Here's one for you -- Joel Osteen

[Click]

So it is safe to assume he is not a five point calvinist?

[crowder critter]

I am not a believer that you will prosper just b/c you believe in Jesus Christ, but I do believe that if you live a good Christian life and follow the Bible then you are apt to prosper. If I had all of the money that I have blown on beer, partying, etc while living as we all did as young men, then I know for a fact that I would have more money now. I think that prosperity comes with the territory when dealing with Jesus, and I dont just mean financial prosperity. If you live a meaningful life, then good things are sure to follow. If live like a hoodlum, then doom is certain.

[MemphisStockBroker]

I think it has become politically correct to bash any Christian minister. Its easy to sit back and rip someone who is doing it...

Us Christians are terrible. We run around shooting our own. Makes satan's job really easy. Amazing.... an army that shoots its own members...

You guys should be careful who you trash.

[Bonehead]

2 Tim 4:2 [NIV] Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
2 Tim 4:4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

[Seymore]

2 Tim 4:2 [NIV] Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
2 Tim 4:4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Can we have an a men from the congregation.

[jdbuckshot]

Just like we have modernized duck hunting, Men have modernized Church. A True Follower of christ knows that God Created the Heavens and the Earth, and that the Word of God was there in the begenning. Many Churches in America do just what makes them feel good. We need to remember how powerfull our creater is, and how we are able to recieve that power, which is through the Death of Christ.

I said all that to say this, many churches were created by Men, for Men.

churches that are under the leadership of the Holy Spirit actually have results besides chill bumps, Any body wanna experience something besides Chill bumps? Visit All Seasons Worship Center In Forest MS, Im not a member there so im not "recruiting" you. I just know the Spirit is at work there. And when i say church, i mean the People, not the place.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom. And not all churches experience the spirit of the lord. We could get into Post Modernism, and where the church is headed, but why, God is still everything today, that he was in the beginning, A healer, creator, savior, Alpha, Omega, all the good stuff.

i went to a church for 18 years and didnt know who jesus was till somebody else told me, theres something wrong with that picture, and the sad part is there are many chruches out there just like that.

[hencutter]

I grew up about 5 miles from where Joel's dad stared Lakewood Church,(Joel sold that church a few years ago and moved into the Houston Sports Stadium known as the Comaq Center) His dad passed away.Joel had been educated in television,and he was the producer of Lakewood Church's broadcasts.Joel had only preached 1 message before his fathers passing.
While I did not agree with his dad on all issues, he certainly gave all glory to Jesus Christ,and taught the difference in Heaven and Hell.Joel does not. I do not reccomend anyone to read his books or watch his broadcast if you are truely seeking God.However, if you like Praise and Worship music, Lakewood Church has a couple of CD's that are great, just music, NONE of his so-called preaching.

[Up2Early]

He's a false teacher, plain and simple, itching the ears of thousands upon thouands of so-called believers leading them further and further from the truth. He doesn't even know what he believes much less understand the ramifications of the "faith" he professes. DO NOT buy into what he's selling.

You can watch him falsely present the gospel on "You Tube" if you wish. His doctrine seems to have come from the bottom of a Cracker-Jack box.
The Bereans would have eaten this guy alive!

Awesome analysis cajun squealer. That may be the finest statement I've heard made with regard to Mr. Olsteen and the "Word of Faith" movement in general. We were created to glorify God. Life is about GOD, not us. Itchy ears long to hear differently. And, yes, I am a 5-pointer (of the card-carrying variety).

Cajun Squealer, we need to start hunting together. I think we'd get along.

[Shallow Grave]

i like him alot...been to his church..amazing...
just my opinion...to each their own though...
i go to a non-denominational church, so its what im used to..

