We need to be reminded that studying theology is not about obtaining vast amounts of intellectual knowledge in order to puff oneself up. We don't study theology because we love it (we do!) or because we are captivated by it (we are) and because it's thrilling (it is) to study it. I love this quote by Sinclair B. Ferguson:
"The goal of theology is the worship of God. The posture of theology is on one's knees. The mode of theology is repentance."
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
What's the Big Deal?
I know you might be wondering: "What's the big deal about so-called Calvinism? About the doctrines of grace? I believe it to be true - I agree with most points. What is so different or so compelling about it that you border on fanaticism?"
I've been wanting to write something to share this but can't seem to find the words, nor the time. However, I found an article by Piper that reflects my feelings about how these doctrines have changed my life. How they have transformed the way I view God, view salvation, view my sinfulness, view my place in this world. It changed the way I worship, the way I pray, the way I view circumstances and events. It changed the way I thank Him, the way I don't thank me, the way I study and look and feel about the Scriptures. My heart is burning within me, I want to talk to you about Him but sometimes don't know how - because I want to burst with the wonderful knowledge of it all. It's too wonderful for me!
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2002/1519_Ten_Effects_of_Believing_in_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/
In fact, nothing is more important to me than knowing God. The One, True God of the Bible. I have grown up with a misdirected, watered-down version of the gospel - which in some cases is not the gospel at all. Ask me about it. Let's chat. I am not eloquent in my explanation but can assure you that what we've traditionally considered right is not worthy of Him. I'm not undermining what you believe or think. I'm not judging your passion for Him or your love of Christ. Surely you love Him. I'm writing about ME and what I've experienced.
Modern-day, American Christianity has turned into a pop-culture, trendy, feel-good, self-serving, money-venture reminiscent of the group of thieves in front of God's Holy temple. It's produced Christians who are secure in self-convinced assurance, man-made quips and a God who is 'safe'. Perhaps you think I'm exaggerating? For years, I've wondered: if the Holy Spirit is as powerful and life-changing as the Bible claims, wouldn't the Christian, as the temple of this Holy Spirit, be completely transformed? What is all this wishy-washiness in my life? Why the dryness? Why the laziness? Why the weakness? Why the disinterest?
We are sinners. The more I learn about God and His Word, the more I tremble before Him. How inadequate, how unable, how truly lost I am without Him!! I can NOT dig myself out of some of the deep pits I've dug, how much less can I dig myself out of my spiritual bottomless pit! You know that picture of the sinner who God wants to save, the picture of God holding out the ticket, the life-jacket, the hand that saves and Julie, reaching up in order to take it, accepting it, asking and willing to receive it? That's the picture we have of a sinner being saved and our responsibility to reach out our hand and take it. Well, that's giving us too much credit.
The true picture is more like this: I am completely dead in my sins. I was born dead. In fact, I'm so dead that I stink. I have absolutely no power in me to even reach out. To even call out to Jesus, Lord save me! As one person said it, I'm more like the man "at the bottom of the ocean in the Marianas trench, more than thirty-five thousand feet deep. The weight of the water on top of him is six tons for every square inch. He has been there for a thousand years and the sharks have eaten his heart. In other words, the man is dead and is totally unable to ask any lifeguard to save him. If he is to be saved, a miracle must occur. He must be brought back to life and to the surface, and then he can ask the guard to rescue him."
I'm rotting in the grave and then it's the Lord Jesus, who calls out, "Julie, come forth!" Am I alive the moment I take the first step? The moment I put one foot in front of the other? No, I'm alive when He breathes life in me, when the Holy Spirit infuses His power that gives me the strength to even put one ounce of energy into that dead corpse.
Can I tell you something? The gospel that is proclaimed - as sincere as it may be - and even as much as God still produces true believers, of that I have no doubt, - the proclaimed gospel nowadays is somewhat 'goatish'. What I mean by that is that the gospel as many know it has produced 'goats' instead of true 'sheep'. I'm grieved to consider that there will be many who believe they are saved and at the last day will say, "Lord, Lord." But the Lord will say, "I never knew you." I believe there are many, who are psychologically convinced they are saved, have some form of behavioral modification, moral improvements and even have inner moments of peace, joy, happiness, love etc. They have 'tasted' the heavenly gift and have been made a partaker of the Holy Spirit and the blessings He produces - yet, they are not truly saved. Be aware that it is not 'fruit' when you stop smoking, drinking, cursing and watching horror movies. These are all things that can be mustered up even in an unregenerate life. I have more to say on this, not to leave you hanging but this deserves a post all on its own. Let us examine ourselves. Do we truly believe? What do we truly believe? Who do we truly believe in? What evidence is there that shows that we truly believe? It's a frightening and humbling exercise. Let me tell you.
