Bishop TD Jakes apologizes for “Kenya” remarks : Still no apology to Elder Davidlee Richardson

 

Bishop TD Jakes apologizes for “Kenya” comments

http://www.jambonewspot.com/bishop-td-jakes-apologizes-for-kenya-comments/   

Posted by admin on Thursday, October 17, 2013 ·


Bishop TD Jakes has apologized for remarks he made at Potters House in Dallas on Sunday while delivering a sermon. The mega pastor made comments stating that natives in Kenya drink water because of his ministry as he was preaching on Sunday before his congregation. He made the comments as he launched a scathing attack at a new reality show “The Pastors of LA”. He was castigating the show for portraying preachers in a bad light. (Read: Bishop TD Jakes: Native all over Kenya drink water because of my ministry)


Bishop Jakes also went further to say that “the” hospital in Nairobi also survives because of the work of his Ministry. There are a number of Hospitals in Nairobi and it was not clear which hospital he was referring to.


He made the remarks when he was emphasizing that his of Ministry gives back to the community and the less fortunate and it does not just rake in money from the church worshippers. Here is his exact quote:


“So let the work I’ve done speak for me. You are sowing into good ground. And the 300 families that are employed in this ministry eat from this ministry, work in this ministry, and help us to produce the excellence that we do. The natives all over Kenya drink water because of this ministry. And the hospital in Nairobi survives because of this ministry.”


Here is his apology in full:


An attempt in last Sunday’s sermon to distinguish myself from an American television program portraying preachers in a manner that I found unseemly has caused some offense in Kenya. For that I apologize. 

My intent was to show the extensive humanitarian efforts by TD Jakes Ministries through its MegaCARE arm as a means of further distinguishing this organization from the TV program’s exclusive focus on the personal material wealth of the individual ministers over the works of the Gospel. 
The attempt was to highlight one well and one hospital wing in Kenya as one example of this ministry’s worldwide efforts. It was by no means meant to take responsibility for an entire nation or to minimize the contributions of its people.

My focus has always been about the mission of helping hurting people in every circumstance of life, anywhere in the world.

The extemporaneous comments when taken out of context convey a meaning far from the intent of my heart. I meant only to communicate to my constituents that my love is for people as demonstrated through years of practical ministry.

The fact that these heart-felt words have been taken to mean anything other than their original intent deeply saddens me.

I love Kenya and the entire continent of Africa. I am proud of its efforts and grateful to have had an opportunity to minister to its people on numerous occasions. 
I trust that this explanation will end this apparent misunderstanding.

In His service,
Bishop Jakes

Comment  to article

David Lee · Wes Virginia State University

It would have been nice to receive a letter of sorts like the one Bishop wrote to explain his actions/comments made while trying to point out the differences between he and the Preachers of LA. I do not believe all preachers in LA or Dallas are smitten by an insatiable need for wealth. I am praying for our Pastors as it is apparent that they are under severe attack.

It would have been equally appropriate to receive a letter of apology from my Pastor after they realized they hurt me and my two small children who are forever scarred from that experience while watching 4 police officers and men in suits drag me out of church, with everyone watching during Praise and Worship. *All over a book that educates God's people about money and the church.

I fasted for 40 days and then called Bishop - my Pastor of more than 20 years trusting that an explanation would end the apparent misunderstanding, but he never called me back. All I got was this foolish letter in the mail two days after they threw me out????? Yes I actually received an official letter exiling me from church :( Why does he respond so strongly to issues surrounding money??? And what's up with the attempted manipulation of the facts? What is really going on??? Thank you to my Kenyan brothers and sisters for your bravery to reveal to us the hidden truth.

TD Jakes has long time Elder escorted out of church: Elder Davidlee Richardson has been apart of the Potters house church for a number of years, and decided to write a book entitled “The Sunday Morning Stick Up. What your pastor doesn’t want you to know about tithes.”

