Top 5 'most influential US Christians'

[MrVersatile48]

From http://www.crosswalk.com

Joel Osteen Tops Most Influential Christians in America

The Christian Post reports that Joel Osteen now tops the list of the 50 Most Influential Christians in America. Osteen, from Lakewood Church in Houston and author of New York Times bestseller, Your Best Life Now, was also recently featured as one of Barbara Walters' 10 most fascinating people of the year.

The Church Report announced Osteen as the most influential Christian in its annual report, stating, "Pastor Osteen has a gift for reaching unreached people with his message of positive thought and God's plan for our lives."

Billy Graham still ranks high (2nd), while Franklin Graham placed 14th. Bill Hybels, T.D. Jakes (last year's most influential), and James Dobson round out the top five.

 

[shaitiger]

Yeah that sort of scares me .

 

[Fnerb]

You know, maybe I just so happen to be catching him preaching at the wrong times, but in all the sermons i've heard him preach (which I'll admit, hasn't been many) I rarely ever hear him preach any Law. It's all about how God wants to bless you with all these earthly riches...

 

[golfjack]

reply

Fnerb, What law? We have been redeemed from the curse of the law.




May God bless, Golfjack

 

[Fnerb]

Re: reply

Fnerb, What law? We have been redeemed from the curse of the law.




May God bless, Golfjack

Yes, we have been redeemed by the curse of the law as the means of our salvation. However, the law still serves a very important purpose - to make us conscious of our sin, to hold us accountable to God and to reveal the punishment that we deserve (Romans 3:19-20).

 

[golfjack]

reply

I don't know about you, but I am completely blood washed, blood bought, believer. If one is talking about an unbeliever, that is a different story. Then I would preach sin, but never to a believer.



May God bless, Golfjack

 

[shaitiger]

Yeah, the Law(big ten) was nailed to the cross and now we are longer under it. As a matter of fact Paul says we are to die to it. It was a tutor to bring us to Christ but now that faith has come there's no need for it anymore.

My issue with Joel is that He's more of a motivational speaker than a Christian preacher who boldly preaches the Gospel.

 

[Vic C.]

We might want to think this out.

Jesus said:

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

That would satisfy the first four Commandments.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

That would satisfy the last six.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Our Faith in Christ and our love for Christ affords us to live out the 10 commandments, not out of obligation, for they do not save us, but out of love and obedience. By the renewing of our minds, we willinging obey them.

Would any of us willingly disobey them and still expect God's blessing while still on this Earth? HIS blessings aren't based on conditions, but rather on contingency. In other words, it isn't "if we do this, then God will do that", but, "when we do this, God will do that". We are not to make deals with God. I could never say, "Ok God, I'm going to do 'this', so you have to do 'that'. :o

 

[Fnerb]

Great post Vic!

A Christian still needs law and gospel. The law still has uses, as a curb, mirror and rule. The curb still gives the Christian guidance, as we are still tempted daily. While we are here on earth, we are still not perfect in love, therefore there is the law as a rule. And obviously as a mirror to examine ourselves and show our need for a Savior lest we become sel-righteouss.

 

[christian_soldier]

Joel who? Never heard of the guy. From the comments he sounds like a prosperity preacher, which is a crock.

Regarding the Law - though we have been washed bright and shiny by the blood of Christ, we are by no means free to hate and kill, etc - truly, if we find ourselves gleefully sinning, we need do some serious introspection as to the sincerity of our proclaimed faith.

Agreed, Vic, great post.