Joel Osteen's Prosperity Gospel

  • Thread starter Thread starter lak611
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
happygal said:
Cancelling Christmas and Easter Service…:confused: Why?? Unless the weather is really that bad till horrible disaster that prevent you from stepping out of your house, other then that what reason to cancel such important service for celebration…Although i’m a protestant, but i heard no churches in my country will close for such services…lucky me
Click to expand...
They way I understood it, he wanted to spend the time at home and suggested that his church members did the same. Talk about taking Christ our of Christmas…

I don’t know how it all ended up, I just lost all respect for the man for even entertaining the idea.

Earlier I posted this and said that it was a reminder of how empty the protestant faith is. Point being, they do not have the Eucharist. That leaves a huge hole in their faith. That is not to say they are not good Christians, or not close to God, but the Eucharist completes the relationship. Once you know that relationship (Mr. Osteen are you listening…??) …once you know it, you could not imagine not receiving it on a religious holiday such as Christmas.

Hope that clarifies my earlier remark.
 
happygal said:
Cancelling Christmas and Easter Service…:confused: Why?? Unless the weather is really that bad till horrible disaster that prevent you from stepping out of your house, other then that what reason to cancel such important service for celebration…Although i’m a protestant, but i heard no churches in my country will close for such services…lucky me
Click to expand...
While I was growing up (as a Mormon) we never had Christmas service unless it fell on a Sunday and even then my family didn’t attend.

During my protestant days in the Assembly of God we never had Christmas Day service either. We only had a Christmas Eve servicearound 5pm. Although that was lovely, now that I am Catholic I think it was a shame.

in Christ
Steph
 
We’ve got to take each person case by case and discern if they are in a right relationship with God, you know, like the one sitting in the pew next to you.
 
GOP said:
We’ve got to take each person case by case and discern if they are in a right relationship with God, you know, like the one sitting in the pew next to you.
Click to expand...
No, we really can’t do that because we can’t see into their hearts like God can. We can criticize Olsteen’s teachings but we can’t say whether he is a Christian or not. That is something that only God can do.

My mother always wanted me to watch him with her. I even bought her his book. At first he seemed so positive that I was pleased my mom was listening to him.

But there was some aspects to his teaching that was troubling. For example he claimed that if you believed strongly enough then you could basically control what happened to you. My mentally unstable mother couldn’t pick out the good from the bad. 😦
 
deb1 said:
No, we really can’t do that because we can’t see into their hearts like God can. We can criticize Olsteen’s teachings but we can’t say whether he is a Christian or not. That is something that only God can do.

My mother always wanted me to watch him with her. I even bought her his book. At first he seemed so positive that I was pleased my mom was listening to him.

But there was some aspects to his teaching that was troubling. For example he claimed that if you believed strongly enough then you could basically control what happened to you. My mentally unstable mother couldn’t pick out the good from the bad. 😦
Click to expand...
Yes, that’s the “name it and claim it” gospel, which is no Gospel at all.

We are able to discern one’s relationship with God by the person’s fruits, and we are even commanded to do so. 👍
 
GOP said:
We are able to discern one’s relationship with God by the person’s fruits, and we are even commanded to do so. 👍
Click to expand...
I understand this command - but I think one should be very careful as there might be a fine line between that and being judgmental. Look at the theif on the cross. All the onlookers that day probably went home assuming that he would burn in hell, but Jesus knew what was in his heart.

Unless you are really very close to a person, how do you know what is truly in their heart?

Not to pose an argument, but just to make the point about there being a fine line there.
 
AlegreFe said:
I wouldn’t say that he’s bringing people into the church. The Body of Christ is not about prosperity, wealth and health. You can’t just join any church and say you are part of the Body of Christ if that “church” is teaching that if you are rich you have favor with the Lord.

And NO we are not being judgemental. We are only stating facts in what we see and hear.
Click to expand...
so far I haven’t read one fact. Just a lot of complaining and judging. I came to this board to enjoy catholcism not see the worst of it.
 
