Life: Complete
The following video clips were used on Sunday, April 27 in the final message on the "Life:" series. In Pastor David's sermon, called "Life:Complete" on I Thessalonians 5:16-28, he taught from verses 19-21 that we need to "Learn with a mind on God’s truth." For the audio of the entire sermon - click here. The comments written below are by Pastor David to help give context to how they originally fit into his message and the points on which he was teaching.
Oprah Video Clips
Oprah, in her new book club highlighting the book, The New Earth, is spreading many lies and creating confusion with many believers. The following is a small attempt to identify the lies and speak the truth in love.
Tolle says to ask “life” for your purpose. “Life” is never defined by Tolle or Oprah and is not a reliable source for answers. I John 5:19 says, We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. So if you are asking “life” you may be asking the “evil one” for his purpose, which will deceive you. Only God’s Word offers our purpose for life.
Tolle calls for “stillness” with no “thinking.” This also opens you to all the spiritual forces which can deceive you. Ephesians 6:12 says, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. These powers will fill any void in your thinking. Romans 12:2 says your purpose in life comes from using your mind to study truth in the Bible and be transformed by the power of Christ. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Oprah took God out of the box. Therefore, she no longer believes in “doctrine” and states that Jesus did not come to start Christianity
Jesus came to start the Christian church and all who follow Him are His disciples who are taught His doctrine. Jesus wants us to make disciples of all nations in Matthew 28:19, 20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Paul then taught his disciple Timothy what we should all do. I Timothy 4:6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following
You cannot be “good servant of Jesus Christ” if you are not nourished on “sound doctrine.” Oprah rejects this important biblical truth.
Tolle does not want religion to be an “ideology” where it is a “closed door.” A closed door religion believes that there is only one truth and all other beliefs are wrong. He wants an open door religion with many beliefs, even if they contradict each other. Tolle’s teaching is contrary to the Bible.
Oprah quotes Elizabeth Lesser and promotes a “new spirituality” where you are your own authority and determine your own truth rather than looking to Jesus and His Word for absolute truth. Also, this new spirituality offers many paths to spiritual freedom.
These are all false statements. Oprah is promoting a relativistic post modern thinking where we each make up our own truth. She thinks that even though my truth is not your truth, that is okay. For Oprah, there is no absolute truth which is always true for we each can be our own authority determining our own truth for ourselves.
The Apostle Paul warned us of this in II Timothy 4:3,4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
Oprah is teaching that there is no one true doctrine but many equal beliefs and many ways to God. She is turning away from God’s truth and following after man-made beliefs which are simply “myths.” She is following other teachers which sound good to her and rejecting God’s absolute truth. According to Oprah, any person can be their own authority and make up their own truth and spiritual freedom.
Jesus said there is only one truth which gives one spiritual freedom and salvation. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Contrary to Tolle, Jesus does teach what Tolle calls a “closed door religion” which means only Jesus and the Bible are true and all other religions which differ from His teaching are wrong. The Bible teaches only one doctrine or belief that is true and there is only one path way to God—Jesus Christ. Neither Buddha nor Mohammed, nor any other religious person or organization will give you salvation. Jesus welcomes all who will trust in Him since He is the only way to God.
Oprah says she is a “free thinking Christian” where there are many ways to God.
She is teaching heresy, for Jesus is the only way to God as John 14:6 teaches. Also, Acts 4:12 teaches that Jesus is the only name where you can have salvation. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Again, that means Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius and all other religious people will not save you.
Oprah’s “free thinking” belief has developed into a wrong gospel and deceptive view of Jesus. We are warned about this by the apostle Paul in II Corinthians 11: 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
Like the serpent in the garden of Eden, Oprah is trying to lead you astray from the simple message of salvation in Jesus Christ. She is preaching “another Jesus” who cannot save all people and a “different gospel” where there are many ways to God. That is heresy.
Tolle quotes “be still and know that I am God” That comes from Psalm 46:10. He claims that we should be “still” where the mind is no longer thinking.
That is dangerous teaching for you open your mind to evil and deceptive thoughts. (see comments from first clip.)
Your mind should always think, memorize and study God’s Word or you will be deceived by this teaching of Oprah and Tolle. II Timothy 3:15, 16 says, All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
II Timothy 2:15 says we should learn God’s Word, not allow our mind to no longer think. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth
Tolle and Oprah can sound so good because they mix some truth with their own strange ideas. They are attractive people who seem so tolerant, accepting and loving. But, their message is contrary to the Bible and will be corrosive and corrupting of your faith.
Paul’s warning is appropriate regarding people like Tolle and Oprah in II Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.