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Posted on 10/16/2012 4:45:50 PM PDT by Gamecock
WASHINGTON - Lakewood Church worship leader Israel Houghton says after working with Pastor Joel Osteen for more than 11 years he can testify that "he's the real deal."
The Grammy award winning gospel singer says he knows that some Christians dismiss Osteen's preaching as little more than positive thinking. But Houghton says he's seen the changes God has worked in the lives of members of the nation's largest congregation.
Houghton estimates that about three million people are faithful viewers of the many preachers on Christian television. But he says an additional seven million un-churched viewers watch Joel Osteen every Sunday.
Houghton says he would rather offend Christian leaders who think Osteen doesn't preach enough about sin than the many non-Christians who are attracted to Osteen's message of God's love for them.
Many cults report the same results.
What kind of changes, and in how many of the 10,000+ attendees? If growth programs exist at Lakewood, they're not obvious, and (based on the classes they do advertise) they don't have any depth. Does Joel Osteen think that Christians can grow to instant maturity like Sea Monkeys?
Like many leaders of megachurches Joel seems to have forgotten its not about him, but about Jesus.
“Many cults report the same results.”
Really? Care to share the names of those cults?
Or you just hating?
re: “Really? Care to share the names of those cults?
Or you just hating?”
I do not hate Joel Osteen, but I am concerned about his doctrinal stands on Mormonism. He said Mormons are his Christian brothers. I will be voting for Romney by the way, but Mormonism and orthodox Christianity are far from theologically the same.
The Jesus of Mormonism is a separate god, a god who was once a man, even a brother of Lucifer. That is completely different from Jesus of the New Testament.
How can a Christian minister NOT know enough theology that Mormons and Christians are not the the same thing? If Pastor Osteen had any theological training at all, he would know this.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t sincere or compassionate in his faith, but terribly mistaken on very elemental Christian doctrinal issues.
As to cults who are hugely successful in reaching large numbers of people, and, presumably “changing lives” - Mormonisn for one, and Jehovah’s Witnesses to name just a couple.
Large numbers do not automatically presume God’s blessing or that what is being taught is sound.
Maybe BBQ consumption in Houston is down?
Joe doesn’t talk much about sin, our inherently sinful natures, why we all seriously need Christ and anyone dying without Him, will be judged for the good and and done while alive. without God’s solution for everyone - Christ - we are left to pay the penalty for our own sins. Joe doesn’t get into the most important things, he talks about the prosperity gospel and material stuff, and present happiness and superficialities.
Mormonism comes to mind. Christian Science is another.
Do I really need to go on?
Or you just hating?
No. Just discerning.
IF pork BBQ consumption is down maybe the above story might cause some to wonder why the pig did not get the message to clean up its act.
Scientology certainly claims the same results.
Of course those non-Christians are attracted to the message of "God's" love for them. Everyone wants to feel they are loveable. But the true gospel of Christ Jesus, a stumbling block for those who don't believe, is that we must first hear how filthy and sinful we are and how God is righteous and just before we can understand what He did in love for us to save us from ourselves. We must hear and then have a desire to turn from that wickedness in our heart, before we can begin to realize the love that hung on the cross. The love which became our wickedness Himself where the Father turned His back. If you don't understand the nature of sin, you can't understand the love of God.
Hearing Osteen's message and others like him, all a person can do is to imagine a human type of love that will love them, be nice to them, give them good things, smile on them, etc., no matter what they do. So of course you have "millions" of non-christians wanting to hear that. duh!
If sin isn't preached, then there will be no conviction of sin and then repentance. Without conviction and repetance, then there is nothing. Without preaching sin, Osteen is just saying that it is ok to continue to disobey God, but if you do, just try harder to make him happy. If sin isn't preached, then nobody will feel the weight of their sin.
Oh, for a while, maybe even a lifetime for some, people will work really hard on being "good". But it will be their effort and not the Lord's working through them to change their heart. God changes lives, yes! But He does it by first changing hearts - turning them away from sin, one sin at a time. But if sin is not preached, then people will not realize that it is God, and God alone who changes themfrom the inside because your sin is ever before them. They just end up being white-washed tombs.
That is a very popular message to hear. God loves me, no matter what, and so I should do lots of good things to keep Him happy. This message is a grave danger to their souls. The real gospel is not so easy to hear. The whole counsel of God is to be preached, or it really is no good news at all.
Mormonism of course is another cult that can make this clam. There are lots of moral people who are mormon. Many of them are better than lots of Christians. Jehovah Witnesses are also changed. The Pharisees were also "changed" people. The problem is that they have changed themselves on the outside only. That takes effort and it is not a lasting change. The sin is still there.
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