Hmmmmmmmmm, is it time to pray for Oprah's salvation ? ? ?

Has anybody noticed that over the last few years, Oprah has been promoting more NEW AGE religion. With many fans watching her show, certainly many folks can (or perhaps already have) said 'Hey, if Oprah think it's OK, it must be OK!!!!!'. Is Oprah making a huge mistake in trying to mix the Christianity she grew up with along with this New Age set of beliefs. The guy in the clip Eckhart Tolle (?) saying life after death isn't a issue/something to be worried about? Boy, that's a big gamble to take on where your going to be for eternity after this life is over!!!!!!!!

 

YouTube is blocked here at the office, so I don't know who this guy is or what point he's trying to make, but I'd agree with him that life after death isn't something to be worried about. On a spiritual level, I'm thankful to God for what He has already done for me as much as I am for what He will do for me in the future. Like Brian McLaren says, Christians are too tied up with the idea of getting Saved and then just kicking back waiting to go to Heaven. We should focus on this life now and that life then.

On a practical level, I don't worry about life after death because it's the ultimate "it is what it is" situation. Regardless of what happens, it'll happen and there's nothing we can do about it.

 

But isnt the issue is to make sure that you are ready for the hereafter? I mean, it would be dumb, IMHO, to believe 'Ahhhh, nothing happens after death' and then you find out there is something after this life. But once your gone, its to late to change your mind/decision about accepting Jesus.

 

It's a both/and thing, not an either/or.

 

The answer to the question about Oprah would be YES...and for all those people that follow her like she's Jesus.

 

This must be a big topic right now. I just received a forwarded email the other day in which the writerr decried all the awful "new age" stuff Oprah is supposedly indoctrinating the masses with. It specifically pointed out her project of some sort of large-scale study of the book A Course in Miracles.

The horrified writer of this piece ended it with this warning:

It's not surprising at all that Oprah Winfrey is supporting Barak Obama!!!

Christians.....Take heed!!

And PLEASE pass this one on.....if you never forward anything else!

I had to reply to the person who forwarded that to me. What I said in part was:

. . . how sad it is that most people are so incurious (if that's a real word) & so easily manipulated into narrow ideas about almost anything; & that so many are terrified of having their beliefs challenged. It seems to me that people in general just don't bother to THINK much--about anything.

If you can't read something or watch something that disputes your position without being overwhelmed & brainwashed by it--either what you believe is seriously flawed, or you don't bother to think much about what you choose to believe.

. . .

If I was as horrified as the writer of this apparently is, I'd be studying both the Bible & A Course In Miracles in depth & be ready to debate the details point by point--instead of trying to scare others out of reading the book or listening to Oprah. I'm always very suspicious of people who try to hide information from me, & try to get me to just accept their interpretation of things . . . .

Not meaning to be critical of any sincere Christians who want to pray for the "enlightenment" of those who don't adhere to their beliefs. I'm not offended by that, & I think those who are offended are just being a bit too sensitive. I simply assume that it's coming from a sincere belief & a desire to share something that person considers vital--even though I know that in some cases there's quite a bit of self-righteousness in the attitude. It doesn't hurt me in the least to give folks in general the benefit of the doubt.

Anybody here actually believe people should be steered away from reading or listening to any of this stuff? Just curious.

 

How arrogant to assume that just because someone, anyone discusses issues outside of the Christianity 'box' that they need to be prayed for.

 

I'm not trying to sound arrogant, I'm just commenting on the bigger picture of celebrities who have found/are heavily involved in a 'new' religion (i.e. Tom Cruise & John Travolta with Church of Scientology). I'm just skeptical of anyone who has found 'a new way' to finding God vs. a way that was established over 2000 years ago (accepting Jesus as Lord & Savior). . . . .


6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." JOHN 14:6-7


There are a lot of folks in the world who are tyring to find the answer in how to find God, my concern is a lot of folks are going to listen to someone famous like Oprah/Tom Cruise/John Travolta first vs. a Billy Graham/Benny Hinn/Rod Parsley/Local Pastor-Other Major Evangelist who have spent years studying the Bible and can present the facts that Jesus is the way to God, that's all . . .

 

Not sure I see how it's arrogant. If a Christian believes someone is lost or losing their way and the Christian loves that person as the Bible says they should, then praying for that person is the right thing to do. Otherwise they're not being true to their beliefs. I certainly pray for myself when I feel like I'm heading the wrong way (a battle most Christians fight every day as imperfect beings).

A Christain not praying for a person that appears lost would seem more arrogant to me because they're not really being true to what Jesus taught. For that matter, one the last things Jesus' said was a prayer for the crowd that mocked him while he was dying on the cross....Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

 

I do understand where HG's coming from. Anyone who belongs to a minority religion or no religion at all or has "non-traditional" beliefs in a primarily Christian society has had at least a few professing Christians treat them with disdain & a self-righteous attitude, then throw in that condescending "I'll pray for you." It's disrespectful & offensive, & it leaves a bad aftertaste. It reflects poorly on Christianity in general.

I used to let things like that bother me a lot more than I do now. I know a good many Christians who are sincere in their beliefs & honestly feel moved to pray for others to find the kind of answers they find in their faith. And Christianity (as well as a number of other religions) presents itself as the only way to enlightenment, salvation, whatever. Sincere Christians really believe they have the only spiritual truth.

Most of the time it's fairly easy to tell when someone is being sincere, & when someone is being obnoxious & self-righteous. I accept the good wishes of the sincere ones in the spirit in which it was intended. I mostly ignore the arrogant ones, although from time to time I get sick of it & show it. If I can't tell, I just assume the best of their intentions. It doesn't hurt me to do that & it's less stressful than assuming the worst of people.

I think some Christians would really benefit by having a clearer understanding of other faiths. You don't have to agree with them to benefit from understanding their point of view.

A good example: I'm a pagan. Pagans & Wiccans generally consider it a huge no-no to do anything (prayer, ritual, etc.) for someone else without that person's express approval. It's considered an intrusion, interfering, taking over control of something that is theirs. Naturally even well-intentioned UNSOLICITED prayers of others, especially when they're in the spirit of converting someone who doesn't want to be converted, are considered offensive--rude at a minimum.

For those of you who are Christian & sincere in your desire to share that, consider this. Suppose I told you I was going to cast a spell for you to be "enlightened" to the truth as I see it. Wouldn't that bother you, offend you?

Certainly you should practice your own faith as you feel moved to do, & you're free to do that. Might I suggest, though, that if you want to pray for someone you consider "lost" or "misguided," just ask that the person you're praying for be enlightened with truth--but don't specify to God what that truth is. I'm sure God already knows that.