Posted on 09/04/2014 8:25:00 AM PDT by NKP_Vet
Video surfaced a few days ago of Victoria Osteen, wife of famed “pastor” Joel Osteen, saying some rather heretical things to the “congregation” at Lakewood “Church.”
Sidebar: I’m only one sentence into this post and already I’ve been forced to use sarcastic quotes three times. For simplicity’s sake, I will, from here on out, drop the quotes with the understanding that the quotes are implied. Joel Osteen is only a pastor because anyone can call themselves a pastor these days, and his church is only a church because anything can call itself a church these days. I happen to be of the old fashioned school of thought that believes a pastor should be, in some ways, distinguishable from Tony Robbins or Oprah, and a church should be, in some ways, distinguishable from a basketball arena on game day. I’m not saying that all churches need to be adorned with stained glass windows and incense (although I’m a fan of both), but I am saying that maybe all churches should have, like, a cross or something somewhere, maybe. God forbid a house of worship be arranged in such a way as to make it clear that we are specifically worshipping Jesus Christ and not the smiley fellow on stage giving the vaguely spiritual pep talk.
In the clip, Mrs. Osteen implores the audience to “realize that when we obey God, we’re not doing it for God… we’re doing it for ourselves.” As her proud husband nods approvingly, Osteen continues. “Do good for your own self. Do it because God wants you to be happy. When you come to church, when you worship Him, you’re not doing it for God, really — you’re doing it for yourself, because that’s what makes God happy. Amen?”
(Excerpt) Read more at themattwalshblog.com ...
Osteen’s support for homosexuals (corrections welcome) indicated to me that he was on the wrong path.
Great blog.
About 3 months ago I was reading 2 Kings 5. I was wondering why the sharing of Elisha was so important and the steps leading up to the chapter were to demonstrate the power of God through His prophet. Chapter 5 is the time that a king with leprosy goes to Elisha to be healed. the prophet accepts no payment when he is healed but his servant does go after the king and ask for money, etc. When the servant gets back Elisha reprimands him and says, “Is it a time to receive money and to receive vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants?”
Amen! I love Him because He first loved me!
He (God) wants you to be prosperous and be as rich as you can be. If you send me $20, you will get $40 in return. The reason? God wants you to be happy. That’s Osteen in a nutshell.
He’s under selling it. Mike Murdock promises 1000 to 1.
I can understand how her words could confuse non-believers. I think their confusion stems from the notion that they must become a better person before becoming a Christian. Quite often, it is the other way around.
Two things that Christians believe that may relieve some of the non-believer’s confusion.
Church is a hospital for sinners, not a rest home for Saints.
This may help the non-believer to know where God is.
A heretic is a person who holds dissenting opinions to church dogma. That could be every born again Christian.
Born again Christians accept the New Testament offer of salvation and feel no obligation to support church imposed dogma.
Preach it.
She has crazy eyes.
Gee, I read it as three seperate observations, not one where the former two cause the latter.
Point taken!
Is a better explanation of the charge of heretic warranted in light of your observation or should it be discarded.
Nah. He is a world class heretic.
+1
He literally inherited his church from his daddy who was just as bad
Smaller congregation
The Osteens have a tradition to uphold
Toleration of grievous error or even heresy in order to not offend isn’t loving and isn’t Christian. If you were correct, Christians would never be able to clearly state the truth lest they appear prideful. I didn’t declare my own spiritual discernment. I did, however, take a clear and unequivocal position based on more than 40 years of Bible study and Christian education. I said what I said as clearly as I did so that those attracted to Joel might heed the alarm and avoid some of the sideroads I traveled as a younger and less mature Christian. Thankfully I had a few wise and clear-thinking men with God-given boldness who cared enough to warn me and help me get back on track. It was those strong and certain voices in my life that got my attention.
If you knew me you would know that I have great concern for those trapped in aberrant movements (like word faith) and false religion. I am quick to admit my own mistakes and frailties and I know that we all see through a glass darkly. That said, I also know the Bible is the inerrant Word of the living God and it can be trusted. Where it speaks clearly we must be equally clear. I know that this country is full of people who have had religious experiences and made false professions of faith. In the South I know very few people who don’t believe they are saved. Everyone has some sort of hope, but not everyone has Christ and He is the only hope. They must be told the truth. Nothing is worse to consider than a religious man standing at the final bar of justice only to hear those words “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
—Matthew 7:21-23
“Many uneducated, downtrodden men have been the best preachers out there. We just never hear about them because of their allergies to hair gel, tv lights, private jets, and bleached blonde bimbos.”
Haha, great response. Thanks for the chuckle.
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