When I scroll through my Facebook feed I often see the piñata that everybody likes to hit, Pastor Joel Osteen. I have occasionally watched Joel Osteen sermons and read several of his books. Are they deep theological studies? No, not by any means. I realize them for what they are, self-help books. Books that focus on positive thinking and choosing joy versus self pity and hopelessness. I read an article recently from a fellow pastor revealing his thoughts on Osteen, "There are worst things than being happy and encouraging." Yes, there are I thought to myself as I chuckled. Our God is good all the time, and as the scripture points out multiple times he wants you to fulfill your purpose and live life to the fullest. So Mr. Osteen doesn't miss the mark completely when he says God wants you to he happy. People just confuse what "happy" means which isn't "prosperity", a big house, immediate gratification, nice things, and answered prayers (typically in the fashion that we planned out in our head). To live a true Christ-like life one must suffer, just like Jesus, to be the person God intended them to be. I know I will have trials and periods of suffering in my life, but that doesn't mean God is punishing me or forgotten me. Nor do I believe when I am good, God rewards me with material things. I attempt everyday to be good person because of what Jesus has done FOR ME. I am forever in his debt.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
The Gospel and religion are not one in the same. The Gospel is what Jesus Christ did for you so you could have eternal life. The Christian religion is just how you choose to recognize and celebrate that fact. You might sing hymns acapella in an old church, you might say prayers in unison, you might raise your hands while you listen to contemporary music played by a full band, or you might sit by yourself on Sunday morning and read your Bible. Worship is all those things, so which one is right? ALL OF THEM. I just wish people would stop questioning the way people choose to worship and celebrate people coming together to praise our Heavenly Father. We are all his children, how we quickly forget and point the finger.... I don't like Joel Osteen, he preaches that "prosperity gospel". I don't like Joyce Meyers, she is a woman and should not be preaching the word of God. I don't like this church because they have contemporary music and meet in an auditorium. I don't like TV evangelists. You shouldn't christen you child; God only accepts people that have been fully submerged in water. You should take communion every Sunday. Women should be submissive at all times. Don't go to church there because they let homosexuals attend. And the list goes on and on.....
We cannot see the forest for the trees. Stop worrying about others and rejoice in the fact Jesus came to save us all. That's right, anyone and everyone. All those that are burdened and need rest. Even those "horrible sinners", which in case you have forgotten is every one of us. "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17)
Stop worrying who is praising God the correct way. "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20). So you might not like TV evangelists, but what if just one non-believer turned on the TV and heard a message and decided to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts or decided to go to church the next Sunday. Would it not all be worth it so that one extra person is given eternal life or would we still be worried about the motives of the person preaching the message? Reminds me of a parable Jesus taught from Luke:
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
I would rather be the redeemed sinner myself....
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