about Joel Osteen

I just found out this from wikipedia.

Osteen received much criticism from many in the Evangelical community, after a 2005 appearance on Larry King Live, when he did not clearly affirm that Jesus Christ is the only way a person can reach Heaven. He stated repeatedly that only God knows a person's heart, but that as a believer in the Christian faith he believes in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. ^[14] In late 2006, Osteen again appeared on Larry King Live and clarified his prior statement, saying he does in fact believe a personal relationship with Christ is the only way to Heaven.^[14]

On the December 23, 2007 edition of Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace brought up criticisms of Osteen's lack of Scripture reference in his sermons, as well as his hesitancy to discuss sin as an integral part of life. Osteen responded: "And I am ultimately trying to do that, but I'm trying to teach people how to live their everyday lives, and so I do focus on it, probably not as much as some people would like."^[17]

Osteen has also received criticism for his lack of formal theological training. Osteen has received a Bachelor of Arts degree in television production but did not study theology or religion in college, and has never attended a theological seminary.^[18]

 

So this guy actually didn't even get any training from seminary, but only a BA in television production. This explain a lot of things.

From this, he knows how to attract tons of people to his mega church, TV program and books, but the bad news it he hardly know what the gospel is. And that's why he is preaching believe in Jesus Christ will make you rich.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperi...

Little do people know the only one who will be prosper in this prosperity gospel is the who is preaching it.

Well, I think whoever preaches this crap hardly get any serious theological training at all, other they won't preach this in the first place, since this gospel won't do people any good for their salvation.

People, get the heck out of this crap ASAP to save yourself treasure time and really learn how to get saved!

Joel's means well and does preach salvation, but my christian friends agree that he's of what we call a "Feel Good" preacher. In his first book, which I have he repeats himself over and over about being positive and not be negative. That too is cool, but he never gets into what is needed in churches today and that is to preach about the end times and much, much more than to just feel great.

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Well, to preach salvation, you need to touch the topic of sin, suffering and death, which is the root problem of man, and then the cross as the solution.

Those guys never teach these. They just focus on how your life can be "abundent", which doesn't necessarily means financially well doing.

Jesus Himself didn't have a million dollars villa and huge amount of number in bank account. He just sleep wherever he goes, and end up died on the cross because the world hated Him. And as Christians we are to follow His life, which to be selfless/self denial, and to give up your comfort and help those who are in need. And like the bible says, we will be hated also because the world first hated Jesus. And instead of being wealthy, we will face suffering, temptation and prosecution because of our faith.

Is this the same as what the prosperity gospel teach, that to be a Christian is to be wealthy? A "feel good" gospel is totally meaningless and useless to bring peace and joy to man in the midst of suffering and give out salvation.

"Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wants to come with me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.'" Matthew 16: 24 CSB (bold added)

What jesus is telling His disciples is that being a Christian is not easy. In His Word, God never promises that life is going to be without suffering for those of us who are Christians. When He says, "take up his cross"; the cross is a simbol of sacrifice and suffering, not of emotional or physical healing (or positive thinking).

Our emotional and physical well-being will not be on this earth, but in heaven. We must be willing to suffer for Christ as He suffered and died for us, otherwise, we will be filled with excuses as to why we can not do what He commands us to do.

God is not pleased with people who say, "I'm sorry, Lord, but I don't feel good today so I'm not going to do what you ask."

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Before I start please allow me to clarify my position 

I do not subscribe to the "Name it and Claim it, Blab it and Grab it" teachings of "Positive Thinking" or the "Prosperity" teachings that seem to be so prevalent in America today. BTW, The "Prosperity" teachings are predominately an American belief and are generally not found in other Countries.

I also do not agree with Joel Osteen on his belief that Mormons are Christians as this most definitely reveils not only an obvious lack of understanding about Mormonism but it also brings into questions his own immaturity and ability to Pastor a Church but, it is not because he does not have some degree from a seminary but rather it is his lack of understanding of the Word of God and his lack of Spiritual Discerment and understanding.

Having said this, may I ask a question?

I have been a Born Again Christian for 33 years. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior at the age of 17, I am now 51 years old. We are non-denominational but are considered Pentecostal.

I am an Assistant / Associate Pastor I also play guitar and am the Worship Leader. I have not been to college nor any Theological Seminary.

Since I do not have a degree from some type of institution that gives there stamp of approval on my life as a Born Again Christian, does this nullify the position and title that has been placed upon me?

FYI, Though I do believe that there must be some type of structured order in a Church and that Jesus Christ gave that order as related by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians a Title is simply that, "A Title". Unfortunately people have a tendency to look at the individual that has been placed in authority rather than the "One" who gave them that authority and that "One" is God not an institution.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:

The motivation of a persons heart is also a factor in this. Does the Pastor have a "True Genuine Burden" to see the lost come to the knowledge and understanding of the saving grace of Jesus Christ or is the motive of the heart ulterior in nature. They only way a person can know whether a Pastor is teaching truth or not is to judge the fruit of the tree, and the only way they can do this is to know what the Word of God says but,

As a majority of people do not actually "study" their Bibles but take and accept whatever they here as truth they do the exact opposite what the Word of God plainly says:

1Co 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

1Co 2:5 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

2Ti 2:15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.

