Posted on 08/30/2014 7:00:33 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Victoria Osteen, wife of megachurch preacher and New York Times bestselling author Joel Osteen, is now facing withering criticism online for a viral video clip in which she is shown telling congregants at Lakewood Church that obedience, worship and church attendance is not for God but themselves.
"I just want to encourage every one of us to realize when we obey God, we're not doing it for GodI mean, that's one way to look at itwe're doing it for ourselves, because God takes pleasure when we're happy," she said in the 36-second clip posted on YouTube, with her husband smiling at her side in approval. "That's the thing that gives Him the greatest joy "
"So, I want you to know this morning: Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy," she continued. "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?" the clip ended as congregants cheered.
Erick Erickson, politicly conservative blogger and editor-in-chief of the blog site RedState.com, summed up his reaction to Mrs. Osteen's pronouncement in a quote from the 1995 movie "Billy Madison."
"What you've just said is one of the most insanely, idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent, response, were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. May God have mercy on your soul," it ended.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
I have never heard of them, So can not comment.
My wife used to watch their television program (she doesn’t anymore). On the stage, in the background, there is a “globe” looking “O.” There is no cross.
Joel starts by telling everyone to hold up their Bibles and say something like - “This is my Bible: I am what it says I am; I have what it says I have; I can do what it says I can do. Today, I will be taught the Word of God. My mind is alert; my heart is receptive; I will never be the same. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever-living Seed of the Word of God. I’ll never be the same - never, never, never! I’ll never be the same, in Jesus’ Name.”
To my recollection, Jesus is not mentioned again in the broadcast and there is no actual Bible instruction.
I never got into his teaching.
Your comment seems a lot like those made by liberals when they claim conservatives hate poor people and destroy the environment.
And in fact I have saw comments right here on F.R that Paul invented Christianity.
There was a big argument about that very subject.
I believe you and I have a different starting point so we can never see anything the same way.
I am not fit to be a Church member so I am not one, a member of the Church must be some one who will edify Christ`s Church.
The early Church demanded that members give their life to the Church, all of it, they worked every day for the Church.
Ananias and his wife held back, they wanted what the Church had to offer but did not want to give their all to the Church, they were dead.
Most Christians today are members in name only, like going to Church an hour or two a week is going to get any one to heaven.
The early Church was not trying to get every one in Church to save them, they were inviting believers in to help preach the gospel.
Paul no doubt preached the gospel but most of his letters to the Churches had very little to do with the Gospel that Jesus preached but rather was letters to the Church members
in regards to the job that was assigned to them.
So what does a visitor to most Churches hear? they hear more of Paul`s letters to the Church members than they do the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Liberal?
is just a word that has lost its real meaning.
For that reason I would rather eat sh... than be called a liberal.
Liberal is mentioned in the O.T people called them selves liberal but they were not liberal.
I never got into his teaching.
This actually is very very old stuff going back to St. Augustine.
If we love our neighbor as ourselves, we don’t do good for yourselves.
We do good for the benefit of others and when others see those good works, they will glorify our Father, who is in heaven.
God created good works in advance for us to do. Those good works are for the benefit of others, to bring them to Christ. This is love, that one lays down his life for his friend.
It’s not about us. It’s about winning a lost and dying world to Christ.
There is no mark on my soul. There is nothing in Scripture that states what you're claiming.
And even if there was, when one comes to Christ and is forgiven, the past is gone. The curse is broken. The old has passed away and ALL thing have become new.
God will ask you about that at the moment you die.
And you know this how? What chapter and verse tells us this?
Oh? It's NOT in the Bible? Then where did you hear it? Did someone come back from the dead and tell us all about it?
And what makes you such an authority on God and how He deals with us and what we have to answer for when we face Him?
Then provide a link, because I remember a thread recently that ASKED that question and I don't recall ANYONE who was a Christian stating that they believed that Paul invented Christianity.
Provide a link to the comments, please.
The exact subject is handled in Job.
Thanks for your post # 108 and the link to “Why Commandments?”
I have no idea what you are claiming. Jesus is the founder of Christianity and not any man. If it were not for Him, , there would be no Christians.
Then provide a link, because I remember a thread recently that ASKED that question and I don’t recall ANYONE who was a Christian stating that they believed that Paul invented Christianity.
You wanted it, you got it, all kinds of pros and cons about if Paul started or was responsible for Christianity.
Did Paul invent or hijack Christianity?
Madison Ruppert ^ | 06/24/2014
Psa 122:1 A Song of Ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"
Wise words and spot on about the commandments. This is why the law is good. Every commandment ever utter from God has been for our benefit and well being.
I’ll ignore the “free will” stuff. :O)
I have no idea what you are claiming. Jesus is the founder of Christianity and not any man. If it were not for Him, , there would be no Christians.
I was disputing the idea that some Christians hold Paul as the founder of Christianity.
I have attended many kinds of churches over the years and have never ever heard of a thing like that. I wonder what denominations believe that.
Smarmy used snake oil salesmen don't publicly chastise their minions...
Or to put it another way, he will - right after this happens:
Yes but it didn’t say God was glad because they were happy.
I wonder what denominations believe that.
Also that very question was on F.R a while back.
Did Paul invent or hijack Christianity?
Madison Ruppert ^ | 06/24/2014
I am surprised that no one is familiar with this issue, I sure did not invent it.
Worshiping God should make US happy. Consequently we should want to worship God because it will make us happy.
Do you not think that God is happiest when we are happy in Him?
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