Life Beats You Up, So Why Do We Need Organized Religion To Do The Same? Joel Osteen Quotes
Posted: Sunday, January 08, 2012
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
Did you come from the generation that church has implanted thoughts in your mind such as “God is watching you,” “you should do this,” “you shouldn’t do that,” rules, rules and more rules. Did you feel so beaten up with the hardness of life and then when you went to church had even more of a beating? Did that experience in life make you rebel against organized religion and throw out the baby with the bath water, so to speak? How did that make you see God?
One of Joel Osteen’s quotes are “Most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change.”
For so long, I have had so many disappointments with organized religion and I was losing hope in the direction it was going. However, tonight I listened to an interview with Joel Osteen (by Oprah Winfrey) and I began to see hope as he described his church. I did not say it was perfect but maybe it is a movement towards what the “Sunday Service” should and would do for you.
First of all, the choir members were not paid; they were all volunteers.
“Most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change.”
Even more important than the above-mentioned pluses are the things that I could receive from hearing a sermon that would be a practical enhancement to my life. In addition to hearing that I need to turn from sin, I need to hear positive things about God. Does he wish the best for me? Does he love me? Does he care what happens to me? Is he really there to help me fulfill my dreams? Will I be inspired (by a sermon) to uplift others, to help change the world or to use my talents for the service of God?
Will my relationship with God be closer when I hear phrases like “get up every morning and be excited about the gift of life” or “stay amazed with God’s goodness” or even “You’re greatest victories are in his favor?”
What do you think about positive encouragement versus words that just beat you up?
Here are a few of Joel Osteen’s quotes that I particularly like. Notice how practical (like the Bible) they are.
Quotes by Joel Osteen
We were old sinners - but when we came to Christ we are not sinners anymore.
Only God can look at somebody's heart.
Prospering just doesn't have to do with money.
I think God's justice is making wrongs right.
I don't go down the road of condemning.
I think Bible principles are principles for life.
I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know. Even if you have things that are upsetting you, take a step of faith and begin to thank God for His goodness in your life. Thank Him for working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you do, you will walk forward into the life of blessing He has in store for you!
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)I love these quotes, Fran. Living in Houston, I know a lot of church leaders who despise Joel Osteen, but I have to believe it's a matter of jealously. Osteen has succeeded where a lot of others have failed. One thing for sure, his positive message has helped a lot of people in down-to-earth, practical ways. That means a lot, as far as I'm concerned.Even as I wrote this, I knew it would be controversial. I just remember, as a child, so many preachers literally putting the "fear of God" into me. I hope I also came across as believing that we still need to recognize our wrong doings - just not to dwell on them. I think we have to forgive ourselves.
Thanks for your opinion on this subject.
We're taught to start beating ourselves up as soon as we're born- then religion gives it a kick upstairs. I like the lines- "if our heart is right and filled with love, the desire to do the right thing will be pure and natural," Some people think that they need a guide book to tell them how to do something that should, and probably would, do naturally. Good and interesting article Fran- Thanks- Always EllaI think my children (next generation) will be more confident with their spiritual lives as well as other things in their lives. I think we can't even imagine how much God loves us. At the same time, I still feel guilty about so many things and I should know how to forgive myself. Anyway, I have never actually heard this minister speak...I heard Oprah interview him, but I think that may be something I will be doing.
Thanks so much, Ella.I've heard Joel Osteen "talk" I prefer the word talk to the word "preach" because I don't think he does what that word implies to us. What he does, in effect, is attempt to guide us back to our own selves for the answers, which is where we really belong. The people who do not like him, if you will, don't like that- they want to be able to continue to believe that an omnipotenet being outside ourselves is responsible for everything that happens to us-when that "being," so to speak, is within us- it's life itself. When we say, I want God to forgive me, we are saying, I want me to forgive me. And that's the only way we will have forgiveness from any "God"- to gain the forgiveness of the God within.
We learn to forgive ourselves the same way we would forgive another person- by understanding and compassion- toward ourselves. The way we forgive a child, because he "didn't know any better, at that point in time he hadn't learned how to disallow outside influences from directing his own actions.This is something we,hopefully, learn as we go along. So we have to understand and forgive our own ignorance at certain points in time.
Hope you don't think that I'm "preaching" in the way that word means to us- I'm just "talking" about how I think about this subject. Show & tell LOL. Thanks for listening Fran. Always- Ella
Ella, I love this comment. You said it so much better than I did: "What he does, in effect, is attempt to guide us back to our own selves for the answers, which is where we really belong." I know what you mean. Some people look at God as Santa Clause---I am afraid until I was spiritually more mature, I was one of those people.
As for forgiving ourselves, I love what you say about that, too. I reared my children in an era that it was acceptable to spank your child. Now, even though my daughtersf seem happy and well rounded, I feel very badly about that. I didn't know any better, so now I will forgive myself. (Now you have got me going - I may have to post something about spanking back in the day)
Thanks so much, Ella...you made my day!
Thanks for writing this, because I am a big Joel Osteen watcher, and I loved his father (when he was living) too. In fact, theirs is my kind of church. Yes, I grew up in the 'hell and brimstone' type of church, but I chose the 'encouraging full gospel' church as an adult. I love knowing that God loves me, and is always willing to give another chance, if I'm willing to grow and change. Joel Osteen is an encourager, that's his life's work, and as christians it's our ministry too. Great Article!Elle, I actually have never heard him speak, but since this interview, I intend to. He reminds me somewhat of Robert Schuller. His whole philosophy just seems "Christ-like" to me.
You are right - Osteen is an encourager and isn't that what we all need, after all?
Thanks, Elle.
Great article Fran.
Deliver me from people who "do the right thing" out of fear, condemnation and/or both. What a difficult way to live one's life.
It seems to me that when one feels uplifted and forgiven then doing the right thing, most of the time, just naturally follows. I wish that could be the starting place from which we were all launched verses our sinfulness.
Joel Osteen rocks and I don't even consider myself christian.
Best, dawn
So much torture over guilt but if God can forgive us, why can't we forgive ourselves and move on? I definitely need the kind of encouragement that Joel Osteen could give.
Thank you so much for reading my article and commenting, Dawn. I am also honored that you became my fan and now I am a fan of yours. I am way behind on reading articles, but I will look forward to reading yours.
Thanks for taking the time to discuss that, I really feel strongly about it and also love learning more on that topic. If achievable, while you gain competence, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is really helpful for me.OK, I will and thank you for reading my article. God Bless!!
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