Oprah's Different Gospel

Thermonuclear Thought ^ | 22 July 08 | Me

[Mr. Silverback]

The Mediator (the quarterly newsletter of the awesome evangelical outreach to Hollywood, MasterMedia Internatonal) reports that Oprah Winfrey now airs a one-hour daily radio show on her XM satellite radio channel that takes listeners through the 365 lessons in the New Age tome "A Course in Miracles." The folks at MasterMedia got their information from truthorfiction.com

If you're not familiar with the teachings of A Course In Miracles (which were supposedly channeled to the author by Jesus) you can check out the quotes on the truthorfiction page above (some of the quotes are from other New Age books, but the ones from ACIM are bad enough on their own) or take a look at this detailed biblical response to the Course. But, if you're pressed for time, these passages should be enough to tell you that Oprah is way, way on the wrong side of Galatians 1:8--

"The exercises teach sin is not real, and all that you believe must come from sin will never happen, for it has no cause. Accept Atonement with an open mind, which cherishes no lingering belief that you have made a devil of God's Son. There is no sin. We practice with this thought as often as we can today, because it is the basis for today's idea."--ACIM workbook, lesson 101

"My salvation comes from me. It cannot come from anywhere else."--ACIM Workbook, lesson 70

"Do not make the pathetic human error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross.' The only message of the crucifixion was that we can overcome the cross. Unless you do so, you are free to crucify yourself as often as you choose. But this is not the gospel I intended to offer you."--Chapter 4, The Root of All Evil.

Whoa Mama! Add in her promotion of the similarly heretical views of Eckhart Tolle (see here and here) and past-life regression and you can see that arguably the most influential woman in America is leading her fans down a broad, broad road.

[stuartcr]

It’s true though. Do you really believe we can apply our human logic to discussions about God?

[mkjessup]

Absolutely. God created mankind in His Own Image, and that Image was not and is not limited to physical appearance.

Our emotions, our logic, our intellects, are all based on the Almighty's original design.

Unfortunately for us, our species developed a flaw which prevents us from utilizing all the potential that God saw fit to create within us, that flaw being sin, i.e., disobedience to God. God did not create that flaw, we are responsible for what some call the 'downfall of man'.

Fortunately, John 3:16 explains perfectly how God, in His love and compassion, chose to fix the problem.

[Mr. Silverback]

Click the source link at the top of the article or go to...

www.thermonuclearthought.com

[stuartcr]

I don’t agree. I believe that we cannot constrain God to our logic as it just isn’t sophisticated enough, nor are we capable of comprehending Him. After all, many people act illogically and we can’t even figure out why they do what they do, much less God.

If God is the creator of all, as you say based on His design, how is it, that He didn’t create that flaw? Perhaps it’s not even a flaw, could just be a design characteristic.

[mkjessup]

I don’t agree. I believe that we cannot constrain God to our logic as it just isn’t sophisticated enough, nor are we capable of comprehending Him.

I never suggested 'constraining' God to our logic, I submit that by using our God-given logic, we can begin to understand the Almighty if we seek Him.
Psalms 27:8 says
"When Thou saidst, Seek ye My Face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy Face, LORD, will I seek".

Each human soul has a natural born longing for the Creator who gave them life and meaning, even if they are not immediately able to recognize it. In some, they have that realization early in life, in others, it takes a while.

After all, many people act illogically and we can’t even figure out why they do what they do, much less God.

I believe we can understand why people act illogically, IF we apply our own God-given intelligence and logic. As for understanding God, we will not fully understand Him until we have transcended the limitations of these mortal bodies and stand before Him.

If God is the creator of all, as you say based on His design, how is it, that He didn’t create that flaw? Perhaps it’s not even a flaw, could just be a design characteristic.

God did not create the flaw, He gave us free will and we chose wrong, we chose badly. That wasn't the fault of God but fortunately He loved us enough to sacrifice His only begotten Son Jesus Christ so that we might be reconciled to the Father by virtue of the Blood of Jesus shed for our sins, shed for you and shed for me.

[stuartcr]

I believe that using our logic to understand God, is the same as constraning Him to the bounds of that logic. Maybe it’s just semantics.

I agree that we will not truly know God in this life, I only hope that we may know more after death.

As I have stated uncountable times before, I believe that as the creator, God knows what our free will choices are before He creates us and we can only do as He knows we will. Therefore, I do not believe we truly have free will, as it has been pre-determined by God, what we will do in our lifetime.

[mkjessup]

I believe that as the creator, God knows what our free will choices are before He creates us and we can only do as He knows we will. Therefore, I do not believe we truly have free will, as it has been pre-determined by God, what we will do in our lifetime.

You would make a fine Presbyterian. :)

[stuartcr]

I really doubt that.

[Fantasywriter]

Hey, Mark, thanks for the ping. That was thoughtful of you. I didn’t get it until a little while ago, and being on the run I won’t be able to stay with this exchange. I just want to say that I admire Stuart—sincerely, not sarcastically—for recognizing that logic plays little part in much of what he says. It is similarly MIA in many internet exchanges, but seldom acknowledged to be so.

[stuartcr]

Would it be logical to assume that if these types of discussions could really be argued logically, that by now, 2008, we would all have come to the same conclusion?

If not, or if some of these questions are labeled as mysteries, is it logical to even have these discussions?

Doesn’t logic infer that there exists a more or less universal answer or final truth? Something that can be achieved while we are still alive? Not having to learn after we die?

I will be gone for a week or so, without internet access. If you ask me anything, I’ll get to it when I return.

[mkjessup]

Would it be logical to assume that if these types of discussions could really be argued logically, that by now, 2008, we would all have come to the same conclusion?

No. It is my view that you are unable to reach ANY conclusion, which explains why you, as our resident devil's advocate, keeps asking questions. Even if Jesus Christ Himself were to show up at your front door with a lapel pin that said 'Hi, I'm Jesus Christ, ask Me about Your Free Gift of Salvation', you would most likely start asking Him a pack o' questions, and never being satisfied, would keep ON asking questions, lol

If not, or if some of these questions are labeled as mysteries, is it logical to even have these discussions?

It is infinitely logical because you always provide fresh fodder for other posters to ponder that question 'where does Stuart come up with this stuff?'

Doesn’t logic infer that there exists a more or less universal answer or final truth? Something that can be achieved while we are still alive? Not having to learn after we die?

No. Our limited human minds, as they exist within our current human bodies, could not handle knowing *everything* that God knows. I submit that our brains would literally explode if such were attempted.

I will be gone for a week or so, without internet access. If you ask me anything, I’ll get to it when I return.

Enjoy your trip! Aww-ree-vore!

[Fantasywriter]

Stuart—prayers for a safe and enjoyable week away. I’ll try to have a reply waiting for you, on your hoped-for return.

mkjessup: Thanks again for the ping. I appreciate it. I hope to send you an email sometime today—be on the lookout!

Many blessings. :)

PS: That ferret story was hysterical. I’m still lol.

[Ben Reyes]

Oh, sorry. I think I meant the One.

In this case, it’s a very good Freudian slip.

[Mr. Silverback]

I thought you might be referring to “The Secret.”

I’ve noticed myself making mistakes like that, where I type either a homonym or a word that sounds similar to the one I mean, like using here when I mean hear.