Posted on 08/29/2014 8:59:12 PM PDT by JohnKinAK
A very appropriate sermon for this thread. Thanks.
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
This is what the LORD requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God. He has declared unto thee, O man, what is good and what the LORD requires of thee: only to do right judgment, and to love mercy, and to humble thyself to walk with thy God.
I am not an Osteen fan, at all. I an more of a Bible-believer who grew up as Catholic and generally disdain TV preachers.
But, looking at the video, I think she is saying three related, but different, things very in-artfully:
1. “Obey God and you will (likely have) a more trouble free and happy life.”
2. “Obeying God is not for God’s benefit, but for yours.”
3. “God doesn’t need our prayers or our good behavior, but like the good father He is, rejoices when we follow Him, because it means we are maturing and undergoing sanctification.”
I think these are all correct statements, but I think she muddled them all together rather badly in her haste.
I've heard there is a fairly large church in Rome.
Lemme see; just what was it's name again??....
Then just yell Galatians 5:12!!!
APOSTASY
That’s Ayn Rand’s Objectivist philosophy. The Virtue of Selfishness that so many libertarians admire. It sounds appealing on paper but in reality it’s a very empty way of living. Love yourself, absolutely! However we must love others as we love ourselves, and THAT is the hard part of life, but what would bring us closer to God. That is true “happiness.”
Loving others as we love ourselves doesn’t mean government nanny-statism. It means loving others as Christ loves: sharing the truth, giving and caring for those in need and rebuking them when they are wrong. It’s not an easy thing. It involves patience and knowledge and self sacrifice. For us humans it’s a life long process, but the world would be a better place if we all actually tried it.
You’d think the Osteens would know that being Christian ministers! I’m not Christian and even I understand that!
I have a friend who defends the Osteens to the death.
He was a big fan of John, and he continually refers to Joel in terms of John, he’s John’s son.
But Joel is not his dad, whatever anyone thought of him. I’ve listened to John and was not particularly impressed. He was beginning the prosperity gospel teaching back in the 80’s or so and now we’re seeing it come to fruition in his son Joel.
On occasion I’ve seen and heard Joel reference Jesus, but almost as a window dressing. Jesus certainly isn’t front and center of Joel’s messages and I don’t ever hear anything about repentance and confession. Just feely good, power of positive thinking preaching.
Odd.
Jesus said that in this world we would have tribulation but to be of good cheer because He has over come the world.
People don’t like to hear the part about *in this world, you shall have tribulation* part very much.
I guess all those persecuted Christians in the rest of the world, like China, NK, Iraq, etc, haven’t gotten the message yet.
The Osteens should go over there and preach there message and see what kind of reception they get.
Yup
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