Rich and Famous Pastors

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Patnubay

Senior Member
May 27, 2014
498
8
18
#1
I am worried that I am starting to feel contempt towards these rich and famous pastors of our time ( Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Bishop Jakes, Joseph Prince, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer and others.

These are my reasons:

1. I feel they are taking advantage of the people trying to find God.
2. I find their lifestyle of mansions, jets and luxury thru income source using the word "God" disgusting.
3. I notice that they have turned into motivational speakers and no longer deliverers of the "Word" of God.

however, I have to acknowledge that

1. Thru them as instruments, people are finding God
2. Thru them as instruments, people are inspired to serve God
3. Thru them as instruments, people are hearing the Word of God.

I'd like to know your opinion..

 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,427
13,369
113
#2
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
(Philippians 1:15-18)

Paul was happy that Christ was preached, even if for false motives -- but i think this hinges also on whether Christ is actually being preached!
i should feel the same :)
& i do feel some contempt, but more sadness for those that are being misled, when i think that what's being preached is actually false.
 
L

LT

Guest
#3
17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely ... 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
 
L

LT

Guest
#4
"Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."

Funny how the Spirit leads. Twin posts.
 
A

atwhatcost

Guest
#5
I am worried that I am starting to feel contempt towards these rich and famous pastors of our time ( Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Bishop Jakes, Joseph Prince, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer and others.

These are my reasons:

1. I feel they are taking advantage of the people trying to find God.
2. I find their lifestyle of mansions, jets and luxury thru income source using the word "God" disgusting.
3. I notice that they have turned into motivational speakers and no longer deliverers of the "Word" of God.

however, I have to acknowledge that

1. Thru them as instruments, people are finding God
2. Thru them as instruments, people are inspired to serve God
3. Thru them as instruments, people are hearing the Word of God.

I'd like to know your opinion..

Don't worry. You're not feeling that much contempt or feeling bad about that feeling at all. Otherwise you wouldn't have given that much room to justify yourself in that feeling. People who worry about feeling contempt for others just don't go on and on about why they're right. They actually have remorse for feeling that way.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
113
#6
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
(Philippians 1:15-18)

Paul was happy that Christ was preached, even if for false motives -- but i think this hinges also on whether Christ is actually being preached!
i should feel the same :)
& i do feel some contempt, but more sadness for those that are being misled, when i think that what's being preached is actually false.
But are they even preaching the Gospel of Christ?
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
113
#7
It's better to be poor and live a blameless life than to be rich but crooked in one's lifestyle.
(Pro 28:6)
 

Jenizona

Senior Member
Aug 8, 2015
629
28
0
#9
I have no problem with anyone who serves God being rich or famous. Should they all be poor and unknown? And in today's media-frenzied world, having widespread acclaim should not be enough to make someone suspicious.

If you're not into them, don't listen to them, it's that easy.
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,784
2,955
113
#10
I am completely against these so-called Health and Wealth preachers, or Word of Faith.

They are not preaching the gospel. They lie about Jesus, about how we will become little gods, and we need to appropriate our rights as children of the king.

They twist Scriptures to imply OUR words have power, when in fact it is God's words that have power. They have usurped the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

You are right to be uneasy about these charlatans. They have no god but money, and they get it by lying to people. Telling them they will be rich if they send in seed money (find that in the Bible!) and you will be healthy, if you just have faith and confess it.

God is the one we need to focus on, and serving him and growing to maturity. I pray people will not be sidetracked from that purpose, if they get caught listening to the lies these false preachers have been telling!
 
O

oldthennew

Guest
#11
COLOSSIANS 3:1-2-3-4.
If you be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory.

MICAH 3:11-12.
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets
thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord and say, Is not the Lord among us?
none evil can come upon us.

Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field and Jerusalem shall become heaps,
and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

MATT. 15:8-9.
This people draw near unto Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart
is far from Me.

But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandment of men...