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2013/02/td-jakes-has-long-time-elder-escorted.html  

 

David Lee

FINALLY SOMEONE FROM THE LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS GIVEN AN OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM THE POTTER'S HOUSE OF DALLAS INC. WHERE BISHOP T.D. JAKES IS THE PASTOR..... READ BELOW..... THANK YOU ELDER BRETT GILFORD (WHO OPERATES AND IS SPEAKING AS AN ELDER FROM THE CHURCH FOR YOUR RESPONSE)

From Elder Brett Gilford

Why do you continue to portray this picture of you being somehow mistreated and your children emotionally scarred by The Potters House. You are only giving the people who follow you a half truth. So since you wont I will. I want to reference in part this email I sent to you in March of this year after the incident and listening to some audio comments you made: “One thing you might be unaware of and I hadn’t revealed to you was that I witnessed 90 % of what happened to you that Sunday morning.

I came in to get an envelope for my tithes and was told that you had been asked several times to leave but you refused. Let me back up it is my understanding that after your talk with Pastor Brady who is the Campus Pastor of The Potters House North where you were serving you were set down, but were still welcome to attend services there (which was why you were there that morning) on the condition that you would respect the House and not promote your views amongst the congregants.

When it was observed that morning you were proselytizing your beliefs, you were asked to leave several times. After your refusal the police were subsequently summoned to intervene. They asked you to leave and you stood your ground and refused. Your children were then escorted out crying. When the police motioned towards you, you then flopped to the floor and told them they would have to carry you out of there. After several minutes with you lying on the floor refusing to get up two more officers came over and they obliged your request to be carried out.”

There were no men in suits just those four officers. Why on earth do you think that you deserved a return call from the leader of a church that you had been attending and serving under false pretenses for so many years? Once again I reference the prior mentioned email: “You mention on your audio that you “were stripped” of the ministerial credentials you possessed for over twenty years. Why would you be so dismayed that they revoked your privileges to serve as a leader in a ministry that you don’t believe their tenets? The decent and orderly thing I would have done and you should have, is to voluntarily step down when you first realized that you were not in alignment with them.

There is no way I am going to get up at Odark thirty in the am, drag my kids out of bed and go somewhere every Sunday morning, lying or rather giving the false impression that “this is my church, I’m a leader in this church and everything that they stand for I do also”. How could you? Long before you began to write your book you could have quietly done so. Once again it’s my understanding your wife felt the same way you do and her attendance had dwindled noticeably. You should have followed her lead.”

It is my understanding that you spent 14 years in “research” for your book, which tells me from what I’ve learned along the way that you have a stronghold, meaning a fortified thought. Might I suggest a book for you to read that I’m just about to complete by Bishop I.V. Hilliard: “The Cake, The Cup and The Coin.” It might shed light for you as it did for me on the topic of “Honoring your Spiritual Leaders” and the subsequent blessing that accompanies it.
In His Righteousness,
Brett

 

http://www.pimppreacher.com/Mega-Fest-Mess-Madea-Gives-a-Milli.html

Also see,

Prosperity Gospel-word of faith pimps Joel Osteen and TD Jakes 'Taking Dallas Over for Jesus' With MegaFest 2013

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2013/05/prosperity-gospel-word-of-faith-pimps.html

Apostasy Alert: T.D. Jakes Joins New Age Priestess Oprah Winfrey Lifeclass

http://beginningandend.com/apostasy-alert-td-jakes-yoked-age-priestess-oprah-winfrey/   

April 24, 2012 By Beginning and End 111 Comments

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. ” Matthew 7:15

T.D. Jakes – Prosperity Gospel Preacher Goes  New Age

Prosperity Gospel Preacher T.D. Jakes has now officially yoked himself with the New Age Movement as he has joined Oprah Winfrey’s roster of New Age mystics and gurus for her “Lifeclass Series.” Jakes, who is famous for saying “Jesus is the product” when referring to his multi-million dollar media empire which includes books, movies and his Potter’s House Prosperity Gospel church, is now selling his wares to Oprah Winfrey’s mega-audience of devoted followers. And in Jakes’ preaching on “Purpose” and how to find it, there is no mention of the name of Jesus Christ.

Oprah: New Age High Priestess

Oprah’s Lifeclass is teaching another gospel.

