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.”

Oh my, Biblical expectations reserved for false teachers.533-2 - 1 - 6

False teachers you say? There is Oprah, the diva of the new age, prosperity tele-evangelists such as Joel Osteen, promoters of the New Apostolic Reformation, the group “Christ at the Checkpoint,” and many more.

As an aside and from an older post, a quote from The Matt Walsh Blog “In more primitive times they burned heretics at the stake. Now we greet the blasphemers with applause and multi-million dollar book deals. I’m not sure if the latter response is any more enlightened than the former, but both are wrong.”

http://themattwalshblog.com/2014/09/04/joel-osteen-wife-heretics-thats-america-loves/

 Today many people want their ears tickled by tele-evangelists rather than following the clear command of Jesus; 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." Jesus warned us again and again about false teachers including Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

So what of these ravening wolves? The majority of the verses in the Bible dealing with false teachers warn against them, however, there are some real gems. lI Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 

Rather than acknowledging the finished work of Jesus, a work doctrine is often added to grace. Revelation 22:18 warns that "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." And the very frightening Revelation 22:19, "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

Why did Jude write his letter? 546 - 1 - 3

IMO, Jude’s letter was written for such a time as this and written to today’s “The Beloved.” As believers we are part of the beloved whom Jude is pressuring to “Contend Earnestly for The Faith.” Jude was writing to counter the apostasy that was occurring within the infant church and the arrival of many false teachers. As it was nearly 2000 years ago so it is today with those espousing the New Age as well as adherence to numerous cults.

Not being one to mince words, Paul had this much to say about false teachers. Galatians 1:6-8, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

"I've often heard it said that Christianity is God reaching down to man and religion is man reaching up to God through his own efforts. I would like to add that religion is man reaching out his hand procure power and financial gain.

I have often written concerning the heresies and paganism of the Roman Catholic Church as they seem to hold an individual’s soul for ransom. Through the invention of purgatory the church has lined their coffers by the sale of indulgence and repetitive masses. Add to that the heresy of the claim of superiority of the utterance from the papacy to the Word of God and the doctrine of adding works to the gift of grace from Jesus when He said "It is finished."

There is so much more that could be added concerning the false teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, however, word count will not allow it. My heart goes out to the more than 1 billion who adhere to the Catholic faith. Hopefully they are saved as were the Israelites who wandered for decades but were not allowed into the Promised Land. The Israelites lost their rewards and inheritance but not their salvation. As for the Catholics, it is for God to judge.

Mormonism with its “Law of Eternal Progression” is attempting to evangelize the world. The major heresy of Mormonism is summed up in its central theological, "As man is, God once was, and as God is, man may become; that trillions of planets scattered throughout the cosmos are ruled by countless gods who once were human like us. Elohim and one of his goddess wives came to Earth as Adam and Eve to start the human race. Thousands of years later, Elohim took on human form once again and journeyed to Earth from the star base Kolob. He had physical relations with the Virgin Mary in order to provide Jesus with a physical body.” Then there is the astounding heresy of claiming that Jesus and Lucifer were brothers.

Mormonism is quite insidious in that along with The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price they include the KJV of the Bible in their “The Complete LDS Scriptures.” Mormons refer to the Word of God and then totally disregard Revelation chapter 22. Several of the Mormons that I've spoken to consider that they are truly Christians. I suspect there’s going to be a rude awakening in their future, again it is for God to judge.

Recognizing and protecting oneself from false teachers

As an aside, a quote from The Matt Walsh Blog “In more primitive times they burned heretics at the stake. Now we greet the blasphemers with applause and multi-million dollar book deals. I’m not sure if the latter response is any more enlightened than the former, but both are wrong.”

http://themattwalshblog.com/2014/09/04/joel-osteen-wife-heretics-thats-america-loves/

Today people want their ears tickled by TV preachers like the Osteens rather than following the clear command of Jesus; 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."

Jesus warned us again and again about false teachers:

Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Mark 13:21-23, " And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christ’s and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."

Paul warns us in Acts 20:29-30, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”

And again in Hebrews 13:9, "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meat), which have not profited them that have been occupied therein."

Peter warns us in II Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

The best way identify and recognize false teachers is to study the Word and “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11. CM reminds us to be like the Bereans, Acts 17:11, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

Like the Olseens, there are many TV evangelists who promote the prosperity gospel; send money and it will be returned to you multiplied or some other such nonsense. That said, not all who preach on TV are false teachers. A couple of my favorites are David Jeremiah and Ravi Zacharias.

Law vs. grace, as in Paul’s time as today. Whether it’s today’s Catholic who combines works with the gift of salvation given us by the completed work of Jesus on the cross or it’s the person who falsely believes that salvation comes through works; both are practicing a false belief. Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Protecting one-self from false teachings and such

Hebrews 13:9, "Be not carried about with divers (G4164) and strange (G3581) doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart (G2588) be established with grace (G5485); not with meats (G1033), which have not profited them that have been occupied therein."

With thanks to Strong’s:

Divers, “Of uncertain derivation; motley, that is, various in character: - divers, manifold”

Strange, “Apparently a primary word; foreign (literally alien, or figuratively novel); by implication a guest or (vice-versa) entertainer: - host, strange”

Heart, “Prolonged from a primary κάρ kar (Latin cor, “heart”); the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle: - (+ broken-) heart (-ed).”

Grace, “From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).”

Meats, “From the base of G977; food (literally or figuratively), especially (ceremonial) articles allowed or forbidden by the Jewish law: - meat, victuals.”

Throughout his walk on earth Jesus warned against fault Christ’s and false prophets. Mark 13:21-23, " And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christ’s and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."

Acts 20:29-30, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”

We are without excuse as we have been warned by the master himself.

The best protection against false teaching is to study the Word and “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11. CM reminds to be like the Bereans, Acts 17:11, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

For a number of years I was involved peripherally in what is known as the New Age. I morphed from this to the more grounded New Thought doctrine. Through a boyfriend I was exposed to Eastern religion, specifically the Guru Sai Baba. Decades ago Sai Baba would be preaching to his devotees and would manifest gold dust, gold teeth and jewels. Much the same is being done in some circles today. Truly, there is nothing new in the New Age. I’m grateful for this exposure as it has made me very discerning. My only concern is that I may be so discerning that I could miss true miracles resulting from manifestations of the Holy Spirit.