Joel Osteen, good or bad

[Deborah13]

John 16:8: NIV
"When he comes, he will prove to the world to be wrong about sin...".

I can't give a complete response in this thread. But thanks for the scripture.....

Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

He is a false teacher.That is incorrect.He is not on the right track.Those who think he is are decieved.I think many people are being deceived now by false teachers.It is going to get alot worse during the tribulation.These false teachers are just a stepping stone to the tribulation.

Now if you want to see a real false teacher, look up Bill and Brenda Johnson, Bethel Church, California.

 

[Kathi]

Now if you want to see a real false teacher, look up Bill and Brenda Johnson, Bethel Church, California.

There are a bunch of false teachers.You just have to have discernment and know scripture to find them.

 

[Deborah13]

What Joel is not teaching is the Gospel.

As Christians we are to teach the Gospel, the story of Christ and the good news of salvation, not little sound bites of what seem like good advice. We are not to tray from the words of Christ and use them to make up our own message.

We are to take our condition as sinners seriously and the message of salvation seriously.

We're certainly not called to be seek wealth and comfort and serve ourselves on earth, yet that is the overarching message of Joel Olsteen. That matches the message of this fallen world and that's why so many are attracted to it. "It's OK to be gay God loves you"; it's OK to seek riches and be comfortable; God loves you and He wants you to be happy" It's OK to follow other religions or have your own way of thinking about God because they all lead to God, and God loves you and wants you to know him on your own terms".............this is what Joel Olsteen preaches, teaches and seems to also practice.

I would urge you to look deeper; to not just accept something because it sounds like its coming form a nice well meaning guy who says he likes Jesus. The devil is a deceiver; he will come to you not as your enemy, but your friend and he will strive to gain your trust and favor. To recognize it, we need to know Gods truth. Only then can we know the difference.
God bless.

Joel said, I heard it with my own ears from his mouth the homosexuality is SIN the Bible says so.
I haven't heard him preach on prosperity but I don't doubt he does.
Yup, God loves you and wants you to be happy, even in trials and tribulation. [Joel implied this in a quote that I posted] He said, God will answer your prayer but it may not be in the way you wanted because God knows best.
That doesn't sound like the "name it and claim it" crowd to be.
I haven't heard him say it was OK to follow other religions. He said there were different paths to JESUS. I'm sure your path to Jesus was different than my path to Jesus. He specifically said "Jesus" not God.
"on your own terms?" This one I don't know what statement you are referring to, maybe I missed it.

What I think you are saying is that every Sunday he does teach the 'Good News' of salvation. Well, people need to know how God helps them walk in that salvation. Paul taught all kinds of things about how to walk in THIS life. The Law of Moses gave details of every single thing in walking in this life during that covenant age.

 

[Willie T]

You seem to be quite a woman, Deborah.

 

[Deborah13]

There are a bunch of false teachers.You just have to have discernment and know scripture to find them.

You made me think of something very important. We are all deciding who a false teacher is, not saying anyone is wrong. But we haven't clearly defined what the BIBLE says a false teacher is and how we know.
So maybe we should do this first and make sure everyone is on the same page as to the definition of a false teacher?

What scriptures describe to you what a false teacher looks like?
I think Paul gives a few descriptions in Galatians 5. Here's a link to those. https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Gal/Exposing-False-Teachers
I still looking for more.

 

[Willie T]

You made me think of something very important. We are all deciding who a false teacher is, not saying anyone is wrong. But we haven't clearly defined what the BIBLE says a false teacher is and how we know.
So maybe we should do this first and make sure everyone is on the same page as to the definition of a false teacher?

What scriptures describe to you what a false teacher looks like?
I think Paul gives a few descriptions in Galatians 5. Here's a link to those. https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Gal/Exposing-False-Teachers
I still looking for more.

OUCH ! Galatians 5 sounds like one of Osteen's sermons.

Galatians 5 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Live in the Freedom That Christ Gives You
5 Christ has freed us so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom. Therefore, be firm in this freedom, and don’t become slaves again.
2 I, Paul, can guarantee that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 Again, I insist that everyone who allows himself to be circumcised must realize that he obligates himself to do everything Moses’ Teachings demand. 4 Those of you who try to earn God’s approval by obeying his laws have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen out of God’s favor.[a] 5 However, in our spiritual nature, faith causes us to wait eagerly for the confidence that comes with God’s approval. 6 As far as our relationship to Christ Jesus is concerned, it doesn’t matter whether we are circumcised or not. But what matters is a faith that expresses itself through love.
7 You were doing so well. Who stopped you from being influenced by the truth? 8 The arguments of the person who is influencing you do not come from the one who is calling you. 9 A little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough. 10 The Lord gives me confidence that you will not disagree with this. However, the one who is confusing you will suffer God’s judgment regardless of who he is. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching that circumcision is necessary, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the cross wouldn’t be offensive anymore. 12 I wish those troublemakers would castrate themselves.
13 You were indeed called to be free, brothers and sisters. Don’t turn this freedom into an excuse for your corrupt nature to express itself. Rather, serve each other through love. 14 All of Moses’ Teachings are summarized in a single statement, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 15 But if you criticize and attack each other, be careful that you don’t destroy each other.
16 Let me explain further. Live your life as your spiritual nature directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants. 17 What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don’t always do what you intend to do. 18 If your spiritual nature is your guide, you are not subject to Moses’ laws.
19 Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I’ve told you in the past and I’m telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature. 26 We can’t allow ourselves to act arrogantly and to provoke or envy each other.

