I visited a blog of a girl I went to high school with and cringed at her posts for Obama. I’m not talking about the fact that she supports him (as I’ve supported specific political decisions and candidates in the past like Ron Paul and the marriage amendment in North Dakota a couple years ago). What bothered me was her statement on election night – “I am excited to see what the next four years will bring. It won’t be easy, I’m sure, but now there is HOPE.” [capitals hers] What bothers me about that is people are constantly putting their hope in politicians, their homes, or money. We’ve all seen in recent months and years that to do just that is a foolish thing to do—our hope should be in Christ Jesus.
She raved over the fact that all the states she’s ever lived in carried Obama for electoral votes last week, and even has a post about how people need to join with the others in California to protest the passage of Proposition 8 (which happens to define marriage as being between 1 man and 1 woman). To quote her, she says, “Be a marriage ninja and join people across the country this Saturday to protest the passing of Prop 8 in Cal…”
Interestingly enough I saw a bumper sticker on the back of a car a couple months ago for the local Christian radio station in the Fargo area. However, there were about 20 other bumper stickers on the same car that were pro-gay propaganda—one of which said, “Love the heterosexual, hate the sin” as if to say that people that believe in the sanctity of marriage are the ones who are wrong in thinking so. I admit it was probably meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but no matter what it’s meant to symbolize, it was very inappropriate. This same care also had lots of Equality stickers on it which is just a blue sticker with a yellow equals symbol. The logo of a national equality organization that is pro-gay. I’m all for equality, but under the rules God has laid out for us. Anything but the rules God lays out for us is not equality at all.
I also read yesterday about a church in Lansing, Michigan that was barraged by protesters during the worship service with people chanting, “Jesus was gay,” and other inappropriate messages and demonstrations at the pulpit and throughout the congregation. Wonderfully enough, after all of the protestors departed (apparently all running out of the church and hopping in their cars before the police arrived), the pastor led the church in prayer not for revenge or justice, but that each and every one of those people would find a saving relationship with Christ. How cool is that?!
I also read today that many buses in Washington, DC, starting next week, will have an ad campaign on the side proclaiming, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake.” The American Humanist Association unveiled the $40,000 ad campaign yesterday, set to run through the holidays. I also read a couple weeks ago that the UK’s version of this association is doing something similar on buses in London (and perhaps all over big cities in the UK).
Finally, new news today is that in the wake of fallout from Proposition 8 in California, a judge paved the way today for “gay marriage” to be legal immediately in the state of Connecticut. People are already heading to City Hall in New Haven to get licenses and get married.
All I can say is that I’m beginning to understand why so much of this is happening in the US. God is turning the US over to its own selfish desires because we’ve turned out backs on God time and time again. He promised this would happen in His Word!
We’ve kicked Him out of our schools, but invited in evolution, safe sex campaigns and pushy high self-esteem teaching. The result? Children who are out having sex, teenage mothers, continued turning away from Christ in the teaching of evolution’s propaganda message, and kids that have no respect for authority because they’re taught that they should make their own decisions that they can’t hurt anybody if they’re only doing something to their own lives.
We’ve kicked Him out of our government and courts. The result? We have a government that shuns public servants who bow their knees to Christ and make them look illogical and ignorant. We have a society that forces judges to remove the 10 Commandments from their buildings and determine right from wrong based on legislation and opinion, and not God’s standards which have stood the test of time.
We’ve kicked Him out of our churches in fact in many cases, inviting in agendas that feed the poor and heal the sick, but don’t do anything that impacts a person’s eternity. We have churches that believe in cultist practices like the Eucharist and refuse to discuss prophecy and hell—interestingly enough those are the churches that are packed with thousands every Sunday—Bill Hybels’ Willow Creek Church, Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, and Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church.
God is crying out to us to return to Him, America just refuses to see it. Change is certainly coming to America, I’m just not sure it’s the change anyone really wants.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Catching Up - 8/29/08 - Update on the False Lakeland Revival
Instead of writing my own update on this, I thought I'd copy and paste Jan Markell's note from Olive Tree Ministries. I don't want to boast on Mr Bentley's failure, because I don't wish marriages to fail on anyone. I think the post below says it best--
(Note from Jan: Pastor Chris Elrod, Sr. Pastor, Compass Point Church, Lakeland, Florida, sums up the Todd Bentley scenario. None of us who were sounding warnings take delight in this closure. Yet we are relieved that fewer will now be harmed by another "counterfeit revival." - Jan Markell)
As I was on my way home from South Carolina last Thursday night, I got "the call." My friend and fellow Lakeland pastor let me know that the news about Todd Bentley -- the news that had circulated around Lakeland for weeks -- was finally about to break. For months it had been rumor with very little hard facts to back it up. Local church leaders had been hearing things about Todd and Ignited Church that caused us to question even more the validity of the "revival."
Then the truth began to come out bit by bit, first to Lakeland and then to the world, and now Todd's wife was in Canada getting help while he was "floating around" the United States trying to get his head together. Yes, Todd was legally separating from his wife. Yes, there was another woman involved. Yes, this was not the first time Todd had been involved with another woman.
