I dont think that a lot of Christians grasp the fact that we have preachers of the Gospel, of vastly varying doctrinal stands (most, firm on the absolute basics of orthodox Christianity), who have segments of society that they attract and are able to reach. Most (such as John Hagee, David Jeremiah, Andy Stanley) are preaching to the Church and believers. A lot of their followers have a basic understanding of God, the Bible, etc., and also have some history with Church attendance. Then we have preachers, #JoelOsteen, for instance, whose audience is NOT the Church. He is not preaching/teaching Bible doctrine but, without any question, is pointing huge segments of society to Christ of the Bible and to the Word of God. His methodology is different from John Hagees, for instance. His message is also different from John Hagees. Joel isnt going to preach on eschatology. He is not preaching to the Church nor to the believer. He is preaching to the religionless, the faithless, the hopeless with such a simple message of hope and Good News that is pointing countless millions to Christ of the Bible and to the Word of God. These countless millions are NOT being sought out by the Church-at-large. The Church-at-large is focused on keeping the folk inside the four walls of the Church happy, getting along with one another. We pass them everyday on the street and, to many Christians, the faithless, hopeless, religionless are simply some of those jerks who get in our way, who dont serve us well at some drive-thru, convenience store, etc. We rarely stop long enough to engage them to see if Christ might use us to bring some hope into their hearts and lives. Since so many Christians are now sober, rather than being drunk filled with the Spirit, we are short-tempered, short-sighted, lacking compassion/empathy, and really dont care about neighbors, co-workers and the masses who do not know the love of God and the free pardon of sins through the Blood of Christ. Joel isnt a Bible scholar - by his own admission. He actually didnt want and didnt seek his job. His is water-logged with a heart and gift of mercy and compassion: that can get in the way, at times. However, he is well-connected enough to the greater Church community at-large, that if he were heretical, there are apostolic leaders on his level (someone such as a Billy Graham, David Jeremiah, John Hagee, Bishop T. D. Jakes, etc.) who have the platform and credibility at that level to be empowered to approach him about his wanderings. If he would not hear and was adversely affecting the Body of Christ, then one, such as those I mentioned, are to take others with him to bring the matter to him. Then, if a group of his peers felt he was heretical and harming the Body of Christ, do something more broadly - openly. In previous years where we had great, public failings by significant, visible leaders, who did we have to come along to try to restore the great breach of trust that these sad wreckages of peoples faith caused? The only stable, suitable one would have been someone like a Billy Graham. The point being, how have we worked to restore public trust and rebuild a bridge to the countless billions who would see a preacher on tv and think nothing but scorn and disgust. Joel isnt preaching to the Church. He isnt trying to preach and teach doctrine to Believers. Joel has a global platform making him able to touch THAT segment of society that the Church is far too self-absorbed to see, care about and do things to touch and connect. Personally, I can list a good number of people I would consider on the far fringe of religion who are being brought to a point of looking at Christ and considering Christ and the Bible because they have been listening to the plain, elementary message of hope brought by Joel Osteen that points people to the Christ of the Bible. I shudder to think the eternal damage I could do to these souls who are opening to God and Christ and are vulnerable (like a bruised reed and a smoking flax) should I discredit Joel or any other preacher whom God has seen fit to use and give a platform to. Were accustomed to it in our Churches and so it has become normal behavior - to talk critically, judgmentally about things that God has not elevated us to discuss. If God has not given us the grace, invitation and platform to discuss one of Gods ambassadors, servants, sent ones, then it is a fearful thing to rise presumptuously to act as judge in Gods stead. In the Book of Jude (1:9), the story of Michael, the Arch Angel, is seen wrestling with satan over the body of Moses. He was so aware of the economy of God and the protocol of the Spirit and Kingdom that although an Arch Angel, he showed no presumption in confronting satan from his own, lofty position as Gods ambassador but took a sober, God-honoring approach in fighting satan. It reads: But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” I grew up Old School and learned this lesson well. I learned that God doesnt like us cursing those whom He has empowered. I didnt vote for President Obama, but the Bible clearly states that the God is still the Sovereign and has a demeanor and a protocol that His Children are to possess when modeling Him and behaving like Him. Therefore, I will never call any President simply by their last name nor model to my Family and others a disrespectful attitude toward something that is ultimately under Gods design. Heres what Romans 13:1 tells us about this: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Some things are just Gods business. Theresa Marcum Elder are things I dont understand, but I do understand that He is the Sovereign and I do know when He hasnt graced or invited me to a legitimate table of discourse for my input and opinion. God hasnt called us to be judges nor religious police. If someone like Joel or any other who has a global platform is misbehaving, that really is Gods business and none of yours or mine if God hasnt given us a platform and invitation at that level to help bring an erring brother along to correction, etc. Otherwise, you and I are running the risk of hurting the work of Christ, ultimately, and causing someone to stumble who, otherwise, might have been taking solid steps toward Christ that would give them eternal life in Christ rather than eternal separation from Heaven and His love. Be careful in judging. God hates it and you will reap what you sow. I do believe that when we get to Heaven, we will be judged by all of the works done in this body, whether good or bad. My heart is drawn toward loving God and loving people. I have yet to feel empowered to spend valuable time in discrediting something God says in His Word or someone that He has determined to use. On that day, He wont say to us, blessed are you score keepers. He wont say, blessed are you judges and policemen of mans capacities. He will speak, however, to our faithfulness as stewards of what we possess - not of what others possess. I think every believer carries something in their hands as they walk through the day. Some carry stones to hurl at offenders or attackers. Some carry gavels to pronounce judgment as if empowered by God. For me, my determination is to carry water and bandages. God has called me to be a Water carrier. Everywhere I go, people are dying of thirst and I have the water. I will either bind up their wound or give them the Life-giving Water of Christ. Theres only one Throne and its occupied and I have no desire to compete for it.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 20:53:39 +0000