joel osteen

[nate12387]

We have to remember that Joel Osteen is not a theologian, has no seminary training, and he doesn’t claim either of those two things.

 

[Chris_LaRock]

hi
i was just wondering why im seeing negative things on the web about joel osteen?
why are people so negative about him, he talks about God, and being in faith how is that wrong?

He’s preaching a false gospel. He thinks that material wealth is what Jesus died on the cross for. He obviously overlooked these passages in God’s word:

Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Pro 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Pro 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

[blessedtoo]

But I didn’t find anywhere he said he didn’t know homosexuality etc. are sins or any of that, he just says “I don’t know” a lot. Maybe where he lives it’s like here, and “I don’t know” is how people start most of what they say. It doesn’t literally mean “I have no knowledge on that subject.” It means “I don’t know how to say this politely, but I’ll try”, or “I don’t know the exact words for what I mean so be patient while I search for them,” or “I don’t know why I have to explain something so basic, but here goes”, and stuff like that.

Here is EXACTLY what he had to say about sin:

KING: How about issues that the church has feelings about? Abortion? Same-sex marriages?

OSTEEN: Yeah. You know what, Larry? I don’t go there. I just …

KING: You have thoughts, though.

OSTEEN: I have thoughts. I just, you know, I don’t think that a same-sex marriage is the way God intended it to be. I don’t think abortion is the best. I think there are other, you know, a better way to live your life. But I’m not going to condemn those people. I tell them all the time our church is open for everybody.

KING: You don’t call them sinners?

OSTEEN: I don’t.

KING: Is that a word you don’t use?

OSTEEN: I don’t use it. I never thought about it. But I probably don’t. But most people already know what they’re doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change. There can be a difference in your life. So I don’t go down the road of condemning.

 

[TJ_2582]

Yes!!! Precisely!!
The danger is that someone will believe what JO teaches, & reject Christ, when they don’t become rich. Or, when they are ill, they spend their energies trying to figure out what they “did wrong in order to attract sickness”.

Exactly.

And it’s not that he hasn’t done good things. There have been many people who have found their way to Christ because of Joel. But it’s when they hang on every word he says as their foundation of faith just because it sounds good, that’s when the problem starts. It’s definitely not about never experiencing heartache, sickness, poverty, etc. like he says it is. But that’s what people this day and age wanna hear. And that’s why you’re starting to see more negative about him, because his gospel and the true gospel are so far apart, but also because of how many people that message draws in.

That all being said, I actually like the guy. Not so much for spiritual teaching, but just to hear something that will brighten my mood when I’m feeling down, upset, etc. It all depends on what you take out of his message. Just as you don’t have the same teacher for every class, you’re not gonna have the same teacher for everything about faith. As long as you get the right spiritual message, I think Joel is good to listen to every once in a while to add a motivational/uplifting part to it, and also to hear some things you can experience if you adhere to the correct message.

 

[strngrnrth]

Here is EXACTLY what he had to say about sin:

But he said that he doesn’t think in terms of calling people sinners and that most people know what they’re doing wrong. Whether that’s true or not – and I don’t believe Osteen knows much of what he’s talking about – I don’t think he meant he doesn’t know if those things are wrong, just that he thinks saying so isn’t his main task since he believes they know that. I’m not trying to split hairs. I just think sometimes the way someone talks is misunderstood. I think if we’re going to analyze his doctrine we need to be sure not to put words in his mouth.

 

[Los_Angeles]

When it comes to religious beliefs, if its not Catholic why buy it?

P.S. One of my Baptist friends told me while looking at one of the books from the preacher in question at the store once, that the mentality is more “What can the Kingdom of God do for me?” vs. “What can I do for the Kingdom of God?”

P.P.S One of my Pentacostal friends said that it is a “Watered down gospel”.

P.P.P.S. Greg Laurie (A protestant preacher) spoke against the “prosperity gospel” that is being exported out of America (from a video I saw on Godtube.com)

 

[Los_Angeles]

Here is EXACTLY what he had to say about sin:

KING: How about issues that the church has feelings about? Abortion? Same-sex marriages?

That is hillarious. You beat me to it, I was going to quote the EXACT same passage from the transcript on CNN.

 

[happygal]

That is hillarious. You beat me to it, I was going to quote the EXACT same passage from the transcript on CNN.

I don’t get you, why you think is hillarious ?

 

[packermann]

I don’t get you, why you think is hillarious ?

This is hilarious because God has spoken that these things are sin, and greatly offend Him. Those who do these things are in danger of of going to hell for eternity. For a pastor not to warn his flock is a great trajedy. Their condemnation will be on his hands.

