We were warned by Paul that there would be false prophets. Jesus Christ also warned of the wolves that parade around in sheep’s clothing. For years, there have been many easily noticeable false teachers, whose disguise could only fool someone with the intellect of a five year old, but now, we have reached a dawning of a new day where we have teachings that come from famous faces yet they are teaching things that are contradictory to the Bible. Those who believe the Bible to be inerrant are said to be closed minded and these “new thinkers” are said to be more enlightened, thus making their ways and their words more acceptable.
Oprah Winfrey, the ever popular talk show host and now political endorser, has begun her newest avenue of influence with a web teaching class. The focus of this class is Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth. In this class, she and Tolle sit and discuss the principles of the book with millions around the world who tune in via the internet. Tolle refers to himself as a spiritual teacher and he gives insights to those who send in their questions. This class has attracted many viewers, however it shows us something alarming about following the advice or the teachings of anyone who is not married to the Bible.
The idea of Oprah promoting New Age thought is not a new topic. For many years, theologians and pastors have warned against some of the guests that she has promoted and has had on her show. Through it all, she maintained that she was a Christian, a fact that I cannot dispute as I am not the ultimate judge appointed to judge her salvation or lack thereof. However, she has made a critical error that Christians need to realize, be aware of, and hold on to as they listen to any advice that comes from her in any form of media. With her views being in question, the things that she promotes should also be in question.
Joel Osteen made news a little while back when he would not give a clear answer to Larry King’s question as to whether or not Christianity is the only way to God. He hemmed and hawed about what his stance was, but would later retract what he said and offered a more clear answer. Oprah didn’t see the need to hide her true feelings, as she stated, “I am a Christian who believes that there are many more paths to God other than Christianity.” She went on to say that she was a Christian with a new way of thinking. This is not a slip of the tongue, as she stated the same idea of multiple ways to God in a previous episode of her show.
Our thinking is not a justifiable avenue to change the basis of the faith of Christianity. We cannot make the Christian faith become what we want it to be. Here is the main point. If there was another way to God rather than through the blood of Jesus, He died in vein because He would not have acted in a reconciliatory manner. The whole goal of His life was not to just teach us the way but also to become the way to reconcile fallen man to Holy God. Oprah’s open admission to her “new way of thinking” is belittling what Christ did on the cross and the great meaning of the Resurrection, as well as the second coming. It is a blatant false teaching and should be seen as so. However, many Christians are being sucked into this teaching, not realizing that this is detrimental to their true walk with God.
Tolle also says a few controversial statements within these classes, especially when talking about the afterlife. When questioned about the afterlife, he says that he doesn’t really think about it at all. He also stated, “There’s no conflict between this teaching, which is purely spiritual and any religion because if you go deep enough into your religion, then you all get to the same place.” He reaffirms this idea that all religions are the same, a concept that could not be further from the truth. We can rest assured that, if this is his thinking, his teachings cannot be something that we can invest in because he does not believe in the truth.
This article stands as a warning to each person who will take the time to read the words that I have written. I am not bashing Oprah, as I believe that every Christian should pray that she will truly be enlightened to the truth in the near future and that truth is found in John 14:6. This is something that we all need to be aware of and the Christian community needs to stop supporting her programs and book clubs which promote ideas and beliefs that are contradictory to the Bible. If not, we are all following false teachings and the Bible tells us that we are to stand up against the false teachings. If we did stop our support of her programs until she aligns herself with the truth of the inerrant Word of God, it may be the way that God shows Oprah the truth that she cannot see at this point.
She is one of the most powerful people in our world today. If she promotes a book with her book club, it is a guarantee that it will be on the New York Times Bestsellers List. This book by Eckhart Tolle has reached that pinnacle. Her television audience is larger than any other in the history of talk shows on television. Her net worth is well over two billion dollars. She has the power to influence people in a variety of ways and as Christians, we have to be careful to assure that she does not influence Christians, especially young Christians, in the wrong manner. In truth, she has a great amount of power, but we also have the power to turn it off and make a stand against false teaching and erroneous beliefs, for our God has much more power than Oprah Winfrey.
