Posted on 08/28/2013 11:39:15 AM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
Joel Osteen the prosperity preacher from Houston has just moved up from his $2m mansion to a $10m mansion. Heres the news.
This is one of the things that tickle me about American Protestantism. These are the folks who have traditionally beat the Catholics with a big stick about the Pope living in a palace surrounded by rich art works.
The other thing is the way Protestants will beat up on Catholics for having a highly exalted infallible leader who is treated like a celebrity. Duh. The problem with them is not that they dont have a Pope, but that they have 30,000 popes. Every pastor a pope, and Pope Osteen is just one among many.
So Pope Francis lives in a modest suite in a functional hostel while Pope Joel lives in a palace in Houston. Even when the popes lived in the apostolic palace they only lived in a comparatively modest apartment in the palace, and all that art? Its history and heritage. He doesnt own it. It belongs to the worldwitness the crowds who come and go talking of Michelangelo.
But who am I to judge? They say Joel Osteen makes all his loot from sale of his books and calendars and self help T-shirts. Hes welcome to it I guess, and who knows, he might live like a prince of the Church on a fraction of his takings. He might give 90% of his wealth to the poor. So live and let live and let God be the judge.
But when it comes to appearances, when it comes to the one who seems to live the life of apostolic simplicity Pope Francis wins.
For that matter, he wins with the gospel hes preaching too. The American prosperity gospel is a false gospel. Its no surprise that Osteens church doesnt have a cross in it. Neither does the gospel hes preaching.
Just thought
are there any photoshoppers out there who can send me a pic of Osteen being carried around in the sedia gestatoria?
On the contrary, I think it was just to point out the hypocrisy/stupidity of all the anti-Catholic "the Vatican is too rich" bigots. At least that's how I read it :0)
That said, I have no real problem with the new and present "pope". But to me, in one sense, he's just another guy.
We recommend you remove your nose, then.
I don’t fault any Christian for living in nice surroundings. However, poor doctrine and teaching is another matter. Both Osteen and the Pope are simply false teachers of scripture. I suppose in that sense that makes them equals.
“Very few protestant leaders live in 10m mansions.”
How many protestant leaders are there? And how do you know which ones are correct in their preaching?
LOL! So saith a follower of false teachers of scriptures...
“How many protestant leaders are there? And how do you know which ones are correct in their preaching?”
There are many but not enough.
How to tell? Well usually I use the Bible as a guidepost. How do you tell?
“Well usually I use the Bible as a guidepost.”
Puts you back at square one.
How do you know which denomination or Protestant leader, among thousands, has the correct interpretation of Scripture?
35,000 a recent study showed. 35,000 little napoleons, or should I say martin luthers?
No actually it doesn’t put me at square one. It puts me in sync with God.
How do you know your priest has the right interpretation of the man made catholic doctrine?
“No actually it doesnt put me at square one. It puts me in sync with God.”
In sync as much as the other 1,000s of denominations and leaders, with their different interpretations.
Unless you have a uniquely revealed ability to interpret Scripture better than those mentioned above.
huh
keep trying, its really not that hard
Thanks. I will have to watch it from work tomorrow as this dsl line is creeping tonight. Gamers probably sucking up bandwidth.
“Well usually I use the Bible as a guidepost.”
Only “usually”? What are some of your exceptions?
“Only usually? What are some of your exceptions?”
Thats between God and I. I guess you’re the second perfect person to be born on the earth.
Actually, the Catholic Churches in the United States are not owned by the Vatican.
Has a court decided if the Catholic church owns it’s churches, or does someone else.
It’s the way they are set up legally. Each diocese is an independent unit and the parish properties are owned by the diocese, specifically the bishop.
I believe that in some dioceses, the ownership of the individual parishes have recently gone to the parishes.
I have no use for any televangelists.
Osteen, Hinn, whoever.
Charlatans, all.
Billy Graham is the only one who has any credibility.
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