Thread: Victoria Osteen, wife of megachurch speaker and author Joel Osteen, is standing by her controversial remarks that called upon congregants at Lakewood Church to �do good for your own self� because obedience, the church and worship are not for God as much as for self-happiness. Victoria�s view of our God simply reflective of her own worldview of what Christianity should be about�becoming a better you, prospering yourself and being happy if you are truly following Jesus,
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Victoria Osteen, wife of megachurch speaker and author Joel Osteen, is standing by her controversial remarks that called upon congregants at Lakewood Church to �do good for your own self� because obedience, the church and worship are not for God as much as for self-happiness. Victoria�s view of our God simply reflective of her own worldview of what Christianity should be about�becoming a better you, prospering yourself and being happy if you are truly following Jesus,
Posted : 11 Sep, 2014 12:16 PM
�I Stand by My Point:� Joel Osteen�s Wife Unrepentant over Remarks of Worshiping God �for Self�
HOUSTON � Victoria Osteen, wife of megachurch speaker and author Joel Osteen, is standing by her controversial remarks that called upon congregants at Lakewood Church to �do good for your own self� because obedience, the church and worship are not for God as much as for self-happiness.
As previously reported, Osteen caused an online uproar in recent weeks when a video surfaced of the �co-pastor� and author of the book Love Your Life explaining to the thousands present the personal benefits that they would receive in doing good, which would make God happy.
�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 declared in the undated 36-second clip with her husband standing by her side and nodding. �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,� Osteen continues. �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?�
Video footage of Osteen and reports surrounding her statements soon went viral, as many asserted that her teaching was unbiblical.
�She honestly believes that God exists to make us happy rather than holy,� Steve Camp, pastor of The Cross Church in Palm City, Florida and singer/songwriter, lamented. �She honestly believes that worship is about our fulfillment rather than His glory.�
Others defended Osteen, such as campus minister and blogger Morgan Guyton, who stated that she was �absolutely right if what she�s saying is that God doesn�t need us to worship Him for Himself, but He wants us to worship Him for our sake.�
In light of the controversy, Osteen issued a statement to The Blaze this week, outlining that while she could have selected her words more carefully, she would not recant the core of her message, which was that Christians can find personal benefit in worshiping 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 stated. �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.�
�Every Lakewood member knows what I was talking about because they have experienced first hand the joy and victory of a Lakewood Church worship service, and the honor, reverence and gratitude we show God,� Osteen added.
Camp told Christian News Network on Saturday that he believes that Osteen is attempting damage control as her �original thought was her true thought.� He remains in disagreement with her assertions.
�Victoria�s view of God is far too human,� he said. �She honestly believes in her original comment that somehow God is happy when we�re happy. She forgets that the defining mark and characteristic of our Lord is not happiness, it�s holiness.�
Camp stated that Osteen�s comments fall in line with the philosophy that she and her husband espouse, that you are to seek Your Best Life Now and Become a Better You.
�Victoria�s view of our God simply reflective of her own worldview of what Christianity should be about�becoming a better you, prospering yourself and being happy if you are truly following Jesus,� he explained. �But our happiness has little or nothing to do with the Christian life.�
The writer of songs such as Not About Us and Consider the Cost said that it is hedonistic�a doctrine that teaches that the chief end of life is one�s personal pleasure�to worship God or attend church for what man can obtain in return.
�Pragmatic culture today has tried to redefine worship as something that we get out of it, but it�s not,� Camp explained. �We don�t worship God so that we�ll become a better you. We don�t worship God so that we�ll have a better job, a better bank account [or] a better attitude.
�If we participate for a pragmatic benefit�to say, �Just worship because look how much better you�re going to feel��that is minimizing the worth of a holy God and making self the benefactor of worship, when worship is simply the glorifying of God entirely,� he outlined.
Camp pointed to Romans 12:1 in reminding Christians that worship is not just a song that is sung, but how we live every moment of our lives. And as followers of Christ, we are to take up our cross and die to self daily.