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Comments
Dear Andy,
Thank you for you article about Oprah and Eckhardt Tolle. While I respect your right to express your viewpoint, I disagree with you. I am grateful to you because you have inspired me to write a rebuttal. I hope Jason will print it in the next edition of Prodigal Son and you will take the time to read it as well.
Perhaps the Lord will speak to your heart through it.
In His Name
Bruce
PS
When did you read "A New Earth?"
Posted by: Bruce Noll | April 4, 2008 11:01 PM
Bruce,
This article is based upon the statements made in the web classes that were online. I am happy that you will be writing a rebuttal and I will take time to read that article. I feel that we can no longer accept the shady truths that these celebrities, or even pastors, put out on the public stage, especially if they are in direct contradiction to the Bible. My point was this: You either align yourself with truth or you align yourself with lies - there is no middle, gray area. By the statements of the two individuals, they do not align themselves with the Word of God, because they throw out - completely - John 14:6 and one of the foundational principles of the Bible and the life of Jesus. I look forward to your viewpoint, but hope that you do see where I am coming from and that these were indisputable statments made in the webclass, not in the text of the book. I can't wait to read your article.
In Christ,
Andy Clapp
Posted by: Andy Clapp | April 7, 2008 01:42 AM
Oprah is not a Christian. We have been forwarned not to try to communicate with the dead or spirits. Oprah does both. She 'channels' long dead spirits in her 'go there' moments. THEY guide her and she admits to that. The course in miracles tells Christians that they are "pathetic' to cling to the old rugged cross. WE ARE PATHETIC TO THEM!!!
Madonna and kabbalah, Cruise and Travolta with scientology....all Oprah's "good friends'. There is no doubt that Oprah is being spiritually guided and no doubt to me that the biblical Jesus has no part in that equation.
Oprah's station in life has been afforded her by her spirit guides. Remember, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven. Satan is taking a direct hit at spiritually bankrupt women, Oprah's audience.
As the Creator gave satan dominence over the Earth and the sky, He gave true Christians JESUS CHRIST. HE gave HIS SON.......as Jesus said, 'the only way to the FATHER is through ME'
I've researched the qu'ran and mohammed.....written by the ?prophet mohammed in 630 AD...The koran is demonically inspired as is the urantia book.
Jesus told us that the heart deceives and this is proven today by all the feel-good, quick-fix books Oprah's audience buys and she promotes.
Oprah has been allowed a global audience and she is taking them on the broad path Jesus warned us against. Oprah is seduced by the master puppeteer.......the prince of darkness, lucifer the fallen angel of 'light'.
I think Oprah truly thinks she is doing the right thing but her spirit guides are ruled by the master deceiver. As he successfully tempted Eve, he also seduces Oprah. The stage has always been set.
Our Earth is imploding and satan is busting out all the stops. He is coming at us from every direction....non-stop and full force.
Drugs are his biggest calling card. He is taking our young people fast and furiously. OUR CREATOR gave us free-will and we must come willingly to HIM.........that's is our purpose for being.
Jesus was a human being, He walked the Earth as we do today. HE wasn't sent here to experience humaness, HE was sent here for humanity to experience Godliness. WE were created in the likeness of GOD but we are NOT GOD. The only human that is GOD is Jesus Christ.
...........'and he will perform miracles in the skies'...ufos!
The world is being prepared to accept alien beings as benevolent. They are anything but that. I can expound but I would be percieved as a 'crazy person'. I don't talk about it. I've reached a point in my life where I understand the WHY.
Posted by: Pat | April 20, 2008 11:21 AM
Hi Andy,
Thank you for your excellent post on Oprah and Tolle. I think that the reason that many Christians keep watching Oprah is that she’s just plain nice! She does nice things for people, and really seems to care for others. You kind of want to believe the best when people are like that. And that’s what makes this situation so dangerous for people who are seeking spiritual truth. How could someone so nice, and so sincere, and so popular, be wrong?
