Saturday, 3 December 2016

The Prosperity Gospel


#‎RAD #‎ATEND G-d (Christ) #‎IIC714

The Prosperity Gospel

Let's talk a little about the "Prosperity Gurus" and the allegedly false Gospel thereof, at least according to the hypocrite Pharisees, shall we... hmmm?

Consider some very rich "Pastors", such as Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, "Bishop" Edir Macedo, TD Jakes, Joel Osteen, "Pastor" E.A Adeboye, David O. Oyedepo, "Pastor" Chris Oyakhilome, Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, Kenneth Copeland & Eddie L. Long.  Which ones are false teachers and why?

Joel Osteen Denies the Gospel (Embraces Mormonism)


For the record, I maintain my stand, and my views, that criticizing a Minister (or Ministry) simply because he / she / it has a very big house, a private jet, huge church services, etc., is sadly just not cool, and indeed downright ungodly!  It ranks right up there with criticizing Obama for allegedly being a cross-dressing female only disguised as a male.  In the case of Osteen specifically, criticizing his big house, private jet o and / or yuuuuuuge church services as being ungodly… well frankly that bears as much relevance as criticizing Obama for being a cross-dresser. 

On the other hand, criticizing Obama for his presidential lacklustre performance is as valid, as is challenging Osteen's theology based on his unmitigated endorsement of Mormonism.

Sadly, Joel Osteen says (perhaps out of shear ignorance, perhaps out of blatant disregard for truth? I neither know, nor do I really care) that Mormonism is Christian.  But is it, really?


Question: "Is Mormon a true Christian?

Reply, Osteen (12 / 23 / 07) - "...well, in my mind they are..."

Continuing, Osteen goes on to clarify:

“Mitt Romney has said that he Believes* In* Christ* as his saviour, and that's what I believe..." and "...from what I've heard from Mitt when he says that 'Christ is his saviour', that's a common bond with me.”

The Mormon church is well noted for preaching a very real, living, dynamic and even vibrant personal relationship with "it", whom they call 'jesus christ'.  And based upon what can be read in Acts 8:9 - 25, with respect to a man simply known as Simon the Sorcerer or Simon the Magician, I have no doubt that the Mormons do, very much, have a very real, very dynamic personal relationship with a spirit, a 'familiar spirit' - Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27; Deuteronomy 18:9-14; and Ephesians 6:12...  I do not say this lightly, as in I take this subject matter very, very seriously.

Mormonism, by teaching that their jesus is half-brother to Lucifer, a created being, set themselves very distinctly apart from Biblical Christianity.  The Scriptures are clear, denying the deity of Christ (that is to deny that Christ is G-d) is anti-Christ. I John 2:22 & II John 1:7

Remember - "Beloved, do not believe all spirits, but be distinguishing between the spirits whether they are from God, because many false Prophets have gone out into the world." - I John 4:1, Aramaic Bible in Plain English

* “Believes In Christ!” Big deal, according to James 2:19, demons *believe* also, do you think their 'saved'?  Scripture tells us that they, the demons, shudder at the very thought of Jesus...

Continuing, in many a thread on FascistBook, a number of people have both regularly and frequently highlighted that their major concerns with Osteen (and the “prosperity teaching / gospel) are about Big Houses, Private Jets, Big Fat Bank Accounts, and / or yuuuuuuge church services, etc.  Comments have included statements like - "...preaches the gospel of prosperity..." and "...our reward is in heaven..." all with a bent towards disparaging Osteen and the others solely on the basis of their big house, big bank accounts, private jets yada, yada, yada...

Respectfully, I must disagree...

My angst, with Osteen, has nothing to do with his Big House, Private Jets, Yuuuuuuge Church Services or Big Fat Bank Accounts, etc.  Instead my odd with Osteen rests squarely on the character of he, whom Osteen claims Jesus the Christ / Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Rabbi Yeshua bar Yosef) to be... the half-brother to Lucifer, which is in agreement with what Mormonism preaches.

Again, I've heard people rag on Osteen's big house, private jets, big fat bank accounts, (heard people for years disparage Billy Graham for many of the very same kinds of reasons as Osteen has been disparaged over)...  but none of those things are truly items of substance, in terms of whether Osteen was, or was not (or is, or is not) truly a man of G-d (Christ).

The “prosperity” teachings are always the primary focus of most people's complaints.   But are they, the “prosperity teachings”, really 'False Teachings'?  Really?

Sure, Jesus told the “rich young ruler” to sell everything, and give, give, give... Matthew 19:21  – “Give everything you have to the poor”.