Oprah Winfrey has been called “America’s pastor.” She is one of the most powerful and influential people on the planet. And to many she is perceived as a voice of Christianity. But the spirituality she promotes is New Age.  The New Age Movement (the spiritual branch of the Illuminati) is premised on 3 basic ideas: 1) God is in everything 2) You have a divine spark in you which through various methods and rituals can be accessed and utilized and 3) once utilized, you have the ability to become a god. Oprah is one of the biggest promoters of New Age doctrine. Here is Oprah denying the Bible’s teaching that salvation only comes in Jesus Christ:


The belief in Jesus Christ is the basic principle of Christianity. However, Oprah is not a Bible-believing Christian. She has created a Jesus that suits her own personal tastes. In fact from her own statement, one does not have to believe in Jesus or God to go to Heaven. They can just believe in “The Light.”   Here she is outlining New Age Doctrine once again through her prior series of online classes:


The term “Christ Consciousness” is a New Age term that does not refer to worshiping Jesus Christ, it refers to being godlike and the idea that people can access God from within themselves and do not need the teachings of the Bible. Luciferian New Age leaders like Benjamin Creme and Alice Bailey reference the Christ Consciousness in their teachings as what resides in certain special “ascended masters” who will help lead us to the New World Order. This is all the same deception from the Garden of Eden that Satan used with Eve:

Now the serpent was more [subtle] than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. — Genesis 3:1-6

The promise of godhood has been one of Satan’s main seductions from the beginning of civilization. And since sin has rendered the inner nature of humanity in rebellion against God, the lure of doing away with religion and creating one’s own path to divinity or heaven is extremely tempting. If you are god, then your sin no longer matters. Your eternal fate is no longer at risk because you make up the rules and play judge. This is why the increasingly popular “all religions lead to Heaven” philosophy grown so quickly in society. And it is just what Satan wants for all people because it will ensure that they will go to hell.
Oprah also promotes Marianne Williamson and her book, A Course in Miracles. Williamson (who at one time had a show on Oprah’s radio network)  writes the following in her book:

“There is no sin. . . ” pg. 9
• A “slain Christ has no meaning.” pg. 10
• “The journey to the cross should be the last ‘useless journey.’ ” pg. 11
• “Do not make the pathetic error of ‘clinging to the old rugged cross.’” pg. 12
• “The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol… It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray.” pg. 13
• “God is in everything I see.”14
• “The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself.” pg. 15
• “The oneness of the Creator and the creation is your wholeness, your sanity and your limitless power.” pg. 16
• “The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation.” pg. 17 (source).

This again has nothing to do with the Bible. Williamson also claims the book was written via channeling ‘spirit guides’ a practice that is forbidden in the Bible.  Oprah has also stated that she channels spirits and even knows them by name. Her show was the chief promoter of the best-selling book The Secret, a book that focused on New Age style witchcraft as the key to obtaining all sorts of material wealth and personal success. It popularized, “The Law of Attraction”, an occult technique that involves visualizing a certain goal, constantly focusing and doing certain practices as if it has already happened and then “attracting” it by your constant thoughts and focus. Its author, Rhonda Byrne writes: “All good things are your birthright! You are the creator of you, and the law of attraction is your magnificent tool to create whatever you want in you life. Welcome to the magic of life, and the magnificence of You!” (p. 41)
Of course the Bible says of Jesus Christ:  “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3). The Secret reveals its true message later on in the book:

“You are God in a physical body. You are Spirit in the flesh. You are Eternal Life expressing itself as you.” (p. 164)

This underscores the message of The Secret and the New Age: that a person can become God. This is of course complete contradictory to the Bible and is following the deception of Satan.
T.D. Jakes Joins in The Heresy

T.D. Jakes has received the Illuminati’s stamp of approval.

Now given that Oprah has been so involved with the New Age, one would wonder why T.D. Jakes would be doing a “Life Class” with her to begin with?  The Bible teaches Christians not to be yoked with unbelievers in spiritual endeavors. And it specifically instructs pastors:

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” — 2 Timothy 4:1-5

A  Pastor’s duty first and foremost is to preach the Gospel, whether it is “in season” or in an area where it is not welcome. At a minimum, Jakes should make sure the audience knows his Christian beliefs are different from Oprah’s.  But once hearing him present his lessons, it becomes obvious. Jakes does not preach the Gospel or mention Jesus Christ with Oprah at all.

