HAS OPRAH REPLACED JESUS?

The headline of the article in The Grapevine/THE ROOT reads, “It’s Over for Russell Simmons; Oprah Has Excommunicated Him.”  My immediate response is, “No, she has not excommunicated him.”  Checkout the article here.  The writer of the article, Monique Judge, assumes that Oprah has replaced Jesus.  Or she assumes that Oprah is the head or founder of a religion and has the authority to kick people out.  All Oprah did was make her book, The Wisdom of Sundays, into a kind of Jefferson Bible.  The new edition will exclude Russell Simmons and his contribution.  If there is something in it that she wants to take out or change, she can do that.  It is her book.

From what or from where is Russell Simmons excommunicated?  Yes, what he was accused of is despicable.  But, what Ms. Judge doesn’t realize is, many of us are Christians and we pray, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Depending on the situation, for some, forgiveness takes a long time.  But, unforgiveable is not what we believe.

From a Christian viewpoint, Oprah has not replaced Jesus.  There are many who believe she has.  She has plenty of followers.  Everything she does is deliberate and well thought out.  Sunday is the day of worship for most Christians.  It is The Lord’s Day.  Oprah’s disciples tune in to her Super Soul Sunday television show religiously on Oprah’s cable channel, OWN.  Her audience also includes folks who just need a little inspiration, encouragement and positive reinforcement.  Hers is not a religion and she doesn’t claim that it is.

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Russell Simmons messed up royally.  So, did, Bill O’Reilly, Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Mario Batali, Matt Lauer, Garrison Keilor, Charlie Rose, John Conyers Jr., Al Franken, Steve Wynn, David Copperfield, James Franco, Tavis Smiley, King David (2 Samuel 11) and on and on.  The list is much longer than you realize.  A friend of mine, The Rev. Richard Hong, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Englewood (NJ), suggested the hashtag #himtoo?  That was my exclamation when Charlie Rose’s name hit the news.  Him too?  I hear Christians say what these men did is unforgiveable.  I’m going to stick my neck out and say it is not unforgiveable.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:31 (NRSV), “Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”  They will even be forgiven for the seven deadly sins of, lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride.  If you repent and believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ and ask God for forgiveness, your sins are forgiven, and a new life has begun.  That declaration is made every Sunday during Christian worship services.
    Although I am against capital punishment, I believe that people who are guilty of the crimes of which they are accused must deal with the consequences of the law of the land.  So, I will close with this question: Can I forgive you for what you did to me or to a member of my family and still testify against you in a court of law?  <><