It's such a big deal. It's an all-encompassing deal. Let's talk about it. Blog about it. Email about it. Whatever it takes to hash it out so that we look at God as the Sovereign, Sufficient, Supreme God that He truly is. He is the Big Deal.
I've been wanting to write something to share this but can't seem to find the words, nor the time. However, I found an article by Piper that reflects my feelings about how these doctrines have changed my life. How they have transformed the way I view God, view salvation, view my sinfulness, view my place in this world. It changed the way I worship, the way I pray, the way I view circumstances and events. It changed the way I thank Him, the way I don't thank me, the way I study and look and feel about the Scriptures. My heart is burning within me, I want to talk to you about Him but sometimes don't know how - because I want to burst with the wonderful knowledge of it all. It's too wonderful for me!
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2002/1519_Ten_Effects_of_Believing_in_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/
In fact, nothing is more important to me than knowing God. The One, True God of the Bible. I have grown up with a misdirected, watered-down version of the gospel - which in some cases is not the gospel at all. Ask me about it. Let's chat. I am not eloquent in my explanation but can assure you that what we've traditionally considered right is not worthy of Him. I'm not undermining what you believe or think. I'm not judging your passion for Him or your love of Christ. Surely you love Him. I'm writing about ME and what I've experienced.
Modern-day, American Christianity has turned into a pop-culture, trendy, feel-good, self-serving, money-venture reminiscent of the group of thieves in front of God's Holy temple. It's produced Christians who are secure in self-convinced assurance, man-made quips and a God who is 'safe'. Perhaps you think I'm exaggerating? For years, I've wondered: if the Holy Spirit is as powerful and life-changing as the Bible claims, wouldn't the Christian, as the temple of this Holy Spirit, be completely transformed? What is all this wishy-washiness in my life? Why the dryness? Why the laziness? Why the weakness? Why the disinterest?
We are sinners. The more I learn about God and His Word, the more I tremble before Him. How inadequate, how unable, how truly lost I am without Him!! I can NOT dig myself out of some of the deep pits I've dug, how much less can I dig myself out of my spiritual bottomless pit! You know that picture of the sinner who God wants to save, the picture of God holding out the ticket, the life-jacket, the hand that saves and Julie, reaching up in order to take it, accepting it, asking and willing to receive it? That's the picture we have of a sinner being saved and our responsibility to reach out our hand and take it. Well, that's giving us too much credit.
The true picture is more like this: I am completely dead in my sins. I was born dead. In fact, I'm so dead that I stink. I have absolutely no power in me to even reach out. To even call out to Jesus, Lord save me! As one person said it, I'm more like the man "at the bottom of the ocean in the Marianas trench, more than thirty-five thousand feet deep. The weight of the water on top of him is six tons for every square inch. He has been there for a thousand years and the sharks have eaten his heart. In other words, the man is dead and is totally unable to ask any lifeguard to save him. If he is to be saved, a miracle must occur. He must be brought back to life and to the surface, and then he can ask the guard to rescue him."
I'm rotting in the grave and then it's the Lord Jesus, who calls out, "Julie, come forth!" Am I alive the moment I take the first step? The moment I put one foot in front of the other? No, I'm alive when He breathes life in me, when the Holy Spirit infuses His power that gives me the strength to even put one ounce of energy into that dead corpse.
Can I tell you something? The gospel that is proclaimed - as sincere as it may be - and even as much as God still produces true believers, of that I have no doubt, - the proclaimed gospel nowadays is somewhat 'goatish'. What I mean by that is that the gospel as many know it has produced 'goats' instead of true 'sheep'. I'm grieved to consider that there will be many who believe they are saved and at the last day will say, "Lord, Lord." But the Lord will say, "I never knew you." I believe there are many, who are psychologically convinced they are saved, have some form of behavioral modification, moral improvements and even have inner moments of peace, joy, happiness, love etc. They have 'tasted' the heavenly gift and have been made a partaker of the Holy Spirit and the blessings He produces - yet, they are not truly saved. Be aware that it is not 'fruit' when you stop smoking, drinking, cursing and watching horror movies. These are all things that can be mustered up even in an unregenerate life. I have more to say on this, not to leave you hanging but this deserves a post all on its own. Let us examine ourselves. Do we truly believe? What do we truly believe? Who do we truly believe in? What evidence is there that shows that we truly believe? It's a frightening and humbling exercise. Let me tell you.