Yes, Todd and Ignited Church had failed to address concerns -- many being voiced by their own denomination and people who support such outpourings -- about the heresy being preached and displayed at the "revival." Yes, there was not one single medical document to prove that any healing had actually taken place.
As the fallout continues and more facts are beginning to emerge about everyone involved with this mess, I have begun to ask myself some pretty hard questions. Did I handle this correctly?
When the first news began to break around here about Todd, healings, and the revival, I went to see it for myself. In all, I attended four separate "revival" meetings over a two-month period. I also watched countless hours of the events on the Internet. I witnessed Todd hollering "BAM" a lot. I witnessed "verification teams" in the parking lot carefully choosing people deemed candidates for "healing" while turning many others down. I watched ushers push ill children away from the stage area because they had not been preapproved for "healing."
I heard stories about pixie-dust-spreading angels and conversations with the Apostles in some abstract heavenly cabin. I saw leg drops, high kicks, head punches, and every other Wrestlemania cliche under the sun. I heard anonymous crazy stories about people being healed and others being raised from the dead. I heard and saw many strange things -- but nothing that even remotely kept with sound doctrine. Every biblical-discerning bone in my body showed me that there was nothing going on at the "revival" that was in keeping with God's Word.
I began to speak out against the revival, Todd, and Ignited Church, to our people. Mainly it was through our Journey Groups, one-on-one conversations, phone calls, and e-mails. However, I was advised by several other pastors not to speak out against it publicly because "I might be speaking against something that God is actually doing" (I wasn't questioning God -- I was questioning Todd). I never addressed it from the pulpit because our podcast is heard by hundreds of people all over the world. I never blogged about it because I get a 1,000+ hits on a normal day.
I dodged the questions about the revival in recent radio interviews I did in other parts of the United States. Finally, I refused to answer the hundreds of e-mails I got about the "revival" from other folks all over the world. In essence, I protected my flock from the three-ring circus and hoopla but did nothing to protect the Body of Christ as a whole.
Hindsight they say is 20/20. It now turns out that all of the rumors were true. It now turns out that the scriptural discernment was correct. It now turns out that this was the same craziness without accountability that the leadership of the sponsoring church is known for. The three-ring circus has been packed up, the tents have been taken down, and the moral failure has been announced. Everyone involved is pushing back, and thousands of hurting people are left questioning God and their salvation.
The question that I now have to ask myself and the question that will haunt me for quite a while is this. Did I sit on the sidelines while the playing field burned? Should have I blogged about it and spoken out about it publicly -- done more to get the word out to the rest of the world that this whole thing was about Todd and not God? I took care of my own house -- but should I have done more to take care of the entire neighborhood?
Charismatic leader Dutch Sheets also humbled himself stating, "My assignment from the Lord is to repent on behalf of the leadership of the Charismatic Body of Christ. We have failed the Lord and His people in many ways. We must repent if we are to be trusted in the future. We, the leaders of the Charismatic community, have operated in an extremely low level of discernment. Frankly, we often don't even try to discern. We assume a person's credibility based on gifts, charisma, whether they can prophesy, or work a miracle."
NOTE FROM JAN: I am glad that these two leaders have been brave enough to speak out. Let's hope that many other leaders will follow in their steps and lead their followers to test ALL things and not just follow every wind of doctrine.
Remember to pray for Todd and his family.
(Note from Jan: Pastor Chris Elrod, Sr. Pastor, Compass Point Church, Lakeland, Florida, sums up the Todd Bentley scenario. None of us who were sounding warnings take delight in this closure. Yet we are relieved that fewer will now be harmed by another "counterfeit revival." - Jan Markell)
As I was on my way home from South Carolina last Thursday night, I got "the call." My friend and fellow Lakeland pastor let me know that the news about Todd Bentley -- the news that had circulated around Lakeland for weeks -- was finally about to break. For months it had been rumor with very little hard facts to back it up. Local church leaders had been hearing things about Todd and Ignited Church that caused us to question even more the validity of the "revival."
Then the truth began to come out bit by bit, first to Lakeland and then to the world, and now Todd's wife was in Canada getting help while he was "floating around" the United States trying to get his head together. Yes, Todd was legally separating from his wife. Yes, there was another woman involved. Yes, this was not the first time Todd had been involved with another woman.
Yes, Todd and Ignited Church had failed to address concerns -- many being voiced by their own denomination and people who support such outpourings -- about the heresy being preached and displayed at the "revival." Yes, there was not one single medical document to prove that any healing had actually taken place.
As the fallout continues and more facts are beginning to emerge about everyone involved with this mess, I have begun to ask myself some pretty hard questions. Did I handle this correctly?
When the first news began to break around here about Todd, healings, and the revival, I went to see it for myself. In all, I attended four separate "revival" meetings over a two-month period. I also watched countless hours of the events on the Internet. I witnessed Todd hollering "BAM" a lot. I witnessed "verification teams" in the parking lot carefully choosing people deemed candidates for "healing" while turning many others down. I watched ushers push ill children away from the stage area because they had not been preapproved for "healing."
