Has The Oprah made a booboo? The LA Times Blog, "Top of the Ticket," had a post yesterday and another today that discuss her declining support since having thrown her Oprah Powers behind Obama. Yesterday's ticket was read by hundreds of thousands - so it obviously resonated with the masses. The polls report that backing Obama is costing her viewers. She is not in danger of unemployment - but there is now quantifiably less joy in Opraland.
I did find the comment by Keith insightful. He wrote" "Oprah has been sliding not only because of her support of Obama, but her show has became a religion. She has let everyone know how new age she is and that turns a lot of Christians off. She is not as entertaining."
New age religion? Here's a link to check it out. Ms Winfrey has adopted Eckhart Tolle's book, A New Earth, as the 61st selection in her book club. But this time she is going way above and beyond in her endorsement. There is a ten part "course" being offered on Monday nights, a live interactive webinar with the author, that began in March. "It's just the most exciting thing I've ever done," she exclaims. "Millions of people around the world have begun experiencing A New Earth for themselves and are awakening to the possibilities of their lives."
In the future, I do plan to throw some light-work perspective on the philosophy of this book, but I can't wait till then to make this observation. In America, an estimated 49 million viewers tune in to Oprah every week. Who knows how many more around the world. This is heady stuff. How would you handle it if over ten million people A DAY wanted to find out what you're interested in and what you have to say? Wouldn't it be easy to assume that what you think and say really is important, to conceive of yourself as someone greater than the common man?
Here is an interesting anecdote reported in Acts: On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died (Acts 12:21-23). When men revere you like God, you are in a dangerous place.
If Oprah's current miscues remind everyone she is fallible, that she is human after all, perhaps she will be better insulated against pride. When the number of those who revere her words is in decline, perhaps she will be less susceptible to taking a cue from Herod's playbook. This could be for her good.
In addition to this post, please pray for “church-going” stay-at-home moms who are not rooted in the WORD deeply. The devil is “seeking whom he may devour.” These links let us know how enticing the flesh (self) can be. Please don’t forget the others who are being misled, even Oprah, even Ekhart Tolle.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Pslo04hB1Rk&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9sEN-QejlO8&feature=related
Posted by: Bo | April 10, 2008 at 06:33 PM