Leading Them Astray

I'll preface this blog post by saying that several of my readers will probably not like this. Understand that this is how I feel about this subject. I believe that scriptural evidence backs up my belief. If you take a different position than mine, that's your prerogative. I'll gladly talk about this with anyone.

That said, Joel Osteen is defrauding millions of people and leading them astray.



Just watch the video. (Please note, I do not necessarily support Wretched.tv. I'm using the video mostly for the interaction of Osteen and Oprah. In fact, you can pause the video after their segment, if you like. Though the host does go on to reveal what Romans 5:17 actually says.)

They quote Romans 5:17 as a statement that God sees us as kings and queens who are supposed to reign. They use the term reign in the sense of us having power over the things around us. That's all well and good (even though it's not) until you realize that it is not necessarily the will of God that everyone be rich and famous. In fact, Jesus more often than not told those with wealth to give away all that they had, to deny their connections to this Earth, and follow after Him.

But according to Osteen, and the preachers of the prosperity gospel, we're supposed to be wallowing in worldly goods and materialism as part of God's blessing. They twist the words of the Bible to fit their theology. They claim that Jesus was rich on this Earth, as that was the only way He could travel about and carry out His ministry. You know who else is free to just wander about? Homeless people. If Jesus was rich, why did He say "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."(Luke 9:58)

Here's the problem with the idea of prosperity gospel teaching...what if you don't get rich? Does that mean that God didn't bless you? No. In fact, the Bible is pretty clear that a Christian life is not an easy one. It's clear that we won't always have great wealth. It makes it abundantly clear to followers of God's word that, if we lay up our treasures in Heaven, then that's where our heart will be. If we lay up our treasure on Earth, as the prosperity gospel teaches, then our hope lies in Earth. And through Peter's writing we're taught that the Earth is set aside to an eventual destruction with a "fervent heat," to make way for a new Heaven and a new Earth.

But Osteen and the other prosperity preachers have brought a message about declaring their desires, a "name it, claim it" faith, which is ridiculous when propped up against the gospel as presented in the Bible. They uphold the prayer of Jabez as a symbol to Christians that we should all have great wealth, but they seem to avoid the precursor scripture that claims Jabez to be a righteous man. If those with wealth, as Jesus so plainly put it, will hardly enter into Heaven (a point of calling out desire to hang on to worldly gain, which will separate us from God), then how can that person be righteous. Wealth and righteousness are often, not always, but often, at enmity with each other.

These preachers claim that they're telling us what God's will in our lives is, but the scriptures tell us that it is God's will that "none should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)." How do you teach someone about the necessity of repentance when you're so busy telling them that all God wants to do is shower them with worldly gain?

But that's the Osteen style, I guess. One of his most popular books is titled "Your Best Life Now." If you have any understanding of scripture, then you know that there is no way at all that our life on this Earth can be considered our "best life," seeing as better things are awaiting us in Heaven. If this is your "best life now," then you must be bound for Hell.

According to a 60 Minutes interview, the idea that God is seeking to bless believers with Health, Wealth, and Happiness is the "centerpiece" to every Osteen sermon. He claims that his is a "message of hope." Yet Paul, in delivering instructions to Timothy, stated that he should "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2). Of the three key points Paul lists, two of them are "reprove" and "rebuke." Why? Because even as saved Christians we are still living in a world of sin that we have to constantly be aware of. Even after salvation we can be turned away by the lusts of the world. Just look at the list of all those who abandoned Paul. Most striking in that list is Demas, who turned away "having loved this present world (2 Timothy 4:10).

Osteen has been on Oprah's television show multiple times. He even once found himself in a discussion in which Oprah questioned him on how to get to God. Osteen stated that Jesus was the "way to the one God" but that there were many ways to Jesus. Jesus stated "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him" (John 6:44). That sounds a lot like only one way.

He claims that people already know what they're doing wrong, so he doesn't have to preach the message of repentance. I guess he missed that part about "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" (Romans 10:14-15) And that pesky verse in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Now, some Christians have a hard time standing up against false ministries. They seem to have been convinced, mainly by the world, that a Christian is supposed to be meek, and quiet, and just let the world run over them. But we're told rather explicitly by scripture to stand up against teachings like these.

