Comments on: Is Joel Osteen the new face of Christianity?

By: Gina

Gina — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:03:03 +0000

I don’t know to whom exactly I’m addressing this to, so to whoever:Lots of people read these blogs that you never realize are there. Christian witnesses are given, positively or negatively, by attitudes and words. So, be careful!To the women:Being a woman myself and thereby part of your species, I feel like chiming in. The attitude of striving that I pick up from your words is alarming. I think I understand where you might be coming from, but I’m sure you probably won’t see it that way.Women who are motivated by a sincere desire to serve God in ways that fall into teaching his word or speaking his word get confused by their roles. Speaking for myself, as a young person growing up in the Southern Baptist denomination, which stressed evangelism and personal relationship, and pursuing those with all of my being, I let go of a very important aspect of life with God — sovereignty. Without realizing it, I grew in some areas and not in others. I lost site of the fact that God holds the future, he has the right to tell me or any other member of the human race, what our specific roles are.(I do believe women do have some place in the role of teaching, although not as pastors.) I strove incorrectly to win the prize. I forgot that God is in complete and utter control of this world. All plans are God’s, and all things happen on his timetable — not mine! I can’t change anything — I can only fall into his plan for me and strive to cooperate with him in the quest to become as Christ — fruits of the spirit. That is the greatest witness a lost world will ever receive!Before, the ordinary things of life seemed awfully boring. I wanted to do bigger things. I didn’t want to live the life I saw people older than me living — boring! Not a man who is called into ministry, before he has matured, doesn’t think that he will be the next Billy Graham. That can happen to women also. It is called maturing, and it comes from a whole, whole lot of hard, hard work. It’s the kind of maturing that can put a person in a nursing home with a song in their heart, because this is where God placed them to be.We are going to die and go to heaven, and what do we want our rewards to be based upon. Striving, striving, striving, or cooperating with God. On that day, we will wish we had cooperated. The best work I have ever seen God do is when I said my peace, then got of the way, quit trying to strive or control, and let God work. The key is — let God work! This is his plan and his purpose, his working out. I want the rewards of God — not the praise of man! Or my own sense of accomplishment.Fighting God is counter-productive! And if you can’t at least go to God and ask him to show you where you might have picked up the wrong information or been influenced by the wrong people, then you are more interested in what you think than in what God thinks.This input comes from one who hasn’t always been successful in how she viewed her service to God. So, please do not be offended by me. I say this to be helpful, because I see in you a kindred spirit.In Christ,

By: david

david — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 05:08:49 +0000

So, what did I say that was so offensive to you? The statement that we should reject Joel Osteen ofends you — or your womanhood? Or both?

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:41:12 +0000

I never said you used Scripture to atack my “womanhood.” Your attitude towards me is what is so offensive. I actually apologize for confronting you at all. It is very clear that you are not listening to what I have been trying to say. That’s ok. One day this whole mess will be straightened out by the Father and boy will you be surprised!!!!!!!

By: david

david — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 01:10:50 +0000

Mae and Christine,I cannot think fo a time you were attacked because of your womanhood. Support (or favor) of Joel Osteen — and Word of Faith teachers in particular — is my concern.I preached yesterday from Matthew 7, about False prophets. We’re going through the book of Matthew on Sunday morning. You know, not a single person came to me and said, “Pastor, you attacked my womanhood.” None! Can you believe it?And, a few weeks ago as went through 2 Peter on Wednesday night, I also talked about false teachers. Again, believe it or not, no one suddenly thought they were being attacked because they were a woman. And at the Wednesday service, it was mostly women. And some of them had been supportive of Mr. Osteen — until I read the quotes.Might we stay focused on Scripture?

By: Josh Buice

Josh Buice — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:23:18 +0000

Mae,I have been extremely busy with ministry lately and unable to read every response on my blog. This morning, I have been looking back over the latest comments and I was troubled to see the tone of the responses. That includes several people – not directed at one specific individual.If you would like to know my position on anything – you have the freedom to do so.God bless!

By: mae

mae — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:16:31 +0000

josh,it always surprises me which discussions and topics you choose to chime in on…and which you choose NOT to chime in on…

By: Josh Buice

Josh Buice — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:47:10 +0000

Guys and Gals,Enough already! As the writer of this blog – the tone and response of the posts are simply not spiritually sanctifying. Please try to disagree in a more light fashion rather than slinging mud at one another. Seek to have spiritually profitable discussions rather than the opposite. Every word you type on this blog – seek the glory of God.In Christ,Pastor Josh Buice

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:40:17 +0000

You know what, Mark, You are simply incredible! I confront you with your bad behavior and you say I am doing the work of Satan! That is just unbelievable! Your tone is offensive. You are much like the man in the book of James who is confronted with the truth and goes away unchanged. You don’t even take my words into account because I am a woman. That is really sad. Contrary to popular belief I just might have something to say that just might be relevant to this or any other discussion. You and men like you are exactly the reason that so many times I have said that I won’t come back to this site. I guess I need to stick by that. This is ridiculous.

By: mark

mark — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:00:08 +0000

Ladies – for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord, and for His glory alone, let’s bear one another with humility and patience. Satan is the accuser of the brethren…please leave that job to him.Ephesians 4:1-61 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

By: mae

mae — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:37:05 +0000

Mark is rude AND arrogant. It would be one thing if you truly WERE saying those things in love, as you claim, but you are not. You are condescending and demeaning, simply because of what my anatomy is. Shame on you.