Okay, maybe Chick tracts aren’t exactly art in the strictest sense of the word. And while I don’t always agree with the contents of all of the Chick tracts, they do a wonderful job of illustrating many aspects of the truth of the gospel. And one of them, “One Way” does a really good job of illustrating the One Way without using a single word. Okay! So it only uses six words.
Every time I watch the railing against Joel Osteen by the street preacher, that tract comes to mind.
Take a quick look at the YouTube video again. You don’t have to watch the whole thing. Just watch the people as they go marching blindly past the preacher proclaiming the truth. The first twenty or thirty seconds is plenty to get the idea. Here’s the video.
Here is an excerpt from “One Way”, the wordless tract:
Click on the image to see the entire tract.
Maybe it’s just a stretch, but do you see any similarities?
She implied the...
My God, My God these people are going to HELL they put all their trust into this man Jesus said never for us to put our trust in man these people hearts have been seared with a hot iron.
: : ::Looking in bathroom mirror. : : ::
Eyes clear and open? Check.
–>Back at computer.
Cup of hot coffee (mostly consumed) resting on coaster at port side of laptop? Check.
Re-reading Patricia Mckinney’s comment? Check.
Making heads or tails of it? Negative.
(Punctuation might help. Maybe.)
Interestingly, about 7 or 8 years ago, the Lord used me to minister healing to a fellow contractor’s wife who was dying of cancer. I laid hands on her and the Lord healed her. I tried ministering the Gospel to them, but they weren’t responsive at that time. I ran into this woman a few days ago at the store, she remembers the Lord’s merciful and gracious healing of her body, but one thing bothered me.. She and her husband have been watching Joel Osteen on the television for the past few months, and she commented on how it has given them hope that they will have more work and money to pay their bills, as the contracting industry in our area is horrible. So, what I am trying to say is this: they have been watching Joel for several months, and the ONLY thing she brought up was “financial prosperity”, nothing at all was said about Christ, Salvation etc.. These guys bring Jesus’ name into their teachings ONLY when they see a benefit to themselves. So, I certainly corrected the situation and administered the true Gospel to this woman, and I didn’t need millions of dollars nor a television camera to accomplish it. Willow Boy is definitely a piss poor excuse of a minister, definitely very high on my wall of shame!!!
Chris,
No one denies that God still heals today. In fact, I would even venture to say that when the Bible speaks of “many healed” in the New Testament many of those same individuals never repented.
If anything this clearly shows the condition of man’s heart. Mankind is so utterly depraved that even miraculous healing can’t lead them to repentance. Instead what they search for are more “physical” deliverances such as “health”, “wealth”, “Your best life now”, etc.
In fact, we need only to look at the thousands Jesus miraculously fed of which most of whom just got a free meal and never repented.
So that being said your situation is not uncommon.
Kyle
(MN: We can even look at the fact that Jesus rose from the dead, undeniably rose from the dead, and the leaders of Israel STILL rejected His lordship. Never count on a miracle to turn people. It is the gospel that is the power of God for salvation. You did right to present the gospel the second time around. )
That poster is hilarious (and true).
“Your Best LIE Now”
I really respect this dude that’s willing to dangle himself out there in front of a couple thousand Olsteen devotees and challenge them with the gospel, good post Melly Mel.
I preach on the streets, but never have gone to churches. I’ve seriously considered it, though. Most churches called “Evanglelical” are hertical.
An interesting approach I’ve considered is this:
1. Start with a bold challenge–”Modern Evangelism is a lie and Modern Evangelicals are liars.”
2. When someone objects, continue with this challenge: “And you, sir (or madam), are not even a true Evangelical.”
3. After he/she attests that he/she is an Evangelical, ask, “So when and where do you evangelize and when did you last tell someone the gospel? After all, the word Evangelical comes from the evangel, maning the gospel. You say you believe in the gospel. Do you believe in it enough to tell your neighbor? You say you follow Christ. Everyone of His followers were required to witness from day one, yet you say you have never witness? Then you don’t follow Christ and you don’t believe in the gospel since you tell no one. His last command in Matthew 28 was to go witness to everyone. Do you? If not, you disobey Christ.”
That should get right to the heart of the matter. One day I’ll have the guts to do so. Perhaps this summer. I admire that guy.
Be holy,
Phil Perkins.
