Joel Osteen

[Dennis1963]

I find the argument amusing.

I think of all the disagreements in theology we have on the Board.

What if we all called each other heretics and false teachers every time we disagreed with each other?

Whatever Graham said in the interview, he never preached that at the Crusades.

Say whatever bad things you want, the fact remains that there are more people in and who will be in Heaven because of him than the rest of us combined.

I understand Billy Graham is your hero, and it is difficult for you to accept, lots of people hold him in high esteem. But, if you listen to him you will hear it for yourself. By the way, I attended a Billy Graham crusade a few years back.

[nebula]

He is not my hero.

I'm just sick of Christians treating each other as the enemy rather than Satan and his minions.

[Dennis1963]

He is not my hero.

I'm just sick of Christians treating each other as the enemy rather than Satan and his minions.

I can understand that, but, do you think it is okay for a world known Evangelist to preach something that is not the truth? Throughout Christianity people who did not adhere to true Christian doctrine were considered heretics; is this the age of compromise? Should we just excuse certain people?

People expose themselves by what the preach and teach, we cannot turn our backs on these things, it is not safe. We are to tell it like it is, scripture never says to tiptoe around, but, to expose.

I hope you understand where I am coming from.

[nebula]

I hope you understand where I am coming from.

Someone on this board flat out confessed he believed I was demon-possessed because I revealed that I speak in tongues.

I hope you understand where I am coming from, too.

[Dennis1963]

I hope you understand where I am coming from.

Someone on this board flat out confessed he believed I was demon-possessed because I revealed that I speak in tongues.

I hope you understand where I am coming from, too.

That's a pretty harsh statement. Yes, I understand where you are coming from.

[nebula]

[Arthur Durnan]

The Holy Bible says, "Preach the WORD!" Osteen essentially talks about the joy of living & being happy. If it's the settled WORD of God in its entirety that you want, I'd much rather recommend a Charles Stanley, a Chuck Swindoll or a David Jeremiah over Osteen 1000-1. Let me know when Osteen preaches on the reality of a glorious Heaven for those know Christ as Savior (John 14:1-6), and a literal Hell (Luke 16:19-31) for those who die unsaved. Osteen represents puffery rather than biblical point-of-fact.

www.arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

[Dennis1963]

The Holy Bible says, "Preach the WORD!" Osteen essentially talks about the joy of living & being happy. If it's the settled WORD of God in its entirety that you want, I'd much rather recommend a Charles Stanley, a Chuck Swindoll or a David Jeremiah over Osteen 1000-1. Let me know when Osteen preaches on the reality of a glorious Heaven for those know Christ as Savior (John 14:1-6), and a literal Hell (Luke 16:19-31) for those who die unsaved. Osteen represents puffery rather than biblical point-of-fact.

www.arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

From the others you mentioned, I'll take Charles Stanley. I seen him preach in person up in Massachusetts.

[Massorite]

I've also seen one where they did Billy Graham the same way...................made it where he didn't say Jesus was the only way

Billy Graham is just as guilty.

sure is easy to criticize and find fault when you're not the one in the public eye, ain't it!

I do not think any of us is in the position to judge Christians who have devoted their lives to preaching the Gospel and reaching the ears of those who may not have heard. I'm sure that only God knows for sure how many people have devoted their lives to Christ and started living lives pleasing to God because of men like Billy Graham. I don't know much about Mr. Osteen or some of the others mentioned here. But I do know that it takes a special person to lay bare their hearts and souls before people who often do not believe and give them words of hope, peace, mercy and grace. Then to show them the way to Jesus. I don't know if I've reached someone in that way - I hope I've lived my life as an example of a Christian. No, I don't think any of us should too strongly criticize people who are trying to bring the Gospel to hearts in need. Blessings.

I disagree Believer. We have a responsibility to our selves and our brothers and sisters in Christ to call out those who teach/preach falsely. Jim Baker is a good case in point. Though the man has changed now and has turned against his old ways, he was once a feel good prosperity preacher who had amassed a very large empire in the name of Jesus. Did he lay himself bare? Yes! Did God use him to bring people to God? Yes He Did. Did Jim Baker preach falsely? Yes! Were there those who called him out on his false preaching? Yes, but they were considered to be wrong or lunatics and nobody wanted to hear that about such a good preacher who made everybody feel good.

