The Church of Oprah

I preached the following sermon (as a Certified Lay Speaker in the United Methodist Church) for the first time in July 2006. I preached it a second time at my home church in July 2007. This afternoon a friend of mine told me that her friend told her this weekend that the pastor of their church condemned Oprah from the pulpit! This particular church does not do this as a regular habit - it's not one of the churches that "tells" people how to vote and what to do in their personal lives. The pastor of the church apparently had been pushed to the limit after hearing the YouTube clip I'll provide a link for at the end of my sermon.

HERE IS THE SERMON:

THE CHURCH OF OPRAH

Isaiah 46:1-10 (Gods of Babylon)

1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low;
their idols are borne by beasts of burden. ^[a]
The images that are carried about are burdensome,
a burden for the weary.

2 They stoop and bow down together;
unable to rescue the burden,
they themselves go off into captivity.

3 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all you who remain of the house of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since you were conceived,
and have carried since your birth.

4 Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

5 "To whom will you compare me or count me equal?
To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?

6 Some pour out gold from their bags
and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god,
and they bow down and worship it.

7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it;
they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
From that spot it cannot move.
Though one cries out to it, it does not answer;
it cannot save him from his troubles.

8 "Remember this, fix it in mind,
take it to heart, you rebels.

9 Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.

10 I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.

Bel was the chief god of the Babylonians when this was written, one of the members of their supreme triad. According to Mesoptamian mythology, Bel won kingship among the gods by defeating one of the powerful goddesses. In fact, the Tower of Babel was dedicated to him. Nebo was Bel's son. He was the god of wisdom and agriculture, and the patron of scribes and schools.

Isaiah wasn't just referring to a couple of random gods, here - he went straight to the top of the pile to make his point. I imagine quite a few people got pretty hot under the collar with his throwing around the names of these gods in such a disparaging way. And perhaps his life was even at stake - at a minimum they thought he had lost his mind!

Through Isaiah, God lays the groundwork for making his point using everyday images from daily life at the time. Isaiah begins with a reminder of everything God - that's "God" with a capital "G" - THE GOD - has done. And he points out all the ways these man-made gods fall short of the one true God.

These other gods are not only costly - but once they were formed and crafted, they had to be carried around. If someone wanted to travel any distance, for any length of time the icon had to be transported too - so that one would never be out of its presence. These man-made gods demanded tremendous effort and constant attention - they made it very difficult on their worshippers.

Our God, unlike the gods of the Babylonians, makes it easy for us to worship Him! All He requires of us is to accept that He is the one true, living God.

In Isaiah 44 God declares: "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me?" and "I am the Lord, who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the earth-who was with me?" It shouldn't take anyone too long to figure out that God just doesn't like to share!

In Isaiah's time, the people performed all kinds of rituals and offered sacrifices - parents even sacrificed their own children in some rituals to appease the gods-they did this for rain, for good weather, for bountiful harvest; in fact, for every single aspect of their lives, these gods required that they relinquish something of value - just to live. Their gods were fickle and unemotional, and even if they followed every rule and fulfilled every requirement to the letter, the people had no guarantee that their prayers would be answered.

What does our God ask of us? Deuteronomy instructs us, "to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." Not easy, granted - but more sound - and certainly more loving and gracious.

So, I ask you, "How different are we today from those Isaiah addressed so many years ago?" I think you'll agree with me that America today is obsessed with celebrity idol worship. There's even a t.v. show "American Idol!"

Many recent polls demonstrate how true this is when Americans are asked to list and rank the most influential people - and Oprah Winfrey is often near the top of the list. Now my intention is not to single out Oprah or to criticize her - I merely use her as an example of the tremendous influence that those with wealth and power can have on us because they have a voice, and it is broadcast anywhere and everywhere.

Really, though, the primary issue is not that Americans tend to look to media and other celebrities as role models. The issue is the steady stream of messages and advice that Oprah and other influential personalities communicate to people who are starved for meaning and purpose in life, and the impact those messages can have on the listener and the viewer.

Eugene Robinson, a columnist with the Washington Post, talks about his experience, waiting outside one of Oprah's "Live Your Best Life" venues. While in line, he interviewed several women who were waiting to enter the hall for the session. One of them, a former librarian, told him, "You really could put 'Reverend" in front of her name," She went on to say, "She just has the ability to connect on so many levels - your emotional needs, physical needs, psychological needs." Clair Zulkey, an Oprah follower who has written about her in an online blog zulkey.com says, "I think that if this were the equivalent of the Middle Ages and we were to fast-forward 1,200 years, scholars would definitely think that this Oprah person was a deity, if not a canonized being."