I heard stories about pixie-dust-spreading angels and conversations with the Apostles in some abstract heavenly cabin. I saw leg drops, high kicks, head punches, and every other Wrestlemania cliche under the sun. I heard anonymous crazy stories about people being healed and others being raised from the dead. I heard and saw many strange things -- but nothing that even remotely kept with sound doctrine. Every biblical-discerning bone in my body showed me that there was nothing going on at the "revival" that was in keeping with God's Word.
I began to speak out against the revival, Todd, and Ignited Church, to our people. Mainly it was through our Journey Groups, one-on-one conversations, phone calls, and e-mails. However, I was advised by several other pastors not to speak out against it publicly because "I might be speaking against something that God is actually doing" (I wasn't questioning God -- I was questioning Todd). I never addressed it from the pulpit because our podcast is heard by hundreds of people all over the world. I never blogged about it because I get a 1,000+ hits on a normal day.
I dodged the questions about the revival in recent radio interviews I did in other parts of the United States. Finally, I refused to answer the hundreds of e-mails I got about the "revival" from other folks all over the world. In essence, I protected my flock from the three-ring circus and hoopla but did nothing to protect the Body of Christ as a whole.
Hindsight they say is 20/20. It now turns out that all of the rumors were true. It now turns out that the scriptural discernment was correct. It now turns out that this was the same craziness without accountability that the leadership of the sponsoring church is known for. The three-ring circus has been packed up, the tents have been taken down, and the moral failure has been announced. Everyone involved is pushing back, and thousands of hurting people are left questioning God and their salvation.
The question that I now have to ask myself and the question that will haunt me for quite a while is this. Did I sit on the sidelines while the playing field burned? Should have I blogged about it and spoken out about it publicly -- done more to get the word out to the rest of the world that this whole thing was about Todd and not God? I took care of my own house -- but should I have done more to take care of the entire neighborhood?
Charismatic leader Dutch Sheets also humbled himself stating, "My assignment from the Lord is to repent on behalf of the leadership of the Charismatic Body of Christ. We have failed the Lord and His people in many ways. We must repent if we are to be trusted in the future. We, the leaders of the Charismatic community, have operated in an extremely low level of discernment. Frankly, we often don't even try to discern. We assume a person's credibility based on gifts, charisma, whether they can prophesy, or work a miracle."
NOTE FROM JAN: I am glad that these two leaders have been brave enough to speak out. Let's hope that many other leaders will follow in their steps and lead their followers to test ALL things and not just follow every wind of doctrine.
Remember to pray for Todd and his family.
Catching Up - 8/26/08 - I'm on My Soapbox Again! This Time it's About Abortion
I haven't watched the second hour yet, it's still sitting on our DVR, but I watched the first hour of the Saddleback Civil Forum where Pastor Rick Warren interviewed Barak Obama and John McCain individually. It took place on 8/16 and was shown on CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN, FoxNews, PBS, and a few other channels.
Warren has already proven he is out more for political gain than leading people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and he threw a lot of softball questions to make Obama look good.
The part that made me most angry is when asked when a baby gets human rights Obama replied that the decision was out of his pay grade and proceeded to inform the audience he was pro-choice not because he's "pro-abortion" but because he knows it’s not an easy decision that women make. Later in the interview, Obama mentioned that the US should work to end genocide in other nations. Well, I ask then—what abortion is called? Isn’t it the extermination of unwanted life? Isn’t that genocide?
Abortion means the end of a child’s life. It’s that simple. It’s not about the privacy of what a person can do with their own body. Our way of life is murder the children but by all means let’s make sure we don’t use too many bags at the grocery store. In the words of a Casting Crowns song, "We are sung to sleep by philosophies of 'save the trees' and 'kill the children.'"
For those that believe a woman has the right to choose, what about that baby’s right to live? Even if it’s a right to choose, does that make it right? I have a right to be a drunk, but that's doesn't make it right. Is there any question that it’s a human growing inside that womb? You can’t scientifically argue that it’s anything other than a human being, so why don’t they deserve human rights?
I looked up North Dakota’s abortion statistics on the state’s official web site. In 2006 the local “clinic” in Fargo killed 1298 children. That works out to be a little more than 24 per week. Since the legalization of abortion, the US has exterminated more than 40 million children, with less than 1% because of health problems of the mother or rape. Who will speak up for the truth here?
There are times that I can't sleep on Wednesday nights because I know that Thursday is abortion day at the Fargo abortion "clinic." It's difficult for me to go to work just a stone's throw from that building where 20+ women each Thursday go to "terminate their pregnancies."
Pardon me for being rude, but we are a selfish nation, and we need to wake up and return to the truth.
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).
Warren has already proven he is out more for political gain than leading people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and he threw a lot of softball questions to make Obama look good.
