Posted on 04/28/2009 1:02:55 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
How to determine when Joel Osteen is speaking heresy:
One of these days, we should just print the transcript of one of his sermons, and we can go through it paragraph by paragraph and see what it is he really says. They aren’t long.
Or deep.
Related threads:
Joel Osteen and Why Theology Matters, Again
Faith & The Gospel [Michael Horton Takes On Osteen With Link To 60 Minutes Clip of Horton)
Joel Osteen converts to MORMONISM?
CNN LARRY KING LIVE Interview With Joel Osteen Transcript
JOEL OSTEEN ISSUES APOLOGY
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When’s Osteen spreading heresy? Usually when his lips move.
You should check out Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church, talking about Osteen. It’s brutal.
I’d like to see Todd Friel rip into this fraud on his “Wretched” show. That guy cracks me up!
Osteen is nothing like Finney. Some of Finney’s theology was off, but he was a preacher of righteousness, the opposite of Osteen’s “God wants you to be rich and feel good about yourself ‘gospel’”. Finney’s fiery preaching made his unregenerate listeners uncomfortable and led many to repentance.
From my research on Finney, while he had some real theological problems, about 85% of the complaints against him are distortions and exaggerations by certain people who are offended by those who refuse to bow down and kiss the ring of Pope Calvin. Many of these same folks warmly embrace other Calvinist preachers, who preach error more serious than Finney’s.
The piece of trash you linked (by normally sound , Phil Johnson) is a prime example. He bashes Finney for sins like not taking the advice of one of his Calvinist mentors and supposedly creating a “burnt over region” in Western New York, where the gospel just wouldn’t work anymore.
Imagine that, a mere mortal was able to turn what Calvinists call the “irresistible grace of God” into the “ineffective grace of God”. Apparently, the “unconditional election” of thousands of previously elect Western New Yorkers was rendered null and void, by Finney’s revivals. I can’t think of a less Calvinist idea, but some Calvinists abandon all rationality when attacking the “heretics” who dare question the teachings of Pope Calvin (except for on padeobaptism, which seems to be the one unique area where these Calvinists doubt the infallibility of their Pope.)
No.
Osteen comes on here right after Fox News Sunday.
I now watch the rerun of FNS on Fox News Channel at 6PM.
Admittedly I don't know much about Joel Osteen, but how is this incorrect?
I mean.... he doesn't even belong to your religion or anyone's religion. He kind of has his own religion. I don't understand the dislike. I can only conclude there is just some professional jealousy going on.
If I'm wrong, tell me otherwise.
Osteen is surely a con man waiting for a scandal, and his theology is an milimeter thick, but “heresy” — bit strong.
I don’t think RCers acknowledge him. He seems like a nice guy and seems to inspire people to live better lives; he’s kind of in the kiddie pool of motivational speakers.
Hey, what are you guys doing? Don’t you know that posts concerning Osteen are “devotional”, “like occurring behind a church door” where all debate is prohibited. Vision and the religion mod tell us that every day when those nauseating threads are posted. You guys got some nerve insulting this blow-dried phony when you know the rules.
Dricoll is a heretic too. He is probably worse than Osteen (and that is saying something) in many ways. Osteen is basically a motivational speaker who throws a few bible verses in here and there, pretending to be a pastor.
Driscoll is a foul mouthed, sex obsessed, emergent church heretic and a disgrace to the name of Jesus Christ.
Mind sharing which of Driscoll's views are heretical?
Please share why Driscoll is a heretic.
A fraud...I agree too...reminds me of the younger Jim and Tammy Baker duo...remember his wife’s big flair up in first class a little while ago...all he talks is money and giving (to him) to “feel the joy”
unforunately my Dad who is elderly thinks he is the salvation to get to heaven...oh my...
My wife and I have landed on his show a few times. Occasionally, he might have some useful spiritual points — last week he was teaching about the need to fast from poisonous thoughts — but his services are no more worshipful than say, “Seven Habits of Highly Successful People.” Then again, The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People were never made to substitute Sunday worship.
We’ve chuckled at his bizarre mannerisms, his refusal to mention anything at all about Christ, his pop psychology sensibility, etc. We find him so funny, we’ve probably watched him a little more than we should.
I’ve read quite a few pieces of Reformed criticism of Finney, but have yet to hear critics from the Arminianist camp. Why the criticism is lopsided, I don’t know. Is there some kind of long running feud between Calvinists and Finney?
The concerns over Finney’s theology do trouble me, though.
Quote of the day!
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