Posted on 06/23/2005 6:41:22 AM PDT by wallcrawlr
LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Tonight, Joel Osteen, evangelism's hottest rising star, pastor for the biggest congregation in the United States.
(snip)
KING: But you're not fire and brimstone, right? You're not pound the decks and hell and dam nation?
OSTEEN: No. That's not me. It's never been me. I've always been an encourager at heart. And when I took over from my father he came from the Southern Baptist background and back 40, 50 years ago there was a lot more of that. But, you know, I just -- I don't believe in that. I don't believe -- maybe it was for a time. But I don't have it in my heart to condemn people. I'm there to encourage them. I see myself more as a coach, as a motivator to help them experience the life God has for us.
KING: But don't you think if people don't believe as you believe, they're somehow condemned?
OSTEEN: You know, I think that happens in our society. But I try not to do that. I tell people all the time, preached a couple Sundays about it. I'm for everybody. You may not agree with me, but to me it's not my job to try to straighten everybody out. The Gospel called the good news. My message is a message of hope, that's God's for you. You can live a good life no matter what's happened to you. And so I don't know. I know there is condemnation but I don't feel that's my place.
KING: You've been criticized for that, haven't you?
OSTEEN: I have. I have. Because I don't know.
(Excerpt) Read more at transcripts.cnn.com ...
Nothing can be "above" what God has promised.
By above, I don't mean greater. I am talking about believing that God has promised that you will become rich and can buy anything you want just because you are a faithful Christian. I know plenty of faithful servants of God who are not wealthy by any means.
I just posted them. I was reading through the Bible the other day and read these verses. I thought of preachers like Osteen and how they are all ridiculed on these threads for claiming the promises of God. But they are promises, aren't they?
It made me think. I'm sure there are other verses which promise prosperity. Why would they be there if they weren't true?
Ask them if they feel blessed by God. Do they desire wealth or are they content? If they are truly faithful servants of God and if they truly desire wealth, then why would not God give them what they want?
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Mat 21:22 KJV)
My point is that those like Joel Osteen seem to place more emphasis on asking for earthly wealth than other more important things. I don't wish to go back and forth on this all day. Has God promised He will give us what we ask for? Yes. I am just saying that asking for earthly wealth is not the most important thing we should be asking for.
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Mat 21:22 KJV)
What do you think about that?
I had added another paragraph trying to define the difference between blessing and prosperity as I see it but I didnt have enough time to complete it properly. Deleted it, maybe come back to it later.
You are missing my point. You are free to ask for whatever you wish. However, when your whole "ministry" is built around asking for earthly wealth, you are placing more emphasis on this world than getting to Heaven. That is all I am saying.
But Gods Will will trump what we want. If its not within his Will to provide it then whatever we want to ask him in prayer will be denied.
What I want to ask for is done fully accepting that it may not be given to me because God does not want it for me.
I'm not missing nothing. I'm just posting verses.
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Mat 21:22 KJV)
I totally agree. That is what I was trying to get at, just didn't word it right.
Is not God's will expressed in this verse:
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Mat 21:22 KJV)
Trusting that God understands whats best for me, even though I may not understand it is comforting. Especially when things are not very *prosperous* (if I may use that term) or very *blessing* in life at times.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
17 Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.
Don't ask me.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (Jam 1:5 KJV)
If you're not missing nothing you must be missing something. (maybe it's grammar classes) :D
Do they contradict or compliment the verses I quoted?
You have no practical answer to offer someone. Do you simply quote scripture and walk away??
Someone comes to you saying I want God to heal someone and you just hand over James 1:5 and walk away??
How has that demonstrated any Christian maturity in helping people??
I am very disappointed in your lack of an answer. Please, I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt here. If you have something to add please do or if you just dont want to continue the conversation thats ok too. I'm simply interested now in whether or not thats how you deal with people (believers or nonbelievers that you meet in life) searching for answers.
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