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Otoh, Satan has enjoyed quite a lot of success with it and it may be what trips Osteen up and leads to his downfall, as so often happens with those in the spotlight.

Likely it is Satan protecting his own and God is the one who exposes the sin and *let's them get tripped up*.

CS Lewis in his book, Screwtape Letters, points out, and I believe correctly, that Satan would not care one iota if we lived a comfortable, safe life, where we never see our need for God and never come to Him fro salvation. Allowing a person happy, comfortable life to get him into hell for eternity would be a small price to pay for the enemy. Sure, he'd rather destroy us, but I do believe that his ultimate goal is to get people damned and whatever it takes, even if it's prosperity, works for him.

So since you are defending Osteen, do you also adhere to the prosperity gospel he preaches?

Do you think this is your best life now? Or that you can even have it?

Likely it is Satan protecting his own and God is the one who exposes the sin and *let's them get tripped up*.

The first part seems true, but I can't see well enough to confirm or deny. However, the last part seems closer to describing my experience and observations.

So since you are defending Osteen, do you also adhere to the prosperity gospel he preaches?

Your words, not mine. I do not see myself as defending him. He doesn't need defending and certainly not by me. I was on the hate wagon and got off. It's better for me this way. YMMV

What I told you in my response to you is how I understand the source of "prosperity" and I do not limit my definition to monetary wealth/success. Doing so seems result from a sort of envy and is not one of my issues. I see money as a tool, nothing more, but I have learned the truth of what The Notorious B.I.G once said, "Mo' money, mo' problems."

Do you think this is your best life now? Or that you can even have it?

That sounds like Warren? I read as far as I could in his book and could read no more and tossed it.

This is my life and, yes, it's the best one I have. It was given to me by my Father and for it and everything in it, I am grateful.

Fwiw, I think Job is cool and think of him with regard to prosperity.

Here is my defense of Joel Osteen in it's entirety:

I think Joel Osteen's messages are good for helping me tune my inner receiver to the God Channel.