Rock meet hard place.

 

I think any Christian teacher/preacher, should be concerned only with speaking God's truth...they should not be worried about offending their own congregation, much less the population at-large.

 

Of course, it would be very difficult to never be worried about offending someone, or worry about whether you offended someone after the fact...unfortunately, that's just human nature. I can accept some degree of that, but Osteen seems to take the approach that he's not going to offend anyone at any cost if it's at all possible...but if he does, it's not going to be the public at-large. I question what benefit it is to reach some of those people if you're giving them a watered down gospel...it's ultimately not doing them any good.

 

Did anyone see him on 60 Minutes? One thing that sort of bothered me was it showed footage of him at a book signing and these people were coming up to him almost like they were worshipping him. The told how he'd changed their lives, saved their lives, how much they loved him, etc...that just makes me think they aren't getting the right message from him...they should be talking about how Jesus has changed their lives and thank Joel for helping them on that path. Whether he isn't conveying that message, or they're missing the point, I don't know, but I'd have felt better if he'd have given Christ more credit during the whole thing.

Don't the preachers at the local corner church get paid, too?

 

Disseminating the Word of God should not be conducted to make money. And, as someone who was raised Catholic, where those who are called to serve take an oath of poverty, seeing preachers and pimps dress in similar clothing, drive similar cars and wear similar bling just doesn't sit well with me.

 

That, and the obvious fear I have that those with such a broad-reaching influence can not resist the temptation to abuse it.

 

But I do agree that I don't watch many, actually extremely few on TV. Can't figure out which ones are sincere and which ones aren't, so I end up throwing the baby out with the bath water.

I think any Christian teacher/preacher, should be concerned only with speaking God's truth...they should not be worried about offending their own congregation, much less the population at-large.

 

Of course, it would be very difficult to never be worried about offending someone, or worry about whether you offended someone after the fact...unfortunately, that's just human nature. I can accept some degree of that, but Osteen seems to take the approach that he's not going to offend anyone at any cost if it's at all possible...but if he does, it's not going to be the public at-large. I question what benefit it is to reach some of those people if you're giving them a watered down gospel...it's ultimately not doing them any good.

 

Did anyone see him on 60 Minutes? One thing that sort of bothered me was it showed footage of him at a book signing and these people were coming up to him almost like they were worshipping him. The told how he'd changed their lives, saved their lives, how much they loved him, etc...that just makes me think they aren't getting the right message from him...they should be talking about how Jesus has changed their lives and thank Joel for helping them on that path. Whether he isn't conveying that message, or they're missing the point, I don't know, but I'd have felt better if he'd have given Christ more credit during the whole thing.

 

 

I know what you mean. I was at a Southern Baptist Convention in the 80's and I saw families walk up to Adrian Rogers (Bellvue Baptist, Memphis) and act as if he was the incarnate one. Adrian was as Fundamental and non-feel good a preacher as you would ever hear. Sometimes it's not the fault of an Adrian Rogers or a Joel Olsteen that some people can't see past the person to eternal truth.

Disseminating the Word of God should not be conducted to make money. And, as someone who was raised Catholic, where those who are called to serve take an oath of poverty, seeing preachers and pimps dress in similar clothing, drive similar cars and wear similar bling just doesn't sit well with me.

 

That, and the obvious fear I have that those with such a broad-reaching influence can not resist the temptation to abuse it.

 

 

I know you where you are coming from and understand your feelings.

 

But just for the record I drive a 2001 Chevy Cavalier with 96,000 miles on it and a 2000 Honda Odyssey with 118,000. Both were bought used.

 

Of course our economy in Martinsville is so bad that both could be mistaken for "Pimp mobiles" except the Hookers have already left this town. :lol:

 

 

(That's Hooker Furniture I'm speaking of.)

Disseminating the Word of God should not be conducted to make money. And, as someone who was raised Catholic, where those who are called to serve take an oath of poverty, seeing preachers and pimps dress in similar clothing, drive similar cars and wear similar bling just doesn't sit well with me.

 

That, and the obvious fear I have that those with such a broad-reaching influence can not resist the temptation to abuse it.

 

I really have no problem with a preacher being paid a salary. But, like you, I find it sickening to see the abuse that occurs from this...it's one thing for a preacher to accept a salary that allows him to meet his needs, and quite another when they own private jets that fly to Hawaii and drive Ferrari's and live in 5 million dollar houses. I'm not saying I think a preacher's salary should meet his bare necessities...I have no problem with them being paid a salary high enough to allow them some luxuries, but those would be normal middle-class type of things...being able to afford a decent and dependable care to drive, etc...not private jets and exotic sports car. You get the point...