It's such a big deal. It's an all-encompassing deal. Let's talk about it. Blog about it. Email about it. Whatever it takes to hash it out so that we look at God as the Sovereign, Sufficient, Supreme God that He truly is. He is the Big Deal.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Bible Ribbon Markers
Link to allthingsbookish.com or my blog: http://allthingsbookish.blogspot.com/ to see FaithMarks.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Doctrinal Whirlwind in 2007
The past 9 months have been full of confusion, revelation, realization, transformation. I thought that I knew and understood what I believe in and then I experienced my deep-seated belief system come tumbling down as the very foundation got shaken. Starting with the Romans study in BSF and the lecture in Romans 9-11 - I have been passionately and compulsively studying the doctrine of grace otherwise commonly known as Calvinism. I hate to label things because while studying I realize that I am studying Scripture and trying to interpret Scripture with Scripture not just interpret Scripture through the lens of some human interpretation. How difficult it's been! I have been shaken up because my very view of God seems to be faulty! The more I am studying the higher my view of God - however, it's been a mix of a sense of awe, terror and reverence - for God really is the AWESOME, All-powerful and Sovereign God that I claimed to believe in.
I have no problem with the first part of the TULIP - namely Total Depravity. It is clear in the Bible that man left to himself would not choose God - there is none righteous, none who does good, none who seeks Him. Although we are not all living in our totally depraved state, the Bible is clear that without His grace and mercy, we would not even have the desire to seek Him. There is nothing good in us apart from Him. To me, this is clear - over and over again.
Unconditional election - Or more like, Sovereign Election - This too seems very well supported scripturally but it's tough to understand. Some are chosen by God to be saved. He chose us before the foundation of the world to be His. This doesn't mean that God foreknew who would choose Him therefore He elected us. That would truly put the power in man's choice - his free will - but that really supplants God. Man will choose therefore God elects? The order seems wrong doesn't it? The word foreknow doesn't even apply to knowing ahead of time an action - rather, it talks about foreknowing someone, foreknowing the relationship with His elect, fore-loving His own, if that makes sense. Over and over again, Scripture tells us that God chooses us, God calls us, God gives us the faith to believe and God draws us to Him. I have always thought that yes, God does draw us to Himself but from then on it's up to us to accept or receive His gift of eternal life. This is partly true in that we have the responsibility to believe or reject the Lord Jesus but this cannot happen without the Holy Spirit working in us.
Limited atonement - or as someone put it, definitive atonement? This is to say that Christ died for the elect and only the elect. That the power of His death was not an umbrella atonement that covers the sin of all mankind - and it's up to the individual to go under the 'blood' so to speak in order to be saved. When Jesus died, was His death sufficient to forgive sins and atone for the sins of all who believe? Of course! But saying that Jesus' death did atone but we have to choose to accept really nullifies the efficacy of His blood. He paid the price for sinners, therefore there is no more debt. However, there are those who have died and have gone to hell because they have refused to believe - therefore, the penalty was paid twice - once by Christ and once by the sinner. All that to say that Jesus died to save those whom the Father gave to Him. He didn't die for all mankind. Isn't that so different than what I grew up with? It's hard to swallow but I have scripture to back it up.
Irresistible Grace - I prefer effectual grace - is that when God calls us in Christ and gives us the faith and the desire to receive - we are compelled to believe, compelled to receive. Because He has given us the faith necessary to believe we're able to. There's more to be said on all this but for now, just a summary!
Last but not least, the perseverance of the Saints. This not only includes the common understanding of eternal security, "Once saved, always saved." It's so much more than that!! It has to do with truly being born again, truly being sealed with the Holy Spirit, truly adopted into the family of our Heavenly Father and then God preserving us until the end. There is eternal fruit that manifests itself in the life of a true believer. I often did wonder how a person can really be saved and then go on and on in sin. I found that to be so inconsistent with what I was reading in Scripture. This is now making sense. We hear of those who claimed to be a believer who became a muslim or atheist. We hear of those who were in the missionary field and then forsook the Christian faith that took them there. Of course, true believers can fail and even carry on in sin temporarily but a true believer will not persist living in that sinful condition.