The part that made me most angry is when asked when a baby gets human rights Obama replied that the decision was out of his pay grade and proceeded to inform the audience he was pro-choice not because he's "pro-abortion" but because he knows it’s not an easy decision that women make. Later in the interview, Obama mentioned that the US should work to end genocide in other nations. Well, I ask then—what abortion is called? Isn’t it the extermination of unwanted life? Isn’t that genocide?
Abortion means the end of a child’s life. It’s that simple. It’s not about the privacy of what a person can do with their own body. Our way of life is murder the children but by all means let’s make sure we don’t use too many bags at the grocery store. In the words of a Casting Crowns song, "We are sung to sleep by philosophies of 'save the trees' and 'kill the children.'"
For those that believe a woman has the right to choose, what about that baby’s right to live? Even if it’s a right to choose, does that make it right? I have a right to be a drunk, but that's doesn't make it right. Is there any question that it’s a human growing inside that womb? You can’t scientifically argue that it’s anything other than a human being, so why don’t they deserve human rights?
I looked up North Dakota’s abortion statistics on the state’s official web site. In 2006 the local “clinic” in Fargo killed 1298 children. That works out to be a little more than 24 per week. Since the legalization of abortion, the US has exterminated more than 40 million children, with less than 1% because of health problems of the mother or rape. Who will speak up for the truth here?
There are times that I can't sleep on Wednesday nights because I know that Thursday is abortion day at the Fargo abortion "clinic." It's difficult for me to go to work just a stone's throw from that building where 20+ women each Thursday go to "terminate their pregnancies."
Pardon me for being rude, but we are a selfish nation, and we need to wake up and return to the truth.
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).
Catching Up - 8/7/08 - The Favre Drama Is Over!
Last night Brett Favre was officially traded to the New York Jets for a conditional draft pick. Apparently the deal says that the most snaps Favre takes in games, as well as the better the Jets do, the higher the draft pick the Packers get. That isn’t bad for a 38 (soon to be 39)-year-old quarterback that might not last the whole season if he realizes he doesn’t have the desire to play half-way through.
I’m a big Brett Favre fan as you all know, but I’m an even bigger Green Bay Packers fan. I’m happy to see the soap opera drama be done for a while, and unless the Packers and Jets reach the Superbowl this year, the Packers will never have to face their old QB (unless Favre plays more than 1 year).
Favre called it quits and the Packers moved on. Then after the Packers made all the financial and draft decisions based on not having him available to play, and also not having his $12 million per year salary hurting their salary cap, he wanted to play. So if the Packers would have welcomed him back, they’d not only risk having salary cap issues, but also risked alienating many of it’s players, including Aaron Rogers who could easily jump ship because of the situation if he’d wanted to. After all, the Packers completely changed their offensive scheme to match up with Rogers’ strengths and it wasn’t a standard West Coast Offense that Favre plays best in. It’s too late for the Packers to go back to the old offense, and even if there would have been a challenge for the starting job, there would have been huge division in the lockerroom.
I think the Packers did what was best for not only the immediate success of the team, but for the long-term success. What this a pretty issue to deal with and an easy solution? No. Did I or most other fans want to see Brett Favre in another team’s uniform? No. But what’s done is done.
Go Packers! I hope Favre does well too, but not at the expense of the Packers.
Catching Up - 8/4/08 - Beware of Todd Bentley!
Wow… We have another false prophet among us and his name is Todd Bentley. In spite of what this man says, these “revivals” he does is NOT from God. And if it’s not from God, who can it be from? There’s only one alternative!
What Todd Bentley does and teaches is simply based on “transference,” the demonic act of transferring an anointing that Exodus 30 condemns. Just simply go to You Tube and search for a video titled “Todd Bentley – Not Drunk As You Would Suppose” and you’ll see first hand this man’s unbiblical teaching and preaching. The odd head bobbing and uncontrollable laughter is one thing, but when he performs his “transfer” of anointing for healing is even sicker.
Look throu
gh other videos linked to this one and you’ll see him say with his own lips and you can hear with your own ears his teaching of doctrines of demons—professing that he has discussions with an angel named Emma (there is no angel named Emma in the Bible) and stating that he “healed” a woman by kicking her in the face with his boot (Jesus, Paul, Timothy, or the disciples never anywhere in the Bible healed in a violent manner).
A few weeks ago, ABC News had a special on their Nightline show about Bentley and this so-called “Lakeland Revival.” They reported on a boy that had a medical condition that couldn’t walk very well. The boy went up to the front for “healing” and apparently was healed. However, moments after the “revival meeting” was finished, the boy could barely stand. The boy also continued to attend many other meetings in Lakeland hoping for additional healing, but continues to have difficulty walking and standing. All I can say is that when the power of the Holy Spirit performed healing in the Bible, it was complete healing 100% of the time. Jesus didn’t do a partial job to allow a person to remain with part of their handicap.
A local church in downtown Fargo is playing the web-casts of the “Bentley revivals” from god.tv. All I can say is that people need to beware of these false signs and wonders.
