A place for everything

[stovebolts]

So, I know that there have been recent threads about Joel Osteen and there are many that find him a stench, so the other day while I was at the library I pulled out one of his books and started reading it.

I enjoyed it... I just so happened to open his book to a story that has always resonated with me, and that was when David was fleeing Jerusalem because his son was coming in to take it over. There was a kin of King Saul named Shemmia (sp) who was throwing rocks at David as he left and Joel brought out a passage that I had overlooked for years where David says, "Maybe God will bless me for this cursing". I had never seen that before and I must say, everything Joel said was within it's proper context and was masterfully laid out.

My aunt passed away last week and there is some termoil within the family. You see, my cousin is a staunch roman catholic and she thinks that she is high and mighty because she belongs to the one true church. My aunt, her mother, was not catholic nor are her siblings. Rather, they are more evangelical and this is creating a lot of issues because my catholic cousin is trying to have a catholic funeral for her evangelica mother with her evangelical sisters. It's not going over very well...

So I'm talking to my cousin who is distraught about this and other things with her catholic sister and she turns on Joel Osteen last night, and it was exactly what she needed. I talked to her about, "Being thankful in every situation" and also "all things work to the good of those who love God" and she said, "That is exactly what Joel was saying last night on the TV.

I don't know much about Joel Osteen, but I believe he has a good place within Christianity and he was a blessing to my cousin last night.

Grace and Peace.

 

[Andrew Mason]

I think it's important for the body of Christ to have realistic expectations when it comes to Joel Osteen. He's not an evil guy, but he's not a guy who seems called to preach the whole counsel of God on his tv program.

It seems to me that he views his tv program and his books as outreach tools. With this is mind, it's obvious that he has narrowed his strategy to positive (aka faith) thinking. Positive thinking is Biblical. It requires faith to think positively. You could argue some walk away with faith in faith instead of faith in Jesus, but I believe Joel is still pointing to Jesus when it's all said and done.

I think StoveBolt's post above is a clear example of his effectiveness. As soon as I realized what Joel Osteen was doing, I had an entirely new appreciation for him. Are there times when I wish he'd make a stronger stance on certain topics? Sure. Is he effectively reaching people? Definitely.

I think he's doing more good than harm.

 

[reba]

Along this line of thinking.... I have a daughter who is trying to come out of the drug world... I have been so anti the name it and claim it types the WoF guys etc probably to the point of sin..
Guess where our daughter is getting some spiritaul help she needs and i have been praying for.... Joyce Myers

knocks the pharisee out of ya for a while... Thank You Jesus

 

[Knotical]

Andrew touched on my main issue with Joel Osteen. He does not teach the whole counsel of God, which means he conveniently sidesteps preaching about sin, and the reason why we needed Jesus to die on the cross for us. To me it is a fundamental aspect of Christianity and Joel constantly will skirt issues that may be considered controversial for the sake of trying to please everyone. Jesus did not come to this earth to please everyone, but to show us what our true nature is and that we need to be saved.

 

[stovebolts]

Well, I think Joel has a place, and he's having a positive impact for Christ.

We are all part of the body and no one place will give anyone everything they need. That is why the Church is the Body of Christ. We each serve a different function and we ought to compliment each other where we can. I'm also thankful that he was able to give my cousin a Godly perspective on the situation she's going through and build her faith through hope.

Rob Bell is another controversial fellow and there are things he says that I don't agree with. But he made a point years ago that kinda stuck with me and he used a quote from G.K. Chesterton's book "Orthodoxy" as a springboard. You see, we are all cynical. We all like to sit at the back of the room and throw rocks at others thinking we have it all figured out. By our very sin nature, we're cynical. Rob goes on to say, "Why do we spend so much time condemning the dark for being dark? Instead, why don't we ask why the light isn't shining as bright as it should?"

Joel has some good stuff to say and from what I've read (which is very little), it's on solid ground. But where he lacks, others can bridge that gap.

I suppose the question I would ask is this. Why wouldn't we take the truth we find with the likes of Joel Osteen, Rob Bell, Joyce Meyer etc and embrace those truths and where it lacks, bridge that gap? Why do we have to "throw the baby out with the bath water"?

 

[Andrew Mason]

We are all part of the body and no one place will give anyone everything they need. That is why the Church is the Body of Christ. We each serve a different function and we ought to compliment each other where we can. I'm also thankful that he was able to give my cousin a Godly perspective on the situation she's going through and build her faith through hope.

I suppose the question I would ask is this. Why wouldn't we take the truth we find with the likes of Joel Osteen, Rob Bell, Joyce Meyer etc and embrace those truths and where it lacks, bridge that gap? Why do we have to "throw the baby out with the bath water"?

Stovebolts, I hear your heart and agree with you.

Rob Bell, however, is a can of worms which I will not open right now (FYI I have read three of his books too).

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

When one talks of Joel Osteen and others, these questions should be answered.

Does what is being taught strengthen our spiritual lives?
Does what is being taught build up our relationship with Jesus?
Does what is being taught help us to overcome the world?
Does what is being taught backed up with Scripture?

These questions are most important.

 

[stovebolts]

Stovebolts, I hear your heart and agree with you.

Rob Bell, however, is a can of worms which I will not open right now (FYI I have read three of his books too).

Yeah... he's a can o worms alright... Sift and sort... sift and sort. That can is best left unopened all right! I just always wondered how others in Paul's era took it when Paul quoted truth from pagan sources

 

[Deborah13]

When one talks of Joel Osteen and others, these questions should be answered.

Does what is being taught strengthen our spiritual lives?
Does what is being taught build up our relationship with Jesus?
Does what is being taught help us to overcome the world?
Does what is being taught backed up with Scripture?

These questions are most important.

I think maybe the point is not what does Joel does for me. He may not be who I will take the time to listen to but that doesn't mean he is not what other people need. I don't just listen to one person and maybe others don't either.
So we are all free to listen to whom we choose. As far as I know, I'm the only one on this forum who listens and reads Andrew Wommack, he's more my cup of tea but he doesn't have to be Susie and Joe's.

I think Joyce Myer is wonderful for someone people. Especially people who have struggles that are out of the ordinary Christians life. She came out of hell and learned to know that the Lord loved and loves her. She teaches the same to others. She's honest about her failings but is a "don't feel sorry for yourself" person, let the Lord lift you up. Her ministry serves the poor in St Louis, with several different outreach programs.

So what I see, is that the Lord provides for all His children's needs, by using different kinds of people, with different backgrounds and styles.

 

[jasoncran]

I wont listen to rob bell. neither would I listen to a prosperity gospel person. been in that here, we have them pentacostals here. in fact the majority of pentacostals here are that way. my church is the exception.of course if I posted the prophecies uttered by my pastor that I know have come to pass some of you might not like them.