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(1 Timothy 6:5 – ESV)
The problem with feel good theology or the prosperity gospel or the temporal blessing agenda or the be obedient and you won’t suffer crowd is that within those systems peace, joy and fulfillment are thought to be found in the same places the culture is looking for it, money, success, position, possessions, etc. Oh they may not seem to say it, or they sprinkle a little self righteous holiness on top, or they deny it when confronted, but think about it, isn’t going after those things exactly what is going on?
The false gospels promote God and godliness as the means to happiness, and happiness is defined the same way the world defines it, as having all you want, and perhaps enough to give out some to others, so we don’t seem so self centered, as if this excuses the heart behind it all. If we are promoting this sort of false gospel, we are in effect saying that we have nothing different to offer than the world, than other systems of thought and other religions; we just have a better way to get it, or we believe that it is sanctified if we do. We are the head and not the tail after all, aren’t we? Yeah, that’s just what Jesus would want us saying isn’t it? Ridiculous.
Christianity isn’t some way to become a better you or to live your best life now. Christianity is Christ, and to live for Him now, and to trust in Him to justify and sanctify you, not in your own best efforts. It is to be conformed to His image, to glorify Him not because we are at the top of the class, but because we have Him at the top of our list no matter what class we find ourselves in. To the Christian the way of suffering is the way of true victory, as we embrace our call to become like our Master.
Yes we can desire healthy bodies, happy homes, successful careers, solid relationships, and many manifold blessings here on earth. It is not wrong to want to be successful in what you are called to do. But our call is first and foremost to Christ. The problem is when these other things become our primary motivation, for we can strive for these things without striving to be godly, it’s exactly what the world is doing, striving for those same things, only we add God to the mix. Then we gain things and think this means we are gaining godliness, supposing that gain is godliness (1 Timothy 6:5 – KJV), when nothing could be further from the truth.
Friend don’t put God on your agenda, get on God’s agenda, and let me tell you something, His agenda may not be for you to have a good life according to the word’s standards, or even your own supposedly godly standard. Are you prepared to follow Christ no matter the cost? It is wrong to think that being godly is a means to getting what we want, unless what we want is to be more like Jesus. To use God as a means to an end, and make no mistake, that is what is going on with the false gospel, to do that is putting things out of order. It is selfish, me centered thinking, and Christians aren’t me or man centered, they are God focused. Now they aren’t perfectly God focused, but their desire is to be more so. It isn’t about more stuff, but more God in their lives. Are you a Christian, or have you believed a false gospel?
What profit it a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul (Matthew 16:26)? Of course they would answer that they have already given their soul to Jesus but they are deceived. They gave Him their soul in name only, their heart still cries for the treasures of this world, not for the One who created it.
16 comments:
BTW, I am not mad at Joel Osteen, we need to pray that he tells his listeners that they need the whole message…
My concern is about discernment...that so many are so blind they cannot see that this man is only preaching half a gospel at best, perhaps not at all, and that the things he leaves out are inexcusable...
He says those things are not what he is called to do, thereby admitting that these other things, like preaching repentance, and about sin, and man’s depraved nature, and on and on, etc., these things need to get done, and that he is leaving things out...
His own testimony to this notwithstanding, people just don’t seem to care, they only want the good stuff, or what they like, etc., and what about those whose call it is to do the other, hard stuff, shouldn't Osteen, by his own admission, admonish his listeners that they need the full message...
No he doesn't do that, and he just leaves it up to them to find the full message, but of course, no one wants to hear the bad stuff, and so everyone jumps on his bandwagon and leaves the bad news behind, but without the full message there is no (you decide, but it is severe, I am sure of that)...
It is like he wants or gets to be the candy man all the time and although he says when questioned he knows others can and will do that other job of preaching the hard stuff better, and that implies that we all need the broccoli and spinach and beets, etc., still he leaves that to other folk…
Well no wonder he is popular, and his method leaves the good veggies wilting in the dust…because no little child wants veggies when they can have cookies at every meal…shame, indeed…
All men must preach all the gospel, all facets, the whole counsel of God, and by saying we need it but it isn’t my call, he is shirking his responsibility…he is right, he isn’t called to preach repentance, sin, the holiness of God, etc., because he isn’t called to preach at all…pray for him and those who want burritos, chocolate, etc. all day, every day….
The blinking Osteen eyes are sooooo funny!!
I try to avoid talking bad about people. But a friend told me that there was nothing wrong with his message so long as it was put in the context of a motivational speaker. The thing is, that's NOT his context. The man has a pulpit, and that platform carries a responsibility. It is difficult to think of anything nice to say about him other than, he's a snappy dresser.
"snappy dresser?"
How about nifty looking?
We also have substantial conversation going on at the Blue Collar blog, as I posted this over there as well..
This is a title crying out for a book :)
Seriously, from what Challies posted about the laster Osteen book, if he summarized accurately, Osteen is preaching another gospel, one of doing your best to gain God's approval. I can only equate that to doing good works as best you can to be justified, and that is works through and through. Such a gospel is no gospel at all.
So JD, when will we see the book Becoming a Deader You released?
About the same time as another one, The Purpose Driven Death...
Actaully, I must confess that I am much more sold on prosperity theology than Osteen, Jakes, Meyer, or any Copeland or Hagin or Roberts out there, indeed I am the biggest proponent of the prosperity doctrine of them all...
Spiritual Prosperity that is...
...to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you...
(1 Peter 1:4)
Burritos and chocolate! Exactly what I just sent my wife to the store for.....oh man!
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
(1 Peter 2:20-21)
Your fourth paragraph says it all. I want to say again how much I appreciate you, a pastor that will preach the uncompromised Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Keep praying for Joel...and those people who follow his message...
10-17-07
The picture is a little creepy.
Thanks for the several reminders to pray for this man. It is easy to get involved in the discussion and forget to pray for the man who needs the WHOLE counsel of God.
Indeed abd those like him.
BTW, like the blinking eyes, JD.
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