There's so much for me to write! I will be recording some of my thoughts in the next little while. If you're reading this, leave me a comment!
I have no problem with the first part of the TULIP - namely Total Depravity. It is clear in the Bible that man left to himself would not choose God - there is none righteous, none who does good, none who seeks Him. Although we are not all living in our totally depraved state, the Bible is clear that without His grace and mercy, we would not even have the desire to seek Him. There is nothing good in us apart from Him. To me, this is clear - over and over again.
Unconditional election - Or more like, Sovereign Election - This too seems very well supported scripturally but it's tough to understand. Some are chosen by God to be saved. He chose us before the foundation of the world to be His. This doesn't mean that God foreknew who would choose Him therefore He elected us. That would truly put the power in man's choice - his free will - but that really supplants God. Man will choose therefore God elects? The order seems wrong doesn't it? The word foreknow doesn't even apply to knowing ahead of time an action - rather, it talks about foreknowing someone, foreknowing the relationship with His elect, fore-loving His own, if that makes sense. Over and over again, Scripture tells us that God chooses us, God calls us, God gives us the faith to believe and God draws us to Him. I have always thought that yes, God does draw us to Himself but from then on it's up to us to accept or receive His gift of eternal life. This is partly true in that we have the responsibility to believe or reject the Lord Jesus but this cannot happen without the Holy Spirit working in us.
Limited atonement - or as someone put it, definitive atonement? This is to say that Christ died for the elect and only the elect. That the power of His death was not an umbrella atonement that covers the sin of all mankind - and it's up to the individual to go under the 'blood' so to speak in order to be saved. When Jesus died, was His death sufficient to forgive sins and atone for the sins of all who believe? Of course! But saying that Jesus' death did atone but we have to choose to accept really nullifies the efficacy of His blood. He paid the price for sinners, therefore there is no more debt. However, there are those who have died and have gone to hell because they have refused to believe - therefore, the penalty was paid twice - once by Christ and once by the sinner. All that to say that Jesus died to save those whom the Father gave to Him. He didn't die for all mankind. Isn't that so different than what I grew up with? It's hard to swallow but I have scripture to back it up.
Irresistible Grace - I prefer effectual grace - is that when God calls us in Christ and gives us the faith and the desire to receive - we are compelled to believe, compelled to receive. Because He has given us the faith necessary to believe we're able to. There's more to be said on all this but for now, just a summary!
Last but not least, the perseverance of the Saints. This not only includes the common understanding of eternal security, "Once saved, always saved." It's so much more than that!! It has to do with truly being born again, truly being sealed with the Holy Spirit, truly adopted into the family of our Heavenly Father and then God preserving us until the end. There is eternal fruit that manifests itself in the life of a true believer. I often did wonder how a person can really be saved and then go on and on in sin. I found that to be so inconsistent with what I was reading in Scripture. This is now making sense. We hear of those who claimed to be a believer who became a muslim or atheist. We hear of those who were in the missionary field and then forsook the Christian faith that took them there. Of course, true believers can fail and even carry on in sin temporarily but a true believer will not persist living in that sinful condition.
There's so much for me to write! I will be recording some of my thoughts in the next little while. If you're reading this, leave me a comment!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Some thoughts on Joel Osteen
Since he IS America's most popular preacher and the pastor of the largest church in America, consistently on the bestsellers' list, and is aired worldwide, I thought to write some thoughts and quote some articles that reveal who he really is and what he preaches. There's too much for me to actually write but there are plenty of articles that can convince you that he is a false teacher.
From what I read about Joel Osteen (and his very own words have confirmed it), he is just a motivational speaker profiting from the large group of marginal, professing Christians - because he preaches the gospel of success and prosperity and what's called the Word Faith movement. When you've got the largest mega-church in America - 30,000+ and counting - you've got to wonder what's wrong with the picture? I'm not saying that God cannot or does not give success to churches who preach and teach the truth - I'm saying that what Jesus has to say is not very POPULAR so if it's attracting people by the droves, you've got to wonder why.