It very much reminds me of myself about 24 years ago. I don’t think I was as nice as Oprah, (certainly not as popular!), but I was just as sincere. I was into psychics and astrology and seeking enlightenment. I had a huge hunger and thirst for that sort of thing and I wanted everyone to learn about it. I know a lot of Christians are down on “New Agers” but I don’t see things that way. These people are just very spiritually hungry and are merely looking for answers to what life’s all about. It’s far better to be looking, than to have no hunger at all. I think this is something the church needs to wake up to. When people come looking, what do they find in us? I’m not suggesting that we offer up a plate full of experiences, but are they finding life? Jesus is life!
As a teenager, I was gobbling down all kinds of “spiritual food”. I was really hungry! After a very bad experience with astral projection I went to a local church for help, and was directed to the teachings of Carl Jung! What a perfect opportunity for someone to tell me about Jesus and my need to be born again. I walked up to the door of the church, and they gave me the psychology of Carl Jung. It would be almost a decade later before I finally became a Christian.
We need to realize that much of what passes for truth in many churches has no biblical foundation. The church is to be “the pillar and foundation of the truth” according to God’s Word. How can we address Oprah, Tolle and others who bring false teaching,if we fail to be lovers of the truth ourselves?
As I said earlier, I also believe that many people are not even bothering to look at Jesus because what they have found in the church lacks life. Why would they want what we offer? I think we need to look long and hard at that. Are we willing to admit that it is too often true that we “have a reputation for being alive”, but are actually dead? I’m afraid that we may be the only ones who think we’re alive; the world looks on and thinks we’re lifeless! They don’t want any part of it. Again, I’m not suggesting that we offer up more of the “seeker sensitive” entertainment driven stuff to draw people in. Jesus is enough. We need the vitality and life of Jesus, and the truth of His word. Jesus alone is able to give the water of life so that people search no more. Unless they get Him, they will keep searching.
This is what’s so concerning about what Oprah’s doing right now. She has tapped into that deep thirst and is offering a false path to the well. Many will go down it and take a drink from Tolle. It might even taste good for awhile and seem right, but of course it will ultimately leave people empty. I totally agree with you Andy in your concern for especially younger Christians in this regard. The bible warns us over and over about seducing spirits and false teachers. These words were written to CHRISTIANS.Be careful Christian, God is telling you what to watch out for. How many Christians make light of things like looking up their horoscope in the newspaper? Read Isaiah 47.13 Be careful, these things are serious to God and will lead you away from Him. How much more should we be sounding the alarm when Oprah comes on TV, with her huge audience watching, to tell us that Jesus is her way, but not the only way to God! What is it going to take before we wake up? Oprah is directly contradicting one of the most important things that true Christians believe. She is also blatantly contradicting Jesus! The time has come to open our eyes. One of the most severe warnings found in the bible concerns those who would come teaching “a different gospel”.
“...Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” Galatians 1:7-9
There is nothing more important than preserving and spreading the truth of the gospel because eternity hangs in the balance. Heaven and hell are nothing to mess around with.
I pray that Oprah receives the same mercy I received from God. I acted in ignorance, and He had mercy on me. He opened my eyes and let me see the truth of who Jesus is. In the meantime, we need to realize the very real damage that is being done through her TV program and her classes as she talks about these things. As Christians how can we embrace or support someone who preaches a “different gospel” and contradicts the clear teachings of Jesus?
Thanks Andy for an excellent post. If you don’t mind me including this, I’ve also written on this subject at the following link:
http://nicelittlechurch.com/oprah_eckhardt_tolle.htm
I share your concerns, and have written a page for those who are trying to sort out these issues.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Helms | April 22, 2008 08:03 PM
It does seem as Oprah is searching for the meaning of life, and has been clearly mislead. I am a young Christian, and thirst for the truth. I have found that only the teaching of Christ provide the fuel for the fire in my life. He told us to Love One another, that part she is displaying, but she is also leading the people who watch her away from The Lord. We as Christians should always remember ( There is only one way to the Father, through Christ). If only some more of the celeb. status people would speak up for the truth of The Lord.
Posted by: Dave | May 2, 2008 09:27 PM