[Gamecock]

And, it is the very paper that recently ran this surprising headline, “A Preacher for Trump’s America: Joel Osteen and the Prosperity Gospel.”

Except for this swipe at Trump the Article is spot on.

And let's not forget Osteen did very well during the Obammy years.

[freedumb2003]

What kind and color? Can I upgrade to a Lamborghini?

[21twelve]

Our Pastor did a whole series on Revelation. One of the scriptures he used was below - to a wealthy church. Our church is very wealthy. (At last year's auction for kids that we house and teach and mentor, three people paid $10,000 each to have a parking space close to the front door of the church!).

Of course, using one’s wealth to advance God's Kingdom is a good thing. But true wealth isn't how much stock one owns.

Revelation 3 14-22:

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

***************

By the way - notice that JESUS! is the one standing at the door and knocking. Compare it to his parable where it is US who knock at the master's door to get a loaf of bread. (Or whatever it was.)

But Jesus is just as adamant and pleading with those He wants to reach, as those of us that are pleading for Jesus.

[jimbug]

Thanks for posting this Gamecock, I pushed it to my FB timeline.

[Celtic Conservative]

Oh, lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz.
My friends all have Porsches, I must make amends...

CC

[RoosterRedux]

bump

[wjcsux]

Osteen is just like Schuller and Swaggart, his 80’s contemporaries. He does have a hot wife, though.

[Karma_Sherab]

Apparently, according to legend, Robert Johnson sold his for talent

[LYDIAONTARIO]

Bookmarking

[Califreak]

I read “ferret”.

Must be past my bedtime...

[mikeus_maximus]

Ferrari? Reminds me of the old Jack Benny gag where a
mugger comes up to him with a gun and says “Your money or your life!”

Pause.

Mugger: “Well?!”

Benny: “I’m thinking!”

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

The article said, “ Most people want to leave church feeling better than when they went in. This statement distills the essential message of prosperity theology—a theology not centered on God and his glory, but an anthropocentric psychological message aimed at making individuals merely feel better about themselves.

My pastor talks about sin and does not hesitate to tell us that any sin, even the smallest ones will prevent us from entering heaven. Our recent study of the Sermon On the Mount graphically pointed this out. The reason that this is not depressing news is because he always follows it up by reminding us that giving of our lives to Jesus and opening our hearts to God’s Holy Spirit, redeems us of all of those sins by Grace. Jesus is our once and for all sacrificial lamb, cleansing us, thus making us worthy of entering God’s presence in Heaven. Knowing that truth, how could I go away from Church feeling depressed? Rather just the opposit happens. I go away with real joy in my heart.

I suspect that no matter how many times Osteen tells his audience that they are worthy and deserving of God’s love and showering of gifts, they deep down know that they sin and so can’t be really sure about their salvation. Temporary feel good is not at all the same as Blessed Assurance.

[central_va]

If Jesus were to return now, what kind of car would he drive?

[super7man]

Honestly, I wouldn’t give a wooden nickel for a Ferrari. It’s a Barbie car. Now, the upcoming Corvette C8 might be a different story.

Official Thread Hijack.

[super7man]

fire and brimstone of a Billy Graham

I never got this from Billy Graham. Just a humble presentation of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

[Hardastarboard]

I have heard Joel Osteen about three times in my life, for very brief periods. His slicked back hair, smile like a raccoon eating fish guts out of a wire brush (hat tip to PJ O'Rourke), and constant, relentless pushing of "God loves you and wants to make you rich" was a complete turn off.

I expect that eventually he will be caught either embezzling money, or diddling under age girls or "of age" boys. I'm not accusing him of that and don't want to see it happen to him, but given the pattern we've all seen with these TV preachers, it sure wouldn't surprise me, either.

[ravenwolf]

The preachers who are preaching for their pay checks, no matter
How much or how little they make are preachers for hire and will
Leave when the wolf comes, which means they do not believe but are
pretenders no different than the religious leaders who had our Lord
crusified.

That is why God’s people are told in revelation 18 to come out of
her( the religion system ) because it is mainly about money, power,
and prestige which leads or had lead to corruption.

Why people keep on supporting these dens of vultures I have no idea,
maybe they think they will not be judged individually, maybe they
will be hid by the church.

[Lurker51]

I don’t particularly care for Ferraris, but I don’t really want to spend eternity with people who ask assinine questions like this... so I guess I would. But then I’d probably sell the car and donate the money to charity... I don’t like being given free stuff.

[WLusvardi]

For those who throw stones on the prosperity gospel I would suggest reading Christian sociologist Peter Berger’s article “You Can Do It!: Two Cheers for the Prosperity Gospel” (Search google).

[trebb]

Do you get to drive it for Eternity???

Just kidding...eternity with God will beat any car...