Reformers and Puritans

For Those Offended By My Distaste of Joel Osteen’s Doctrine…

First let me address a somewhat related issue, then we’ll delve into the blog post.

I’ve received a comment from an ”Anonymous” person who warns me of the dangers of criticizing one of God’s men. On that same token, ought I remind him/her of his/her own advice, as he/she is criticizing me, and I am a child of God, who happens to be a man, thus one of God’s men? In the comment “Anonymous” writes:

I would hate to live a life with such defeat in my mind. Satan came to kill, steal, and destroy; not God. You might want to watch your criticizing of one of God’s men. It’s dangerous. 

(For the sake of having to constantly put “him/her” for qualification “Anonymous” will be hereafter referred to as one of the male sort, but not too masculine as there was no name, email address, or website left for the purpose of identifying himself) 

As I’ve already posed to Mr Anonymous, I’m not sure what he means by “such defeat” in his anonymous comment left. I certainly don’t see the providences God has orchestrated and ordained in my life as defeat, and I truly hold to the concept that whatever the Sovereign decrees and ordains is right. Maybe Mr Anonymous thinks that God suffers defeat when His creatures don’t have enough “faith” to believe in their health and wealth as growing exponentially without fail all of the time. Maybe when a godly man loses everything it’s because he didn’t believe, confess, or speak enough good faith about it. Thus, being bound by the faithlessness of His Own creatures, the Creator is, Himself, defeated.

Personally, I can’t go for that. Nor can I speak for it biblically. From what I understand, it is the Lord Who orchestrates anything from the formation of light, to the creation of darkness…from anyone or anything’s well-being, to the calamity that befalls anyone or anything. In fact, I’m pretty sure that He works all things according to the counsel of His own will. I mean, forgive my dogmatism, but I also believe that the Lord has created everything and given it its purpose…yep, even the wicked amongst us, for their day of doom. And you know what? I believe that all of these which He freely decreed to do, I believe that they are born from His inherent goodness, mercy, justice, righteousness, and perfection. Because I believe God is inherently and infallibly good, even the things which “seem” to be “bad”, really are for good.

Now, I believe such a belief to be biblical, as opposed to the idea that God intends for all His children to always be prosperous, healthy, and wealthy at all times. Don’t get me wrong, I like new clothes, a nice car, good lungs, and a nice home just as much as the next guy, but I don’t think that God wants that for every last one of His people.

Anyway, I’ll take the light off good ole’ Joel and turn it to his wife, Victoria, who shares the welcoming podium with him at Lakewood. I found a Windows Media Feed of a Lakewood service, and thought I’d just tune in to see what exactly would go on at a typical Lakewood service.

The following quotes are taken from this streaming audio service at Lakewood. 

Joel Osteen 

“Remember, we enter into God’s presence through praise and thanksgiving, so give God something to work with today.”

I know, I know…I said this would be about Victoria, and really…it is. But I just have one question for Mr. Osteen: What did God have “to work with” when He spoke Creation into existence?

Victoria Osteen

“You know, we can tap in to God’s supernatural power through our praise and worship. You know, the Bible says, ‘Find out what pleases God and do it.’  Well I can tell you this morning, our praise and our worship please God Almighty. It’s not only good for us but you know what? It blesses God. It blesses His heart. And we can just actually reach up with our faith and pull the power and the strength right out of God into our…into ourself.”

WHAT!??!?? Number one, she says the Bible directs people to find out what pleases God. Umm…hello? The Bible tells us what pleases God. I just thought this quote  was caaarrrazzzzzzy! What in the world is she “pull[ing]…right out” of God? Maybe whatever it is that Joel says God needs to “work with”. Mr. Anonymous, I do apologize for any inconvenience my comments may cause you, please hold and the next “Best Life Now” will be with you shortly. Thanks, and have a nice day!

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Tuesday, August 8th, 2006, by Josh and is filed under "Absurd and Ridiculous, Books General, Evanjellyfishisms, General, Quotes, Scripture Verses, Theology General ". You can leave a response here, or send a Trackback from your own site.