11.07.2007

like a foolish man who built his house

Ps127:1 says "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." I'm guessing most pastors know this v. If that's so, two things must be: either they believe that everything they believe the Lord put into their head, or they believe it doesn't matter. I'm not sure which worries me more.

In scenario one, they think they can do no wrong. Staff that disagree with them aren't speaking to God. Approaches that don't mesh with the approach they have set up won't be considered. Flock who disagree or dissent are the ones in sin.

In scenario two, they think churches follow certain phases and stages naturally. Trials are not for learning; trials can be overcome by human effort. Fads can be followed, and the flock's comfort is more important than the flock's growth.

I guess that's why I despise Osteen so much and think he's an antichrist. Because he embodies both perspectives. I guess he'll find out on JDay that not preaching the gospel in favor of h&w is his own mind and not the Lord's. I guess he'll find out that it does matter whether or not the Lord is involved, and that human effort won't count for squat before the throne. And I guess he'll find out that wolves in sheep's clothing won't change the sheep/goat categorization.

Joel, keep walking to that left side.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Let us not forget that the real Antichrist will, when he comes on to the world scene will be very popular. He will be very charismatic. So the point is when we look for the “Antichrist” we shouldn’t be looking for a villain. We shouldn’t be looking for a bad guy, for that is not how he is going to appear, not to most people, at least not at first.

In fact he is going to appear as a savior. He is actually going to be responsible or seem to be responsible in solving some of humanity’s most intractable problems. Perhaps he is going to be responsible for curing some disease, or develop ways to make things grow on barren land.

This is why I am guessing that he will be an industrialist because only an industrialist could have the infrastructures to develop such technology. Obviously what pushes this guy into the world stage would be the continuing success of his company.

And from there his success and charisma is going to pull him into politics. I say pull but it was his plan all along, though like the best of politicians he will make it look like he only begrudgingly entered the political sphere.

I believe he will become the head of the European Union, an entity that right noW isn’t that strong, but since I see see this as happening from 30-50 years from now I see that by then the organization will have grown in strength

I still believe we have a generation or two before he arises, but in the term of human history a generation or two isn’t that long from now.