(MN: So you picked this up from the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie, right? )
There is none so blind as he who will not see, Ray Stevens sang that in everything is beautiful. That would make a good theme song for Joel Osteen TV program. Truth is there’s a few conditions that keep getting left out, like sell all that you have and give it to the poor. Come out from among them and be ye therefore separate saith the Lord. Rubbing elbows with that hollywood crowd that have no problems with abortions and same sex marriage. How many have you seen recently that make a confession of faith and next time you see them is a mug shot for DUI. How many times has your local Pastor been on the Larry King Show defending Mormons and Catholics? They smile you right into Hell with them saying “…now don’t be judgmental.” You can tell a tree by the fruit it bears.
You can’t live wrong and die right.
Jimmy,
You’re exactly right about the separation thing–holiness. That’s what’s missing. However, one thing should be added. According to I Cor. 5, under the New Covenant, our separation is primarily from sinful lifestyles and from “Christians” who involve themselves in unrepentant sin. We aren’t to separate from those around who don’t claim to be Christians and we aren’t to judge them for their sins like we are to do for our brothers and sisters who are caught in sin and need rescue or false bros and sisters who need to be excommunicated for the sake of the assembly and that of their own souls.
You’re right, though, about holiness. Come out and be separate.
Phil Perkins.
The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce.
(Sorry for the spelling and grammar errors. I’ve a fever today.)
Shalom,
I had an encounter with a family member about Joel Osteen. She stated she liked Joel Osteen because he was “motivating”.
I asked her did she get a chance to watch any of the admissions he made during his Larry King interviews? of course the answer was, “no”. I informed her was she aware the Joel Osteen admits to editing God’s Word and Christ’s gospel,e.g., instead of using Jesus’ words like “sin” Joel superimposes the phrase “not doing your best”. Nothing else needed to be said, the shock on her face said it all.
(((Shabbat Shalom)))
I appreciate your disclaimer about Chick, he has been known to fabricate a few things himself. But in this case he is like a broke clock. (right at least once a day)
I watched the video to the end. Look at all the sheeple. Many of them carrying what looked like Bibles.
On occasion when I can bring myself to watch the broadcast, they have this symbolic thing they do before he preaches where they hold up the Bible and proclaim to believe it and are prepared to be taught from it.
After they take their seats, the Pastor begins his speech and doesn’t have them open their Bibles, but rather talks to them about everything else all along telling what the Bible says. They are not reading their Bibles they are taking his word on what it says!
I wonder if it ever dawned on them that they would be better off they opened their Bibles and read them rather than just them hold up?
Your best life now ? How can the sheeple fall for this this contrary to the word of God. We as Christians are to lay up treasures in heaven not this world
Mentally, I knew it had to be like this within the ‘church’, but to see it in action is truly unnerving. My eyes may have exaggerated but it looked like several hundred people streamed right past him. Several hundred to 1 lone man standing up for the Gospel.
Hello, walksbyf8h:
I had the same thought: Matthew 7:14 in action.
Peter.
Peter, how are you brother?? Just as in days of old, Contra Mundum is a narrow way.
Hey, Gary:
I’m well, thank you! That’s a Latin phrase I had not seen in quite sometime: and how appurtenant it is to our lives as younger brothers to the Man, Christ Jesus. Amen.
Glad to read and reflect on your contributions again. Many here have missed you.
MJ,
I was hesitant to mention this earlier, because I hadn’t researched or been all that acquainted with Chick for sometime. Recently, however, I looked over at chick.com.
Reading their statement of faith, I have to say I’ve no use for those folks. It says this about the KJV: “We consider this version our final and absolute authority, above and beyond all other authorities on earth.” That means if we do good exegesis in the original languages, we’re sinning if we take the originals as authoritative!!! That’s a direct contradiction of the Scripture, even if you read it in the originals.
And he has a nasty habit of idolatry, too. He constantly draws God and Jesus, both as slender Norwegians outfitted for the Christmas play at church. This is a practice expressly forbidden throughout Scripture. Images even to represent even the true God are sinful. Remember the bull at Sinai? And, yes, that’s the correct understanding.
Read the Talmud and the Reformers on the subject of images. Read about it in Deuteronomy, Exodus 20, etc. Images of any god are forbidden in blanket prohibitions. Read Deut 4:12–25 or so. Moses, on command from God sowed up a huge blanket. AND the Reformers and modern Presbyterians take it as a blanket ban When reading the passage above not carefully the introductory clause.
God is like no other, so it’s wrong to model what we think of Him after something we know or see in the world around us.
Think it through,
Phil Perkins.