Keeping it real

When Oprah Winfrey announced that she would discontinue her daytime TV program at the end of this year, millions of her fans were shocked and disappointed. They have looked forward to her programs because they usually addressed down-to-earth matters of interest and concern. Ideologically, Oprah may or may not be on the same page as all her viewers, but that seems to matter less than the fact that she has the gift of scratching where people itch. She seems to know what's going on with them. Whether you're talking about fashion, relationships, financial worries, food, entertainment, current events, parenting, Oprah will manage to touch all those bases and more within a two-week time frame. I have only rarely had the opportunity to watch one of her shows, but I do see her ubiquitous commercials advertizing the coming attraction for the day. At least from the perspective of her fans, Oprah keeps it real. Her success as an entertainer (and opinion-influencer) is undeniable.

The gospel may seem irrelevant to many folks in society today because we (as witnesses) are irrelevant. Too often we aren't dealing with daily concerns in the same straightforward way that Oprah does. It's difficult for us to put into words how the gospel of Christ intersects with the frustration, aspiration, and perspiration of daily life. It's difficult. But we have to do it. Why else would anyone care what we have to say?