And so I also say this, Do not just take my word as truth but "Judge what I say by the Word of God"

The Lord Bless

hizson

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Very well said hizson.

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I grew up, parents met & married at Lakewood Church under John Osteen.

We left the church after his son took over and perverted the Bible.

 It is my sincere belief that if John Osteen was alive today, he would chase Joel off the stage with a bible in his hand!

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Jesus Christ didn't die because the World hated Him.  He died because he Loved us.

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Here you go again bashing Joel.  I have his book "Your Best Life Now," which I loved and I've seen him in person.  He's awesome.

The way to salvation is for our souls to receive God's Divine Love brought to us from prayer by the Holy Spirit.  This was Jesus' message and it's all we really need to know and do.

GB.

 

 

 

 

 

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SoCal Native said:

Here you go again bashing Joel.  I have his book "Your Best Life Now," which I loved and I've seen him in person.  He's awesome.

The way to salvation is for our souls to receive God's Divine Love brought to us from prayer by the Holy Spirit.  This was Jesus' message and it's all we really need to know and do.

GB.

 

Wow, you might want to pick up your bible again.

 

 You have been listening to Joel too long, he has brainwashed you.

No where in the bible does it say  "The way to salvation is for our souls to receive God's Divine Love brought to us from prayer by the Holy Spirit."

I don't even know where you got that from. Do you have the scripture and verse by any chance?

If not, you are learning the teachings of a cult.

 

 John 3:16

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

 

You must be born again, a new creation, ask the lord to forgive you of all of your sins.

Since of course, he was the perfect sacrifice. 

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I am not knocking Mr. Osteen  outright. He did, however, make a living as a car salesman. God knows a car salesman would never lie. He did write a good book. I read most of it.  it is certainly possible for a car salesman to change. ....................??????? Call me Thomas the doubter

I guess I am still an Associate Pastor so let me say. The Word of God is simple, plain, to the point, and truth no if's, and's, or but's. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is exactly the same, no hocus pocus, no flim flam, no trickery or deceit it is the truth plain and simple. Jesus made a statement that is absolute though many try to say and teach that the Word of God or God Himself is not absolute. This statement is an "Absolute Definitive" of who and what Jesus Christ is. Jesus said in John 14:6

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Where it says "but by me" the word "by" in the greek rendering of the word means "through". Jesus asserts not only His Authority as the redeemer or the "Promised Messiah" but He declares that there is "No Other Way" to receive salvation except through Him, "no one cometh unto the Father, but by me".

Though prayer is extremely important as Bro. Paul continually exhorts the believer to pray even to the point of telling us to:

1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing;

and He shows us that prayer is a part of our "Spritual Weaponry"

Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Eph 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Eph 6:14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,

Eph 6:15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;

Eph 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Eph 6:17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Eph 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Prayer "Does Not" bring about what your statement or rather Joel Osteens says:

"The way to salvation is for our souls to receive God's Divine Love brought to us from prayer by the Holy Spirit.  This was Jesus' message and it's all we really need to know and do."

Though there is a process of salvation.

1) One "Must" come to the realization that they are a sinner, that they are lost and on their way to Hell and an eternity separated from God and as such, they are in need of a Savior

2) They "Must" realize that God, The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has provide the perfect sacrifice, the Redeemer for their sins, and that this Redeemer, this Savior is Jesus Christ of Nazareth

3) They "Must" not just "Believe" but they must "Repent and Convert" as it says in the Word of God:

Mat 18:3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

4) They "Must" repent of their sins, accept Jesus Christ into their heart, mind, and soul, and believe that He has forgiven them, this also means understanding that they have "Given or Surrendered their life to Jesus Christ" and that they now belong to Him and that they must walk in a manner that is "worthy" of Him on a daily basis. Now, this doesn't mean that they will be perfect though Bro. Paul does tell us:

Php 3:11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Php 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Php 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

What it does mean is that, on a daily basis they must; pray, study Gods Word, seek His will for their life daily, and believe that He will give them the power to overcome on a daily basis. This is the process of growing into "Maturity" in Jesus Christ.

To point out or show where a person is off scripturally or is just plain wrong is not "Knocking" that person. If you spend any time in your Bible studying you will see where the Born Again Christian is told to  Watch, Guard, and Beware of : false teachings, false prophets, false christs, doctrines of demons, distorters of the truth, etc.

2Tim 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:

2Tim 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

2Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

2Tim 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Sorry this was so lengthy folks but the message of Salvation in Jesus Christ is the single most important thing or event that a person can hear about and have happen in their lives.

The Lord Bless

hizson

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(CM) theSuperPatriot said: Jesus Christ didn't die because the World hated Him.  He died because he Loved us.

 

This moderator is on to something