[BUBBA SMITH]

go to the cnn website & lookup larry king live's archives. jole has been on there a couple times. he out right would not comment on how to get to heaven. when reminded that most preachers said thru christ only he claimed he wasn't sure about that. read it for your selves. the writting is on the wall. he also wrote an appoligy on his website afterward.

as for orginized religon.. i used to skip out on church beacuse of "some" people and beacuse i didn't agree with every little thing. but then after i had backslided for a while. the lord dosed me with some hebrews chapter-12. ( read it ). needless to say i was humbled. after taking alot of time studying the bible and actually seeking out the lord and his knowledge thru the word i learned some things. church ain't perfect and never will be. read jesus's letter to the 12 churches in the first 3 chapters in revelation. so then should we not go?? we should go. but first as christians and children of god we should seek gods wisdom and his discerning knowledge. we should presue a right " personel "relationship with jesus. people put soo much on there relationship with a church that they neglect there relationship with the good lord. if you're right with him and seeking the right path then crappy preachers, or busybodies at church will not bother you. you may actually help make things better by your own humble service and by standing firm in your "personal" relationship with jesus. not trying to sound self richous. lord knows i spend more time saying i'm sorry than saying thank you lord.
but it's nice to know that i ain't got to wait on sunday or for a happy feel good sermon to make me feel better beacuse in my personal relationship my lord lets me know i am still loved, and forgivin. strengthen your relationships with jesus personaly and then go strengthen the body of christ. ( which is the church )

ps: don't ever go to long with out saying your sorry for sins, of feeling higher than you think you are or you'll find out all about hebrews chapter-12. ( if you are a son ).

[hencutter]

i like him alot...been to his church..amazing...
just my opinion...to each their own though...
i go to a non-denominational church, so its what im used to..

I also attend a non-denom.,but like my Pastor says about his mission trips to 3rd world countries"it's hard to preach the prosperity gospel to folks who have never even had a pair of shoes".
Joel's dad, (Pastor John Osteen) was a lot closer to the Word.
Bubba Smith- man, I couldn't agree with you more.Not only are we not to "forsake the assembling of the Spirit",but Jesus also taught us that we would know that are His by our love one for another. If you love your fellow Christian (and,granted some are tough to love) ,then you can't stay away from church too long.

[ACEINTHEHOLE]

Twas gonna stay out of this one but will type just a little. As for Joel I believe he has had a wonderful oppertunity to reach alot of people and has dropped the ball a few very big times. Are people really getting saved in his church or are they just getting the warm and fuzzies lets go hug somebody, I dont know and never will. As a minister I do wish I had some of the oppertunities that he has had to stand up as I would like to think I would have acted alot differently.trust you me the church is a place that is full of people who call themselves Christians. I have no way of knowing other than looking at the fruits of those people who claim to be saved if they really are or not and I would guess that somewhere in the neighberhood of 50% of those who claim to be saved are really not. As for you guys that do not go to church because of the people that are there, no way to change it unless you go do it yourself. Don't leave the church because of people, cause if it were that easy I would have done left. Sorry for the ramble.

[crow]

Christian "prosperity" has nothing to do with money but all to do with "fruit" bearing. I believe many confuse the two. To prosper as a Christian is to bear fruit for the kingdom of God. Can a wealthy man be a true believer and go to Heaven? Absolutely, depending on what else he did with his life...ones lifestyle has as much to do with being a Christian as how much having money makes you a duck hunter. Can be, depends on what you know and what you do with it.

This Christian prosperity thing may be the most overemphasized, misunderstood, misrepresented, and over-debated thing since "once saved, always saved."

crow

[Seymore]

........It is easier for a rich man to pass through the eye of a needle that the gates of Heaven......

[GulfCoast]

He's a false teacher, plain and simple, itching the ears of thousands upon thouands of so-called believers leading them further and further from the truth. He doesn't even know what he believes much less understand the ramifications of the "faith" he professes. DO NOT buy into what he's selling.

You can watch him falsely present the gospel on "You Tube" if you wish. His doctrine seems to have come from the bottom of a Cracker-Jack box.
The Bereans would have eaten this guy alive!

Awesome analysis cajun squealer. That may be the finest statement I've heard made with regard to Mr. Olsteen and the "Word of Faith" movement in general. We were created to glorify God. Life is about GOD, not us. Itchy ears long to hear differently. And, yes, I am a 5-pointer (of the card-carrying variety).

Cajun Squealer, we need to start hunting together. I think we'd get along.

I never heard of this Joel dude, but I gots my TULIP!