Lifestyles of the Rich and Spiritual

BYOGlowstix?

god bless.

Bring whatever you'd like. I'm going as a naughty school girl.

[ELVIS]

Only if you'll go to The Church in Deep Ellum with me.

BYOGlowstix?

god bless.

[The King]

what about the one show about kittens?

god bless.

Haven't seen it. What's it aboot?

yall lemme know if yall wanna go to fellowship grapevine with me sunday. this or any other.

god bless.

Only if you'll go to The Church in Deep Ellum with me.

[ELVIS]

I don't even like TV.

what about the one show about kittens?

god bless.

[The King]

I hate these reality shows.

I don't even like TV.

[ELVIS]

yall lemme know if yall wanna go to fellowship grapevine with me sunday. this or any other.

god bless.

[ceyko]

I hate these reality shows.

This kind of cuts to basic human psychology. If ol Joel says it's in there, it has to be in there. I went to a mega church for several years and the lies were subtle, but present and NO ONE checked that guy's answers. When people began to do so, hoards of people bolted from the church. People like to feel as if they are part of something bigger than themselves, part of the reason these churches are literally exploding (in numbers, size and frequency).

What do you know? I bet you don't even have an 88 GT!

[Sean88gt]

All anyone need do is read a Bible to realize one should not consider giving/tithing/sowing to be used as a means to further their their own prosperity, and Osteen himself advocates his audience to read and study the Bible for themselves.

This kind of cuts to basic human psychology. If ol Joel says it's in there, it has to be in there. I went to a mega church for several years and the lies were subtle, but present and NO ONE checked that guy's answers. When people began to do so, hoards of people bolted from the church. People like to feel as if they are part of something bigger than themselves, part of the reason these churches are literally exploding (in numbers, size and frequency).

[slow06]

All anyone need do is read a Bible to realize one should not consider giving/tithing/sowing to be used as a means to further their their own prosperity, and Osteen himself advocates his audience to read and study the Bible for themselves.

Very true, and if everybody listening to him thought like that then it wouldn't be as much of an issue. For me the problem is that Joel isn't saying that.

Every time I hear one of his sermons I hear a lesson on how to make my life better, easier, and more prosperous. What I don't hear is how often the life of a christian may be hard, and they may be poor and considered nothing in the eyes of this world. At best I would say he is preaching half of the truth, and in this instance I think half of the truth is a dangerous lie.

You say his message is about bible-based living. i don't think he is teaching enough of the bible to give anyone an idea of how to live a bible based life.

Take a hard look not at what he peaches, but why. I think you will find that his overriding goal, his motive, his "why" for most every action he suggests is for the prosperity, health, or wealth of an individual. Never once have I heard him say "go help somebody so that you can glorify God". It is more like "If you want this, go help somebody". In my view if the motive is wrong the action is wrong. I don't care who you "help", if your motive is only self improvement or glorification then you are not operating withing the example of Christ.

[The King]

All anyone need do is read a Bible to realize one should not consider giving/tithing/sowing to be used as a means to further their their own prosperity, and Osteen himself advocates his audience to read and study the Bible for themselves.

[Sean88gt]

Prosperity Gospel can be... Well, dangerous.

http://churchismessy.com/2013/08/05/why-i-called-out-joel-osteen-and-joyce-meyer/

http://www.worldmag.com/2013/04/rapper_calls_out_osteen_prosperity_preachers

I would recommend picking up a copy of Radical - Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt.
http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Taking.../dp/1601422210

It really is a recipe for disaster. People begin to give/tithe/sow/etc on credit cards, at the determent to their personal well being and they are continually told to "lead" themselves to bleed just a little bit more for a cause that is never clear. Prosperity gospel works for a select few, generally the so called pastor and those closest to him, everyone else just goes financially dry.

Olsteen is no exception, and possibly the worst. As Yale said, he worships the globe and rarely mentions the one who died for his (Robert Tilton like) sins.

[Strychnine]

Joel Osteen's message is all that matters to me. I don't watch his weekly telecast to critique his stage or his audience. FWIW I have never sent his organization money, but I would have no reservations about doing so.

Prosperity Gospel can be... Well, dangerous.

http://churchismessy.com/2013/08/05/why-i-called-out-joel-osteen-and-joyce-meyer/

http://www.worldmag.com/2013/04/rapper_calls_out_osteen_prosperity_preachers

I would recommend picking up a copy of Radical - Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt.
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Taking-Faith-American-Dream/dp/1601422210[/ame]

It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily...

But who do you know who lives like that? Do you?

In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus.

[The King]

What would you say his core message is?

To me it's faith, with an emphasis toward Bible-based living while putting that faith into practice on a daily basis.