Jakes teaching on purpose in life:

Notice there is no mention of Jesus, sin or the fact that unbelievers are going to hell. Jakes is focused on “passion” as the source of finding purpose in life. The Bible teaches that our purpose as humans is to have a relationship with God eternally in Heaven. And that comes through Jesus Christ. So what is Jakes really talking about? He is focused on human-centered purpose which is just following one’s own personal desires and dreams with no regard for God or one’s sin. How can any true Christian preacher, teach on having purpose without God? The only scripture Jakes barely references was the Apostle Peter walking on water for a few seconds after Jesus empowered him. Jakes uses the reference to encourage listeners to follow their own passions. Peter was able to step on water because he was following Jesus. It was only when Peter looked down and let his heart take over that he sank. And that is what the false prophet Jakes is teaching. And he even states: “this is the good news!” No, it is not. It is a false gospel.


The Book of Ecclesiastes is almost a Biblical version of a “Life Class.” King Solomon, the wisest man on Earth, had it all. Immense wealth, a Kingdom of people who loved him, peace from wars and battles and hundreds of wives and mistresses. He pursued every vice, pleasure and lust that was in his heart. And yet he found it all was meaningless. He saw that in all the plans and aspirations people have, that life is just an endless cycle. A person works, obtains wealth, to then work more and obtain more wealth, only to grow old, die and be forgotten. Kings who built monuments a thousand years ago, are no longer remembered. Life in itself, is an utterly pointless cycle. Why? Because we are all going to die. Our time on Earth is brief. Without a relationship with God, who is eternal, who is infinite, who is outside of time, who is Spirit, we are just living out the same pattern of generations past. But Solomon finally learned that having eternal life and a loving relationship with God, truly makes life worth living. The wisest man finished his book writing:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man

For a Christian, purpose is only found in God. Yet Jakes leaves God out of the equation.Here is Bishop Jakes answering a woman in the crowd who says she is suffering from a lack of faith:

The young woman says she was was raised to have faith but is struggling. This is a very legitimate problem.  And Jakes’ advice is to “take baby steps?” What about praying to God or reading Scripture? The Bible says: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. “ (Romans 10:17).   Jakes tells the woman to conquer her fears on her own. The Bible says Jesus Christ fights the battles for you.   T.D. Jakes is preaching heresy, denying Jesus Christ and proving to be a false prophet. The people in Oprah’s Lifeclass are dealing with serious challenges and problems. There is nothing wrong with seeking a way to stop abuse, get out of financial problems, repair a marriage or reconcile with your children.  We all face problems and Jesus teaches us that God cares about us and wants to address them:

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:25-33)

Our blessings in life come by seeking God and His righteousness, which comes through faith in Jesus. The Christian life is not about “doing your own thing.” It is about letting your ego go and living life the way God has instructed. When John the Baptist started his ministry, proclaiming that the Messiah had arrived in Israel and baptizing hundreds, he saw some of his followers leaving him to go follow Jesus. Some of the people around John questioned him, to see how he felt about losing some of his followers and John replied:

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.” (John 3:29-31).

John the Baptist recognized that he was not the “Groom at the wedding”, he was just a supporting cast member. Jesus is the star of a Christian’s life. So John rejoiced at seeing people going to Jesus. He recognized that he needed to decrease his ego and his “purpose” so that God could be glorified. The New Age promotes the idea that each individual is their own god and center of the universe so everything in this world should be theirs. And Jakes is falling right in line with that with this unbiblical advice. He is willing to sacrifice the Gospel and real Christian teaching to be a part of Oprah’s New Age classes and of course, have access to her millions of devoted followers (through the class, Oprah made several mentions of Jakes’ recently released book).