Romans 16:17 states "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

2 John 10-11 states "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." We're not supposed to take part with those that abandon the true gospel. We're not even supposed to wish them well, or bid God to bless them, because the word they bring is false.

Paul warns on many occasions that we should look out for people bringing another gospel, or another Christ. Osteen approves of people of claim other ways to God than the one laid out in the Bible. We're supposed to love these people, and desire to see them come to repentance. That does not mean we have to love their doctrines or ideas on theology. The world has tried to convince people that just because you disagree with someone's philosophy means you hate that person. That's not the case.

The gospel is the good news of God. That good news isn't that God is going to fatten your bank account. It isn't that God is going to bless you with a million dollars if you give your favorite TV preacher a thousand dollars. No, the good news of God is that Jesus Christ, God in the form of a man, came to this Earth and walked a more than perfect life in order to fulfill the Law. He gave His life on a cross in order to make atonement for us. He arose from the grave and ascended to Heaven, where He now sits on the right hand of God, making intercession for a lost people seeking salvation.

If you have more money than your neighbor then thank God for it, but also understand that if God blesses you with more, then He expects more out of you. Each person born again into the family of God has a work to do. It's hard to tell people about the job God has for them when you're so busy begging them for money and tricking them by standing in a fountain and pouring "holy water" over your wallet to make them think God will bless that.

Again, if you don't like this, I'm glad to talk to you. These are my beliefs based on my interpretation of the scripture, brought about through praying and meditating on the word of God.

A Wall of Separation Between Church and College Football (A Way Too Early Thought)

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a complaint against Clemson University and head football coach Dabo Swinney and his staff, claiming "unconstitutional behavior." According to the complaint, Swinney organized a means for players and coaches to go to "church days." He also scheduled team devotionals and invited former Clemson player James Trapp to be team chaplain and gave him access to the entire team for Bible studies.

According to the Wisconsin foundation, all of these items are horrifying violations of the Constitution. According to the university, who has not allowed coach Swinney to comment, each item is purely voluntary. No player is forced into taking part in any religious activities. There is obviously more to come from this story, as we're just in the early stages of the complaint.

Now, I'm a pretty religious guy...but these Freedom From Religion people have some ideals that strike me odd. According to their website, they are based in "Freethought Hall." They call themselves "Free Thinkers." I guess they believe anyone who believes in God or any god is a barely-functional simpleton. Only by shirking the shackles of the Lord can someone truly freely think.

Their website has the tag line "Protecting the Constitutional principle of separation of church and state." That's fantastic, except that "separation of church and state" is not a "Constitutional principle." The Constitution's First Amendment states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." I don't see separating church and state in there.

Actually, the phrase "a wall of separation between church and state" does not appear in any founding documents. Not the Declaration of Independence. Not the Constitution. No, it appears in a series of letters between Thomas Jefferson and the Danbury Baptist Association (Danbury, CT). The letter was sent in October 1801. Going back to the dark days of religion and government in England, the Baptists had long supported separating Church and State. They wanted the separation of church and state to keep the state out of the church as much as to keep the church out of the state. (Does that make sense?)

For years ever since people have tried to make the "separation of church and state" a Constitutional statement. Even as religious as I am, I know it's a bad idea for any religion to run the government. Just look at any theocracy to see how damaging that can be. That said, I just cannot go along with the atheistic idea that any and all government officials must check their religion at the door and never mention or think or rely on their faith during the execution of their duties. If Clemson's counter-claim is correct, and the religious activities were voluntary, then I would say I support Swinney in this. If he forced anyone to attend these events, then my opinion would be different.

The fact that the Freedom From Religion Foundation got involved just shows that they have nothing better to do but sit around and try to find some religious activity to attack. Just check out their website. You'll find out very quickly that they're not really the Freedom From Religion Foundation. They really should be the "Freedom From Christianity" Foundation.