For more info, see the following links for great information on this—
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/bentley.htm
http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/spirituality/lighthousetrails/08/8-bentley-dalai-warren.htm
What Todd Bentley does and teaches is simply based on “transference,” the demonic act of transferring an anointing that Exodus 30 condemns. Just simply go to You Tube and search for a video titled “Todd Bentley – Not Drunk As You Would Suppose” and you’ll see first hand this man’s unbiblical teaching and preaching. The odd head bobbing and uncontrollable laughter is one thing, but when he performs his “transfer” of anointing for healing is even sicker.
Look throu
gh other videos linked to this one and you’ll see him say with his own lips and you can hear with your own ears his teaching of doctrines of demons—professing that he has discussions with an angel named Emma (there is no angel named Emma in the Bible) and stating that he “healed” a woman by kicking her in the face with his boot (Jesus, Paul, Timothy, or the disciples never anywhere in the Bible healed in a violent manner).A few weeks ago, ABC News had a special on their Nightline show about Bentley and this so-called “Lakeland Revival.” They reported on a boy that had a medical condition that couldn’t walk very well. The boy went up to the front for “healing” and apparently was healed. However, moments after the “revival meeting” was finished, the boy could barely stand. The boy also continued to attend many other meetings in Lakeland hoping for additional healing, but continues to have difficulty walking and standing. All I can say is that when the power of the Holy Spirit performed healing in the Bible, it was complete healing 100% of the time. Jesus didn’t do a partial job to allow a person to remain with part of their handicap.
A local church in downtown Fargo is playing the web-casts of the “Bentley revivals” from god.tv. All I can say is that people need to beware of these false signs and wonders.
For more info, see the following links for great information on this—
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/bentley.htm
http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/spirituality/lighthousetrails/08/8-bentley-dalai-warren.htm
Catching Up - 4/28/08 - Clarifying My Soapbox Position, Part 2
Here is part 2 of my attempt to clarify my statements made earlier about false teachers—
Joel Osteen: This man said in an interview with Larry King when asked if Jews or Muslims needed to believe in Christ in order to go to heaven he said, “I’m very careful about saying who would and wouldn’t go to heaven. I don’t know.”
He doesn’t know? How can he lead a mega-church in Houston of over 30,000 attendees per weekend and not know the answer to that question? Jesus specifically states, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). It doesn’t get any plainer than that.
On a lighter note, while reading through the transcript on-line of Osteen’s interview on Larry King’s show, I saw that a caller had called in from Hillsboro, Wisconsin. I thought that was interesting. Sadly, here’s what Osteen had to say—
KING: Hillsboro, Wisconsin with Joel Osteen. Hello.
CALLER: Good evening. Joel, I had the privilege a year ago February of attending Lakewood and got a chance to meet you, and it was really a wonderful experience. My question is, I was just in a conversation with a friend recently, and he said he believed that Lucifer was going to be the last one to enter heaven after the rapture because he believed that god is a forgiving god, and even Lucifer will be forgiven. And that just blew me away. And I wondered what your thought would be on that.
OSTEEN: That sounds odd to me. I've never heard that. And it sounds very off-the-wall to me. So...
KING: I asked Reverend Graham if God loves the devil. Didn't -- couldn't -- he'd never been asked it before.
OSTEEN: I never thought of it either. I don't know.
KING: He loves everything. Does he love...
OSTEEN: I don't know. I'll leave that for Dr. Graham.
So here Osteen has the perfect opportunity to set the caller, and King, straight. But instead just dodges the question. Anyone who would be a leader of any sized church should know that Lucifer, Satan, whatever you call him, WILL NOT be in heaven. He’ll be thrown into the lake of fire during the final judgment according to Revelation 20:10. We see here that Joel’s eschatology is just as bad as his overall theology. Why didn’t he answer this and inform the caller of God’s truth? Does he not consider this important? Does he not want to set them straight or not have the ability?
What about his book, “Your Best Life Now”? Catchy title, but what’s inside? I’ve never read it, so can’t comment on much with exception to the fact that he preaches clearly the “prosperity gospel” in it, which is also part of his many sermons. The basic premise is that you can have heaven on earth. This breeds nothing but greediness and selfishness, which is pretty much the same gospel that Joyce Meyers preaches.
One last item for this post, on 12/23/07, Osteen was a guest of Chris Wallace’s on Fox News. Chris asks the question, “And what about Mitt Romney?... Is a Mormon a true Christian?” Osteen answers, “Well, in my mind they are. Mitt Romney has said he believes in Christ as his savior, and that’s what I believe… I am not the one to judge the little details of it. So I believe they are.”
Well, the Christ that Mitt Romney believes in, according to Mormon teaching, was the half-brother of Lucifer. That’s NOT what the Bible teaches. I don’t think that’s a “little detail,” but instead allows a false gospel to be brought in.