But wait! There's more! According to USA Today, at the start of the 20th season of The Oprah Winfrey Show, guest Jamie Foxx said to Oprah, "What you have is something nobody can describe. You're going to get to heaven and everyone's waiting on God and it's going to be Oprah Winfrey." He went on to tell her she has "different gears" than most people. "You're on the top of the world, and we really do watch and listen for everything you do and say to kind of get our lives together."

I'll give you some time to wrap your mind around all this. Am I the only one who is flabbergasted?

One reason many are attracted to Oprah is that she's anti-institutional, according to Chris Altrock, minister of Highland Street Church of Christ in Memphis. After doing his doctoral research several 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. He states, "Our culture is changing, 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. He concludes, "People who have no religion relate to her."

To her credit, Oprah did say, in a story that ran in The New York Times, "I am not God." In the article, she did though call her talk show her "ministry." Oprah is not a bad person. I believe she really is attempting to make the world a better place - for everyone, especially for women. She has admitted that she is NOT a Christian, but rather that she is seeking a path to God - her own path, defined her way. I do have a concern, that those who do not know God - in the person of Jesus Christ, will be misled into believing they are on the right path - because "Oprah said so."

In his New Testament letter to his contemporaries, James admonishes "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God . . . let him ask in faith with no doubting . . . Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

So, how do we fight against all these competing forces for our souls? Well, Paul tells us the answer in Ephesians, Chapter 6. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. . . take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, . . . Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication."

Notice Paul says to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might."

The noise of the world can drown out God's plans for us - how could we possibly hear him over the evening news and video games, and cell phones, traffic - the Oprah show -- and all the other noise. We must clothe ourselves in the love of Christ, fortify ourselves with the protection of God's power, and call upon the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our path. An abundant life is just impossible without this protection, guidance and direction.

There is an old story about a sea captain, who became a legend in his own life time, because he never ever issued a wrong command. When he was on the bridge and was asked for his order, he always gave exactly the right order, enough so that the crew became very proud of the master and observed him very closely to see what it was that distinguished him from all the other masters on all the other sea lanes all around the world.

First, they noticed that when the First Mate would ask the Captain for his orders, he never just barked them out. He always paused for a moment - and perhaps that is a lesson within itself - and gave himself just a bit of space.

Second, the Captain followed a well-practiced drill that the crew all knew very well. He would be asked for the order. He would pause. He would step back, furl his brow as if in deep meditation, and then with his hand pick a little card out of his pocket, no bigger than an index card. He would take a look briefly at both sides of the card, put it back into his pocket, and finally always issue exactly the right command in any situation, whatever the prevailing conditions.

Of course the crew reckoned that the little card was what made all the difference between their Master and other captains on other sea lanes. They all wondered what was on that card.

One day as the huge ship was coming into dock, perhaps a bit too smartly because of the wind and waves, making for a strong current with a high tide, some of the dock hands were nervously eyeing one another and wondering if they would have to jump out of the way. Meanwhile on the bridge all was serene and calm as usual. The First Mate turned to the Captain for his order. The Captain in turn did what he always did. He stood back. He furled his brow. He reached into his pocket, only to discover the card was not where it was supposed to be.

He instantly realized it had been left in his other jacket pocket in his day room, so the First Mate was dispatched to collect the missing card. On his return, the Captain glanced quickly at both sides of the card. He then put it away safely, and then as always issued exactly the right command for the occasion.

Of course the First Mate, in bringing the card from the Captain's Day Room, couldn't resist taking a peek at the card himself. He was surprised to discover a mere four words carefully lettered. Two words were on one side of the card printed in radiant red. Two words were also as neatly printed on the other side in glowing green. When pressed by his shipmates, the First Mate said he really did not see what all the fuss was about; however, being threatened with actual bodily harm, he said the card just had to with reminding the Captain of his bearings. On the one side in green it read "Port - Left." On the other side clearly set out in red were the words: "Starboard - Right."

We all need to check our bearings sometimes. As Christians, we are so often required to make a decision about our lives. Will we choose God - on the one side or Oprah on the other?

God is not kidding. He really doesn't like to share! It's that plain and simple. If anyone or anything you worship can do what He can do - He tells us to "go for it!" But if not - we better straighten up! I can still remember as a teenager my mother, shaking her finger and telling me, "You better straighten up and fly right, young lady." You can probably imagine her tone of voice when she said that! Now try to imagine God saying that, only in the form of thunder and lightning! Hurricanes. Earthquakes. He wants our undivided attention. He will not share.

God is all we need. Nothing else. No one else. Just God. And He is the only thing that will satisfy. Cars wear out, people leave, food is digested and gone. Houses fall apart, hurricanes destroy country clubs. Floods ruin golf courses, thieves steal our possessions.

At the end of time, God is all that will be left. Isn't that a comfort and a help in trying to live now. God will be there at the end of the world. Just as he was when it all began. Welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ.

Here is the link to the YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA