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Victoria Osteen & the response
Victoria Osteen – the “response” that shows she is a typical false teacher
by Sandy Simpson, 9/8/14
It never ceases to amaze me how people who claim to be “Christian” leaders are apparently NEVER able to admit when they are wrong. Makes you wonder if they are born again because acceptance of the Gospel will cause a person to repent of their sins which then gives them access to the forgiveness of Christ when they sin from that point on (1 John 1:9). But be that as it may, Victoria, the “co-pastor” and wife of Joel Osteen, fires back at the article in the Christian Post entitled: “Victoria Osteen Ripped for Telling Church 'Just Do Good For Your O... by claiming they lied about what she said. She claims in her statement back to them in the article called “Victoria Osteen Chides Critics: I Didn't Mean Parishioners Shouldn... that they claimed that she said a person should not worship God.
"While I admit that I could have been more articulate in my remarks, I stand by my point that when we worship God and are obedient to Him we will be better for it," she told The Blaze in a statement Friday. "I did not mean to imply that we don't worship God; that's ridiculous, and only the critics and cynics are interpreting my remarks that way." (Christian Post, “Victoria Osteen Chides Critics: I Didn't Mean Parishioners Shouldn...)
That is not what they said at all. The title of the article is very specific in their correct analysis of her “ridiculous” statement – that she stated that “worship is not for God, it is for yourself”. So she lied in her response.
But the real problems are that she claims the following in her response:
"I just want to encourage every one of us to realize when we obey God, we're not doing it for God—I mean, that's one way to look at it—we're doing it for ourselves, because God takes pleasure when we're happy," she said in the 36-second clip posted on YouTube, with her husband smiling at her side. "That's the thing that gives Him the greatest joy … So, I want you to know this morning: Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy," she continued. "When you come to church, when you worship Him, you're not doing it for God really. You're doing it for yourself, because that's what makes God happy. Amen?" the clip ended as congregants cheered. (Christian Post, “Victoria Osteen Chides Critics: I Didn't Mean Parishioners Shouldn...)
So she not only did not apologize for her statements and lied about how people quoted her, but she reiterated their same, tired, false Word of Faith teaching again. She states that worshipping God is not for Him but for us. Why? Because when we are happy that makes God happy. Oh really? What about the stories of Job, Stephen, Paul suffering from a “thorn”, and all the other prophets and apostles who died serving God? They were not worshipping God so they could be “happy”, they were worshipping God because of Who He is!
Victoria has also not read the Bible, which you would think would be a requirement for someone to be a head pastor of a church. The Bible is clear that the thing that brings God “joy” is our obedience.
John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.
John 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
John 14:24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
John 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
1 John 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
Love and worship for God is not predicated on how we feel or the amount of joy we have. It is predicated on obedience to Him BECAUSE HE IS GOD! Victoria also tells her audience that they need to “do good because God wants you to be happy”. We don’t do good so WE can be happy. That may be a consequence of doing good, at times, but the important thing is that, in the most difficult circumstances, we simply obey Him because we know He will be pleased with us on that basis. But our “happiness” is not the end. But it is for the Osteens. Almost every word of every message from them is the New Thought idea that we can create our own little world of happiness by simply thinking and speaking positively. I have written about this idea, which is basically Karma, in an article entitled “Karma (by any other name)”. God wants us to submit our will to His, not willfully try to create our own reality that is often not in line with His purposes.
Finally, the scary part is that the “congregants cheered” after Victoria finishes her diatribe. This reminds me of a warning from the Old Testament against heretics like the Osteens:
Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
Someday every person who has ever been born on this earth will answer to God for their actions. You can either fool yourself into thinking you are happy because of your positive thoughts and confessions, or you can follow God and obey Him, thus proving your love for Him. Better choose correctly because “what will you do in the end?”
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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When people err from essential doctrines, we can identify them as being false teachers. The Scriptures are given to warn us and my point is only that we sometimes get caught up in the minor issues when the major ones are what matters.
Amen
Here are some verses along this line:
Correcting the false teaching:
1Ti 1:1-7 NIV84 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, (2) To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (3) As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer (4) nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith. (5) The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (6) Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. (7) They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
Rebuking the false teachers:
2Pe 2:1-3 NIV84 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. (2) Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. (3) In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
1Ti 6:3-6 NIV84 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, (4) he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions (5) and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. (6) But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Warning regarding “False Brothers”:
1Co_15:15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
2Co_11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
2Co_11:26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
Gal_2:4 This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on
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There are many false gospels. Legalism is one in which I became entangled, and Galatians addresses it. At times, it's been difficult for me to sort out secondary issues from essential ones.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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When people err from essential doctrines, we can identify them as being false teachers. The Scriptures are given to warn us and my point is only that we sometimes get caught up in the minor issues when the major ones are what matters. Soteriology -- the doctrine of salvation is a major, or essential, doctrine. - AMEN
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Permalink Reply by Seek on
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Soteriology
I missed that one. I swear I'm gonna go to her house and burn her dictionary one of these days. LOL
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When people err from essential doctrines, we can identify them as being false teachers.
Even still...how does a new Christian know if they err from essential doctrine? And some doctrines don't seem so essential or cut and dry as the camps can divide about 50/50. I guess we have to read the Word for ourselves and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us. That may not happen right away and false doctrine may creep in there no matter how much we try. But in the end God makes our paths straight.
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I'm referring to the teacher who errs from essential doctrine as being a false teacher, not the one learning. If I'm in error due to listening to what another teaches, the teacher is held to a stricter judgment, but I'm still accountable, too, for not searching out the truth for myself.
Yes, it happen easily. BTDT
As long as one remains alive, there's hope.
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Amen Amanda
Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! Matt 18:7
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It's important to teach new believers how to recognize the characteristics of false teachers, and Scripture points out those characteristics.
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Yep. I wonder how that works...teacher being held to a stricter judgment if they're truly teaching what they believe to be correct yet still learning themselves.
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We will not be judged by what we believe to be correct, but rather by the only true standard ... the Word of God. Though we may not be condemned if we fail unknowingly, we surely want be rewarded for it either.
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