I have watched, listened and read a few of Joel Osteen's messages, and have not agreed with even one of them. Comparing the Osteen messages to what Jesus teaches is completely contradictory. Now, this was the final straw. I cannot be quiet anymore. I just watched a video clip of Joel Osteen's wife declaring, in a "worship" service, that worship is not for God but for ourselves. She completely dismisses the holiness and sovereignty of God in exchange for us to feel good. She says thats "ok"!? WHAT?! (See clip... http://youtu.be/00-6OyXVA0M )
So if stealing a car or murding the person who irritates me makes me happy, and i sit in church all happy, then God is happy too? WHAT?!
The Bible is clear that God is to be worshipped and placed 1st, above all else, in our lives. If you listen to the Osteen's "sermons" or read their books and compare them to God's words in the Bible, you will find their words contradict that which God requires of and from us.
Quite frankly, their messages are blasphemous and are not inline with what Jesus commands of us. (Read this article... http://christiannews.net/2014/08/28/do-good-for-your-own-self-osteen-says-obedience-worship-not-for-god-video/)
Just because they're popular and have clever marketing strategies to draw thousands, it does not make what they say right.
Most of our greatest theological minds, past and present, do not agree with the doctrine that is preached today by them and others like them (Prosperity Doctrine). Its a 'shallow-i-want-to-feel-good-but-not-be-like-Jesus-because-its-about-me' message that focuses on 'self' rather than on God.
Jesus did not come to make us happy, he came to make us Holy. Happiness doesn't get your into heaven, only Holiness, through Jesus, does. A byproduct of Holiness is "Complete Joy" (John 15).
FYI: Joy kicks happiness' butt any day of the week. Happiness is fickle and influenced by the smallest things; like weather or food. Joy, however, is manifested through obedience to Christ's sovereignty in our lives.
I.e. Me 1st = fickle happiness and a shallow sense of worth. God 1st = Complete Joy, holiness, and a deep sense of God's omnipotence and omnipresence.
Oh look... a bible verse, Jesus said, " seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33.
So who did Jesus say we must WORSHIP first? Could I be? He says it must be GOD 1ST!!! (Take that Joel and the like)
But here's where the problem lies (excuse the pun); those who don't know what the Word of God says will believe anything the world tells them.
Satan himself used scripture to try trick Jesus into turning away from God. (Read Matt 4). But get this... JESUS KNEW THE TEACHINGS OF GOD! He also used scripture to fight back ... and he won!
Me 1st vs Jesus 1st? Mmm....?
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Jesus put us 1st so that we may put Him 1st.
If you believe the prosperity stuff being taught today; You've been led astray and you're in BIG trouble. Best you stop and start figuring out what Jesus says for real.
Remember, Christianity is NOT about happiness, it's about HOLINESS.
You don't wanna die one day, stand before God and say, "Oops!"
