Of Preachers and Politicians
Many years ago I worked as a business broker. Just like a real estate agent matches home buyers with sellers, a business broker puts business owners wishing to sell their business together with potential buyers. Once I was representing a small print shop. The owner told a potential buyer that there were two types of customers that he always had trouble collecting from. One was politicians, the other was preachers.
I was reminded of that this week when Agape Press reported Joel Osteen’s recent interview on TBN. Politicians regularly tailor their remarks to the audience before which they are speaking and now it seems our most popular preachers do the same.
...One of the nation's most popular preachers says he should have been more forceful during a live television interview last year when asked about salvation through Jesus Christ. Joel Osteen, best-selling author and pastor of
Most of you remember the flap that ensued when Osteen failed to uphold the true gospel on national TV. As we reported here he later issued an "apology" on his
So when appearing on CNN and ABC, Osteen pandered to the pagans. When he caught flak from his base, he issued an apology "clarifying" his statement and explaining what he really meant. Politicians do this sort of thing all the time. It is so common that most have come to accept it and call it "spin". The real word for it is lying.
Now, being interviewed on TBN before his core constituency here is how Osteen "clarified" his Larry King remarks.
..... "Before I did that interview, I read the last five interviews Billy Graham did. It's the same thing that he said. He just had 50 years of ministry, where people knew exactly what he stood for," the
So Osteen attempted to justify his lying by saying 'look everybody, Billy Graham said the same thing!' I suppose it never occurred to him that Billy Graham was just as sinful as he was by failing to tell people that Jesus is the only way to God. Here is what the Apostle Paul said about this sort of thing.
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2Cor 10:12
One apostate preacher compares himself to another apostate preacher and announces that all is well! Hey Joel, I hate to break it to you but Billy Graham is not the standard by which you will be judged. The word of God is the plumb line. That is the standard to which you should compare yourself.
Osteen also added this gem.
....."Well, our number-one thing is to bring people to Christ -- and He is the way. It's just, again, I don't want to turn off the people we're trying to reach.".....
Does this guy ever actually read God's word? Once again pastor I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the cross is a turn off to those who are perishing. It has always been an offense and it always will be! That does not relieve us of our Christian duty to make it plain to all that no man comes to the father except by Christ.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1Cor 1:18
If Joel Osteen is afraid that the preaching of the cross might "turn off" the people he is trying to reach I must ask who exactly are the people he is trying to reach? Is he trying to reach those who are perishing and in danger of spending eternity in hell or is he trying to reach those who will buy his books and fill the pews of Lakewood. If the answer is the latter, I can certainly understand his reluctance to speak of the offense of the cross. And after twice failing to speak the truth on national TV I might also begin to suspect that the preaching of the cross is a "turn off" to Osteen himself.
After he had justified himself before the TBN crowd, Osteen explained how he daily justifies himself before God.
.......Every morning I start off the first half hour and just seek the Lord, make sure I'm right on course," he shared. "And when I search my own heart, which I think is the most important thing for each individual, I think, 'God, I believe to the best of my ability I'm doing exactly what you called me to do.'"......
This is not "making sure I'm right on course" This is justifying the course you are on whether it is right or not.
We are all guilty of this type of self justification. We go before God and tell Him "God, I believe to the best of my ability I'm doing exactly what you called me to do." Thus we come before God with a preconceived notion of the sanctity of our own will.
What we should be doing is sincerely asking the Lord to expose ANY and ALL the evil that is in our hearts.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
That is the way to search your heart. What Osteen does (and what most of us do) is a perfect example of what God showed Ezekiel in chapter 14.
When we come to God with a preconceived idea (an idol) in our hearts, God will answer us according to that idol. Self will is always our biggest idol. Our flesh will always seek God's blessing upon our own will and when we come before God in that way, He will give us the justification that we seek.
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Prov 16:25
That's my take...what's yours? Tell me what you think at The Blog.
Steve Lumbley 2006 www.apostasywatch.com
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