Good perspective from a Roman Catholic source.
Someone should send him a copy of Foxes Book of Martyrs!
My pastor has always stated that prosperity is having enough to meet your needs and a little left over to help someone else.
I like that definition.
Wish that you’d get this through to the person who posts daily Joel Osteen threads.
He’s not Biblical.
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Today’s Osteen devotional teaches what I’ve heard acquaintances of mine talk about in their giving, and that is that they are sowing *seed money*.
When they give, they think of the thing they’ve been *believing for* and designate (or something) that money toward that need or want, and expect that the return they are getting that they think God has promised in Malachi, is going to show up in that area.
One of that group also was going on about how she *deserved* (fill in the blank) because she’s a child of God.
Osteen’s prosperity gospel didn’t work out too well for the apostles, did it? Not to mention the Lord Himself.
My only question is why do the owners of FR allow someone to continually post daily messages from Olsteen on this website? Allowing it gives the appearance of agreement and/or approval of Olsteen’s heretical message.
He’s up there with Rev. Ike ... pie in the sky and I want it now ....
That ad really, really bothers me because he is paraphrasing an actual verse in the Bible 1 John 4:4 that says “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” He that is in us is The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person of the Godhead. He is not a blind power in us that is at our command. He is God and has a will, a will to do what is good and right for the Kingdom of God, to God’s glory. When Osteen speaks about us having a “power” in us he is suggesting that we have a power that we wield. The power is God and it is God who wields power, not us. The way Osteen puts it we might as well be new agers believing that we are all gods and goddesses who have personal power that we wield. This is disgusting to the Word of God and to me.
Doctrinally, though, I am surprised at the lack of Biblical knowledge this assertion reveals:
First, presumptuous. The line “you have power in you greater than any power that can come against you” obviously refers to more than simple talent and potential and probably to more than being created in the image and likeness of God. The most likely intended meaning is the gift of the Holy Spirit that Christians call grace.
Catholics err for they do not know the scriptures, or the power of God (Matt 22:29). Whilst they obsess over various sacraments of Grace, Mary, their human papa (latin:pope) in Rome (see Matt 23:9), and their church, they miss out on Jesus Christ! We sons of God have much more than grace in us!
Perhaps Joel O was talking to Christians and was referring to 1 John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. ?
And who is in us? Colossians 1:27 declares "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."1 Corinthians 6:19 further explains "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Or, perhaps Joel is intentionally or accidentally in error, through deception or semantics, when he claims “you have power in you greater than any power that can come against you”, for this is not inanimate power, rather, it is the Spirit of Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life! Amen!
“Whenever I hear Osteen or others preach the prosperity gospel, I am reminded of Jesus’ advice to the young man who lived honorably and wondered what more he could do to achieve an even better spiritual state. Jesus did not tell him to claim and enjoy the first century equivalent of “promotion[s], good breaks, houses, businesses, contracts.” Instead, he advised him to “go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Mark 10: 21-22”
The author might try reading a little further into the chapter to see what the result would’ve been had the young man simply trusted God:
Mark 10:30 -
“But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
Great prosperity was available to him at that time, even more wealth than he had possessed, and it wasn’t about the young mans own works to achieve an even better spiritual state, but that God would provide for him through trust and faith. God was prepared to bless him hundredfold more had he simply trusted God over his own wealth.
The only place in Scripture where Jesus and prosperity are mentioned together is when Satan offers it to Him—“The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’” (Matthew 4: 8-9)
I wish I could remember to mention this whenever the prosperity gospel comes up
**The prosperity gospel is understandably appealing in this self-absorbed age, but because it replaces the cross with a dollar sign, it bears no resemblance to the Gospel of Jesus.**
BTTT!
Notice how practically nobody is addressing the issues raised in the article, but only slamming the author’s religion? (Which is either an ad hominem or an attempt to change the topic, or both.)
The whole conversation got diverted mighty quick away from Osteen, didn’t it? :o}
He obviously hasn’t the slightest idea what Grace is all about!
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Excellent article. Joel Osteen is in it for his own “prosperity” and comes across as a con man/slick charlatan.
Matthew 19:24
And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
That pretty much sums it up! All we actually require is our “daily bread.”
Loathe Osteen