So, I researched just a bit because I'm all for reading books by good authors and even listening to good speakers at times. My first exposure (and subsequent ) to him, my dh and I waited for more. He was all flashy and spoke quickly and motivationally, adding stuff that would appeal to those who liked upbeat, feel-good material. But there was NO meat. And although I didn't hear anything outright unBiblical during that show, I did read material that would definitely be so.
One thing that he is known for is the fact that he will not preach about sin, does not even like to USE the word sin, does not want to bring out ANYTHING negative like hell and eternal judgment because there are plenty of others who do. He wants to preach the 'good news' and only the good news. I have to say that the gospel is only good news because the bad news is so bad. He also shied away from saying that Jesus is the only way when interviewed by Larry King or whoever it was. I'm sure you can google all this and read article after article. Just try googling Joel Osteen sin and you get a bunch of articles. Anyway, when asked, "Well what about Muslims and Hindus etc etc. Is Jesus the only way?" He hemmed and hawed and said several times, "I don't know." I don't want to quote him out of context so I would say to read the entire interview. You will be surprised.
Quote
Sounds pretty flaky to me - especially when he claims that the gospel of Jesus is what he lives for.
And just read how big this church is. It's just something to make you go hmmm~~~
Don't get me wrong - it's not necessary that a large church be a seeker-friendly, wishy-washy, unbiblical church. And maybe i'll get flamed for the "seeker-friendly" comment.
The message he preaches is all about 'claiming verses' and having faith enough to prosper or have victory or both. In my opinion, he presents God as the cosmic genie condescending to humans as One who makes all their wishes come true. Too bad the Chinese Christians in Communist China or the persecuted church in Muslim countries and poverty-stricken believers in Africa haven't heard this message. I guess they missed out on this faith...
Of course he says some things that counterfeit truth and encourage his listeners. But he preaches that God wants everyone to be successful, prosperous, healthy, wealthy and happy. He is big on 'claiming' verses in order to twist God's arm with your magnificent faith in order to bring about what you want (written tongue in cheek).
There's more but there are plenty of articles out there that expose the dangerous message and gospel that Joel Osteen preaches. I think you should stay away from him in my opinion.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires. (2 Timothy 4:3, NASB)
From what I read about Joel Osteen (and his very own words have confirmed it), he is just a motivational speaker profiting from the large group of marginal, professing Christians - because he preaches the gospel of success and prosperity and what's called the Word Faith movement. When you've got the largest mega-church in America - 30,000+ and counting - you've got to wonder what's wrong with the picture? I'm not saying that God cannot or does not give success to churches who preach and teach the truth - I'm saying that what Jesus has to say is not very POPULAR so if it's attracting people by the droves, you've got to wonder why.
So, I researched just a bit because I'm all for reading books by good authors and even listening to good speakers at times. My first exposure (and subsequent ) to him, my dh and I waited for more. He was all flashy and spoke quickly and motivationally, adding stuff that would appeal to those who liked upbeat, feel-good material. But there was NO meat. And although I didn't hear anything outright unBiblical during that show, I did read material that would definitely be so.
One thing that he is known for is the fact that he will not preach about sin, does not even like to USE the word sin, does not want to bring out ANYTHING negative like hell and eternal judgment because there are plenty of others who do. He wants to preach the 'good news' and only the good news. I have to say that the gospel is only good news because the bad news is so bad. He also shied away from saying that Jesus is the only way when interviewed by Larry King or whoever it was. I'm sure you can google all this and read article after article. Just try googling Joel Osteen sin and you get a bunch of articles. Anyway, when asked, "Well what about Muslims and Hindus etc etc. Is Jesus the only way?" He hemmed and hawed and said several times, "I don't know." I don't want to quote him out of context so I would say to read the entire interview. You will be surprised.
Quote
KING: But don’t you think if people don’t believe as you believe, they’re somehow condemned?
OSTEEN: You know, I think that happens in our society. But I try not to do that. I tell people all the time, preached a couple Sundays about it. I'm for everybody. You may not agree with me, but to me it's not my job to try to straighten everybody out. The Gospel called the good news. My message is a message of hope, that's God's for you. You can live a good life no matter what's happened to you. And so I don't know. I know there is condemnation but I don't feel that's my place.
KING: How about issues that the church has feelings about? Abortion? Same-sex marriages?
