John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us.
(Mark 9:38-40)
Last Wednesday night somehow our class discussion detoured to the recent comments of Victoria Osteen. Now I have my own issues with the preaching of Joel Osteen but the Lord convicted me with the above verse a few years back as well as some others.
Yes, there is great lack in the presentation of the Word of God by Joel Osteen, but as I shared with my class, I used to watch his father. He would come on television on Friday or Saturday nights around 11pm. I would sit in front of the televisions as a 12 year old girl with my Bible and my notebook and would try to learn from him. I sat in front of my television with my Bible held up and I recited that confession, “This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today I will be taught the Word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be the same. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever-living, seed of the Word of God. I will never be the same. I will never be the same. Never never never will I ever be the same. In Jesus name. Amen”
Joel walks a thin line on a wide path… and he very much appears to be an ear tickling teacher, but personally I have not heard him say that Jesus is not the Christ. I have not heard him deny the Deity, death or resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ… and if God can use a donkey… He can use Joel and He can use Victoria… even though she appears to have stuck her foot in her mouth BIG time in front of millions.
I just thank God that all my misspoken words have not been broadcasted out before millions. I am sure I have said a plenty of stupid things in my frail, terrified, weak attempt to proclaim the Word of God and somehow encourage and convince others to love Him as much as I do.
Now, Joel Osteen is not going to be my recommendation to anyone who asks me for help in growing in the grace and knowledge of God. I will most definitely point them toward the David Jeremiah’s, Charles Stanley’s, Chuck Swindoll’s, Ravi Zacharais’, and Kay Arthur’s. Please don’t confuse my grace with propagating, it’s not.
With all the Osteen talk passing through my newsfeed, I just had to go back and listen to some old John Osteen…
There I am in my sunken den on my knees in the floor, in front of the television, using the bay window rise it sat on as a table for my Bible and notebook… it took God a while to bring that confession to fruition… but He did.
Who knows… maybe there is a 12 year old little girl sitting in front of her television watching Joel, reciting that beginning confession… what might God do within her in the next 12 years?