Read more at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5&version=GW#DcczvD9DZ0VAgHcx.99

 

[Knotical]

I think if everyone goes back to the OP and listen to what is said, you'd have to say Joel is on the right track these days.

Thought there are some things he said that seem to fit, there are others that raise too many questions.

 

[Willie T]

You made me think of something very important. We are all deciding who a false teacher is, not saying anyone is wrong. But we haven't clearly defined what the BIBLE says a false teacher is and how we know.
So maybe we should do this first and make sure everyone is on the same page as to the definition of a false teacher?

What scriptures describe to you what a false teacher looks like?
I think Paul gives a few descriptions in Galatians 5. Here's a link to those. https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Gal/Exposing-False-Teachers
I still looking for more.

#5 in the link you gave certainly brings the pointing fingers and accusations home to roost. (Is the pot, perhaps, calling the kettle, black?)

 

[Deborah13]

You seem to be quite a woman, Deborah.

Well, I don't know about that, I don't always behave the way I should. But thanks.

I believe that when we expect someone to be more perfect than we ourselves are then we are putting that person on a pedestal even when we don't agree with what they say.

OUCH ! Galatians 5 sounds like one of Osteen's sermons.

Well I do think that he needs to teach it more boldly. For me there is much too much tipping toeing through the tulips.
I heard him say, I think in the Larry King interview, that he didn't know that much about the Mormon beliefs. Well if you don't know don't give it a thumbs up because a Republican Mormon is running for president. It was fine to accept what Romney said about Jesus being his Savior, but to say the Mormon religion falls under the Christian tenants is just not true. Setting aside all their added strange beliefs, they teach following Moses' Law, AND they don't believe that Jesus is the ONLY begotten Son of God.

 

[Deborah13]

#5 in the link you gave certainly brings the pointing fingers and accusations home to roost. (Is the pot, perhaps, calling the kettle, black?)

I'm just sincerely trying to find the definitions of a false teacher in the scriptures.
I know an anti-Christ would be a false teacher.

I would think that a false teacher would Not teach these things...
That Jesus is the only begotten Son of God
He was God come in the Flesh (really a flesh and blood man, not a spirit)
That He was the sacrifice for the sins of the world.
That He died and rose from the dead.
That salvation only comes by grace through faith in Jesus as ones Savior.

Paul taught that if someone taught that justification came by the covenant of the law rather than grace, they were a false teacher.

There may be others....

I think SOME of the Word of Faith teachers are treading on Very thin ice and I also believe that Some may have fallen through.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

You made me think of something very important. We are all deciding who a false teacher is, not saying anyone is wrong. But we haven't clearly defined what the BIBLE says a false teacher is and how we know.
So maybe we should do this first and make sure everyone is on the same page as to the definition of a false teacher?

What scriptures describe to you what a false teacher looks like?
I think Paul gives a few descriptions in Galatians 5. Here's a link to those. https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Gal/Exposing-False-Teachers
I still looking for more.

Good link Deborah.
In that last paragraph, "But we are constantly faced with the choice between religious options...Some religious options lead to slavery and imprisonment".
This is certainly one way we are to look at things we are faced with today.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

2 Timothy 4:3-4; NIV
"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths".

This could very well describe some prosperity preachers.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

What's going on?
This Thread has been quiet for half an hour!!!

 

[WIP]

After listening to some of the video clips presented it sure seems to me that he is desperately trying to be a people-pleaser, avoiding stepping on anyone's toes or openly disagreeing with anyone. He reminds me of a politician more than a pastor.

 

[reba]

Does he claim to be a Bible teacher?

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Does he claim to be a Bible teacher?

I believe his story is they gave him the job as preacher when his father died.
They never asked him to fill his father's shoes.
However, the church exploded in growth when he took over.
His first book will tell you that everyday was a learning experience in his position.
And he shares that experience.
He also claims he never wanted the job but it was dropped in his lap.
He believes that God has blessed him every step of the way.
He chooses to share every blessing with everyone.
His critics started ganging up on him from day one.

 

[Deborah13]

2 Timothy 4:3-4; NIV
"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths".

This could very well describe some prosperity preachers.

I agree, so what is the description of what a teacher should be doing so that they don't fall into this and lead others astray causing them to stumble.

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Personally from the little bit that I have listened to Joel, which really isn't a fair amount, I think that he is too soft in his style of reproving and rebuking. The average Joe is thick headed and a young Christian may get the wrong idea. They may not read his books or attend Sunday school and the Bible studies that are offered at his church.

We are to keep our eyes on the Lord and live in faith (believing things that be not as though they were) but that doesn't not mean walking around with our head in the clouds.
I always expect blessings from my Lord and sometimes those blessings are applied with the rod of correction for the benefit of glorifying God, me, and the people in my life.

 

[Danus]

God will reach those He will reach. He will reach his people through any situation, any lie or deceit. He does not require anyone to do that for Him or on His behalf, & we can rest assure of that, thankfully. Everyone is a teacher of some sort. Some teach us what not to know, & that can be just as valuable as the truth since it supports the truth.

 

[Deborah13]

After listening to some of the video clips presented it sure seems to me that he is desperately trying to be a people-pleaser, avoiding stepping on anyone's toes or openly disagreeing with anyone. He reminds me of a politician more than a pastor.

I agree. Except see him more like the parent that wants so much for their children to know that they are loved that they spoil them, forgetting that love also means correction.

And yes sometimes like a politician in some interviews.