Mr. Positive
Oh, how I wish we could always be just sunshine and positivity. Joel Osteen makes a handsome living that way. Oh, how I wish we could just talk about how to be successful and happy in life. Oh, how I wish we didn’t have to preach (eek! cultural bad word) the gospel to every creature. Oh, how I wish that everyone went to heaven no matter what they believed. Oh, how I wish…..
But there’s this pesky little book called the Bible. And unfortunately, it says that we have to:
-’contend/agonize/fight for-the faith once and for all delivered to the saints’ (Jude 3)
-’stand fast in one spirit…striving for the faith of the gospel….suffering for Jesus’ sake (because of people coming against us)’ (Phili. 1:27-29)
-Warn of false prophets who deceive people (2 Peter 2:1-3)
-Warn of different gospels (Gal. 1:6-9) and different Jesuses (2 Cor. 11:1-4)
-Be a ‘fragrance of death’ to those who are dying. (2 Cor. 2:16)
-Be considered ‘fools’ (2 Cor. 4:10)
Peter, Paul, Jude, James, John and even Jesus Himself were all such wet blankets. They were all so denigrating to other religions and doctrines-having the audacity to declare them false (and of Satan-oh my!). They were all so adamant on there being only one way to salvation. They were all so passionate about the eternal realities of heaven and hell. It’s all so……negative. And it got them all in trouble with their communities and culture and the various religious groups. Their negativity drew great criticism. They were willing to suffer for the sake of those who would be saved and for the sake of the God who called them. What about us?
Oh, I wish we didn’t have to be so negative.
Mr. Positive
Comments
7 Responses to “Mr. Positive”
Can I please puke now? I had never completely grasped the “I will spew you out” concept Jesus spoke of until I watched Joel Osteen once. Gag! The crazier thing is how many people believe that kind of gospel over the One who has been and “is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
I love this blog. Just dripping with sarcasm. Sarcasm is an art form that I love dabbling in now and then. I appreciate this so much. LOL
It’s amazing the following this man has. I would hate to hear my pastor say “I don’t know” when answering a question about his beliefs and the beliefs he’s trying to convey to his congregation or to the world. That’s what he did several times on his Larry King appearance. He couldn’t come out and say THIS IS THE TRUTH Jesus Christ is your only way to salvation and if you don’t believe that you are fatally wrong! I felt like he didn’t want to offend anyone or say any other religion was in error. Well, too bad, sometimes the Truth is offensive to others, but as the pastor of the largest church in the nation (I guess), good grief, you’d think this guy would know better! What an opportunity he has being on TV in front of millions of viewers and speak the Truth as he should! Dangit, Greg, we gotta get you on Larry King or the Oprah show somehow. LOL
Well said Cynthia!
What good does it do to have such a following and be afraid of offending people by saying something? What if the apostles had been afraid of offending people? Where would the world be today in the stand of Christianity? We would ALL be in some serious trouble. Greg, get out there and show those Pastors how it’s done! :)
Jesus has been called many things, most of them positive, but He was also called a rock of offence and a stumblingstone. Jesus himself said that He came not to send peace on earth but a sword. We need to come clean with the seriousness of the matter. Grace is grace because it cost so much. Cheap grace will leave people dead.
I remember something Greg said once that has stayed with me and tempered me on many occasion. He said,” Love without truth is hypocracy… and truth without love is brutality. ” I have been guilty of both ends of this spectrum.
I think there are alot of people around the counrty that seek to be insulted any time someone does not agree with them. You hear it in the cries of inequality, in racism and in other areas of controversy. Although there are biased people without a doubt, becoming offended and victimized seems to be an approach that has gotten a lot of attention in our country… and it has worked to move agendas to the forefront.
I say that to say this…. In sharing with anyone about the way of salvation, the truth about eternity apart from Christ must be an essential element.The reality of Hell, suffering and torment are very real, but without love, kindness and a compassionate heart to bear the message, it will fall upon deaf ears and people will only hear judgement.
While I am the first to agree with everything posted, I know that for myself, I get caught up in the controversy too. I become personally offended when someone wants to minimize the cross and the price of my Lord’s blood… and I will fiercly defend my faith. It is then, that I can easily forget to separate the sin from the sinner and I use truth as an offensive weapon instead of an instrument or instead of a defense to quench the firey darts of the enemy. When this happens, I have lost credibility to bear the truth.
My prayer for myself is that the Holy Spirit would remind me of these things in the moment. That I would be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.
Greg has been such an amazing example of love and grace to those who oppose the gospel. To those who oppose Lighthouse and even those who oppose the sheep that God has placed in his charge. I have observed this from the moment he stepped up as our pastor and placed himself in the center of the arena with spears and darts flying all around. He consistently showed grace to those in opposition and shared simple truth. Thanks greg..There is such a thing as Mr. Positive… and you don’t have to corrupt the truth or softsell it to be one.
wow susan…. amen, and amen again…. well put and great insight! blessings.
well it’s risky and there is potential for failure, but there is always room for redemption. theprevailingcity@gmail.com