Mark Driscoll on Joel Osteen: 'There Are Worse Things Than Being Happy and Encouraging'
Seattle megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll recently came to the defense of fellow Christian minister Joel Osteen, while admitting that his "Reformed brothers like to treat Pastor Joel like a pinata."
In a recent interview with The Gospel Coalition, the Mars Hill Church pastor was asked to comment on a segment of his new book, Who Do You Think You Are?, that mentions "appreciated people" who "exchange grumbling for praying, competing for celebrating, bitterness for thankfulness, performing for serving, and boasting for encouraging."
The interviewer, TGC's associate editor Matt Smethurst, asked Driscoll, "What's an 'appreciated person'? Isn't that what Joel Osteen wants me to be?"...
I like what John MacArthur had to say about Joel's book Your Best Life Now. If now is the best life you will have you must be headed for hell. Also, listen to the Laurence Justice sermon on Mark Driscoll. You will be shocked and saddened.
By the way, the Old Testament give us the important background to the New Testament, however, Christians are the people of the New Testament, not the Old. Even with the Commandments we only recognize 9, not 10, because that is what Christ recognized, Legalism is Shadow, Christ is Substance.
Yes, we need to remain faithful to all of the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments. Yes, we need to preach the whole counsel of God. But why do we at SermonAudio find ourselves at the forefront of condemning the most people as heretics and use such great tenacity at enjoying them burning in hell for such great heresy. It is almost as if there is a competition out there to see who can label someone as a heretic in 24 hours or less. Why don't we build others up in the faith? If you disagree on what someone is preaching, why don't you call them up and talk to them about a more balanced view of the Scripture? Or do we just like to bite and devour one another so marvelously? Didn't the apostles write and command us not to do that so much, or not at all? Just askin' for a little balance.
Ohh yea! Piper loves Driscolls theology, I wonder when the godfather(Piper) of the new Calvinist movement will back his boy up? Maybe they can have Joel in the elephant room with the rest of the new Calvinist ? The new Calvinist movement, Is such a oxymoron group. Full of charasmatics, and ecumenism. Maybe Driscoll can have the pope preach at his church? Well. Ex pope. Untill they find another apostate.to take the role.
happily pushing people down the wide road -- really there isn't anything worse than that. as for the suffering church -- this is the one filled with joy. those who are filling the flesh, what they have is fleeting happiness -- which has to be pumped up all the time by a super-smiley man in a suit.
I don't know who Mark Driscoll is, but have watched Joel Osteen a few times. I agree with Martin. You must preach sin and it's effects. Joel Osreen is nice to listen to if you want to listen to a talking head. He has nothing to say about salvation and it bothers me all the people who are taken in by his babbling. But, we will have false prophets and there are quite a few popping up these days. Keep your eyes on the Lord. I believe he will be coming soon. At least I hope so! The sooner the better.
What a bummer. I've seen video of Driscoll pointing out what a heretic osteen is and now calls him "from another tribe"?! In other words another denomination. Well, that's a couple of "tribes" I wouldn't be a part of.
"A few guys in our tribe could learn to talk about something other than painful, arduous suffering once and a while — if nothing else than for the sake of variety," Driscoll told TGC. "Our identity is not in our joy, and our identity is not in our suffering. Our identity is in Christ, whether we have joy or are suffering."
"for the sake of variety" ???
Oh Look the Bible's got it wrong again.
2Cor 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
Matt 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Gil Rugh said or, wrote: Changing behavior does nothing if you haven't dealt with the source of the problem - a depraved heart and a corrupted mind. The only means of real change, freedom from sin and the disasterous deeds of the flesh is to repent and trust in Christ's person and work.
The solution to sin isn't to try to develop programs to solve individual's or the world's problems.
The ministry God has given to His people and His church is to proclaim Christ. The gospel of Christ is the solution for every person's problems and condition.
In my travels, and I've been around, I've found that every single mega church that I've visited, every single church that is obviously not hurting for funds, has something wrong with their doctrines and is much more liberal and accepting than the Word of God commands. It seems to me that the only way any church can boast these types of numbers is to cater to each individuals personal views...make everyone feel comfortable and always have a loophole ready for any Biblical doctrine, commandment, etc.
Mike wrote: New Calvinist theology at its best.... I am waiting for him to finally make that dive into that camp( word faith) their is more money in it for himself. What a wolf! He should fit right in.
Interestingly Driscoll came from the 'emergent' quarters if we all remember. I am convinced he is not just in it for the money, but also for his huge ego. The switch over the 'reformed theology' from 'emergent' gained him a whole lot of admirers who saw it as this 'victory' for their camp. He is still upheld as some sort of 'hero' and 'celebrity' in those less mature reformed circles.....and he loves it.
Hardly surprised by his comment on Joel. birds of a feather and all that.
Osteen sounds a lot like the New Thought speakers of years ago, like Joseph Murphy, Florence Scovel Shinn, and James Allen. I sometimes hear traces of the same thoughts whenever I hear a sermon sound more like "psycho-babble." But didn't Jesus say, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible."? And the Psalmist, "Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life "? I think its a question of emphasis.
I don't think it is fair for Driscoll to say that "Reformed brothers like to treat pastor Joel like a pinata." That is to impute shallow, bullying motives to people who have expressed serious concerns about Osteen's theology and his refusal to preach the biblical gospel. And yes, there is no question about it, if any preacher studiously avoids mentioning sin on a REGULAR basis, if he avoids identifying the particular sins of his hearers, and avoids calling sinners to repentance explicitly in those terms, then he is NOT preaching the gospel. He can speak about Jesus all he wants as someone who lifts him up or encourages him, but that in itself is not the gospel. Our calling is never to be popular or to draw crowds or to make everyone feel "included" in Christian fellowship; neither do we have any right to avoid controversy by avoiding unpopular subjects; our calling is to be faithful in proclaiming the whole counsel of God. We really should be more concerned about honoring God in declaring his truth than in persuading men. If men are offended by the cross or by what God says about particular sins or sinful lifestyles, that is their problem; we had better not make it OUR problem by omitting truth that God calls us to proclaim.
New Calvinist theology at its best.... I am waiting for him to finally make that dive into that camp( word faith) their is more money in it for himself. What a wolf! He should fit right in.
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