There’s no doubt that Osteen is a false teacher. Whether he’s aware that he’s teaching a false gospel or not I don’t know. But considering the number of people that have rebuked him, both publicly and privately, citing the proper evidence, you’d think that if he didn’t already know he’s doing something wrong, he would now. So, either he’s still oblivious to the damage he’s doing to well-intentioned people, or he knows what he’s doing. The only other alternative is he’s crazy.
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).
People like this are plentiful in America, and around the world.
Joel Osteen: This man said in an interview with Larry King when asked if Jews or Muslims needed to believe in Christ in order to go to heaven he said, “I’m very careful about saying who would and wouldn’t go to heaven. I don’t know.”
He doesn’t know? How can he lead a mega-church in Houston of over 30,000 attendees per weekend and not know the answer to that question? Jesus specifically states, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). It doesn’t get any plainer than that.
On a lighter note, while reading through the transcript on-line of Osteen’s interview on Larry King’s show, I saw that a caller had called in from Hillsboro, Wisconsin. I thought that was interesting. Sadly, here’s what Osteen had to say—
KING: Hillsboro, Wisconsin with Joel Osteen. Hello.
CALLER: Good evening. Joel, I had the privilege a year ago February of attending Lakewood and got a chance to meet you, and it was really a wonderful experience. My question is, I was just in a conversation with a friend recently, and he said he believed that Lucifer was going to be the last one to enter heaven after the rapture because he believed that god is a forgiving god, and even Lucifer will be forgiven. And that just blew me away. And I wondered what your thought would be on that.
OSTEEN: That sounds odd to me. I've never heard that. And it sounds very off-the-wall to me. So...
KING: I asked Reverend Graham if God loves the devil. Didn't -- couldn't -- he'd never been asked it before.
OSTEEN: I never thought of it either. I don't know.
KING: He loves everything. Does he love...
OSTEEN: I don't know. I'll leave that for Dr. Graham.
So here Osteen has the perfect opportunity to set the caller, and King, straight. But instead just dodges the question. Anyone who would be a leader of any sized church should know that Lucifer, Satan, whatever you call him, WILL NOT be in heaven. He’ll be thrown into the lake of fire during the final judgment according to Revelation 20:10. We see here that Joel’s eschatology is just as bad as his overall theology. Why didn’t he answer this and inform the caller of God’s truth? Does he not consider this important? Does he not want to set them straight or not have the ability?
What about his book, “Your Best Life Now”? Catchy title, but what’s inside? I’ve never read it, so can’t comment on much with exception to the fact that he preaches clearly the “prosperity gospel” in it, which is also part of his many sermons. The basic premise is that you can have heaven on earth. This breeds nothing but greediness and selfishness, which is pretty much the same gospel that Joyce Meyers preaches.
One last item for this post, on 12/23/07, Osteen was a guest of Chris Wallace’s on Fox News. Chris asks the question, “And what about Mitt Romney?... Is a Mormon a true Christian?” Osteen answers, “Well, in my mind they are. Mitt Romney has said he believes in Christ as his savior, and that’s what I believe… I am not the one to judge the little details of it. So I believe they are.”
Well, the Christ that Mitt Romney believes in, according to Mormon teaching, was the half-brother of Lucifer. That’s NOT what the Bible teaches. I don’t think that’s a “little detail,” but instead allows a false gospel to be brought in.
There’s no doubt that Osteen is a false teacher. Whether he’s aware that he’s teaching a false gospel or not I don’t know. But considering the number of people that have rebuked him, both publicly and privately, citing the proper evidence, you’d think that if he didn’t already know he’s doing something wrong, he would now. So, either he’s still oblivious to the damage he’s doing to well-intentioned people, or he knows what he’s doing. The only other alternative is he’s crazy.
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).
People like this are plentiful in America, and around the world.
Catching Up - 4/16/08 - Clarifying My Soapbox Position
Sarah showed me that I need to describe what I mean when I named the two names of false teachers like I did in my last post—and she’s right. So, I’ll do that here. It’ll take a little to explain, so I’ll talk about one person per post.
Rick Warren: This is a man who has been asked to speak at the UN, and even has his own plan for peace, which he presented to the UN, but it never mentions Christ.
He also is the author of The Purpose Driven Life, which is based upon successful business principles employed by his mentor, Peter Drucker, not the Bible. Verses from the Bible are selected to support the business model that Warren uses, many taken out of context.
In the book Warren quotes a scripture after leading people through a relatively vague prayer to ask Jesus to come into their life. To back his assertion that all who pray that prayer are automatically transformed by the Holy Spirit, he quotes a phrase from a "scripture" from “The Message,” a paraphrased Bible translation by Eugene Peterson that promises, "Whoever accepts and trust the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever!" (John 3:36a).
Unfortunately, Warren doesn’t even quote the whole scripture, just the “good” part, if you can call “The Message” a Bible at all. The NIV says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” Warren totally leaves out the acknowledgement of sin, which is essential to true repentance when accepting Christ as Lord.