Registration, Writing Essays, and Being Baptized

“See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”

I don’t sugarcoat things of religious or spiritual nature. If you’re offended by my stance, then I’m sorry I offended you. But I’m not going to change my beliefs because you are offended. My latest issue comes from a “mega-church.” As an act of disclosure, I’m not a fan or a supporter of mega-churches. I grew up in, and still attend, small churches. The church family is tighter-knit. The worship is more intimate.

I’ve spoken with people who attend mega-churches. Two good friends of mine, who were not mutual acquaintances, discovered they attended the same mega-church, and had for at least three years. They did not know each other. I like to know everyone at my church. But, I look at church as more of a spiritual event while many of the mega-churches have taken on an air of McWorship, fast-food-type spirituality. This lack of personal acquaintance leads me to the topic of the day: baptism. In the Baptist denomination, baptism is also the threshold over which men and women must pass to become members of the church.

My cousin attended a church that, while not quite a mega-church, surely had aspirations of one day becoming one. The night came that she found herself in need of salvation (I’ll not go into the spiritual mechanics of salvation here, but I’ll gladly talk about it to anyone who does). Her family could not get in touch with anyone from the church, so she came to my grandfather’s house, as he was a minister. He spoke with her for a bit, they prayed, and she got up satisfied that the Lord had saved her. She invited me grandfather to her baptism at the would-be-mega-church. My grandfather found his way into a conversation with the pastor, at which time he rehearsed the story of her salvation. The would-be-mega-pastor said “I was wondering why she wanted to be baptized.”

Just down the street from me is another mega-church that currently has nearly 10,000 members. On their website, they detail the requirements for baptism. You have to go online and register to be baptized. You select the “campus” at which you wish to be baptized, and then fill out a form that requests your phone number and email address. The form then asks what you were like “before you decided to follow Christ,” what  change occurred in “how did you meet and decide to follow Christ,” and what affect this change has had in what “life [has] been like as a follower of Christ.” This feels like an academic assignment. Do they deny you baptism if they don’t like your answers?

By the way, this is for adults. If a child in 5th Grade or younger desires to be baptized, a parent/guardian must attend a class about leading children to Christ, then they must accompany the child to a class on living a Christian life and the order of the baptism service, and then they may register their child for baptism. I don’t know what translation of the Bible these people have, but this is wrong.

Consider one of the purest requests for baptism found in the New Testament. In Acts, chapter 8, the Holy Spirit guides Philip to the desert, where he comes across an Ethiopian eunuch reading from the old scriptures. Philip “joins himself” to the chariot the man is in, and begins to expound to him the meaning of the words, describing Christ and his work.

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

-Acts 8:26-39

The Ethiopian accepts Christ, and, in the middle of the desert, they come across a body of water. The eunuch says to Philip, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Philip didn’t tell the Ethiopian that he needed to register and write a detailed account of his “faith journey.” He didn’t have to take a class before being baptized. The requirement was the same as it was from the beginning: accept Christ as your lord and savior.

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. It imparts no saving grace. It is a symbol only. It represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. How can you partake in a symbol of something you’ve not accepted?

I was saved at the age of ten. I believe this to be the result of being in church all my life, hearing the gospel preached, and having a family that talked about what to do when God moved in your life. Just as for my cousin, when the time came for me to be saved, I moved. I went to the same grandfather, and basically went through the same thing that she would later go through.

Then, instead of having to take a class with my parents, or having to write out a detailed account of my “decision to follow Christ,” I stood before the whole church, at ten years old, and requested to be baptized. In my mind, and a belief I hold to this day, I didn’t choose to follow Christ. Instead, Christ chose me, just as he chooses everyone. He offers the opportunity to accept his sacrifice. This acceptance does not come from signing a card or being baptized. The acceptance of Christ comes with “fear and trembling,” with a broken and contrite heart.

 

Imagine if, when the Ethiopian had said “what doth hinder me to be baptized,” Philip had responded “Well, you need to go to this website and fill out the forms. Once you’ve registered, you need to come to our class Sunday morning. After that, we’ll schedule your baptism. You should be baptized sometime within the next few months.” Requiring those things are conditions of man. In God’s way, baptism is as simple as “See, here is water.”