What would that say about our God? Wouldn't that make Him the most cruel of all? To make a way, a way so horrendous, then to accept other ways?
Did I die on a cross? Did I pay the penalty for my sin? No, Christ did. He made the way for me.
I could never be GOOD enough, give enough, love enough to earn my way to the Father. Thank God that I don't HAVE to! He has done it all for me! Christ died on the cross for me. If you deny the CROSS, then you aren't a Christian! The CROSS defines Christianity.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through FAITH- and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by WORKS, so that no one can
boast."Grace is a gift of God! It is NOT something we earn!
10 thoughts shared....:
Well said... Amen.
Amen!!!
I heard that book "New Earth, or whatever it is, is really awesome.. I'll have to check it out!
Excellent post, Tracy!
Thank you! Christ IS the only way!
Very well said, thank you for your clarity!
It makes my heart sick that Christians unknowingly fall for the things she says, not realizing how far she is from the Truth.
Christ IS the only Way!
It seems to me that a lot of Christians don't even know what they believe. Many Christian kids are being raised with out knowing what the Bible says is Truth. I read a book by Josh McDowell that says that this is a huge problem for our kids' generation. Many kids are raised that every one has their own way to the Truth. We have to respect each other's way. But the truth is - there is only one way to be saved. And you explained it in this post. Way to go.
This is all the stuff talked about in that book, "Unchristian," by David Kinnamon. The younger generations (and some in the older ones too) have become ambiguous about what it means to 'follow Christ,' and as a society, we've gotten far too wrapped up in 'spirituality' and not in a faith life and walk with Christ. It is scary, to be honest, and yet we who are believers have to look at a)what we are telling people and b)how we are telling it. That goes for both the said and unsaid.
Thanks for the many neat things you write about, I really enjoy getting on line and seeing what God's word says to you, and then how that impacts me.
Vey well said!!! Thank you.
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