Joel Osteen and Hurrican Harvey 515-1 - 2 - 8

I've written before about false prophets/ teachers and had no intentions of doing so this week, however, Joel Osteen has been getting quite a bit of publicity over the question did he or did he not refuse shelter to victims of hurricane Harvey. One Facebook story reads that he cruised by in his luxurious yacht handing out copies of his various books. No doubt fake news. Other theories are that his church is under water and therefore could not accommodate anyone. Others say that he told people to have faith.

The reason I became interested in this discussion is that a California cousin wrote this, “Not true. Commie leftists have been trying to ruin Osteen for years.” My California cousin is a conservative but very much into the New Age; a good witnessing opportunity. I replied, “I would expect the left gives no thought to Joel Osteen. Kimberly, Jesus is quoted in Luke 9:23, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

Sadly, this is a far less comforting message than that of the prosperity televangelists who appeal to those Paul warned of in the last days, pretty much where we presently are: 2 Timothy 4:3-4, "3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." No reply from my cousin, however, she has not unfriended me on Facebook.

Joel Osteen and his ilk are 180 degrees away from denying oneself and taking up one’s cross. These are the many professing to be ambassadors for God who misrepresent His Word. The “name it and claim it” prosperity televangelists are leading thousand down the wide path that leads to destruction.”

I’ve shared this before but once more:

WATCH DEMONS WORK - LIVE IN CHURCH!

“Don't believe DEMONS are in the Church? Watch! 2 Cor 11:15; Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

This video is a montage of telemarketing hustle from April 28, 2013

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsxcaG4Myyk&list=RDIsxcaG4Myyk]

Many of the televangelism preachers have gone the “Way of Balaam”:

2 Peter 2:15, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;” Very descriptive today’s mega-churches leaders.

In his following the way of Balaam, Joel Osteen’s has a net worth of 40 million.

[http://net-worths.org/joel-osteen-net-worth/]

Again, this is 180 degrees from the servant humility of Jesus. There is something of an equivalency between the victims of Hurricane Harvey and Luke 9:58, “And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”