OSTEEN: Yeah. You know what, Larry? I don't go there. I just ...
KING: You have thoughts, though.
OSTEEN: I have thoughts. I just, you know, I don't think that a same-sex marriage is the way God intended it to be. I don't think abortion is the best. I think there are other, you know, a better way to live your life. But I'm not going to condemn those people. I tell them all the time our church is open for everybody.
Sounds pretty flaky to me - especially when he claims that the gospel of Jesus is what he lives for.
Quote
Osteen gives the new vision of his ministry: "We're all about building people up. We're all about helping people reach their full potential. We don't push some kind of religion.…all we push is joy and peace and victory through Jesus Christ. …Our message every single week - is through faith in God you can live an overcoming life of victory … I believe that's the message this generation needs to hear. We've heard a lot about the judgment of God and what we can't do and what's going to keep us out of heaven. But it's time people start hearing about the goodness of God, about a God that loves them. A God that believes in them. A God that wants to help them. That's our message here at Lakewood."
And just read how big this church is. It's just something to make you go hmmm~~~
Quote
Forty year old Joel Osteen now has one of the largest church congregations in America.
Lakewood Church has grown from 8,000 to a current attendance of over 30,000 since 1999 when Joel’s father passed away and he took over. “I don't want this to sound arrogant, but I believe one day we're going to have 100,000 a weekend,” he told “Charisma” magazine in June 2004. He certainly has this planned out with a new super facility being expanded in downtown Houston. The church paid the city nearly $11.9 million up front to lease the property for 30 years. It cost $95 million to renovate the Compaq Center in Houston (606,050 square feet) that seated 16,000 to now seat 30,000.
Osteen believes he is breaking a new frontier with the sheer size of his church facility, that Lakewood will one day offer Saturday and Sunday sanctuary to 100,000 worshipers from the Houston area and worldwide.”
The new Church facility has- eight giant video screens, 12 elevators, three escalators, two waterfalls, 241 toilets and 65 urinals and parking for more than 7,000 vehicles. The church also added a five-story wing, featuring Lakewood's television studio; classrooms for kindergarten through high school students; a chapel/auditorium for weddings, funerals and baptisms; and a cafe. Additional floors can be added as the church grows, Garrett said. (source- CHARISMA NOW - July 14, 2005 ed.)
http://www.letusreason.org/Popteac29.htm
Don't get me wrong - it's not necessary that a large church be a seeker-friendly, wishy-washy, unbiblical church. And maybe i'll get flamed for the "seeker-friendly" comment.
The message he preaches is all about 'claiming verses' and having faith enough to prosper or have victory or both. In my opinion, he presents God as the cosmic genie condescending to humans as One who makes all their wishes come true. Too bad the Chinese Christians in Communist China or the persecuted church in Muslim countries and poverty-stricken believers in Africa haven't heard this message. I guess they missed out on this faith...
Of course he says some things that counterfeit truth and encourage his listeners. But he preaches that God wants everyone to be successful, prosperous, healthy, wealthy and happy. He is big on 'claiming' verses in order to twist God's arm with your magnificent faith in order to bring about what you want (written tongue in cheek).
Quote
"You've got to speak it out. Your words have creative power. One of the primary ways we release our faith is through our words. There is a divine connection between you declaring God's favor and seeing God's favor manifested in your life. And some of you are doing your best to please the Lord. You are living a holy consecrated life, but you're not really experiencing God's supernatural favor. And it's simply because you're not declaring it. You've got to give life to your faith by speaking it out." (Audio clip from Bible Answer-Man Broadcast, April 26, 2004, ).
"Early in our marriage, Victoria and I were out walking through our neighborhood one day when we came upon a beautiful new home in the final stages of construction… Victoria was excited. She turned around, looked back at the home, and said, 'Joel, one day we're going to live in a beautiful home just like that!…' Over the next several months, she kept speaking words of faith and victory, and she finally talked me into it. She convinced me that we could live in an elegant home like the one we saw. I got rid of my limited thinking and I started agreeing with her. I started believing that somehow, some way, God could bring it to pass. We kept on believing it, seeing it, and speaking it (Osteen, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential, Chapter One, ).
There's more but there are plenty of articles out there that expose the dangerous message and gospel that Joel Osteen preaches. I think you should stay away from him in my opinion.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires. (2 Timothy 4:3, NASB)
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