I notice that your by-line says we should be at peace with God as we conceive Him to be. This is New Age drivel. Jesus said that God seeks those who worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4).

 

[NotWorthy]

We have to remember that Joel Osteen is not a theologian, has no seminary training, and he doesn’t claim either of those two things.

But he sure doesn’t have a problem passing around the basket.

 

[Zooey]

P.S. One of my Baptist friends told me while looking at one of the books from the preacher in question at the store once, that the mentality is more “What can the Kingdom of God do for me?” vs. “What can I do for the Kingdom of God?”

P.P.S One of my Pentacostal friends said that it is a “Watered down gospel”.

P.P.P.S. Greg Laurie (A protestant preacher) spoke against the “prosperity gospel” that is being exported out of America (from a video I saw on Godtube.com)

The friend who first pointed out to me, the deep errors in JO’s teachings, is a Fundamentalist Baptist.

happygal:

While i do understand we are empower by God to do certain thing, however unless we truly know our vocation, the duty to testify other preachers comes from church leaders themselves, not members like us who are still struggles with our faith.

All Christians, all who name the Name Above All Names are called to discern between truth & falsehood.
We are all called to “go into all the world and speak the Gospel”. That includes speaking out when we hear false teachers like Osteen perverting the Gospel for their own ends.
This is not an option. It’s not a matter of having a “special ministry”. It is "showing ourselves approved unto God, worker that do not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the words of truth.
There is only one Word. The Word of God made flesh, Who died for us on Calvary. He suffered & died. Jesus did NOT go around telling us how to make a lot of money.
He told us to “take up your cross & follow Me”; not to follow & watch all our troubles go away once we think happy thoughts, & stop calling sin a sin!!

Because, unless you’re pretty sure that your righteousness is of higher then your leader then we are called to testify false teaching, otherwise we don’t even realizing it that we are execrising our own wrong power upon others.

Joel Osteen is the one exercising false powers. He is claiming that all there is to religion is thinking positive thoughts, & “name & claim” whatever we want.

I have no doubts that Jesus** wanted** very much to come down off that Roman cross. He begged, in Gethsemane, “let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will, Father”…and then He–who could have “call[ed] ten thousand angels”, allowed Himself to be arrested, tortured, & murdered, for all of us.
Even for an Joel Osteen…who wants us to leave the one & only Saviour, in order to be “saved” from our own crosses…whatever they may be. “Not as I will; as You will, Father” Amen!!" Let it be done unto to me, according to thy word".

For many who believes Joel’s teaching is false, then let the leaders above us to testify them and confirming that all members should stop listening to his false teaching.

They are. They have. We are carrying their words into the world here. That is the job of every single Christian believer, Catholic, Protestant, & Orthodox.
Joel Osteen does not teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He teaches the “gospel according to Joel Osteen”. And that’s not good enough. It’s not good at all. It’s a lie, straight from the pit of hell…and the devil is laughing, every time another Christian strays away from Christ, in search of an “easy way”.

 

[happygal]

This is hilarious because God has spoken that these things are sin, and greatly offend Him. Those who do these things are in danger of of going to hell for eternity. For a pastor not to warn his flock is a great trajedy. Their condemnation will be on his hands.

I notice that your by-line says we should be at peace with God as we conceive Him to be. This is New Age drivel. Jesus said that God seeks those who worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4).

Hi packermann

I get what you mean, we all know abortion, same sex marriage is a sin, however Joel did not acknowledge those thing are acceptable. Instead he is using encouragement to wake those pple up by telling them to come back home to church. While i understand in America, everyone have the right to speak whether they feel like it even to go all way to condemn sinner directly. Please!!! he’s on TV, how can you expect him to go all the way to condemn pple as sinners… that is unchristian…while you will never agree to what i say, but i live in another part of the world with culture so much different from America, christian and catholics here don’t go around telling those gay/les there are Sinners or even to condemn those who sin again God, instead we spend time talking and encouraging them back to church. We are careful with words then to bring hurts towards others…

 

[Zooey]

I get what you mean, we all know abortion, same sex marriage is a sin, however Joel did not acknowledge those thing are acceptable.

I am trying to say this very gently, because I know that English is not your 1st language…
But, you see, many people don’t know, don’t believe that abortion is a sin, that homosexual acts are sinful. And when JO became a pastor, he is now under orders** from God**, to tell the truth, that we are sinners.
If folk don’t know they are sinners, they don’t repent; without repentance, there is no hope for them. Their only hope is to hear that sin is sin. Not a “choice”, not an “alternate lifestyle”; sin. Plain old dirty, rebellious, God-defying sin.
Without repentance, they are on the fast track to the fires of hell.