He also deliberately changes the Word of God and teaches a different gospel. He said at a TED conference, “Did you know that God smiles when you be you? Some people have the misguided idea that God only gets excited when you're doing “spiritual things” like going to church or helping the poor or confessing or doing something like that. The bottom line is that God gets pleasure watching you be you. Why? He made you. And when you do what you were made to do He says, ‘That’s my boy!’, ‘That’s my girl!’”
I’d be interested to know where God says this in the Bible.
Whether Rick is a believer in Christ is between he and God, but Matthew 7 tells us we'll know false teachers by their fruits. He may have good intentions, and may very well be leading some people to a genuine saving faith in Christ, but he is also leading thousands, perhaps millions astray. The evidence speaks for itself. He uses his many versions of the Bible to support his "purpose." His eschatology just doesn't add up to what the Bible says.
Next post--Joel Osteen.
Rick Warren: This is a man who has been asked to speak at the UN, and even has his own plan for peace, which he presented to the UN, but it never mentions Christ.
He also is the author of The Purpose Driven Life, which is based upon successful business principles employed by his mentor, Peter Drucker, not the Bible. Verses from the Bible are selected to support the business model that Warren uses, many taken out of context.
In the book Warren quotes a scripture after leading people through a relatively vague prayer to ask Jesus to come into their life. To back his assertion that all who pray that prayer are automatically transformed by the Holy Spirit, he quotes a phrase from a "scripture" from “The Message,” a paraphrased Bible translation by Eugene Peterson that promises, "Whoever accepts and trust the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever!" (John 3:36a).Unfortunately, Warren doesn’t even quote the whole scripture, just the “good” part, if you can call “The Message” a Bible at all. The NIV says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” Warren totally leaves out the acknowledgement of sin, which is essential to true repentance when accepting Christ as Lord.
He also deliberately changes the Word of God and teaches a different gospel. He said at a TED conference, “Did you know that God smiles when you be you? Some people have the misguided idea that God only gets excited when you're doing “spiritual things” like going to church or helping the poor or confessing or doing something like that. The bottom line is that God gets pleasure watching you be you. Why? He made you. And when you do what you were made to do He says, ‘That’s my boy!’, ‘That’s my girl!’”
I’d be interested to know where God says this in the Bible.
Whether Rick is a believer in Christ is between he and God, but Matthew 7 tells us we'll know false teachers by their fruits. He may have good intentions, and may very well be leading some people to a genuine saving faith in Christ, but he is also leading thousands, perhaps millions astray. The evidence speaks for itself. He uses his many versions of the Bible to support his "purpose." His eschatology just doesn't add up to what the Bible says.
Next post--Joel Osteen.
Catching Up - 3/28/08 - I'm on My Soapbox Again
Okay, so it’s time for me to get on my soapbox for a while—
It bothers me that we celebrate Easter when we do. Christ was crucified at the time of the Jewish Passover. So why don’t we celebrate his resurrection around that time instead of following the computation of the Alexandrian Church that Easter is the first Sunday after the first fourteenth day of the moon that is on or after the ecclesiastical vernal equinox (yeah, you know what I said). I know the answer—history tells us that the Roman Catholic Church, in an effort to get converts hijacked the holiday of Estre, which is the pagan celebration of Spring’s rejuvenation of the earth fertility. Where else could we have gotten the Easter bunny, eggs, ducks, etc. from? Cadbury’s and Hallmark certainly had nothing to do with it, but they sure do know how to market it!
Yet, I find solace in the fact that the Bible tells us these types of things will happen in the last days before the appearing of Christ—people will rather have their ears itched than put up with sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3-4) and false teachers will lead people astray like Joel Osteen and Rick Warren (Matthew 7:15). I’m looking for my Blessed Hope in Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13) that He’ll return for us soon.
Some people have accused me of being a downer by studying prophecy and that I need to watch out or I’ll get depressed. The prophecy is that God has the victory. You can't get any more exciting and loving than that! What depresses me are the people that preach right and left about how God is love, love, love, and more love but ignore His justice and wrath. It’s my goal to try to win as many into the kingdom as I can, God willing, and the best way I know how is by preaching the prophecy in the Bible. After all, the Bible is 66.666% prophecy, am I to ignore all but 33.333% of God’s Word?
It bothers me that we celebrate Easter when we do. Christ was crucified at the time of the Jewish Passover. So why don’t we celebrate his resurrection around that time instead of following the computation of the Alexandrian Church that Easter is the first Sunday after the first fourteenth day of the moon that is on or after the ecclesiastical vernal equinox (yeah, you know what I said). I know the answer—history tells us that the Roman Catholic Church, in an effort to get converts hijacked the holiday of Estre, which is the pagan celebration of Spring’s rejuvenation of the earth fertility. Where else could we have gotten the Easter bunny, eggs, ducks, etc. from? Cadbury’s and Hallmark certainly had nothing to do with it, but they sure do know how to market it!
Yet, I find solace in the fact that the Bible tells us these types of things will happen in the last days before the appearing of Christ—people will rather have their ears itched than put up with sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3-4) and false teachers will lead people astray like Joel Osteen and Rick Warren (Matthew 7:15). I’m looking for my Blessed Hope in Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13) that He’ll return for us soon.
