Can Joel Osteen Help You Pay Your Bills?

CNN ^ | 12/18/09 | Christine Romans

[CyberAnt]

ROTFLOL!!!!

[marshmallow]

Hebrews 12:2 and 3John1:2 is God’s Word. As I said, you’re going to have to take up your complaint with God.

I don't have a complaint.

I'm just wondering what Joel would say if he suddenly found himself in front of an audience of hungry Iraqi Christian refugees in the middle of the desert instead of a group of Americans luxuriating in purple lighting and fake smoke.

"I see prosperity in your future, brothers.........LOL"

[presently no screen name]

Noticed your tagline. Did you see this thread?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411440/posts

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm ..?? Ordeal huh??

Then how come the Bible says, “Beloved, I wish above ALL THINGS that thou mayest prosper and be in good health”.

That doesn’t sound like an “ordeal” to me ..??

[tenger]

That his “church” doesn't have a cross proves even more that he is nothing more than a con man.

So, you have to have a cross hanging in your church to be genuine? I must have passed over that chapter and verse. It just proves that he doesn't have a cross hanging in his place of worship.

[CyberAnt]

What ..?? You’d rather hear about HELL instead of heaven ..??

And .. those who have made Jesus their Savior, are no longer interested in HELL, because they are not going there!

But .. of course, if people don’t know Jesus as their Savior, then I suspect they might be very curious about HELL.

[marshmallow]

Then how come the Bible says, “Beloved, I wish above ALL THINGS that thou mayest prosper and be in good health”.

As Christians, we wish that for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

And it may happen, through God's loving providence that we do indeed prosper and enjoy good health.

On the other hand, we might find ourselves in a prison cell like St. Paul or persecuted like the Christians who lived in communist Russia.

The Gospel is not a guarantee of earthly comfort.

[webstersII]

“I’m reminded of a passage from the Book of Wisdom;”

The ‘Book of Wisdom’???? What the heck is that? Whatever it is, it doesn’t have the authority of scripture.

[CyberAnt]

Tony Robbins is a cultist!

Good luck with that!

[marshmallow]

One of the inconvenient books that Protestants ditched from the Bible.

Catholics still have it and you can read it HERE.

[Steelfish]

To be informed: Just type in “Joel Osteen Fraud” in Google and see what you get!

[CyberAnt]

I got my tagline from Rush.

He said it one day on his radio program - and it just stuck with me.

The liberals want to make “wants” as “rights”.

Good for the Judge .. he’s becoming more and more conservative every day!!

[Richard Kimball]

I'm aware of the problems with what Tony Robbins teaches. Some of it is good advice about attitude, focus, developing goals and learning to master yourself. When he gets into the whole collective consciousness thing is where he goes off track.

Almost all of the current crop of life coaches go back to Napoleon Hill.

[Jim W N]

I think the point is, the circumstances of life, good or bad, do not negate God's word. The circumstances in Iraq do not cancel out God's Word. NOTHING cancels out God's word.

His word says And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.1 Corinthians 13:13 The circumstance in Iraq doesn't change that. Some things are hard to understand, but that's where we go to God, not condemn a fellow believer who God is using to encourage his sheep based on biblical truth.

[Gapplega]

They’re real Christians and real Christians know life is one difficult road. Read about St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein). There was no “prosperity” when she died for the Faith in Auschwitz. Being a Christian doesn’t mean life is a cake walk.

Osteen=snakeoil. At least his wife hasn’t caused another scene on a airliner in first class this Christmas-time. yet.

[CyberAnt]

Sorry, it isn’t a “wish” .. IT’S A PROMISE FROM GOD.

The Gospel is everything GOD guaranteed it would be.

There are thousands of PROMISES that GOD gave to the church .. but sadly a lot of churches preach that those promises are not for YOU, or not for TODAY. But .. they would both be wrong.

It’s really sad that you don’t believe that God loves you and He wants you to prosper and be in health. The way you do that is that you remind God of his Word (which He commanded you to do). Then, you say back to God - thank you Father that you have prospered me and I’m in good health; even if I can’t see it manifesting yet.

I dare you!

[proudofthesouth]

I can't imagine a Christian church NOT having a cross. What would be the reason why they wouldn't have one?

Before I became born again I was involved in the new age beliefs for almost 30 years.

IMO any church that doesn't have a cross smacks of new ageism.

[Jim W N]

The “Joel Osteen Fraud” is itself a fraud. I investigated it and these Pharisees come up with nothing substantial.

[marshmallow]

I think the point is, the circumstances of life, good or bad, do not negate God's word. The circumstances in Iraq do not cancel out God's Word. NOTHING cancels out God's word. His word says And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.1 Corinthians 13:13 The circumstance in Iraq doesn't change that. Some things are hard to understand, but that's where we go to God, not condemn a fellow believer who God is using to encourage his sheep based on biblical truth.

Amen to all of that but if you're preaching prosperity as an integral part of God's promise, what do you actually say to people who are anything but prosperous and are in fact in the depths of human misery?

"Your Best Life Now" is completely and utterly hollow for those on the front lines of Christianity, such as the beleaguered Christians in the Middle East or Pakistan. This is a living martyrdom and way of life which is entirely foreign to Osteen.

He's a pitchman to the American middle class. He has zero relevance to the Church Militant.

[tenger]

This is certainly an interesting thread. I sense a lot of hostility and anger towards those that are considered "shysters." God certainly will sort out the hucksters from the genuine in due time. I suppose it's our duty to expose them as they come along. Joel Osteen will be judged by what he does and says, just as we all will be. As a teacher, he knows the admonitions to teach the whole Gospel.

The Bible says that we will be persecuted for what we believe. Iraqi Christians have been used as examples of this kind of persecution. Christians are being persecuted all over the world, and not just in Iraq. There's certainly enough persecution in the world even though it's not at all highlighted by any large media source...unfortunately.

So, perhaps we should direct our anger at ruthless dictators who persecute our fellow Believers. Pick a country in Africa or the Middle East. Then pray. Pray that they'll be bold and courageous in the face of intense persecution. Pray that they'll continue to lift Christ high and exalted.