MARK 10:24.
And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them,
children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
 
T

twotwo

Guest
#12
I am worried that I am starting to feel contempt towards these rich and famous pastors of our time ( Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Bishop Jakes, Joseph Prince, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer and others.

These are my reasons:

1. I feel they are taking advantage of the people trying to find God.
2. I find their lifestyle of mansions, jets and luxury thru income source using the word "God" disgusting.
3. I notice that they have turned into motivational speakers and no longer deliverers of the "Word" of God.

however, I have to acknowledge that

1. Thru them as instruments, people are finding God
2. Thru them as instruments, people are inspired to serve God
3. Thru them as instruments, people are hearing the Word of God.

I'd like to know your opinion..

They are only interested is your money, and your worship, period.

They don’t lead people to God but to themselves because they are gods!
 
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#13
I was just watching some of Joyce this very morning, and thinking" "How very special and important she is to millions of people."

If she was poor and unknown, maybe a hundred people in the entire world would ever hear of the amazing things God has done in her life... and know that He will do the same for them.

It staggers me that so many people don't think God could easily just blink these people off the air if He didn't want them to be there. We give the devil so much credit and power, while thinking God is just helpless, and has to put up with something He doesn't want.
 
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Jenizona

Senior Member
Aug 8, 2015
629
28
0
#14
I was just watching some of Joyce this very morning, and thinking" "How very special and important she is to millions of people."

If she was poor and unknown, maybe a hundred people in the entire world would ever hear of the amazing things God has done in her life... and know that He will do the same for them.
Thanks, Willie-T... I just recorded Joyce Meyer and am going to go watch her in a bit. I love her preaching. I know she's not everyone's cup of tea, but I really get a lot out of her lessons.

(Author of this post enjoys Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, and Charles Stanley. Each for different reasons, and each has strengths and weaknesses as ministers. They are only human, but I find that this particular human benefits greatly from their teachings.):cool:
 

Yet

Banned
Jan 4, 2014
3,756
69
0
#15
Finding God yes. Inspired to serve God yes. But hearing the word of God, not so much. Salvation yes but then much deviates into some strange stuff.
Jesus burned in hell.
Prosperity gospel, that only prospers them into ungodly over the top materialistic lifestyles while sheep are going without.

Then this false destructive 'gospel' is shipped across the world and doing untold damage. Google it.
 
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#16
Finding God yes. Inspired to serve God yes. But hearing the word of God, not so much. Salvation yes but then much deviates into some strange stuff.
Jesus burned in hell.
Prosperity gospel, that only prospers them into ungodly over the top materialistic lifestyles while sheep are going without.

Then this false destructive 'gospel' is shipped across the world and doing untold damage. Google it.
Well, you believe the lie that God personally punished Jesus, don't you?
 
L

LanceA

Guest
#17
Kinda funny how this same topic gets brought up every couple weeks or so. Yes the start of the topic is a bit different but the main theme is the same.

And yes I am pretty new to the forum but I have gone through and read a lot of the posts on here and this is where I base my info from.
 
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#18
Kinda funny how this same topic gets brought up every couple weeks or so. Yes the start of the topic is a bit different but the main theme is the same.

And yes I am pretty new to the forum but I have gone through and read a lot of the posts on here and this is where I base my info from.
They are easy targets, and lots of people love that.
 
K

KennethC

Guest
#19
According to the Word of God it shows that God does not respect people, and He does not have respect some in the body being rich while others are struggling to survive and get by.

They are living a sinful lie in their riches they are using to edify themselves while leaving tons of others to suffer.
 
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#20
According to the Word of God it shows that God does not respect people, and He does not have respect some in the body being rich while others are struggling to survive and get by.

They are living a sinful lie in their riches they are using to edify themselves while leaving tons of others to suffer.
Yet you want that same money given to you so you can make your films. And if you did a good job, and got to be known, people would then be taking shots at you. LOL