Some people have accused me of being a downer by studying prophecy and that I need to watch out or I’ll get depressed. The prophecy is that God has the victory. You can't get any more exciting and loving than that! What depresses me are the people that preach right and left about how God is love, love, love, and more love but ignore His justice and wrath. It’s my goal to try to win as many into the kingdom as I can, God willing, and the best way I know how is by preaching the prophecy in the Bible. After all, the Bible is 66.666% prophecy, am I to ignore all but 33.333% of God’s Word?
Catching Up - 3/18/08 - March Madness and Easter
Okay, so March Madness starts on Thursday. Badgers play in Omaha against Cal State Fullerton. It SHOULD be a win for them. If not, I’m rooting for Cal State Fullerton to go all the way!
Nothing much else to say aside from the fact that I’ll be in the same city (Omaha) as the Badgers this weekend and won’t be able to see them except for on TV like everyone else. Tickets are going at MAD prices. I’ve seen some ticket web sites scalping them for $2000+ for floor seats. Not in my taste. The biggest disappointment for me is that they’re having a meet and greet with the teams for free tomorrow at the Qwest Center and I’ll still be in North Dakota at that point. Grrrrrrrr.
I hope everyone has a great and blessed Easter. It’s truly a perfect time to remember the sacrifice that Christ made to pay for our sins, and obviously to CELEBRATE His resurrection from death! I never understood the ultimate unselfishness God had when He gave up His one and only Son as a sacrifice for mankind until I had a son of my own. Wow is all I can say. It’s both humbling and convicting that there is a God who loves us so much that He’d do that so we can have communion with Him for all eternity. More on that in another post!...
Nothing much else to say aside from the fact that I’ll be in the same city (Omaha) as the Badgers this weekend and won’t be able to see them except for on TV like everyone else. Tickets are going at MAD prices. I’ve seen some ticket web sites scalping them for $2000+ for floor seats. Not in my taste. The biggest disappointment for me is that they’re having a meet and greet with the teams for free tomorrow at the Qwest Center and I’ll still be in North Dakota at that point. Grrrrrrrr.
I hope everyone has a great and blessed Easter. It’s truly a perfect time to remember the sacrifice that Christ made to pay for our sins, and obviously to CELEBRATE His resurrection from death! I never understood the ultimate unselfishness God had when He gave up His one and only Son as a sacrifice for mankind until I had a son of my own. Wow is all I can say. It’s both humbling and convicting that there is a God who loves us so much that He’d do that so we can have communion with Him for all eternity. More on that in another post!...
Catching Up - 3/11/08 - Isaiah's 2nd Swimming Lesson
We took Isaiah swimming on Saturday. I tell you what; he had so much fun! Sarah and I floated around with him and he splashed with his hands and kicked his legs like no other. I’d throw him up in the air and catch him in the water and he’d just squeal and laugh. Sarah took a few pictures, so we’ll have to update the pictures section soon to show everyone. They’re so cute. Sarah and I took turns changing then when it was time to go home and Isaiah would just watch people jumping off the diving board and swimming and splashing around.
Normal bed time for Isaiah is usually 7pm, but he was so tired we had problems keeping him up until 6pm on Saturday night, which worked out well since it was time for daylight saving time. He had a bath and was ready to hit the hay quite early. Sarah and I were too. It had been so long since I’d swam, that I forgot how much of a great workout it gives you. I used to swim 3 miles a week in college, had plenty of energy, and stayed up to all hours of the night. Now, we swam just floating around and stuff for about 35 minutes and I was ready for bed by 8pm! Sarah was too!
Normal bed time for Isaiah is usually 7pm, but he was so tired we had problems keeping him up until 6pm on Saturday night, which worked out well since it was time for daylight saving time. He had a bath and was ready to hit the hay quite early. Sarah and I were too. It had been so long since I’d swam, that I forgot how much of a great workout it gives you. I used to swim 3 miles a week in college, had plenty of energy, and stayed up to all hours of the night. Now, we swam just floating around and stuff for about 35 minutes and I was ready for bed by 8pm! Sarah was too!
Catching up - 3/04/08 - A Legend Retires After 17 Years...
A legend has retired. Yesterday, the NFL and the Packers organization announced that Brett Favre is hanging up his cleats. After 17 years in the NFL, and owning almost every career passing record, he's decided it's time for family and to retire. While I was almost ready to "call in depressed" for work today, I find solace that I was able to watch such a fun guy play his heart out for so long. After all, now being at age 28, I can say I grew up watching Brett Favre, who started his first game for the Packers when I was 11 years old, and until this fall, has never missed a game. He's had some pretty good ones that we'll all remember, and some pretty crappy ones too, but that's what made him fun to watch.
I told Sarah last night that we need to plan our vacation to Canton, Ohio in three years from now when Favre will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. He looked good in green and gold, and will look great in a yellow jacket as well.
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