�True worship is not just what happens on Sunday,� he said. �True worship is seven days a week, 24 hours a day�that we live on the altar before God in presenting our bodies as living sacrifices. And that is what is pleasing to Him.�
Victoria Osteen, wife of megachurch speaker and author Joel Osteen, is standing by her controversial remarks that called upon congregants at Lakewood Church to �do good for your own self� because obedience, the church and worship are not for God as much as for self-happiness. Victoria�s view of our God simply reflective of her own worldview of what Christianity should be about�becoming a better you, prospering yourself and being happy if you are truly following Jesus,
Posted : 11 Sep, 2014 12:22 PM
SALVATION IS 100% FREE BUT HEAVENLY REWARDS ARE 100% EARNED!!: CHRISTIANS ARE COMMANDED TO SEEK HEAVENLY REWARDS RATHER THAN EARTHLY REWARDS!!!!!
Ephesians 2:8,9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith�and this not from yourselves, it is the *GIFT of God�not by works. So that no one can boast.
Hebrews 11:1,6: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see....And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He **REWARDS those who earnestly seek Him!!
Ephesians 6:8: Serve wholeheartedly , as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will **REWARD everyone for what ever good he does!.
Revelation 22:12 Jesus says, �Behold I am coming soon! My **REWARD is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!�
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, �The Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels and THEN He will **REWARD each person according to what he has done!�
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: We make it our goal to please Him... for we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15: His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives , he will receive his **REWARD. If it is burned up he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Colossians 3:23-25: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, siince you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a **REWARD. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
How to Win Heavenly CROWNS:
I Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes in to strict training. They do it to get a **CROWN that will not last; but we do it to get a **CROWN THAT WILL LAST FOREVER! Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly. I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize!
2 John 1:8: Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be **REWARDED fully!. Revelation 3:11: Jesus says, �I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your **CROWN!�
2 Timothy 4:7,8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the **CROWN of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,will award to me on that day�and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing!
The **CROWN of Life for those who persevere under trials and persecution:
James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the **CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those who love Him!
Revelation 2:10 Jesus says, �Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer... Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the **CROWN OF LIFE!�
Matthew 5:11,12: Jesus says, �Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, beacuase great is your **REWARD in heaven!�
Hebrews 10:32-36: Remember those earlier days after you had received the Light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicaly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly **REWARDED. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you receive what He has promised!
The CROWN OF GLORY to preachers and teachers:
1 Peter 5:-4: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers�not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the **CROWN OF GLORY that will NEVER fade away!
1 Corinthians 3:6-9: I planted the seed, Apollos watered it but God made it grow. So neiither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be **REWARDED according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers!
Daniel 12:3: Those who are wise {or impart wisdom-NIV} will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever!
REWARDS for doing good works secretly without earthly rewards:
Matthew 6:3,4: Jesus says, �When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will **REWARD you!�
Matthew 6:6: Jesus says, When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will **REWARD you!�
Matthew 6:17,18: When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will **REWARD you!�
Matthew 6:19-21: Jesus says, Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your Treasure is, there your heart will be also!�
Luke 6:35: Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them wirthout expecting to get anything back. Then your **REWARD will be GREAT!�
How to receive a **RICH WELCOME in Heaven!!
2 Peter 1:5-11: For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith {a 100% free gift} goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-contol; and to self-control, perseverence; and to perseverence, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, LOVE. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.....Therefore, my brother, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do all these things, you will receive a **RICH WELCOME into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ !!
Revelation 2:17 Jesus says, �To him who overcomes I will give a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it!� Revelation 3:21: Jesus says, �To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne!!�
Victoria Osteen, wife of megachurch speaker and author Joel Osteen, is standing by her controversial remarks that called upon congregants at Lakewood Church to �do good for your own self� because obedience, the church and worship are not for God as much as for self-happiness. Victoria�s view of our God simply reflective of her own worldview of what Christianity should be about�becoming a better you, prospering yourself and being happy if you are truly following Jesus,
Posted : 11 Sep, 2014 01:24 PM
She said...He said...:rolleyes:...Please supply "links" to her comments...Thanks in advance... X <>< O
