Megachurches and the Prosperity Gospel....

[ZeroTX]

Hey all,

I hail from the Houston, Texas area, home of Lakewood/Osteen Church. I am curious as to the member's opinions about churches of this nature and the oft-taught so-called prosperity gospel (that is, follow God and good things will come your way.... not supported by scripture or tradition until a few charlatans in the 20th century).

Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[MennoSota]

I have no concerns regarding the size of a congregation. God uses all sizes to his glory.
I cringe at pastors who preach a false gospel that results in their financial blessing while the poor are fleeced of their limited resources because they are looking for an easy out from the life God has allowed or ordained them to have. These pastors will stand before God to give an account for their teachings. I pray these pastors repent and in some cases come to their own saving faith. There are wolves among the flock. Our Shepherd will address them in due time.

 

[Salty]

I do have concerns with mega-churches ( 1,000 +)

We state we believe in the local church - yet many mega churches boast of members coming 60, 70, even 80 miles away. How can a church 80 miles away be "local"
It is my contention that a pastor cannot visit each family in his church at least once a year - than the church is too big.

 

[Jerome]

"We have never sought to hinder the uprising of other Churches from our midst or in our neighborhood. It is with cheerfulness that we dismiss our twelves, our twenties, our fifties, to form other Churches. We encourage our members to leave us to found other Churches; nay, we seek to persuade them to do it." —Charles Spurgeon, "The Waterer Watered"

 

[maddog]

Following God can do one better then not following God, in this life and most definitely in the after life.

 

[The Parson]

That's a valid contention Salty. I don't believe God ever intended his churches to become so large that a pastor couldn't know and minister to each and every member. Historically, when a congregation got that large, a new work was started.

And the "blab it and grab it" teaching is pure apostasy.

 

[Rlee]

I've heard so much philosophy over the last twenty years regarding these large churches that it makes my head spin. It seems that in our present day, a church grows fastest when theology is weak or absolutely twisted. Itching ears I suppose. In my own experience, and my church is very small, people have come and gone over the years because they don't want to feel convicted by their sin. They have no desire to remain if they are going to be confronted with the fact that we all still need Christ and His regenerating power long after we've been saved. That's not to say that the message is always on that issue, but try applying a little church discipline when a member is acting in a sinful fashion towards other members and then watch the dust kick up as they cut a trail for the door. I've seen it so many times and it's sad. Is it then reasonable to think that these large churches exhibit little to no discipline and that there are no sermons on depravity, weakness, and suffering present? Isn't it so much easier to sit under a "speaker" who strokes the ego and paints life as a gigantic bowl of cherries with more prosperous opportunities than one can imagine and then put God's signature on it? In any event, it's my humble opinion that healthy church growth can take many years in order to be genuine and it doesn't require compromise on the part of Scripture. I have no doubt there are thousand member plus churches that are on the right path and full of godly people and staff, I'm just not certain it's the norm. Let's face it, if I had my best life now, why would I want to go to heaven? Why would I need a savior? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[PatrickMcIntyre]

Hey all,

I hail from the Houston, Texas area, home of Lakewood/Osteen Church. I am curious as to the member's opinions about churches of this nature and the oft-taught so-called prosperity gospel (that is, follow God and good things will come your way.... not supported by scripture or tradition until a few charlatans in the 20th century).

Thoughts?

"Follow God and good things will come your way" presumes that the person is following God. That is the false premise of the modern "decision for Christ". Modern evangelical salvation typically equates the "decision for Christ" with "saving faith" and de facto regeneration. The orthodox way of determining whether or not someone is regenerated was evidence of fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Since 1914, the "decision for Christ" has been seen as the starting point for the 51% Christian headed for becoming a 52% Christian. Billy graham said he thought only 20% of Southern Baptists had experienced regeneration. If every Evangelical Pastor insisted that every church spectator honestly looked for fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives (2 Corinthians 13:5), a Great Awakening could happen. Unfortunately, most Evangelical ministers are disciples of Billy Sunday, making "Sunday Christians" according to what Spurgeon called "another gospel".

 

[Christomas ✞]

Hey all,

I hail from the Houston, Texas area, home of Lakewood/Osteen Church. I am curious as to the member's opinions about churches of this nature and the oft-taught so-called prosperity gospel (that is, follow God and good things will come your way.... not supported by scripture or tradition until a few charlatans in the 20th century).

Thoughts?

Thanks!

How can these things be wrong when God is telling us about them in his Word.
He wants us to be prosperous.

