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 God—I mean, that's one way to look at it—we'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 ...
Now YOU have done it!
Here come the GOD created EVIL! crowd!!
I know what you mean, dear!
Many times I've been udderly moooooved to tears.
"...take up YOUR cross and follow Me."
If Joel Osteen considers Mormons to be brothers in Christ that is fine with me.
Apparently, heresy is not something that upsets you.
You must be a youngster!
Indeed it is!
Proverbs 11:25 Kin
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Isaiah 32:5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal,
Liberal used to mean generous but it no longer means that and the vile call them selves liberal.
These folks do not like some of the things Paul has written; claiming they go AGAINST what Jesus taught.
So it makes some people come to resent Paul
Some of this is brought on by the people who preach nothing but Paul, and claim that Paul was THE apostle to the gentiles.
Most of us realize that just because the other apostles did not write letters is no sign of slackness.
When I hear some one putting the 12 apostles who Jesus chose down, I can see that they can only get their attitude from one place and that would be Paul.
No one puts Paul ahead of Peter or John or for that matter even Phillip or Steven who were not even apostles with out an argument from me, I might lose but they will get it anyway.
Elsie,
What I have found is we start with a false premise that actually stunts our studies.
Not sure your opinion of the mother church, but the false premise starts with her.
Went to dr and he said it was stomach acid which had gotten into my throat and lungs.
I went through bouts of broncitis for about ten years. When I retired from the Air Force, I finally learned I had severe acid reflux and a hyatel hernia. My VA doctor told me to take generic prilosec every day.
Hope you feel better soon.
I predict you’ll get a ‘NO’ answer from CAtholics; which will then be followed by plenty of examples from PROTESTants.
The comment was a response to the idiotic accusation that Protestents consider Paul the founder of Christianity (wouldn’t that be called “Paulism?).
ex-Catholics make the best MORMONs.
What if you don’t believe Jesus and Lucifer are brothers and you won’t accept a claim that one day you will be “god” of your own planet.
Make your own choices Elsie and I’ll make mine.
LOL!!!
If I really wanted to rant on this thread about free will, I would probably use the Ten Commandments as an example of how we are inclined not to keep them. Our hearts deceive us into thinking we’re keeping them. That is why we have to constantly repent.
But, then again, I won’t do that. ;O)
I have had GERD and a hiatal hernia for about 30 years. I did not have my prescribed Nexium so I was just taking OTC stuff. Got to looking at it after this little episode and it was about half my dosage. No wonder I had trouble.
Right. Jesus refers to YOUR cross.
So much for those who say that Jesus’ suffering is ALL-sufficient, that he did ALL the redemptive suffering ENTIRELY by himself, and therefore there is no need for the individual Christian to do ANY suffering.
If our death to self by taking up our cross could work salvation, then Christ died for nothing.
If His work as the Son of God is not enough to save us in and of itself, then nothing we as sinful, mortal humans can do can add to that because our works are stained by sin and are completely inadequate to save us or contribute to it.
If our works are necessary, then you are saying that the death of Jesus on the cross is inadequate, it is not enough to save us.
If that’s the case, then NOTHING is enough to save us.
**you can follow the law you don’t need Jesus.**
So, verses such as Acts 2:38, 5:32, and Rms 6:17 (not to mention conversion commands from Jesus Christ himself) are ‘law’ to you?
Your’s is so typical of Calvinist replies. Almost utter disregard for the conversions displayed in Acts. Yours, and other mainsteam protestant organizations gladly quote Acts 16:31, and avoid the ‘rest of the story’ where the Philippian jailor’s household was taught the Word and baptized.
But, I understand, for I was a proud Calvinist up to the age of 28. Our rural Presbyterian church was well stocked with studious, devout, and EXTREMELY conservative members. Going to movie theaters or even eating in an establishment that served liquor was looked down upon. Some refused playing card games and/or listening to music other than gospel.
Such godly behavior was commendable, but the disregard for Word’s conversion process was what opened my eyes. Death, burial, and resurrection:
Death and burial: Repentance, of course is required (even by Calvinists. For without that, one is burying a ‘live’ man; one that has not accepted the ‘not my will, but thine’ attitude). Buried with him in baptism unto death (Rms 6:3)
Resurrection: the power of the Holy Ghost to make one walk in newness of life (Rms 6:4)...AND... have the same Spirit that will ‘quicken’* our mortal bodies. (Rms 8:11)
(* not to be confused with that quicken mortgage loan dude.)
It’s all pretty basic scriptural teaching, but man-made tradition has blinded many. Luther didn’t leave behind all the man-made traditions, and neither did Calvin.
Our suffering and our works are the way we APPROPRIATE the graces from Christ’s passion and death.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.