 

I can't understand how that doesn't scream at their followers that something is wrong with this guy...he doesn't practice what he's preaching to you.

I follow what everyone in here is saying. The question was asked what was thought of Osteen and I just think he is a nice, smiling, fence-sitter. My opinion is that is not what the world needs. There has been so much fence-sitting on issues of truth by pastors that I think Christians don't really know what they themselves believe. Osteen contributes to that by not being direct because he wants to come off as friendly. Its just not me.

I follow what everyone in here is saying. The question was asked what was thought of Osteen and I just think he is a nice, smiling, fence-sitter. My opinion is that is not what the world needs. There has been so much fence-sitting on issues of truth by pastors that I think Christians don't really know what they themselves believe. Osteen contributes to that by not being direct because he wants to come off as friendly. Its just not me.

 

:thumb:

 

I have to pretty much agree with you. It's not that I dislike him. Personally, I think he's more of a motivation, self-help speaker than a preacher. Maybe it would be more acceptable if he declared himself exactly that...instead of being a pastor. That's where my rub is...not what he's doing, but the banner under which he's doing it. It's misleading to some degree at the least.

Maybe people need a feel good preacher like Olsteen to help get themselves saved and feel better about themselves. Once they reach that point they need an ole fire and brimstone preacher to remind them that they aren't all that without Jesus.

We have 400 on a good sunday morning. Check out the crowd in his Church. After service I let the traffic flow ease up and will talk to the preacher for a few minutes and also other members, but I'd miss sunday dinner if did that at his church. I wonder how many they have on a Wednesday nite.

 

Hatz, tell us about your church sometime. Maybe we all can meet for a revival sometime, I need about 40 minutes to speak.

Could he be the Antichrist?:creepy:

How can you be in touch with the People , You and not your other workers. And how can they report on people to you about their needs. Just a little to big for me.

As I said, I was using HHSDad's transcript of what was said and, from it, I still find no problem with what he said.

 

I would think that the mission of Christians, including the hard rock, take no prisoner Christians would include encouraging the "unchurched" to at least look into Christianity. Constant condemnation and judging by those "representatives of The Word" are more likely to chase the unchurched away than to bring them in.

 

I believe that these hellfire and brimstone methods, for the most part, work merely like pep rallies. The "fans" are all worked up emotionally and full of fire for the cause. However, in a few days it has all worn off and they are back to "normal" and no lasting change has taken place.

 

Preachers, and others, are God's representatives. They are not God. They would fare better if they did a little less judging and a little more encouraging. Also, they need to be informed and able to answer tough questions. My experience is that few, if any, can do so. The standard lines that someday we will understand, that God's ways are not our ways, and that God loves us sound good but rarely siffice to one in need.

 

Again, I don't particularly like Osteen or his wife but I think it is good that they don't set themselves up as judges.

 

I do. My bible says in Acts 4:10-12:

 

 

 

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
	Act 4:11		This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
	Act 4:12		Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved

 

 

No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus Know peace.

 

I have never heard Joel Osteen preach on the penalties of sin or hell. His messages are always positive and upbeat. Good nontheless but there are other things in the bible that people should be aware of.

Disseminating the Word of God should not be conducted to make money. And, as someone who was raised Catholic, where those who are called to serve take an oath of poverty, seeing preachers and pimps dress in similar clothing, drive similar cars and wear similar bling just doesn't sit well with me.

 

That, and the obvious fear I have that those with such a broad-reaching influence can not resist the temptation to abuse it.

 

So the Pope is living in poverty? Don't want to make this a Catholic thing but wasn't there some sort of story about the expensive taste in shoes that this present Pope has? They may not earn a salary but they are far from poverty.

Quiet true , a man of God does need to be like his flock. Not above but like.

So the Pope is living in poverty? Don't want to make this a Catholic thing but wasn't there some sort of story about the expensive taste in shoes that this present Pope has? They may not earn a salary but they are far from poverty.

 

I'm not the best Catholic in the world, so I'm not going to sit here and debate the necessity of the pontiff's elaborate costumes. All I said was I was raised Catholic, and that instilled in me an expectation that preists live in poverty on Earth, and reap the riches in Heaven. Not the other way around, the way televangelists do.