Joel Osteen’s new book released yesterday. Osteen’s newest self-help book is called I Declare-31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life. The description on Osteen’s website reads:
The words we speak set the course for our life. If you want to know what you’re going to be like in five years, listen to the words you are saying about yourself today. Now you can take charge of your future with the help of Joel Osteen’s latest book-I Declare. Filled with 31 written declarations-one for each day-you can declare, in faith, God’s powerful Word over your life and watch your surroundings change in incredible ways. You will move forward to a promising future from the fruit of your words! (
Source)
This reminds me of another book I am reading by a somewhat lesser known Mega-Pastor John Hagee, his book is called The Power of the Prophetic Blessing, I was saving my comments about the lies of Word-Faith pastors till I did my book review but since it seems to be heresy hurricane season I will go ahead and tell you what the Bible says that is contrary to this heresy…and I’d like all other pastors that are in cahoots with these W-F heretics to take notice, it doesn’t matter how many people are “getting saved” in these churches, false doctrine makes false converts. As a pastor you should be protecting your sheep from these men, not giving them a platform to spew their lies and half-truths. And though I am referring specifically to Mark Driscoll, who has the nerve to call Joel Osteen a brother in Christ from the pulpit/stage on a Sunday morning and participate in a Google hangout with Steven Furtick to promote his new book, there are other pastors out there that will promote these lies. This is more than a lack of discernment on Driscoll’s part, Osteen and Furtick are both preaching a message contrary to the true gospel, and contrary to the Bible as a whole. In fact the Word of Faith heresy is the exact opposite of the life we are called to as Christians.
The prosperity gospel is a damnable lie, that makes mans comfort take precedence over Gods sovereign control. It makes God into a magical genie in a bottle only summoned when life gets hard. And it elevates the power of man’s words over that of God’s. It also makes faith something you do, when the Bible clearly says faith part of the gift of salvation. It’s basically a form of voodoo where God can be cajoled and coerced into action. Furthermore it never takes into account the fact that life in general is hard yes, but that the Christian life is especially hard…all of Jesus disciples except one (John who wrote Revelation) died as martyrs for their faith. Several passages in the Bible offer a stark contrast to the Word-Faith message…
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Pastors like Mark Driscoll, Rick Warren, Bill Hybles and Perry Nobel who unashamedly share the stage with prosperity heretics like Joel Osteen, TD Jakes, John Hagee, Paula White, Steven Furtick, Joyce Meyer, Judah Smith, Todd Bentley, Christine Cain, Kenneth Copland, Brian Houston, Rod Parsley and Creflo Dollar (to name a few), are in violation of scripture themselves for in Second Timothy we’re told:
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.(emphasis mine)
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (emphasis mine)
The Bible actually says let him be accursed…avoid such people…I believe that any pastor who willingly gives platform to these heretics is in clear violation of scripture and have disqualified themselves of the position they hold, unless the own up to their mistakes and repent of endangering their flock.
The prosperity gospel and Word-Faith movement are a damnable lie because Gods blessing is not measurable by a persons physical prosperity. Times of difficulty and trials in our life add depth to our relationship with God, because in those times either you are truly relying on Him and not to our own understanding or if you have fallen prey to the Prosperity Gospel and Word of Faith movement you are cursing God when trials come and showing you never really trusted Him in the first place…you just wanted more stuff.
No comments:
Post a Comment