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The following link will take you to "an open letter to Joel Osteen" written by Greg Garrett. Greg Garrett is a novelist, a professor of English at Baylor University, writer-in-residence at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, and a licensed lay preacher in the Episcopal Church. He is the author most recently of The Other Jesus (WJK).
The following link will take you to "an open letter to Joel Osteen" written by Greg Garrett. Greg Garrett is a novelist, a professor of English at Baylor University, writer-in-residence at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, and a licensed lay preacher in the Episcopal Church. He is the author most recently of The Other Jesus (WJK).
He may a well be speaking of every one of them out there that are guilty of the very thing he is...which is, of failing miserably at preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and what it actually takes to see your salvation. He has no message of salvation...and everyone who sits under him...well...their blood will be on his hands...and they will all see their very destruction instead.....as ignorance will not be accepted as an excuse.
...the dead leading the dead...the blind leading the blind...right off of the cliff.
I once thought that a true believe in Christ was, as Osteen preaches, an economically-sound, physically-fit, socially-eloquent individual. And I think it's tempting to believe that, especially when you are not those things. It gives people the illusion of hope for a better way of life, even if they will most likely never get there. It's a type of "opium for the masses."
The message I read in scripture, however, is much the opposite: "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind" and "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."
So part of our growth includes suffering. Paul received a "thorn in the flesh" from the Lord. God didn't remove the thorn. Paul also didn't say, "hey God, I want to be economically-secure, full of self-esteem, popular, healthy, etc." He knew that to grow in Christ means to also go through suffering: "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
Osteen's gospel is totally different than the gospel of Jesus Christ, imo. Riches are fine; but they ought not be of much interest to Christians. Our focus ought to be on Him who owns all things! In Him is our joy, not material wealth.
Osteen's gospel is totally different than the gospel of Jesus Christ, imo. Riches are fine; but they ought not be of much interest to Christians. Our focus ought to be on Him who owns all things! In Him is our joy, not material wealth.
Thank YOU, Brian. You are right. It was an interesting read.
For me, it sort of shed light on a few things that, unbeknownst to me, have lingered in my mind. You see, I occasionally have watched Joel Osteen on the tube. I enjoy his message. But I know that while I watch, I sit there sort of in a daze. His message is usually uplifting. It makes one 'happy'. But something about it never sits right with me. I have never really given much thought to the man or the Gospel that he was preaching and as I have now taken time to reflect on it, for me, it was more of 'entertainment' than Gospel.
So part of our growth includes suffering. Paul received a "thorn in the flesh" from the Lord. God didn't remove the thorn. Paul also didn't say, "hey God, I want to be economically-secure, full of self-esteem, popular, healthy, etc." He knew that to grow in Christ means to also go through suffering: "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
I find it interesting they call him an "evangelist" but the guy does not preach the gospel - death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 15) - as a necessity to save a fallen sinful human race from damnation.
Osteen preaches "another gospel", one that focuses on self-help messages that tickle the ears and help financially support his megachurch.
People can get intrigued with cozy preacher who do not preach the offense of the Gospel , or you can listen to preachers who teach condemnation against other believers , and teach people to condemn each other , or preacher who try to scare people into the kingdom of God ...Were if you do listen then as a Christians we must remove the bones in the Word that we hear and spit them out and forgive there offense to our understanding ...... or we can turn off the channel and watch a different show, .... But we should get the true Word of God by some source and we must get into the company of other believers to build foundations which will help in our life and walk with the Lord Jesus
It's a sad commentary on America today that thousands of clueless, unthinking, credulous , weak minded dumbkopfs listen to this charlatan in a $2,000 suit! And, buy his useless books, as well as contribute to his lavish lifestyle.
This duplicitous clown, and his plastic Barbie wife are laughing all the way to the bank. What is it that's in the water down there in Texas??
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