Joel Osteen

[Buzzards]

On 5/21/2016 at 9:01 AM, Gregory Matthews said:

 

 

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Ex.23:19

Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

 

 

 

 

[CoAspen]

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Opinion based on attendance.

How many different churches and pastors, etc, are in your city alone? Visited every single one, more than once? How many sermons, talks, etc by each one did you listen too?

[Jeannieb43]

On 5/21/2016 at 1:04 PM, LynnDel said:

Milk may be food, but I think I'm developing a lactose intolerance when it comes to this preacher. I do hope that those who love listening to him are "hooked" into looking deeper for all that God has for us.

I think I'm developing a lactose intolerance also wherever I attend Sabbath services, at least in Southern California.  In the metropolitan area where I've lived for the past 50 years, we used to have fabulous preachers -- those who studied the Bible seriously every week, and preached from various translations and various Bible encyclopedias, and fed us strong NEW "meat" almost every Sabbath.   Then they grew old and retired or moved away.   When I left there, to move to a new community to be closer to my grandchildren, I started searching for a church.   Unfortunately, this area, filled with newer Christians and younger non-Christians, doesn't attract the serious preachers I remember from previous years.  I'm now choking on "milk".   I need some serious "meat"; and I feel hungry after every church service these days.

Of course, when I read about the Christian missionaries of Bible times, or those today who travel to Third World countries to preach the gospel, I realize that God gives us the intelligence to study for ourselves -- to commune with him; to research the translations and Biblical encyclopedias for ourselves.   I need to do all that for myself now.   I need to spend more time in deep communion with Him.  And actually, perhaps I've been placed here for that very purpose.   Perhaps I should look for ways to become the channel for His word to those unbelievers all around me in this new setting.   I can't depend on anybody else to study for me. 

It's a big order, but hopefully I'll succeed in bringing some new "meat" or even "milk" to somebody in my new sphere of influence.

 

[Kevin H]

Sadly Jeannieb43 I've seen in too many conferences the current trend is lacto ovo vegetarianism; I've been seeing in so many conferences the pastors hired are new converts, if they have any education it seems to only come from Southern college. The multi-generation  Adventist who wants to be a minister, especially if they attend one of our different colleges end up working in other fields.

I'm seeing too many people hired to be pastors who are new converts and who started out doing a good job giving the basic Bible studies to their friends and brining them into the church, they get hired as ministers and work until burned out to be replaced by another excited new convert.

But also, on the other side, we have a large number of members who insist on the repeating of tradition in their churches. They reject anything new and when the conferences do hire educated pastors these members shut their pocket books and start having home churches.

[pierrepaul]

I enjoy Joel Osteen's ministry and it was one of many influences which helped me a few years ago when I was at a low point spiritually. Joel Osteen's public speeches are neither Bible centred nor Christ centred, but is often inspirational and practical. Joel Osteen is not a Bible scholar, and perhaps not even a Bible student.

As for "milk" and "meat", I go to restaurants in order to develop relationships and friendships, both personal and professional - I don't really care what's on the menu since I don't really go to restaurants for nourishment. For nourishment, we do our own cooking at home.

Similarly I attend church for the fellowship, the music and the sabbath school (part of fellowship). I don't really care what the speaker has cooked up; I have all the ingredients at home, I have the Master-chef to guide me; I have lots and lots of recipes in my library written by His servants (both SdA and non-SdA), so again I prefer to eat my own cooking.