So I received an e-mail today about some book and some class that Oprah is leading...maybe on her radio show or something like that. I have a confession to make...I have about as much use, well, we just leave that unsaid. My view of Oprah's opinions is not that high, for some very obvious reasons, but mostly because she sets herself up as an authority on God, and her opinions are far from being founded in Scripture. But that's not why I ramble through my thoughts today. Instead, this e-mail had a quote that is supposedly from a book entitled A Course in Miralces, the foundation on which Oprah will "teach this class." Again, I have not researched any of this, so I'm not going after the book or author, and while I've said a piece about Oprah, I will not attack her. But the e-mail contained this quote:
"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 distinguishing mark of our faith is Jesus. Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father. He is completely unique to any other man to walk in human flesh. He is the 'logos sarks egeneto'...the Word that became flesh. He dwelt with God in the beginning and is indeed God Himself. He is the only sinless man. He is the second Adam that abolishes the sin of the first Adam. He is literal. He is real. He historically walked this earth. Jesus is completely unique. He is not a symbol. He is not a replacement. He is the essence of our faith. There is no other name by which men are saved. It is Christ alone, not Jesus as a symbol of Islam or Judaism or Hinduism. And what is even worse about this statement is that you take a religioun such as Islam, and they have their own place for Jesus...seeing Him as the greatest prophet, but not God Himself. You know, I've always liked the 'illustration' that you can go and find Muhammed's tomb, you can go and see Buddha's bones, but Christ alone, the only begotten, has risen and ascended to the Father in heaven. He stands alone.
The second thing that is contradiction in some ways, but that I commend this quote for, is recognizing Jesus as God. We worship God in trinity, and trinity in unity, neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance. God is One, and Jesus is God. Compare this with the view that Islam holds of Jesus mentioned above. Jesus is God. If only the person making this statement would take it one step further, and recognize Jesus the Messiah, the Savior of those that will place their faith in Him through grace.
Contend for this faith. Stand on the truth of who Jesus is, revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Search His word daily and let the Great Pastor teach you more about the love He has for you. And pray for Oprah and the one making this statement, for they need the love of Jesus as well.
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