Look at Jim Jones. He claimed to be a Christian too and as we all know had his own church where he preached Christ.

Some people say "So what if he isn't preaching exactly according to scripture. He is still bringing souls to the Lord." He might be bringing souls to the Lord but under false pretenses. Coming to the Lord for the wrong reasons.

How many of those who were saved because of what Jim Baker preached fell away from Christ when Mr Baker was found out to be a lier? Hundreds?Thousands?

Somebody has to make sure these guys stay in line and God appoints a few of His people to speak out and sound the alarm when false doctrine is being preached. And we all have the responsibility to check out what our preacher says to see for our selves if he is right or wrong because we all make mistakes.

To day our church is full and over flowing with false teachings and it is going to get worse before Jesus comes.

When your in the public eye you better make sure you don't mess up because hundreds of thousands of souls hear the words coming out of your mouth and if you are teaching falsely that is how many you are leading astry unless they study to be proved.

[Believer1997]

I've also seen one where they did Billy Graham the same way...................made it where he didn't say Jesus was the only way

Billy Graham is just as guilty.

sure is easy to criticize and find fault when you're not the one in the public eye, ain't it!

I do not think any of us is in the position to judge Christians who have devoted their lives to preaching the Gospel and reaching the ears of those who may not have heard. I'm sure that only God knows for sure how many people have devoted their lives to Christ and started living lives pleasing to God because of men like Billy Graham. I don't know much about Mr. Osteen or some of the others mentioned here. But I do know that it takes a special person to lay bare their hearts and souls before people who often do not believe and give them words of hope, peace, mercy and grace. Then to show them the way to Jesus. I don't know if I've reached someone in that way - I hope I've lived my life as an example of a Christian. No, I don't think any of us should too strongly criticize people who are trying to bring the Gospel to hearts in need. Blessings.

I disagree Believer. We have a responsibility to our selves and our brothers and sisters in Christ to call out those who teach/preach falsely. Jim Baker is a good case in point. Though the man has changed now and has turned against his old ways, he was once a feel good prosperity preacher who had amassed a very large empire in the name of Jesus. Did he lay himself bare? Yes! Did God use him to bring people to God? Yes He Did. Did Jim Baker preach falsely? Yes! Were there those who called him out on his false preaching? Yes, but they were considered to be wrong or lunatics and nobody wanted to hear that about such a good preacher who made everybody feel good.

Look at Jim Jones. He claimed to be a Christian too and as we all know had his own church where he preached Christ.

Some people say "So what if he isn't preaching exactly according to scripture. He is still bringing souls to the Lord." He might be bringing souls to the Lord but under false pretenses. Coming to the Lord for the wrong reasons.

How many of those who were saved because of what Jim Baker preached fell away from Christ when Mr Baker was found out to be a lier? Hundreds?Thousands?

Somebody has to make sure these guys stay in line and God appoints a few of His people to speak out and sound the alarm when false doctrine is being preached. And we all have the responsibility to check out what our preacher says to see for our selves if he is right or wrong because we all make mistakes.

To day our church is full and over flowing with false teachings and it is going to get worse before Jesus comes.

When your in the public eye you better make sure you don't mess up because hundreds of thousands of souls hear the words coming out of your mouth and if you are teaching falsely that is how many you are leading astry unless they study to be proved.

You misunderstand me, Massorite. IF someone is preaching falsehoods and not preaching the word of God in the Bible that I and this board knows and realizes as Gospel - they need to be rebuked. There are many false teachers and charlatans and you cite as example a couple of them. I complained about a false teacher new to this board recently. But there are those who do not agree with some of the positions of many different evangelists - not all of whom are preaching falsehoods. I will not condemn anyone I've not personally heard and experienced. If I hear someone preaching falsehoods - I have no compunction about rebuking the actions of that person.