There are so many verses about this issue.
Look here for example:
”... I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬
We are blessed, so we can be a blessing to others.

Without money we can't help and give to others.

There are "prosperity pastors" that have taken this to a whole new level and trying to make selves rich, which not the Word say.
This is in my opinion totally wrong. We need to stick with what the Word say period.

Here is another scripture:
”The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬
God makes us rich without sorrow as toil.

//God Blessed, Richard.
(Eph 1:3)

 

[Cyndi from Cullman]

I do have concerns with mega-churches ( 1,000 +)

We state we believe in the local church - yet many mega churches boast of members coming 60, 70, even 80 miles away. How can a church 80 miles away be "local"
It is my contention that a pastor cannot visit each family in his church at least once a year - than the church is too big.

 

[Jesus follower]

Hey all,

I hail from the Houston, Texas area, home of Lakewood/Osteen Church. I am curious as to the member's opinions about churches of this nature and the oft-taught so-called prosperity gospel (that is, follow God and good things will come your way.... not supported by scripture or tradition until a few charlatans in the 20th century).

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Prosperity teaching came way before the 20th century. In fact, it was mentioned before Jesus was born in Joshua 1:8

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

I have never understood spending millions for a single church instead of helping the poor. How many families and people in need could be helped if just a simple building was created for gathering.

 

[Jesus follower]

And the "blab it and grab it" teaching is pure apostasy.

There is more to it than "blab it and grab it". However, life and death are in the power of the tounge. An actual scripture reference to this is in Mark 11 starting at verse 22.

22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.


This is very clear, in that, I can have whatever I say. However, the argument here is that you can't profess something bad or that goes against God and have it, so it must not be true. However, a true Christian will not desire in their heart something evil and ask for it and believe they have recieved it.

 

[Charles Blair]

"We have never sought to hinder the uprising of other Churches from our midst or in our neighborhood. It is with cheerfulness that we dismiss our twelves, our twenties, our fifties, to form other Churches. We encourage our members to leave us to found other Churches; nay, we seek to persuade them to do it." —Charles Spurgeon, "The Waterer Watered"

 

[Charles Blair]

I like this quote!

 

[Charles Blair]

Paul says (Phil. 1:15-18) if Christ is preached, we should rejoice. When I hear Osteen (which is not often) I do not hear the gospel. That is the touch-stone - I Cor. 15:1-4.

 

[Daverk]

Prosperity gospel is a fallacy and a "different" gospel. One should try to read Dan Mc Connell's book to understand the background

 

[Shadowlands]

I lost all respect for when Osteen when he delivered a prayer of "blessing" at the swearing in ceremony
of the openly-lesbian Mayor Annise Parker back in January 2010, (thinking this will somehow bring unity
and peace between us all) This information came directly from Fox News and The 700-Club, so this
is not fake news.

In 2014, Parker demanded that all Houston Pastor's were to turn over all sermon notes to her office before
each Sunday, to check for any anti-LGBT content (read: hate speech).

Here's something hateful Mzzzz. Mayor: homosexuality is an abomination before God. So, what are you
going to do about it? Huh? Yeah. That's what I thought.

As for you Joel Osteen, you're a heretic.

 

[newjar1997]

Joel Osteen is a false teacher. He sounds good, because deception is supposed to sound good.

 

[Robert William]

Hey all,

I hail from the Houston, Texas area, home of Lakewood/Osteen Church. I am curious as to the member's opinions about churches of this nature and the oft-taught so-called prosperity gospel (that is, follow God and good things will come your way.... not supported by scripture or tradition until a few charlatans in the 20th century).

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Howdy Mr. Zero, I think I would be safe to say that the majority in that Osteen fellowship fall into the category as described in the following verses.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

[Billx]

Hey all,

I hail from the Houston, Texas area, home of Lakewood/Osteen Church. I am curious as to the member's opinions about churches of this nature and the oft-taught so-called prosperity gospel (that is, follow God and good things will come your way.... not supported by scripture or tradition until a few charlatans in the 20th century).

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Jesus did not even have a place to lay his own head. I cannot see that he promised us the Rosegarden because what he promised was if you follow me you will take the steps that I take and you will drink of the cup I shared with you. What we share Is suffering. This does not mean that we cannot expect profits from our businesses live comfortably but again he may expect us to care for the poor and take care of the ministering to other people with our profits. It seems to me the mega church mentality needs a good class and Christian ethics. Of course if you're in the possibility thinking you can build yourself a glass house and live in it