Comments on: Voodoo Christianity

By: jordan

jordan — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:12:53 +0000

voodoo is very wonderful and works along side chistain beleifs a great study and respect to our saints.

By: MJB

MJB — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:55:30 +0000

These are interesting points that are being made. Debate and discussion, although sometimes critical and harsh, is necessary. So I agree with differing points of view. I will add that I work for Joel Osteen Ministries and I have to tell you that our most harsh, most hateful critics are the very people we are suppose to be in Christian community with. I think sometimes satan is more interested in keeping believers busy with gossip, and criticism, so as to keep us from doing the work we are called to do. Let me start off by saying that I am the first in line when it comes to speaking up against things that I believe to be false or misguided. I did a lot of research and had a lot of discussion before I took the position here. I’m an educated late twenties creative who listens to indie rock on vinyl and reads Dave Eggers as well as Donald Miller if this helps you visualize my demographic. Are there things about this ministry and Joel’s teachings that I don’t totally 100% agree with? Sure. And I would guess that that is probably the case regarding each of your pastors and teachers. I cannot speak for the other ministries listed here, but this Ministry cannot be summed up in the 28 minute TV program.

I believe the greater point to made (and I don’t mean to get off track from the point Karen was initially making) is that we each need to trust that God can use a ministry for his glory no matter how broken or disjointed it might be. This Ministry here is very very involved in missions. We have small groups, and Bible Study. We have teaching pastors and youth groups. Get this, people in this church share their faith and their Christ experiences! I just left this very entry to go with our entire department and pray for a man who is having surgery tomorrow. There is fruit here and growth here. I see and hear people everyday who talk about how Joel and this church have changed their lives.

Is His message for me? Not really. Is it for someone? Probably so. We cannot overlook the growth and healing that a ministry can bring simply because we don’t like it.

Finally, I’m not saying that you need to support every ministry and side with every preacher or teacher that comes along, I believe that we are called to love people, to share Christ’s love for them, and proclaim to them through our giving and our love that a time is coming when all things will be redeemed. If we concern ourselves with those matters and not with hatred and criticism towards other ministries, God can and will take care of the rest.

I truly believe God will use the leaders in Ministry who are truly looking to grow His kingdom and He is big enough and mighty enough to shut the doors on the ministries and leaders that aren’t.

By: Allen Kleine Deters

Allen Kleine Deters — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:46:44 +0000

Absolutely loved it. You nailed it straight on. I want to throw something at the TV everytime Joel Olsteen, Joyce, or any of the others come on.
I hate the fact that so many people see them as representative of the rest of us who are just trying to live our part in the kingdom through mission and restoration.

Thanks for this.

akd

By: Insert Correct Prayer in Slot

Insert Correct Prayer in Slot — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:02:50 +0000

[...] ran across this post on the Burnside Writers Collective blog about the prosperity gospel as compared to the voodoo-type beliefs that cause people to kill and [...]

By: Vince

Vince — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:48:39 +0000

You know it’s funny…the word “prosper” means to make succesful (sometimes financially but not always). If God doesn’t want us to be succesful then you would have to say that He wants us to fail. You don’t believe God wants us to fail do you? God indeed wants us to prosper! Spiritually speaking of course.
I don’t agree with everything Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar and Joyce Meyer say but are we any better when we slam our fellow Christians? I’ve heard them speak and it seems to me the majority of their messages are about how Jesus can bring change to our crummy spiritual lives. But I guess the cool thing is to be negative toward evangelicals these days.

By: Stephen Simpson

Stephen Simpson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:59:42 +0000

Good stuff, Karen. Sadly, the prosperity gospel is growing fastest in third world countries. It’s booming in Africa. Makes me sick.

James has a point in that none of us would be here talking about his if we didn’t, at some point, feel like there was something in it for us. But voodoo isn’t even an analogy for the prosperity gospel — they’re the same thing.

By: David K. Wheeler

David K. Wheeler — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:52:11 +0000

I agree the analogy is a stark image, but necessary. A false gospel preached in favor of materialism, suggesting that the benefits reaped of faith can be quantified in a 401K does not seem to line up with the Son of Man who has nowhere to rest his head. And how are these preachers able to afford their own booty? The millions of dollars paid by good, if misguided, individuals who have bought into the crap.

Good article, Karen.

By: James

James — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:17:56 +0000

By the way, when I read this, my first thought was also about how huge a leap it was from chopping off body parts to preaching prosperity. I dwelled on that thought for, I dunno, maybe half a second. I’ve read enough of Karen’s writing to know that she is no dummy. She chose her words carefully, and it is clear that she understands the difference in intensity between severing limbs and preaching materialism. We don’t really need to call her on this one. Her analogy is a good one.

By: James

James — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:07:11 +0000

(searches for sticking-out-tongue smiley)

By: Jordan Green

Jordan Green — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:29:05 +0000

@James: Responding to D.I.T. with “I’m rubber and you are glue”, on the other hand, would be totally justified.