I dont see how its normal for people who believe in God to put down him when all he does is talk positive and talk about how wonderful God is and things he can do for a persons life.
He hasnt done one single bad thing and yet some still want to put him down...for what?
For being good? For believing in God? He is being blessed by God right now.
I praise God every day I’m not “normal” And each and every day…I pray to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to be less and less “normal” and more like our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. He was sooooo not normal…they nailed Him to a cross…
I wonder what would happen if Joel preached this Gospel:
Luk 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Luk 9:24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
Luk 9:25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
Luk 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.
Think about it for a second…what did the cross mean to those Jesus was speaking to?
It would be like Jesus saying today….pick up your electric chair…or…pick up your lethal injection and follow me
I’m thinking, preaching this…the words of Christ Jesus Himself…would have a dramatic effect on Mr Osteen’s financial report (which is what I consider he’s really concerned about, otherwise, he would be feeding and equipping his flock…not leading them into a false sense of security based on their own strength…and his books)
…and that’s the concern I have…while it’s all well and good to preach the love of God and His great power and majesty over our lives…it’s contrary to the full measure of His Word…
Kinda reminds me of kids who get awards and trophies for simply showing up…EVERYBODY IS A WINNER…then when the disappointments, trials and tribulations of the world start popping up…they are not equipped to deal…and our teen suicide rate goes through the roof.
What are people going to think of God when they’re fed a steady diet of cotton candy and the rains come and the wind blows…and their not strong enough to stand?
Mat 13:18 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower:
Mat 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
Mat 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
Mat 13:21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Mat 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
Mat 13:23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
Where is Joel Osteen sowing seed? He is certainly not taking care to plant seeds on good ground.
Praise God…that even though His children would love to eat sweets all day long…He provides veggies and meat so that we can grow strong IN HIM. However, we can leave the table whenever we choose…and stroll on over to the buffet of cakes and cookies Mr Osteen serves up.
I have no problem with the man, himself, (that's between him and God) but I do however have grave concerns about his “self-help” message and those seeds being sown on the wayside and the stony and thorny ground.