T.D.  Jakes teaching on finding direction in life:

Again, no mention of God, Jesus Christ or the Gospel. He says that whatever fits your life, “if it brings you gratification, if it brings you fulfillment, if it seems to fits into the complexity of your life” then that is your purpose. So like New Age doctrine, Jakes is preaching that a person should just follow their hearts and live their life that way. What if a person is gratified in being a Buddhist and never believing in Jesus Christ? What if someone finds fulfillment in dating a married woman and all the “complexities” that come with adultery? Again this is heresy being taught by a false teacher. The bible says since our nature is sinful and in rebellion against God, we should not trust our hearts: ” The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Until we have a right spirit in us, our own desires will lead us in a life where we try to achieve our own dreams and desires without God. And that is deception because it will never lead to fulfillment and it will never lead to eternal life. But yet Jakes continues to teach this New Age philosophy which offers many paths to Heaven and many roads to truth. However, that is not what Jesus Christ taught:

” Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6

Please leave your seat for Oprah’s Lifeclass empty.

Pray for Jakes to return to the Bible and its truths. There are many people in the world today who are hurting. Many people who are truly and genuinely seeking purpose in life. And if you are a Christian, you know the answer. It is in having peace with God and getting to know Him and His love. And His greatest demonstration of that was by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. Jesus was willing to suffer so we would no longer have to. There is a true connection with the Divine. There is a way to receive God’s Spirit. There is a way to have true joy in life today. But it starts worshiping the true God and believing in Jesus – not worshiping yourself, releasing a “divine spark” or thinking you are the Creator of the universe. Jesus Christ said: ” I am come that [humanity] might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

It’s likely that many of the people taking Oprah’s Life class were the same people taking the last one in 2008. But they are still not fulfilled. Like junk food, the New Age can dazzle and amaze for a season, but always requires a new twist, method or ritual to keep searching for peace. Because as long as sin is an obstacle in between you and God there will be no peace. Even billionaire moguls like Oprah have to keep churning out new ways of trying to find it. Yet Jesus showed the true source: ” Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27. The peace that comes from Jesus Christ allows a Christian to know, no matter what pain or trial they are facing, God is with them and they are eternally secure. That is true peace. And this is why God’s message has not changed: He will provide a way to make peace for us. Share The Gospel. Give people the real truth and let The Lord change lives, eternally.

Apostasy Alert: Joel Osteen And Oprah Preach New Age Magic

 http://beginningandend.com/apostasy-alert-joel-osteen-and-oprah-preach-new-age-magic/   

February 20, 2013 By Beginning and End 133 Comments

 

Joel Osteen is once again teaching his New Age heresy.

Following in the footsteps of Bishop T.D. Jakes, Prosperity Gospel preacher Joel Osteen, Pastor of Lakewood Church, the biggest congregation in America, has now joined Oprah Winfrey’s life classes to teach New Age heresy to the masses. Once again, a Christian pastor has come on Winfrey’s series and preached a message that had no mention of the Biblical gospel, forgiveness of sins or Jesus Christ.

As we noted in our Apostasy Alert article on T.D. Jakes, Oprah Winfrey has been one of the biggest promoters of the New Age movement in the world. Through her talk show, television network and multi media empire Winfrey, who claims to be a Christian, has launched books such as The Secret into all-time best sellers. The Secret, a book that teaches the ancient witchcraft technique, The Law of Attraction is not in line remotely with Biblical Christianity. Rather than looking to Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God, The Secret teaches that a person has the power to attract success, wealth, romance and all sorts of earthly benefits through their own words and rituals.
Here is Oprah promoting the book on her show:



The book popularized “The Law of Attraction”, an occult technique that involves visualizing a certain goal, constantly focusing and doing certain practices as if it has already happened and then “attracting” it by your constant thoughts and focus. Its author, Rhonda Byrne writes: “All good things are your birthright! You are the creator of you, and the law of attraction is your magnificent tool to create whatever you want in you life. Welcome to the magic of life, and the magnificence of You!” (p. 41)

Of course the Bible says of Jesus Christ:  “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3). Jesus Christ is the Creator. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. A person is blessed through faith in Christ who is the heir of the Universe. And Jesus teaches that constant focus on material gain should not be a Christian’s life:

 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. – Matthew 6:31-33.

