Posted on 08/29/2014 8:59:12 PM PDT by JohnKinAK
A recently recorded video is circulating online of Victoria Osteen, wife of megachurch speaker and author Joel Osteen, calling on congregants at Lakewood Church to do good for your own self because obedience, the church and worship are not for God as much as for self-happiness.
I just want to encourage every one of us to realize when we obey God, were not doing it for GodI mean, thats one way to look at itwere doing it for ourselves, because God takes pleasure when were happy, she declares in the undated 36-second clip with her husband standing by her side and nodding. Thats 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, Osteen continues. When you come to church, when you worship Him, youre not doing it for God really. Youre doing it for yourself, because thats what makes God happy. Amen?
SNIP
Steve Camp, pastor of The Cross Church in Palm City, Florida and former singer/songwriter, told Christian News Network that he viewed the video on Wednesday, and while saddened, he was not surprised at her remarks. He stated that Osteens statements were humanistic in nature and antithetical to Scripture.
Its the age old sin of idolatrythat its not about God, its about us, he explained. True worship for the humanist is about how we feel at the end of the day and what gives us meaning, as opposed to what gives God glory.
When we come to see men happy rather than God glorified, its not worship, its idolatry, Camp stated, reading from Psalm 115:1,
(Excerpt) Read more at christiannews.net ...
I’m no fan of Osteen, bit I truly believe that if our highest ethic was to take care of yourself first, the world would be a much better place.
bit=but
Osteen is by far the biggest fraud since Tammy Faye and Jim Baker etc. These middle aged low IQ folks, mainly women seeking feel-good prosperity, who flock to his MegaChurch are dumb as doorknobs.
PROSPERITY_MINISTRY_PING!
Silly me, I thought Christianity was about saving our souls, giving glory to HIM and even suffering untold horrors by anti-Christs and their minions.
I do not recall being promised happiness in this lifetime.
Joel Osteen is a self-help, self-esteem guru
He can go whole “sermons” without referencing the Bible or Jesus once I bet.
bookmark
bookmark
Don’t forget “Blinky”.
These two have always been con artists. They bring to mind 2 Timothy 4:3. They tell people what they want to hear.
A woman told my wife one Sunday afternoon that her and her 12 year old daughter had driven from Austin to Houston to see Olsteen. She was beside herself because her 12 year old “got to meet him”. Those people treat him as though he is a god.
Osteen is that smooth charming kind of fraudster who finds his way into your pocket books with simpleton-like explanations of the Bible since there is a sucker born every minute and the Gospels can be “gold” for folks like these. The doctrine of the Catholic Church with its 2000+year old history and brilliant historical and theological exegesis from Aquinas to Benedict XVI is beyond the literacy level of these morons to absorb.
bump!
Who did they pray to for their sweetheart deal on a used civic sports arena?
She is partially correct but the conclusion she draws is a worry.
She is correct that God does not need our praises or our obedience. Doing them is our duty and is good for us at the same time.
This does not automatically mean that doing them will bring us happiness in this life. It may indeed bring persecution, self denial, lack in material means etc. Of course long term all these things do work to our good and eventually complete joy and happiness in the life after.
If this is what she meant then she needs to be more specific as it matters what other people hear and we need to make sure there are no misunderstandings when it comes to preaching. This is why easy to remember catch phrases are no substitute for proper teaching!
They make Benny the Blower look legit
I detest Osteen but not all big churches are not home to charlatans
Course I’m not sure what you mean by big
My church is 3 services Sunday morning...I of course go to last....900-1400 each service
Not sure membership....I’ve never transferred by letter
Is that mega or just big?
SBC
Wrong.
I had to ask to be taken off the Osteen ping list. Sometimes he is OK, but I got sick of hearing of the wonderful plan God has for my life. Sure, but not the way he means it.
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