Joel Osteen, good or bad

[Willie T]

Jesus warned us about false teachers Edwards drew a vivid picture of the consequences of listening to one..

tob

Even the first time I read that sermon, more than fifty years ago, I knew that was not even close to what Jesus taught.... and I wasn't anywhere near being a Christian in those days... just a high school student.

 

[reba]

Fear might be the clue for some and fluff for another... if is not wise to judge fluff is wise to judge fear..

 

[Willie T]

Fear might be the clue for some and fluff for another... if is not wise to judge fluff is wise to judge fear..

Have you ever read it? It is more than 7,000 words (about 12 pages) designed to create a Halloween House of Horrors in the minds of people who really thought the earth was going to open up, and they would be dragged down to Hell by demons before Edwards finished preaching.

 

[turnorburn]

Then maybe you missed this Willie T..

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

tob

 

[Willie T]

Then maybe you missed this Willie T..

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

tob

And what were we told to go and preach? Simply that no one had to. Jesus never said to go preach Hell. He said to go preach the kingdom of God.

 

[Willie T]

It's been fun, but I gotta go walk the dog.

 

[reba]

Have you ever read it? It is more than 7,000 (about 12 pages) words designed to create a Halloween House of Horrors in the minds of people who really thought the earth was going to open up, and they would be dragged down to Hell by demons before Edwards finished preaching.

I was speaking in generalities ... what works for one may not work for the other...

About 1958 warm summer night church doors and windows open to catch a breeze... the preacher was talking about our Lords return he was going on about the thunder.. He did one of those fists pounds on the pulpit about the same time 2 cars collided out front... ... lot of fear that evening....

 

[Kathi]

It's been fun, but I gotta go walk the dog.

Have fun walking your dog.

 

[Deborah13]

case in point. I remember this video. I watched and posted it here a few times but going to the site I found nothing of that nature.

http://www.apostasywatch.com/Wolves...niesChristonnationalTV/tabid/169/Default.aspx

I saw that interview on Larry King and Joel did skirt around the issues. He's sitting there with a Jewish man who is married to a Mormon. You only have so long to answer a pointed question that could turn people away from God with a short blunt answer. You don't have time to really explain. But I even had problems with that interview.
However, this one he didn't beat around the brush and he was much more clear about what he believes. I don't think he ever believed that there is any other way to salvation than Jesus and I don't believe he condones sin.

I believe Joel loves God with all his heart and he loves people and his ministry is "God loves you."
He's too sweet and yes fluffy for me but I'm not God and he may suit God just fine. I don't know.

 

[Willie T]

Fear might be the clue for some and fluff for another... if is not wise to judge fluff is wise to judge fear..

Are you real sure on the thinking, fear, was a tool Jesus used to draw people to Him? As I count it, we are told not to fear or be afraid, 365 times in the Bible. That is once for each day of the year.
Neither Jesus nor any of His disciples ever once preached the fear of Hell or damnation to try and convert people The closest contradiction to that would be the warnings to Felix about his lifestyle... and even there, you have to do mental gymnastics to come up with that being a fear message on conversion, but rather just a stern admonishment that he was doing wrong to the whole nation.

 

[jeff77]

I'm not a fan of Joel Osteen. I have had several people tell me he is "one of the most dangerous preachers in America". When I asked them why, the only answer was that he is more of a motivational speaker. Also a couple of people I know posted a comment on facebook saying he is no good, but again no real reason as to why. The thing that bothers me in the video is his body language, tone of voice, etc when Opra ask him the tough questions. He doesn't seem very bold when he answers them and sometimes looks down at the floor instead of making eye contact with Opra. Did yall notice how Opra was staring him down when she ask the tough questions?

 

[reba]

Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.


Growing up in the 50s with a pentecostal family a bit of hell fire preaching was kinda there ... Often as a teen i would think ... if i do this and die where would i spend eternity ? kept me out of lot of problems...

 

[reba]

I would not want my life to be under a microscope .... every move, a blink , a nod, a look being so scrutinized .

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I would not want my life to be under a microscope .... every move, a blink , a nod, a look being so scrutinized .

But here on the forum, you are.
Such is life as a premier moderator.

 

[reba]

Sad aint it allenwynne

 

[Edward]

We're not supposed to judge people. No one has all of the answers, even very good preachers. But if a man has a 90% accurate message, and makes a mistake once in awhile about something, does this mean that we should never listen to them? We are to rightly divide the Word and discern good from bad.

The Word says that we need no man to teach us, but the Holy Spirit.

 

[Knotical]

We're not supposed to judge people. No one has all of the answers, even very good preachers. But if a man has a 90% accurate message, and makes a mistake once in awhile about something, does this mean that we should never listen to them? We are to rightly divide the Word and discern good from bad.

The Word says that we need no man to teach us, but the Holy Spirit.

That is assuming his accuracy is that high.

Personally, I think he is just a motivational speaker who uses the bible to support his messages, which is very dangerous as it gives people the wrong impression about how God works. Say someone "converts" while attending one of Osteens events then starts going through a trial. They have no reasonable expectation as to how to deal with the trial as Osteen never addresses them in his messages.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I've always found Joel Osteen to be uplifting.
His first book was music to my ears.
I never judged him, I always looked for the positive, as he always taught.
If we choose to be negative, then it is easy not to like Joel Osteen.

 

[Free]

We're not supposed to judge people.

In what way? We are commanded in Scripture to judge false teachers and false prophets and have nothing to do with them or their teachings.

The Word says that we need no man to teach us, but the Holy Spirit.

Where does it say this?

I've always found Joel Osteen to be uplifting.
His first book was music to my ears.
I never judged him, I always looked for the positive, as he always taught.
If we choose to be negative, then it is easy not to like Joel Osteen.

And this is a significant problem in western Christianity. One cannot simply look for the positive and ignore all else being said. It isn't a matter of choosing to be negative but discerning right teaching from false teaching.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

In what way? We are commanded in Scripture to judge false teachers and false prophets and have nothing to do with them or their teachings.


Where does it say this?


And this is a significant problem in western Christianity. One cannot simply look for the positive and ignore all else being said. It isn't a matter of choosing to be negative but discerning right teaching from false teaching.

Very well.
Then who is doing the right teaching?