It is clear that she is in damage control because her first statement went viral on YouTube, FB, Twitter, and the blogs.
Here is her “defensive” remarks.
“While I admit that I could have been more articulate in my remarks, I stand by my point that when we worship God and are obedient to Him we will be better for it,” she stated. “I did not mean to imply that we don’t worship God; that’s ridiculous, and only the critics and cynics are interpreting my remarks that way.”
Here is what she said before her defensive remarks.
“So, I want you to know this morning: Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy,” Osteen continues. “When you come to church, when you worship Him, you’re not doing it for God really. You’re doing it for yourself, because that’s what makes God happy. Amen?”
Now, let me ask you.
What is there to “interpret?”
One of the things that we have to be very clear about is that we never say things unless we mean them. Anyone that is articulate will sometimes catch what they said or at the very least, correct what was said before it gets out of hand. It is clear that she is standing by her point.
Which means that instead of humbling herself, pride is before her.
All she had to say was, “In light of the Scriptures, my remarks were entirely inaccurate. In the future, I will ensure that I anchor my remarks with concurring Scriptures. Please keep me in your prayers as we seek to worship God and not ourselves. God is concerned about our holiness far above our happiness. Our goal is to fully please God and not ourselves.”
One of the things that we must never do is allow ourselves to get so puffed up that when we say something that is inconsistent with the Scriptures, we fail to correct it.
Was it an honest or deliberate mistake?
After watching what the Osteens have been saying lately, and I could be wrong, it is deliberate.
Why?
Since the passing of John Osteen in 1999, there has been a deliberate change of direction. Every pastor that assumes the pulpit want to establish themselves as the new leader. To be like your predecessor is not healthy. However, when it comes to the Word of God, it is always best to be consistent with the Word of God.
Lakewood Church was a place where you knew that you were going to get the Word of God.
The late John Osteen always, as a former Baptist preacher, told the congregation to open their Bibles. He would always anchor his text with Scripture. On the TV screen, there would be Scriptures so that the people (hospital bound or in prison) could follow.
Correct me if I am wrong, but we have yet to see Joel Osteen anchor one text with Scripture.
The only time Joel touches his Bible is when they make that confession originated by John Osteen.
And then he puts the Bible away.
Yes, throughout Joel’s motivational speeches, he cites stories in the Bible but notice that the people in the front seat would have their Bibles opened but there is no searching of the Scriptures. They take notes while not turning to any Scriptures.
To me this is a clear violation of Acts 17:11.
Everybody is “happy.”
Same thing with Jakes and a few others. Although from time to time, Jakes opens the Bible. Here, I could be wrong too.
Folks, when we are in denial, we will continue to deny the truth and go about our business as if no wrong was committed.
It’s almost like a “What’s the big deal? Lakewood members know what I meant by what I said.”
Yes, they were conditioned to accept it over the years because the Osteens apparently trained them for the last 15 years.
This means that to search the Scriptures to correct error will not happen.
Also, Joel Osteen would have “seasoned” preachers come and give the Word but they come and preach safe messages so that they would be invited back. You can’t resist a large crowd and a generous honorarium.
It is my prayer that people would wake up and see what is happening.
When there is a usurping of the Scriptures with our own thinking, we’ve replaced God and His Word for ours. And they can do no wrong. Sadly, Lakewood members will defend the Osteens to the death.
The danger is clear.
As long as God’s Word is absent, sin is present.
You may say “What sin?”
Exodus 20:3-5 “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image —any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,”
We begin to worship ourselves.
We become God.
That’s why we must never, as Pastor Darren Butler of International Good News Fellowship in Freeport, NY once said, “Never worship the manuscript.”
When you like the way you sound, you have spoken an oracle that came from another source. And as Paul said, “Spreads like a cancer.”
It is just a matter of time before you will say something and it will not be the Bible. Then when people say the Scriptures that refute what was said, we become their enemy. We are the cynics and critics.
But we didn’t say what Victoria Osteen said.
We only quoted what Victoria Osteen said, commented on it, gave refuting Scriptures, and moved on.
Paul said this, “Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”
That’s why all throughout the Bible, you will see people in the Bible citing other places in Scripture that validates their points.
Victoria Osteen has yet to provide supporting Biblical Scripture or solid Biblical foundation for what she said. And she won’t be able to because there is no Scripture to validate what she said. There is no excuse any more because the real time application of the Internet will be quick to point out the error.
Either you are Scripturally accurate or you are not.
Truth is an enemy to lies, false statements, sin, deception, misrepresentations, and mistakes.
At this point, it would be best for Victoria Osteen to hold her peace, repent, and get some help in understanding the Bible. With cameras and YouTube these days, we must all be careful with what we say because it will be addressed.
She doesn’t have the luxury of being defensive and her statements are defending an indefensible position.
The link for this defensive remark came from……
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=24785
Here is a concurring statement from Christian News, please click the link for more info.
prevailing word ministries 