Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Click on the Play Arrow above to listen to the archive.Download: December 16th – Sterrett
The Big O: Oprah’s Influence on Christians
www.ogodbook.com and www.davesterrett.com
Dave Sterrett (Author, Apologist, Evangelist)
Best-selling author and apologist Josh McDowell (“More Than a Carpenter”) and fellow apologist Dave Sterrett of Probe Ministries believe that as many people leave churches and give up on organized religion, they’re turning to Oprah as their spiritual leader. Just one week and a half before tragic news headlines hit surrounding the “Spiritual Warrior” program and sweat lodge of self-help author James Arthur Ray—whom Oprah has promoted on her show multiple times and is featured in “The Secret” film—the new novel “O” God: A Dialogue on Truth and Oprah’s Spirituality” was released by WND Books, The truth about Oprah’s splintered belief and the advice of the colorful teachers she promotes is among today’s most relevant issues.
“The danger is that while appearing to use Christian…language that…seems similar to that of Christianity, Oprah teaches a message that is radically different and absolutely contrary to the true teaching of Scripture and historic Christianity
Sterrett “wanted to create an…almost Socratic dialogue that would cover many of the themes of Oprah Winfrey’s spiritual teaching…his book, O” God, shows that salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone..” O” God follows conversations of two girl friends representing the multitudes of Oprah fans, who unwittingly place their faith in the hodgepodge of spirituality embedded in her popular TV talk show, magazine and webinars. In the end, a life-altering crisis forever impacts them much like the works that classic Christian author C.S. Lewis,
Dave Sterrett is an educator, speaker and writer for Probe Ministries International in Plano, TX. Dave teaches on Christ-centered living, Christian apologetics and true spirituality at conferences, schools and churches. He contributed to the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, and will release the book Why Trust Jesus? with Moody Publishers in March 2010.
I was concerned that this guest Dave Sterrett embraced Rick Warren, and also highly-regarded Hank Hanegraaff. I don’t believe that one can just say that since a preacher says “Saved by Grace thru Faith alone”, that that automatically makes him Biblical — because that same preacher can say, teach, and participate in things that are diametrically opposed to that very same Gospel he claims to believe. There is a “Great Falling Away” occurring, and those who ignore this truth will not have a problem with Rick Warren. But those who realize it, will not be taken in by him or those pushing the same message. I believe Rick Warren is a pied-piper, a deceiver, and his subtlety is often embraced by pastors and Christians alike. There are some good pastors out there that have been writing books about “Purpose-Driven” theology, and http://www.lighthousetrails.com is a great site for gathering more information about this topic.