Disturbing news about Oprah

Newsflash - Oprah is NOT God!

I received a disturbing e-mail this morning about some new teachings of Ms. Winfrey. My first response was cautious, until I did some checking of my own. My understanding of Oprah's background was that she was raised by Christian parents and believed in the One True God of the Bible. If that is the case, she has strayed completely the other direction in her belief system and is in serious need of our prayers.

On Oprah's website, she is offering a year long "Course on Miracles" taught daily by Marianne Williamson. I have not read each daily teaching, but here is one excerpt from today's lesson.

You think with the Mind of God. Therefore you share your thoughts with Him, as he shares His with you. They are the same thoughts, because they are thought by the same Mind. To share is to make alike, or to make one. Nor do the thoughts you think with the Mind of God leave your mind, because thoughts do not leave their source. Therefore, your thoughts are in the Mind of God, as you are. They are in your mind as well, where He is. As you are part of His Mind, so are your thoughts part of His Mind. (Marianne Williamson)

This circular teaching flies directly in the face of the Bible. Though the Holy Spirit allows us to understand spiritual things, no one can know the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:11 clearly states, "Who can know the thoughts of another person? Only a person’s own spirit can know them. In the same way, only the Spirit of God knows God’s thoughts."

A few more excerpts from Ms. Williamson's teaching:

"There is no sin . . . "
A "slain Christ has no meaning."
"The journey to the cross should be the last "useless journey."
"Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross.'"
"The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol... It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray."
"The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself."
"The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation."

Throughout the course, participants are being brainwashed through daily repetition of phrases such as "I am the light of the world (lesson #61) and most disturbing "There is nothing my holiness cannot do" (lesson #38). Students of Ms. Williamson are retraining their thinking to convince themselves that because God is in them, they are God. The very idea sends chills down my spine.

Writing for Crossroads.com, Warren Smith states,

"Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset—a New Age worldview that includes the belief that there is no sin, no evil, no devil, and that God is “in” everyone and everything. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they believe about God and life."

I could literally spend all day and into next Tuesday refuting the incredibly ignorant teachings of Ms. Williamson, but instead I will ask that we pray against the lies being studied by the participants of this class. They are being led down a dangerous path completely away from the Truth. These are lies from the enemy disguised to look like truth.

Oprah has a large following of women who hang on her every word. They have elevated her to a position of authority and trust her not to lead them astray. She is careening down a dangerous path and dragging countless women with her. 2 Timothy chapter three gives us a good description of what is taking place.

They (speaking of false teachers) are the kind who work their way into people's homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by many desires. Such women are forever following new teachings, but they never understand the truth. And these teachers fight the truth...Their minds are depraved and their faith is counterfeit.

Oprah is invited daily into the homes of millions of women. She has won their confidence and has a profound influence on the way they view the world.

Pray also for Oprah. To whom much is given, much is required. She has an incredible amount of influence on our society and should be using it to point others to the Truth. Each of us will be held accountable for the words we speak that influence others.

Lord, help us all to be able to give an answer to those who are seeking the Truth. May all that we do illuminate You to the world around us. May your light shine brightly in the dark places and expose the lies of the enemy for what they truly are. I pray for the participants in this class, that the blinders would be removed from their eyes and they would see clearly. I pray against the lies the enemy is perpetuating in the minds of those reading these lessons. Show each of them the Truth and expose the lies for what they are. For those that are truly seeking you, make yourself very real to them today.