from USA Today 5/11/06, by Ann Oldenburg:
Regarding Oprah:
“Marcia Nelson says that it’s not going too far to call her a spiritual leader. ‘I’ve said to a number of people — she’s today’s Billy Graham.’
One of Winfrey’s most appealing subtexts is that she’s anti-institutional, says Chris Altrock, minister of Highland Street Church of Christ in Memphis. He says Winfrey believes there are many paths to God, not just one. After doing his doctoral research three years ago on postmodernism religion, a religious era that began in the 1970s as Christians became deeply interested in spirituality and less interested in any established church, he came up with what he calls ‘The Church of Oprah,’ referring to the culture that has created her.
‘Our culture is changing,’ he says, ‘as churches are in decline and the bulk of a new generation is growing up outside of religion.’ Instead, they’re turning to the Church of Oprah.
‘People who have no religion relate to her,’ Nelson says.” [all emphasis mine]
You can read the article in its entirety here.
Now y’all know that I like me some Oprah.
But I’m also strong enough in my convictions that I don’t take what she says as capital T “Truth.”
Oprah as our country’s “moral monitor”? “Today’s Billy Graham”?
Hmmmm….
yes, hmmm indeed, it brings to mind Rev 17:3 ” . . . I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast . .”
hmm
She can’t be todays Billy Graham because he is still alive and on the Earth.
“People with no religion relate to
her.”
Think about that for a bit…
No, way. I’ve been off Oprah for a while. Kind of because this feeling I have about her. Can’t explain it.
Love her book club, though. ;)
I would vote for her today if she ran for president, and I suspect a large number of other people would to.
I think when this writer says Oprah is “today’s Billy Graham” he means that there is no one else today that appeals to such a great number of people who on very theoretical level “stands for good.” That doesn’t mean I think she’s perfect or always right, and I don’t think she thinks she’s perfect. But she weilds that same kind of power that Billy Graham did at one time.
I do think that some people who would not necessarily consider themselves religious do look at her as a non-religious “moral compass.”
Marcia Nelson is right about the change of culture. Are we keeping up with it, OR are we safely nestled in our church cocoon, not willing to ask ourselves what Oprah offers that we don’t?
I’m not saying to water down the Truth. Oprah does not at all water down her own version of the truth. But people trust her. That’s what it all boils down to.
An overwhelming number of prominent religious leaders have proven themselves to lack:
Integrity
Sincerity
Compassion
With all due respect to Oprah, she is not qualified to be a religious leader of our nation. God tells us His way to Him in the bible, and anybody who follows another way will not find Him. The bible says, “There is a way which seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12.
There is man’s way, and God’s way. We all need use our Spiritual discernment on anything Oprah or anyone else says or does. I’m not down on Oprah, but she has some far-out stuff on her shows that she seems to agree with.
Happy Mother’s Day, BooMama and Sister, and everyone else!!!
Hey Addie – You said almost EXACTLY what I just said to Daphne on the phone. What the article says doesn’t make me question Oprah as much as it makes me question how well we Christians are living out The Great Commission. I think the expression I used with Daph was “Jesus bubble” – which is where I think many churches like to stay.
Like you, I’m not advocating that we water down Truth…the Message has always been and will always be relevant. But our methods, I think, need some fine tuning. Or maybe even overhauling.
Like Diane, I believe that there is “One Way” (reminds me of a Bible Sister had back in the 70’s) – but I think sometimes that message gets totally lost when people are so turned off by the way it is oftentimes delivered. And please understand – I am not advocating “feel good” theology…I’m advocating compassionate theology, I’m advocating meeting people right where they are and loving them without judgment. I trust God enough to know that He’ll convict people’s hearts (if conviction is in order) when they are truly seeking Him.
A friend of mine who’s a preacher told me a few days ago that when people are seeking, and they go into a church and listen to a preacher who basically browbeats them for 30 minutes, do you really expect them to respond? Do you really expect people who say, “Oh, I want to be a part of that” – when those three qualities Addie mentioned are so seriously lacking?
Again, I’m not saying we water down doctrine at all. But it just seems to me – and y’all can call me a peace lovin’ hippie mama if you want to :-) – that we as The Church need to be dealing with some of these issues Oprah highlights – genocide, AIDS, poverty, etc. – just as Christ did: by LOVING PEOPLE, not pointing our fingers at them and saying, “Well, God is punishing you because of how you’ve lived or the choices you’ve made.” So you know what I think people are seeing in Oprah that they’re not seeing in the church? MERCY.
Truth doesn’t have to change in order for compassion to reign.
And that’s what I think about that. :-)
The (repressed) Episcopalian is coming out in you.
And, in my opinion, that’s a good thing. :)
Sister – You can thank Fran, Rick and Kevin for that…Samford seems to produce some mighty fine, wise teachers who specialize in compassion, mercy and wisdom. I think they’ve rubbed off on me (in terms of compassion and mercy – I’ve got a long road to hoe with the wisdom). :-)
Thanks BooMama for the article…I just got done reading it’s entirety. I have mixed emotions when people say they “hate” Oprah. I can see why they say it, she’s rich, powerful and has got everything. I’ve been watching Oprah since she came on the air and no matter what people say her show has evolved. It isn’t the same show it was 20 years ago. So, this is my two cents. I learn SOOOOO much from watching her show, mainly from all the guests (not celebrity ones). I do believe she is spiritual but whether or not you follow her we all must remember that God is our religious leader and not Oprah. The only negative I have really against her is that she will not marry. Which obviously goes against what we Christians believe and what God says. But, if your going to Oprah to get your religious feed or guidance then that’s where I think the problem has started…
…and one more thing I forgot to mention earlier: I so appreciate EVERYBODY’S insight in these comments…lots of times I read stuff in the papers – like this Oprah article – and I think, “That bugs me,” but I can’t figure out why. When I was reading your comments earlier, I had an “ah-ha” moment about what was bugging me.
I love me some smart women (and men) who make me think. :-) Keep it comin’.
ditto, chaotic mom’s comment!