Joel Osteen is taking much of his material from this book.

“When you focus your thoughts on something you want, and you hold that focus, you are in that moment summoning what you want with the mightiest power in the Universe. The law of attraction doesn’t compute “don’t” or “not” or “no,” or any other words of negation, this is what the law of attraction is receiving.” – The Secret, p. 9.

By the book’s premise, all power comes through the individual. A person can have whatever they want just calling upon “the mightiest power of the Universe.” Anything can be obtained. The Bible does not teach this. In fact it teaches that we cannot obtain anything of true meaning and significance without God:

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. – James 4:8-10.

Notice the difference: the Bible acknowledges that God is the means to eternal satisfaction and true peace. And it also teaches that it is sin that is our main obstacle to God. It takes a desire for forgiveness and faith in God to forgive sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that is the message of Christianity.
The Secret reveals its true message later on in the book:

“You are God in a physical body. You are Spirit in the flesh. You are Eternal Life expressing itself as you.” (The Secret, p. 164)

This underscores the message of The Secret and the New Age: that a person can become God. This is of course complete contradictory to the Bible and is following the deception of Satan.
In our first article on Joel Osteen’s witchcraft, we detailed that the Law of Attraction is precisely what Joel Osteen preaches to his congregation and television audience on a regular basis. This is nothing more than witchcraft being given a “Christian”veneer. The Bible of course prophesied that as the end times approached there would be an apostasy – a falling away in the church, where pastors and their congregations would abandon Biblical Christianity in favor of their own man-centered, mystical doctrines. 2 Timothy Chapter 4 issues a directive to pastors to stand for the Biblical, Gospel-centered preaching in this age of Apostasy:

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. – 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

Pastors are to preach “the word” – meaning preach The Bible and not their own ideas or methods, whether it is “in style” or “out of style” or “old-school” to just use solid, biblical preaching. The result of not doing this is that those coming to church will desire pastors who will tell them what they want to hear, rather than preaching what the Word of God has to say to all people.  Examining Osteen in the life class, there are numerous examples of sound doctrine being rejected and fable being given instead.

The Power of “I Am”

The power is not in the words. It is with God.

Osteen in this portion of the class is using principles from his new book “I Declare.” What is being preached here is that a person has the power to affect change within themselves and attract success by using the phrase “I am..”


None of this is in the Bible. Notice there is no mention of God, Jesus Christ or the Gospel in anything that is being preached. Just like T.D. Jakes before him, Osteen is preaching a Christ-less Gospel that is completely centered on worldly, material gain.  According to Osteen speaking negative statements “sets the tone for your life” and attracts bad situations to your life and therefore we should not even make negative statements like “I am depressed” or “I am sad.” This once again, is the Law of Attraction at work.
Here is a quote from a New Age book  based on The Secret that explains the same principle Osteen is preaching:

“In this chapter we turn our attention to using our I AM power to make our hopes and dreams become part of our reality. Starting with a brief discussion of the 2006 book and movie, The Secret, we’ll examine the question of our roles as co-creators of our experience of reality… When you say I AM the rest of that sentence cannot but help become your reality. That is because one of the manifestations of God is God as Law, the Divine Law of Cause and Effect, which Buddhism calls karma.” – (The Power of I Am: Claiming Your Inherent Power To Consciously Create A Life of Purpose, Meaning and Joy, Dan Shafer).

Like The Secret, this book comes back to the conclusion that it is the individual person who can “be as God” and create their reality simply by reciting words that follow the phrase “I AM.”
If a person is facing life problems, Osteen’s solution is to just make positive statements. By simply repeating the phrase “I am confident” the insecure person will be “healed.” Lacking in creativity? Simply say “I am creative.” Beloved, this is not Biblical Christianity. Reciting words in a ritualistic fashion is not what God instructs.  The Bible tells Christians to bring all of our pain, hurt and suffering to God in prayer:

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.  I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. – Psalm 34:3-6.

 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.  The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. – Psalm 34:15-19.

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.  The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.  In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. – Psalm 18:3-6.

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. – Psalm 50:15.

