If you have read the previous post then this is just a continuation of that because I was still processing the video in my head.
One of the lines in the video is Oprah talking about an experience she had in a Baptist church when she was 28 yrs old. She said that ONE word basically ruined Christianity for her. Her preacher said that God was a jealous God. Oprah took this to mean that God wanted to be HER. WHAT! AS IF! I'm twenty-eight yrs. old and I know what the preacher meant. She clearly has no idea the theology behind our God being a jealous God. If she studied it a little bit, she might understand. However, I must remember that she and Eckhart are so much more "enlightened" than me. Part of me is really upset that she claims she is so intelligent and yet is so ignorant on this issue.
So what does it mean that God is a jealous God. (DISCLAIMER: I am not a theologian, but I am basing what I am about to say on what I have learned from solid Christian pastors, professors, and mentors. I have also read the bible enough on this subject that I feel like a have a basic grasp on it. But I am by no means an authority. Everyone should study the bible themselves and get solid teaching from a reputable Christian pastor.)
It's easy for me to grasp God being a jealous God now that I am a mother. Oprah is not a mother and so I am trying to be understanding of that. Moms are very protective of their children. TO the point that any of us would go hungry or die if that meant saving our children's life. We also are jealous of anyone who comes into their life and tries to disregard our teachings and beliefs. This is jealousy. God is jealous of our time. He wants us to spend time in his word and in prayer with him. It's not jealousy over WANTING our time to be like us. He is jealous that we spend hours a day on t.v. or whatever else is a distraction and don't spend time with him. This type of jealousy isn't a SIN, as Oprah made it sound.
There's a lot more I could say on this topic. But I have two little ones that would really like some breakfast. I am just going to leave it with this. If you study the context around this passage I hope that you truly see that God's jealousy is out of love. He deserves our love and obedience. He did go hungry and die for us. It's not about rules and making our life miserable. It's about giving us guidelines to keep us safe and in his presence. His jealousy is out of a desire to give us the best.
One of the ten commandments:
Exodus 20:5
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God am a jealous God."
I'm not sure how I can watch Oprah again. I feel like she's bringing a false prophet to the door of every ignorant American out there. She can reach so many people. If only we as Christians can study the word and be ready to teach against this state of "conciousness".
I hope that some of this makes sense. Morning is my least productive time mentally and quite frankly I know there is a lot of rambling. I pray that the jist of what I am trying to say comes across plainly through all the writing errors. If it doesn't, I encourage you to study the bible yourself.
