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Written by Rev Michael Bresciani
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Tuesday, 15 January 2008 |
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Word Count: 1430 The Osteen Bible and other Apostasy Milestones
The word apostasy is derived from the
Greek word apostasis which literally means “desertion.” In the
last few years of time as we know it the Bible clearly promises there will be a
falling away or apostasy in the church and in long held
theological principles.
If you need to ask if an apostasy or a desertion is occurring today you probably
don’t own a radio or a television set. Long held beliefs are being questioned,
set aside and abandoned altogether with alarming frequency. Here are some prime
examples.
On January 5, 2008 a CBN newswomen Kristi Watts interviewing mega
pastor Joel Osteen posed the question “What about the s-word, the
d-word and the h-word.” Osteen acknowledged that he understood that the
interviewer was referring to the words sin, devil and hell.
He quickly admitted that those were words he did not use in his messages because
they tended to promote a negative approach to things. With more than 1300 clear
references to the devil, sin and hell throughout the bible Osteen raised more
questions than he answered.
The first question might be “who commissioned him to re-write the bible." A
second more important question might be "what did
Christ die for?" Up to now we thought he died for the sins of the
world. The third question is derived from the bibles own answer to the second
question and is inevitable. What’s the point of the rest of the bible if that’s
not true, or important?
Recent interviews with Larry King, Glenn Beck and others have proven that Osteen
is a charming uplifting communicator who is hard not to like. His messages are
always positive and are not unlike those of any motivational speaker or self
esteem guru but he is working under the title of “pastor” and that’s were the
doubt is raised.
Osteen is far from the first person to remove the parts of the bible he didn’t
like. Thomas Jefferson used a jackknife to cut out all references to hell and
eternal punishment from the bible. Jefferson was a “deist” and that is a common
belief among all
deists. One major difference between Jefferson and Osteen is that
Jefferson never called himself a pastor.
The biggest question is about timing. As churches slide away from biblical
tenants and secularism creeps into the church all over the world isn’t the very
timing of this new “happy feel good ultra positive gospel” just part and parcel
to the promised apostasy? Millions think it is!
Many of the sermons Osteen preaches are on how to deal with critics. It seems
that 44,000 weekly participants in his church services and 7 million viewers of
the weekly televised broadcasts are getting some flak along with him. In a
success worshipping, big is better society in this country not even that kind of
success can curb the doubt of many people who have only to read their bibles to
see that Osteen is leaving out a big part of the story; many would say the very
heart of the story.
In Canada ministers of both Catholic and protestant churches are being prosecuted, imprisoned,
fined and censured for quoting verses of the bible that condemn the gay
lifestyle. A movement in Canada has begun in the legislature to
begin taxing church properties like Sunday school rooms, kitchens, parking lots
and anything not directly used as a sanctuary for worship. Severe limitations
are being considered on the building of new church buildings.
Leaders like Tristan Emmanuel an ordained Presbyterian pastor, speaker and
activist who prepares Christians for leadership and service in the public square
warn that America is on the same slippery slope as Canada. It may not be long
before American ministers will have to answer for saying what the bible says
about gays, same gender marriages, pre-marital relations and other currently not
politically correct long held beliefs derived from the bible.
Europe has demonstrated that it is far ahead of either Canada or the United
States in secular progressive ideas and actual legislation.
In Spain during the last week of December 2007 almost two million Spaniards took
to the streets of Madrid and filled up Madrid’s famous Colon Plaza in a powerful
show of unity. The Spanish were calling for an end to Spain’s socialist
governments attack on the institution of marriage. The Catholics were joined by
representatives of the Episcopal and other protestant churches but were all
snubbed by Spain’s ruling socialist party.
Cardinal Archbishop Antonio Canizares of Toledo lambasted the socialist
government and said that “Spain's family is threatened by unjust and evil laws."
The ruling socialist party of Spain snuffed its nose at the Pope, Cardinal
Canizares and the demonstrators with a statement that read “we won’t take a
single step back” The new more tolerant government of Spain will not tolerate
over a thousand years of traditional and biblically derived beliefs about
marriage and the family.
The ruling party touting a more tolerant society wasn’t the least bit tolerant
with the Catholic and protestant believers of Spain and concluded their response
with "We will continue working to ensure that Spanish citizens are freer and
have more rights, and so that, at the same time, that our society is
increasingly more respectful and tolerant," referring to its "gay marriage"
policy.
Apostasy is inevitable and it is the byproduct of a world that is being turned
upside down and where previously held values are scoffed at sometimes just
because a minority might be slightly offended. Many of the charges brought
against Canadian ministers were lodged not because someone was physically
accosted, libeled or maligned but only because they were “hurt.” Many are left
wondering who may be “hurt” next. Perhaps convicted murders, rapists, pedophiles
and burglars are hurt because we have put them in jail.
The twisted view of political correctness will continue to pervert the most
established traditions and beliefs known to man until the world will be changed
for good; but no good will come of it. The topsy turvy effect of the tolerance
and multicultural movement is gaining exponentially in spite of warnings and
bible teachings to the contrary.
Writer Ray C. Stedman said in his book “Gods Loving Word” “As a society, we have
our values upside down. Our government creates entire bureaucracies to monitor
minute amounts of suspected carcinogens in our food, air, and water---yet it
also pays subsidies to farmers for producing one of the worst, most highly
cancer-causing substances around: tobacco. We are told we must save the whales,
yet we allow unborn babies to be slaughtered at a rate of 3,000 abortions per
day. School teachers are allowed to teach witchcraft and New Age philosophy in
our public schools, yet the Bible, prayer, and the
Ten Commandments are banned. We sentence peaceful pro-life activists
to prison and we turn convicted repeat killers and rapists loose on society."
Where does it end? That’s easy to answer; it ends with the physical and imminent
return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth to remove forever the reins of government from
the hands of men. In the mean time believers can only continue with what they
know to be right according to the bible…the whole bible; with the s-word, d-word
and h-word included.
Believers who know what Christ has commanded can say what Peter said after being
released from prison where he was sent for preaching the gospel. When the rulers
asked Peter why he kept on preaching the gospel after they had commanded him to
stop he replied with “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29
As for anyone changing, de-emphasizing or deleting any part of the word of God
they should keep this in mind. When judgment begins to unfold a group of people
who have already departed from earth are seen under the care and protection of
Christ himself. It is said that their deaths were for their faithfulness to the
“word of God.” (Revelation 6:9) If some people have allowed their blood to be
shed to proclaim every word of God where does that put someone who throws parts
of it out to please a crowd? That answer is yours to decide.
Rev Michael Bresciani is the author of two books and is a columnist for several
online and print publications. Visit The Website for Insight to find powerful
articles, news, movie reviews and much more from across the USA and around the
globe.
http://www.americanprophet.org
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