Instead he is using encouragement to wake those pple up by telling them to come back home to church.

JO is not waking anyone up; he is putting them to sleep. He is patting them on the back, & saying, “There, there, don’t worry about it. Think happy thoughts & all will be well”–but that is a lie!! That is what they* want* to hear: that they can go ahead & sin on, never being sorry…

While i understand in America, everyone have the right to speak whether they feel like it even to go all way to condemn sinner directly.

This not about America. This is about the Kingdom of God. We must “seek first the Kingdom of God & His righteousness”.
There is no easy way.

Please!!! he’s on TV, how can you expect him to go all the way to condemn pple as sinners… that is unchristian…

Jesus Christ told us to leave the father of lies (satan), for Him–He is “the Way, the Truth, & the Life;”& “no one comes to the Father but through Jesus”. We have to tell folk they are sinners in need of a Saviour. That is our job, our sworn duty to the King of Kings.
Unchristian? No, to be Christian means that God requires us to tells people they are sinners.
Anything less is a lie, & lies are of their father–the devil.
And as a pastor, JO has an even greater responsibility to speak the truth, & not “comfortable” lies!!

while you will never agree to what i say, but i live in another part of the world with culture so much different from America, christian and catholics here don’t go around telling those gay/les there are Sinners or even to condemn those who sin again God, instead we spend time talking and encouraging them back to church.

But, you see, unless we tell them the truth…they will die in their sin. And to die in rebellion against God, is to go to hell.
Better by far, to be condemned in their conscience now, than to face the condemnation of God, in the Day of Judgment.
Nothing to do with customs, or cultures. “I must needs go home by the Way of the Cross;there’s no other way but this.
I will never catch the sight of the Gates of Light, if the Way of the Cross I miss”.
God’s Way is the ONLY way.
For centuries, folk have given their lives, rather than compromise with a sinful world system. The:crying: martyrs shed their own blood, in the Way of the Cross; we must do the same if necessary, because we have no other choice…Not if we are to get to Heaven; not is others are going to get to Heaven.

We are careful with words then to bring hurts towards others…

What could possibly be more of a “hurt” than to teach sinners not to repent? To tell them to “feel good”, as they make their path straight into the gates of hell…This is what Joel Osteen yells folk.
And their are always those who will listen…because he tells them just what they want to hear.
He:nope: doesn’t teach what Jesus Christ says; that way is hard. It is painful. There is suffering. There are trials and tribulations. But, “the Way of the Cross leads:heaven: home”.

“Broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are who find it”.
The only way to Heaven is the narrow way…the Way of the Cross.
The* only* way. The ONLY way!!

I must go the Way of the Cross. You must. Every man, woman & child must go home through the Way that is Jesus Christ Himself.
Otherwise, there is only:crying: eternal death, a “certain expectation of judgment & fiery indignation that will devour the adversaries”…“How much worse punishment…will he be thought worthy of, who has trampled the Son of God underfoot…and insulted the Spirit of Grace”???
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God”.(Hebrews 10).

“Lord, grant that I may never glory, except in the Cross of Christ, my Lord”.

 

[neophyte]

The one time I heard him speak (we were staying in a hotel), he said that we need to avoid people who drag us down. We should not associate with the sick, the poor, the alcoholic, the mentally-ill, the criminals, and anyone else who is not where we want to be. We should associate with those people who bring us UP to their level…

How did he suggest we could associate with them when he’d just said that they shouldn’t associate with us??

 

[happygal]

Hi Zooey

Thks for your patient in pointing out your thoughts and truly admired your love for God, while i agreed with you that not everyone is aware that adoption is a SIN, conversely, same sex marriage is totally out of the question.

However like what i mentioned to you early on, even if you wanna bring forth God’s teaching to all nation, lst we need to understand inidividual culture and background before adopting a correct way to bring forth God’s teaching, failing to that, you’re not bring pple to church but instead pushing pple away. Just look at China, how Vatican have being trying their very best to bring forth God’s teaching into a land where many have yet to hear his words. Therefore, thery are slowly working its way with the cental government in China to make things work, rather then hastily and forcefully pushing their way in. Hence, your way of condemning sinners will not 100% work. Our duty is to help sinners to understand God’s teaching with patient and love, not with great condemnation and bashful words. The ability to use God’s wisdom bestow onto us is through our words, in one way we address the danger of sin , yet conversely through our words, we bring forth his teaching to sinner.

I hope you understand what i’m trying to point out and i hope your love for God will continue to shine.