Years ago, as we were flipping channels, we bypassed Oprah's show on television. My husband, who had never voiced an opinion about Oprah one way or the other, asked me, "Why don't you watch Oprah? I know women at work who can't bear to miss her program. Many of them tape it." I struggled for a few moments and then told him, "I guess because I don't need Oprah to tell me how I feel or what I should read." He nodded. "I think she thinks the world needs Oprahzation. She needs to tell people how to live and think and read so that she feels more comfortable in the world. I'm glad you don't need Oprahzation."
We left it at that. But I've watched and I've listened and I've seen the absolute heights and depths this meglamaniac is willing to to go to in order to transform the world to her point of view. We not only can watch her program, we can contribute to her charity, buy her magazine, read the books she deems readable and now, we can align our spiritual life with hers as well.
And why did she finally go the depths of the spirit? Because, according to her, she didn't like a statement a pastor made in church. He'd said "God is a jealous God." "Why would an omniscient, omnipotent God be jealous of me?"
Uhm, I think she missed the point.
God wasn't jealous of Oprah, He is jealous for Oprah. It is His desire to be the only God, the only source, the only truth, the only way, the only One we worship, the only One to whom we turn in times of trouble. Because all those other things we use and abuse and confuse with God only harm us in the end and mislead us. Because he LOVES us.
No, I don't want Oprahzation. I'll choose to do my best as a true Christian, following the path that Jesus laid before me and God help those poor souls who follow Oprah to hell!
