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I have a sister in law who has lied and cheated her whole life to get free stuff or sympathy and SSD...she walked into the SSD hearing using a cane and the minute she got approved, she never used it again....

yet she calls herself a good Christian.."born again"....

I'm sorry but its just beyond the pale to think just saying something is going to get you to heaven....

God wants us to pray and trust in HIM, but we are also to act in a good Christian way...

God wants us to pray and trust in HIM, but we are also to act in a good Christian way...

Cherry, please do not misunderstand me.

I am by no means talking about a faith that an individual has and then still sins.

Quite the contrary, I am talking about the salvation, the complete change of heart as spoken of by Paul in Romans chapter 8 and in II Corinthians 5:17 whereby we are able to walk obediently in Christ because he has saved us, and for no other reason:

Romans 8:1
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

II Corinthians 5:17:
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

The true New Birth, as promised by Christ includes BOTH forgiveness of our sins and the power over our sins giving us the capability we did not have before, of obeying God.

"Faith without works is dead;" "...many will say to me Lord, Lord but I will say to them, I never knew you."

Olsteen will and does say "things people like" and that is the problem, he preaches prosperity gospel but not scripture and people love having their "ears tickled."

Paul tells us in II Timothy 4:3 & 4, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions (4) and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." ESV

Olseen and his misses are not alone in preaching to those who will not listen to "sound doctrine" as Paul predicts but will search out those preachers who tell them such things as "God loves you and wants you to be happy and that is good."

God does love you for you are His creation. He knew you before you were born, knows exactly is good for you and knows exactly what it takes for you to live a life that will bring Him joy: loving and worshipping Him, giving thanks for all that He has given you (beginning with your life and Savior Redeemer, Jesus Christ) and following His Son Jesus Christ and living a life of service to others with Christ as your Role Model.

God's desire "to prosper you" is not as the world defines as "prosperity" but as God defines it and that is as far as the North Pole is from the South Pole.

One of God's definitions of "prosperity" is sharing your faith in Him with someone who is lost.

The Olsteens are exactly whom Paul describes in II Timothy, folks who have perfected the talent of telling people exactly what they want to hear, not what is necessary to gain Eternal Life.

They like many others have casts of thousands who never tire of hearing exactly what they want rather than what God requires of them, i.e. believing that God is a great Santa Clause who really is happy giving us everything we want and when we're happy, He's happy.