B U T.... but in both of the other two, of the three in total, cases wherein Jesus spoke to RICH people, He (Jesus) made no such directive!  None.  Please people, we need to get back to the heart of Jesus, and cut the crap with bogus absolutes.

Clearly, Jesus told the "rich young ruler" to sell everything, and give, Give, GIVE... But, this is just NOT the case with either Nicodemus, or Zacchaeus (two people for whom those who seem ardently opposed to the "prosperity" teachings, love to evade), who in each case neither was told - "Give everything you have to the poor"

In the case of Nicodemus, Jesus very simply said - "You must be born again." - John 3.  Yet No Where does Jesus tell Nicodemus that he needs to give up all of his earthly wealth.  No Where!

In the case of Zacchaeus, Jesus said – “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.” - And Jesus said these words on the heals of Zacchaeus saying – “Look, I'll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I'll pay back four times as much!” Luke 19:8 – 9, yet again… Jesus said NOTHING of Zacchaeus having to give up ALL of his earthly wealth.  If fact, it was not even Jesus who ‘directed’ Zacchaeus to give up half…

Christ looks at our hearts, not at our means or lack thereof.

So much for G-d (Christ) hating RICH folk...

So then, what is the problem with Osteen?

Again, bitching, moaning and bellie-aching about Osteen's big house, private jets and big fat bank accounts, etc., just does not make the grade. So what does then?  Consider this, the character of the Jesus that Osteen preaches.

By preaching that the Mormon church is - "just as Christian as any other Christian church" - and by claiming that Mormonism preaches the same jesus as Biblical Christianity, Osteen exposes not only his own personal ignorance, and / or his error of judgment, about WHO Christ is, but frankly he also preaches heresy!

The Jesus of the Biblical texts is G-d, incarnate.  And G-d (Christ) wants a living, vibrant and dynamic relationship with His followers.  Christ is NOT 'a god' (JW-ism), not a deified man (Mormonism), not a demi-god (Mormonism), and certainly NOT a created being, who is a half-brother to Lucifer (as both the Mormons and JW’s effectively teach, to one degree or another).

So please understand, and understand very, very clearly.  Yes, I have issues with Osteen and his "christian" preaching.  I do.  But please also know this, my angst has nothing to do with his Big House, Private Jets, Yuuuuuuge Church Services or Big Fat Bank Accounts, etc..  Instead my odd with Osteen rests squarely on the character of he, whom Osteen claims Jesus the Christ to be... half-brother to Lucifer.

“No Jesus, NO peace” and yet, “Know Jesus, KNOW peace”

How does one get to “know” Jesus?  Simple, invite Him into your heart, as Jesus says: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” [Revelation 3:20 NIV]  How can be assured that this Jesus stuff means anything?  Well because the Bible tells us so, as the Apostle Paul wrote:

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” [Romans 10:9-10 NIV]

And for those of you who say to me, I can’t be bothered reading the Bible, “it’s confusing” or “it’s a waste of my time”, may I draw your attention to what the Bible says about wisdom: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” [Proverbs 9:10 NIV]

If nothing else, PLEASE read two chapters from the Bible – (don’t own one, sorry NO excuse, if you’re reading this, you can access this: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16&version=NIV) John 3 and John 14!

John 3:16 says:  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

And John 14:6 says: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Well that’s it, that’s Da Bauz’s take on “The Prosperity Gospel”, this 3rd, day of December, 2016 © 2016, All Rights Reserved. wr (Da Bauz, Christian Zionist “creationist” too!)

Just sayin’...

Shalom, pray for the peace of Jerusalem...

What is #RAD? #RAD is:

R epent of rejecting Christ
A ccept Christ as your Lord
D evelop your relationship with G-d

#RAD your relationship with the Living Almighty God Himself as your personal Lord and Saviour depends on it!

What is #ATEND G-d (Christ)?  Ask me!

What is #IIC714?

II 2nd
C hronicles
7:14

John 3:16, Revelation 3:20, Romans 10:9 -10, Revelation 21:27, II Corinthians 5:21 and I John 5:13 / John 20:31!

Shalom

Cited or consulted sources and resources


[1] – “Joel Osteen Denies the Gospel (Embraces Mormonism)”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FNvNhq-brs&feature=youtu.be  

[2] – “Joel Osteen says Mormon are true Christians”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmL28JB3mBc&app=desktop   

http://bit.ly/1kliLwA - “Bible Hub”

http://bit.ly/1kliTMD - “BibleGateway”

http://bit.ly/1MzWhEQ - “Bible.org”


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