Oprah

First I should say that for many years I haven't really enjoyed watching the Oprah show. I have nothing against her personally. How could I? I've never met her. I feel that she is a good person. She gives to charity and does many things to help others but I dislike that she has become someone that people look to as THE authority on almost everything. She is knowledgeable about many things but it seems that she gets the credit when it is due to another. It just bothers me. I saw this video on FB earlier today and it instantly grabbed my attention and I had to watch it. I can't get it off my mind. As I've been mulling it over several things started to weigh heavy on my heart. Everyone has the right to their opinion about God and religion in general. I believe Christ is the only way to heaven but I am not naive enough to think that even someone reading this blog feels differently...that's a discussion for another day. There were a couple of things that I thought were particularly disturbing and inaccurate from this video.

--The first thing was her comment about God being a jealous God. He absolutely is, it says so in Exodus 34:14 (and other places), but not jealous in the way that Oprah has interpreted. It clearly says that God is NOT jealous of us as individuals, as Oprah stated, but that He is jealous for us when we love something more than we love Him. He created each of us for His glory, honor and praise and for no other reason. His jealously is of a person, place or thing taking His place in our life.

--The other thing that bothered me was what she said about God being a feeling experience not a believing experience. I not only believe in God but I believe God. I believe the promises that He lays forth in His word. According to what is said in the video if we still have to believe in God then it's not truly God. Because of editing it doesn't show whether or not this is a statement she agrees with but I have to be honest, that doesn't even make sense to me! (And I watched it several times.) Everybody believes in something, even if just themselves, so if you believe in something then it isn't truly that? Or maybe the author only feels this way pertaining to belief in God. Either way it sounds like talking in circles to me and I'm left with a big, Huh?!?

I know that this is a video created to campaign agaist Oprah and her 'church' (is that really what it's called? remember I'm out of the loop for American TV) and I know that there is a good chance there are some things that are taken out of context. I'm not going to even begin to research each statement in this video to verify it's truth. But the jealousy thing came directly from her mouth during dialog that was not edited in any way. If she has been incorrectly taught during her church experiences then shame on those Pastors and I believe they will answer for that but I hate to hear things misrepresented, especially by someone who has so much influence over society.

I am a conservative evangelical Christian, and I am not ashamed. I feel that Christ teaches a message of love and respect to all people, of every belief and every background. My purpose in this is not to have my own hand in bashing Oprah. I simply felt that these two things were expressed in a false or confusing way and my heart couldn't rest easy until I wrote about it. I welcome comments whatever your belief but I ask that you remain respectful to me as well as others.