The Bible Isn't a Self-Help Book, Despite What Your Megachurch Pastor Might Tell You Feel good! Be happy! Be nice!
There you go. I just summed up the message that millions of Christians will be hearing at the megachurches of Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, and many others this weekend. If you were planning to go, now thereâs no need. Youâre welcome. In fact, if you're driving there and you see a "Don't worry, be happy" bumper sticker on the back of someone's minivan, you might as well turn around and head home. That's about all you were going to hear when you got there anyway. Sure, they might come up with more compelling ways to communicate it, but in the end, when you dig past the charisma and the personality of the pastors who utter this gibberish, this is all you're really left with. An episode of Barney. Syrup and sugar. A smile and a pat on the head. A self-help speech." -- Matt Walsh
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Tell 'em what they want to hear vs Tell 'em what they need to hear
(feel good message vs truth on the rocks - stirred and shaken)
Grifter vs buddy-down-the-block.
Simple math. Funny how so many people show up for their feel-good massage on Sunday.
Posted by: cond0011 at February 22, 2015 12:41 AMIn other words, works are necessary. Faith without works is dead.
Essentially the Catholic position.
Of course, the Catholic Church wrote the Bible, at least the first edition.
Posted by: bob sykes at February 22, 2015 4:09 AMFor as you judge so will you be judged and the measure with which you measure, will be measured out to you.
Matthew 7 is likely the single most comprehensive chapter in the Bible on how we should live our lives. Full of guidance and wisdom!
Posted by: Snakepit Kansas at February 22, 2015 6:27 AMActually, we believe that God wrote the first edition. And transmitted it to Moshe and the other prophets. Matthew is the most "Jewish" of the Gospels. There is nothing in the Sermon on the Mount, for example, that an orthodox/orthoprax Jewish preacher could not preach to a Jewish audience. Actually, it was preached by a Jewish preacher to a Jewish audience after all. Like other rabbinic preachers and teachers of his time, Jesus was building fences around the Law - in the Sermon, they are internal and psychological, rather than strictly practical. But, remember, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Posted by: Punditarian at February 22, 2015 7:24 AMBuild on a rock, not sand is actually bad building practice. You can look it up
Posted by: bgarrett at February 22, 2015 8:56 AMWe need a theme-tune for our Super Fun Church of Nice. Here's one from page 666 in the church hymenal:
http://youtu.be/w3HELtX1B5U
FEELS ERBODDY!
I feel your pain, don't worry be happy, can't we all just get along, and I'm OK you're OK we're all OK, have been the funeral dirge of the degenerate generation for years. And we're just starting to "get it"?
Posted by: indyjonesouthere at February 23, 2015 8:38 AMMeh, Osteen is a motivational speaker that mentions God once in a while. He probably even helps people sometimes. Just too bad he pretends to be a pastor.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 23, 2015 9:57 PM
HOME