The God of the Bible is merciful, compassionate and yearns to hear the cries of His children. Rather than ignoring our pain, the Bible instructs to share the problems and struggles of life with The Lord who hears and answers prayer.  Compare this to Osteen who says the solution is all in the words you speak and their power. So by Osteen’s doctrine, the Bible passages above are all going to lead to more problems in your life since they are so “negative” and will “attract” more negativity.  This is not Biblical teaching. It is New Age witchcraft. Here are excerpts from articles teaching witchcraft that make it clear that the Law of Attraction is an occult practice:

“By formulating a witchcraft ritual you are creating and therefore taking responsibility for the circumstances of your life.  This is the main message that the Law of Attraction has been broadcasting.  The Law of Attraction is something that has been very familiar with witches for thousands of years as a very elementary teaching in witchcraft.  Now it’s time to take it to the next level.”  (source).

“I also teach Law of Attraction on its own for people who just want to learn that. However I believe the the two subjects really do belong together. Whenever you are casting a Wiccan spell you are using the Law of Attraction and whenever a Law of Attraction practitioner says an affirmation, he or she is really doing magick.” (source).

The Word of God strongly forbids any use of the occult or dabbling in witchcraft:

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. – Deuteronomy 18:10-13.

Why would a Christian pastor bring New Age teachings to the church? What spirit is leading a Pastor who is not using the Bible as a guide but instead leaning on the same methods used by witches for centuries? Do not be deceived.

The Bible warns Christians to beware of those who do not teach the Bible.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. – 2 Peter 2:1-3.

With a multimillion dollar media empire, Osteen has achieved unparalleled success teaching false doctrines. In the clip above he even says that determining your future is all a function of “the words you say today.” Compare Osteen’s teaching with The Secret:

If the words “I can’t afford it” have passed your lips, your power to change that is now. Change it with “I can afford that! I can buy that!” Say it over and over. Become like a parrot. For the next thirty days, make it your intention that you are going to look at everything you like and say to yourself, “I can afford that, I can buy that.” – (The Secret, p. 102).

Osteen is clearly teaching New Age mysticism over the Bible. There is nothing wrong with a Christian making negative statements. Prayer is to be honest and if a person is feeling pain, insecure, weak or tired of it all, God in Heaven wants to hear all those words. We are to lean on God to save us, not ourselves or magical words.  And for the person who is unsaved, salvation starts at the point that a person can say: “I am a sinner. I am guilty before God. I am in violation of God’s commandments.” Without those “negative” words, a person cannot receive free forgiveness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  When a person cries out to God, rather than “attract” negative situations, they draw closer to the Almighty Creator and His love for them.
Here is a clip of a woman who is clearly struggling with her faith. She says that she is “a child of God” but does not speak to God.

As with many of the students in Oprah’s class, they are truly seeking spiritual answers. This is fertile ground for a true Christian pastor to share the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Yet once again, Osteen gives his “advice” without a mention of the Savior. He does not encourage the women to pray more, read the Bible or attend a church. He does not even make sure that she is truly born again. He merely tells her to “stay in faith” and does more “I am” affirmations with her. Again,  what he is teaching is that the power to change is within the person and not from God. This is the message of witchcraft and the New Age. Here is an excerpt from a New Age Yoga event that emphasized the Law of Attraction:

“The Law of Attraction states. . . ‘That which is like itself is drawn’. In other words, like attracts like. Your thoughts, your words, your feelings, your actions all put forth a specific energy vibration and thus attract to you that of like energy. . . whether it be positive or negative…
When you see something you would like to experience and you say, “yes, I would like to have that,” through your attention to it you invite it into your life experience. Likewise, when you see something that you do not want to experience and you say, “No, I do not want that,” you still invite it into your life. Where thoughts go, energy flows!” (source).

The Law of Attraction, which is precisely what Osteen is preaching is witchcraft. Here is another quote from a witchcraft blog that is in line with Osteen’s teaching:

“I truly understand the universal law of attraction / like attracts like. After all, that was pretty much the very first lesson in Witch School. The law of the Universe is that like attracts like. Whether that me positive or negative. Do, act, think, speak, write, positive & more positive energy will return to you. You get back, what you put out into the universe.” (source).

