Is the Bible Hate Speech?
Oprah Winfrey seems to desire the domination of religious discourse by Universalism. Because of her significant level of influence in both entertainment and political arenas, Christians are being persuaded into converting to her worldview or being less vocal about their own. She referred to Barack Obama as “The One” and was instrumental in his rise to the White House.
Longtime friends, Barack and Michelle Obama, agree with her that there are many “paths” to the “Universe,” which is the metaphysical term for “God” or “Higher Power.” While the Obama’s claim Christ as their own path, their former pastor, and Oprah’s pastor for awhile, The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, not only taught them the scripturally incorrect doctrine of black liberation theology, but also taught that Jesus is NOT the only way of salvation, that there is no hell, and that homosexuals will go to heaven even if actively practicing their lifestyle. Oprah moved on from the church and pursued the New Age philosophies that she now preaches from her television and radio programs and the Oprah magazine.
She accepts the New Age Bible, A Course in Miracles, as being one of her sources of truth. It states that there is no sin. How convenient. If there is no sin, then one can behave in any way they deem appropriate. That is the theory of relativism. Everything is relative. What may be sin for one is not necessarily sin for another. Hence, a mother’s right to have control over her own body trumps the right of the life inside her womb.
The Bible is not ambiguous concerning the subjects of the right of the unborn child, practicing homosexuality, or fornication. Scriptures relating to these essential Christian doctrines are not based on “obscure” passages of scripture as Barack Obama has commented in his book, The Audacity of Hope. Yet, the beliefs of Oprah and Obama are strongly affecting our culture with a retribution. Traditional Christianity is perceived by these advocates as regressive, uninformed, and moronic. By the mere fact of a media or political person’s commanding oratory abilities, Christians are being persuaded and manipulated into quietude or acquiescence.
In my new book, The Oprahfication of Our Culture, I call this acquiescence cultural Christianity. The time has come for followers of Christ to avoid accommodation by being “uncultured” Christians. Believers must refuse to draw back into our storm shelters and complain. Be vocally confident about your morals and values! Take a stand and no matter what happens, keep standing! Don’t be browbeaten into reticence.
Are we still a center/right country or are we advancing more toward the extremist left in ideology? Three states, California, Arizona and Florida, just asserted conservative values by passing constitutional amendments corroborating traditional marriage as being between a man and a woman, a real hindrance to the homosexual agenda. Yet, lawsuits have been proposed in California to try and abrogate the will of the people. Is a church leader open game for litigation by pundits who challenge him to quote the Bible from his platform, because their perspective of scripture is that of “hate speech?” Does the Bible breach certain assumed civil rights? Do those civil rights negate the freedom of speech and of religion we have appreciated for over two hundred years in our awesome country? Where does the path that we are on lead?
It would appear that the prophet Isaiah beheld this season in our history when he said, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20 The Amplified Bible
Things seem to be taking a 180 degree turn. Followers of Christ are characterized as hate mongering dogmatists for simply varying from “politically correct” views of the cultural aristocracy in New York, Washington and Hollywood. In spite of these very forthright, well capitalized, extremist, left inclined voices, Christians are advised to be watchmen on the wall and sound the alarm (Mark 13:35-37). The Bible is not hate speech. It is the archetype of righteousness in an progressively decaying world. Be not silent. Observe, pray, and communicate. Stand up for truth.