Joel’s message is one of prosperity in christ. However, this prosperity is material wealth that Christ will give for living a godly life. For Joel, success means wealth and such is for the faithful.

The gospel of wealth is very American. Or for any society that puts money at the center of a person’s life. Joel’s message rings true for many who love wealth or wish to become wealthy. It is a feel god gospel putting the positive in jesus. Joel is not alone in this type of preaching. This is what many americans want to hear and they flock to hear it.

For after all, america is about prosperity at all costs. It is a money driven society with capital has its major force. Heck even larry kudlow a catholic convert on cnbc, speaks the love of money
but with god at the helm. Such is america. 🤷
 
Carrie_Andrews said:
I guess I take a very different message away from Joel then the posters here. I hear him talk about the importance of Forgiveness(like Mother Angelica) and Love. I get his news letter and he talks about Jesus and acceptance of lifes crosses in Jesus name. I don’t hear him talk about prosperity, only that God will not give you the grace you need to get ahead in life if you hold onto grudges and hate. I’m a deeply commited Catholic, but I get alot of Love from Joels messages, and alot of Jesus and the Bible. BTW, this was not easy to write knowing everyone here disagrees, but as Joel says, you stick up for those you love.
Click to expand...
I get his messages too and I feel the same way. 🙂 Most probably don’t even know he isn’t a pastor at all. He has no ministerial background. He just took over his Father’s church and he is doing well at it. He is uplifting and heaven knows we need more of that. The doom and gloom is far to prevalent.
 
GOP said:
You are right that we need to pray for all of the people who Joel Osteen misleads from the true Gospel.
[SIGN]:gopray:[/SIGN]

But sad to say that Joel is not in the business to save souls, but to put money into his savings accounts.

I don’t know Joel’s heart either, but I know his fruits, and his fruits are very un-Christian.
Click to expand...
What an awful thing to say coming from a Christian.
 
ladygenesis said:
Has anybody heard about the incident wherein Joel Osteen’s wife went berserk in the plane,became physically abusive to one of the stewardesses.Consequently,the Airline Company had plan to sue them at that time,which was last year.Mr.Osteen was also on that flight.Any latest news from this incident??
Click to expand...
second hand gossip. please look beyond the outword and leave the judging to God.
 
lak611 said:
“From the pulpit, Osteen preaches personal success. He holds little favor in reminding people how sinful they are.”
news.yahoo.com/s/wews/20070223/lo_wews/11083801. Health, wealth and personal success are contrary to the Bible, however. Christians are not promised success, they are promised persecution. From John 17: 14, "(DRB) I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them: because they are not of the world, as I also am not of the world.

(ESV) I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."
Click to expand...
i have the book your best life now and i thought it is really good
 
JoeyWarren said:
Awful yes, True most definitely yes.
Click to expand...
truth as in you agree with him?? just to clarify.

I say truth is in the eye of the beholder. One sees what they want to see. If you look for the negative you will find it and if you look for the postive you will find much more.
 
GrammasRose said:
truth as in you agree with him?? just to clarify.

I say truth is in the eye of the beholder. One sees what they want to see. If you look for the negative you will find it and if you look for the postive you will find much more.
Click to expand...
Joel Osteen is offering you a plate of cookies. Some of the Cookies contain Arsenic. Do you accept and eat the whole plate or do you reject the whole plate.?
 
JoeyWarren said:
Joel Osteen is offering you a plate of cookies. Some of the Cookies contain Arsenic. Do you accept and eat the whole plate or do you reject the whole plate.?
Click to expand...
They would have to be very very good and tasty cookies!😉
 
JoeyWarren said:
Joel Osteen is offering you a plate of cookies. Some of the Cookies contain Arsenic. Do you accept and eat the whole plate or do you reject the whole plate.?
Click to expand...
I disagree. As I said if you see that and wish to believe it then so be it. I see good in him and I believe his intentions are good. It isn’t our place to judge the man to begin with. None of us know his heart. If you don’t like him don’t listen to him, but I will because he does say uplifting things. Frankly I am quite sick of the doom and gloom. We get enough of that in the daily news, let alone at church.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top