Thanks to Oprah Winfrey among others, New Age spirituality has seen an explosion in popularity in the past decade. Pastors should be protecting the flock and warning Christians about these false doctrines, not preaching them.
There is a way to healing in this world. There is joy that can be obtained before Heaven. But it starts with being born again through faith in Jesus Christ:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; – 2 Corinthians 5:17-18.

Once a person is born again, their eternal destiny is secure. The new Christian receives a new spirit (hence the phrase “born again”) that seeks to please God and live for Him. It is in this new birth that there can be a real joy. Because a Christian can look past their earthly condition and rejoice knowing that Heaven and eternal life await.  Jesus Christ confirmed this when He said:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. – John 14:27.

The true peace comes when a person knows they are not facing eternal damnation. This is what Jesus Christ wants to share with the world. And it is a pastor’s job to spread this message so that people will believe. And instead of preaching the word, Osteen is promoting fables. How is this woman saying “I am worthy” going to save her soul? How is saying “I am valuable” going to bring her true peace? It won’t.
At the close of the class, Osteen, while promoting his book, again offers the advice that the power in life lies in the words someone says:

He tells the audience that if they are thinking any negative thoughts to “zip it up” and just not say them. And then he and Oprah close with more “I am” affirmations, encouraging the audience to repeat them every day, mantra-like, as the key to living a fulfilled life. Jesus Christ, in teaching how to pray, forbade Osteen’s methods: “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:7-8).
In Osteen’s positive declarations, there is no mention of sin, forgiveness, eternal damnation or faith and eternal life. And absolutely no mention of the name Jesus Christ. It is just more declarations of your own greatness. In other words, the individual is the answer to their own problems. The solution and divinity all reside within.
Here, one of the many websites on wicca and witchcraft teaching these principles, mimics Osteen’s “preaching”:

“You can create your own affirmations for pretty much everything. Say you want a new job. You could use an affirmation like “I am getting a new job that I love.” Wanting to find a new partner in life? How about using “I will find my true love.” I started out using basic ones. I still use some of my original ones. “Calm” is one I use when I feel overwhelmed. Just one word that I repeat to myself. The biggest thing I do though is try to monitor the chatter in my mind. If a negative thought creeps in I try to dismiss it and replace it with a positive one. At first it can be time consuming, in time though you will wind up doing it naturally.
You are beautiful. You are amazing! You are perfect! You are you. and you are loved.” (source).

Jesus Christ, preaching during his Earthly ministry, gave a parable that summed up and exposed the heresy and blatant error of Osteen’s teachings:

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I AM not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. – Luke 18:9-14. [Emphasis added]

The Pharisee made an “I am” affirmation to boast of how great he was and his testimony was rejected by Jesus. But the publican was humble and spoke negatively – willing to speak the truth, that he was a sinner. He confessed that like all people, he had fallen short of the glory of God and deserved God’s wrath. And he cried out for God’s mercy.  And for this, he was exalted.

Declaring “bold affirmations” will not get you to Heaven.

As the church moves deeper into the apostasy it is more important than ever for Christians to stand on sound doctrine. There are many souls at stake. Heretical, New Age mystics like Joel Osteen are filling pews every week and have audiences of millions through television and the internet. But he is not preaching the real Gospel. He is preaching a false doctrine that will tickle the ear, but ultimately lead to damnation. Do not be deceived. Pray for these apostate pastors to turn back to God, repent and preach the Bible. And pray for their congregations to use Biblical discernment to see the truth of the Bible over “positive affirmations”, the Law of attraction and other fables.  Romans 1:16 says: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;”

There is a power in words. But it is in the words of God when they are spoken to point people to Jesus Christ. For Christians, use this power and share the good news of forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Jesus Christ. If you are not a believer, take the time to learn the Gospel and cry out to God for forgiveness for the sins you know you have committed. Pray and say the “negative affirmation” that you are indeed a sinner but believe that there is forgiveness for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. And The Lord  will exalt you in eternity.