Joel Osteen

So...
So did you give up all your possessions to come to Christ? I seriously doubt it..you came receiving the free gift of what Christ did on the cross for all mankind.


I went to Joel Osteen's website and this is what his church states:

WE BELIEVE…the entire Bible is inspired by God, without error and the authority on which we base our faith, conduct and doctrine.
WE BELIEVE…in one God who exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to this earth as Savior of the world.
WE BELIEVE…Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for our sins. We believe Jesus rose from the dead and is coming again. We believe that eternal salvation is found only by placing our faith in Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross.
WE BELIEVE…water baptism is a symbol of the cleansing power of the blood of Christ and an outward testimony to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
WE BELIEVE…in the regular taking of Communion as an act of remembering what the Lord Jesus did for us on the cross.
WE BELIEVE…every believer should be in a growing relationship with Jesus by obeying God’s Word, yielding to the Holy Spirit and by being conformed to the image of Christ.
WE BELIEVE…as children of God, we are overcomers and more than conquerors and God intends for each of us to experience the abundant life He has in store for us.

 

I totally agree that grace is unmerited. But I'm 'splitting hairs' intentionally, because I believe the true meaning of being a Christian is getting lost in modern perceptions and culture. Generally speaking, people don't value something they think is "free" as much as something that costs them everything. Wouldn't you agree?

Again, I'm not intentionally calling out Osteen's ministry because I don't know it well enough to do so. But he's admitted to offering hope without teaching doctrine, and focusing on God as "good" (which He is, of course). I'm seeing more an more vast numbers of "baby Christians" in contemporary megachurches who never mature spiritually because the message on Sundays is light and positive, but there's little to no accountability or challenge. Simply put, it concerns me greatly. Not because I think a spiritually mature Christian is "better" than one who is less so, but because I've learned by experience how much more amazing the Christian life can be through discipleship. I just want everyone to experience that for themselves, that's all.

 

That may be true, but I'm a mod in this forum and I wouldn't even tell a poster what you told kshead.

 

I was very disappointed to do a search on KS's previous posts and read some of his comments..and I did not find one positive comment in the R&S forum..so his opinion holds no value to me, and I don't think anyone who is interested in knowing about Joel Osteen's ministry should put much credence into any opinion he has on the subject. So if you think my position is disrespectful, that is your opinion, but mine is a one based upon his own testimony.

 

If you dig into the original Greek text of that verse, the meaning of it isn't literally selling off everything a person owns. It's talking about giving up a person's life to have a new beginning and a new life with Christ.

And I'm not bound to anything of this world anymore. I've given up my "right" to own anything, and therefore consider everything I have a gift, whether I paid for it or not. So it doesn't bother me to lose anything anymore. I just enjoy it while I have it.

And yes, I did receive Christ's gift with full knowledge I could never earn or deserve it.

I saw that, too. A church's statement of faith is basically a summary of doctrine, but Osteen said he doesn't really teach doctrine. I wonder why that is.

 

Then that is what you should have said, and left it at that.

 

As moderator are you supposed to tell me what I can say here?

You saying I should not have explained why his opinion had no value to me...I went on to say that his opinion should have no value to anyone who was interested in learning about Joe Osteen's ministry...and his written testimony is the reason it has no value to any serious seeker of God's truth.

 

No. As moderator, I'm supposed to tell you what you're not supposed to say.

Just to be clear, your choice to disregard kshead's opinion on this, or any other topic is perfectly fine. That's what the "ignore" feature is for. What I'm saying is that it is your opinion, and therefore is not necessarily true for anyone else. This is not a Christians only forum. It's open to all faiths, and all points of view are welcome here, as long as they don't attack or ridicule another poster or belief system.

 

"but because I've learned by experience how much more amazing the Christian life can be through discipleship. I just want everyone to experience that for themselves, that's all."

Yes, you are a point in your spiritual walk, but it is up to
God to bring new christians to that kind of mature walk.
They have to start as new christians, and Lakewood Church has many in depth Bible studies to bring new christians to a deeper walk..this is something that comes over time..provided some older "spiritually mature" christian does start beating up on them, discourage them, and tell them how they are suppose to walk.

When a person comes to Christ, he is a new creature, perfect in God's eyes...and if the person continues to seek Him, take up his cross daily, confess and repent of known sin, God will do the work in that person's life..he will want to conform to the image of Christ.

 

I totally agree, just as He led me in mine.

Really? That's great! Where did you read or hear this? From one of his broadcasts, or from the website?

Agreed. 'Beating up' on a new believer or trying to force them into spiritual maturity is an exercise in futility. It just won't work. However, guidance and spiritual mentorship is invaluable for new believers to grow and begin to experience the life of abundance Jesus promised in John 10:10.

Couldn't agree more. :xyzthumbs