From Justin Peters today. Looks like Kanye is on track to visit Osteen.
Hello friends. I wanted to briefly address the news this morning that Kanye West is scheduled to appear at Lakewood Church this next Sunday, November 17th, pastored by Joel Osteen.
Since we don't really know what's going on in Kanye's heart or how this will end, I think this thread is more a Christian Rorschach Ink Blot test. It reveals, in part anyway, who you are.
"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6
"Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
I'd just feel a whole lot more comfortable if Osteen wasn't involved.
I'm always still in trouble again
"You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
"Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
"Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman
I have no idea what to make of it. I don't spend too much time worrying about whether Kanye is or is not a genuine Christian.
Except if he isn't and is just using it as a means to make more money, then it brings great dishonour to the Lord. And He doesn't need that kind of publicity.
Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.
Except if he isn't and is just using it as a means to make more money, then it brings great dishonour to the Lord. And He doesn't need that kind of publicity.
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Paul...
Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Paul...
From my Bible commentary regarding "from envy and strife":
The attitude of Paul's detractors, who really did preach the gospel but were jealous of his apostolic power and authority, his success and immense giftedness. Strife connotes contention, rivalry and conflict, which resulted when Paul's critics began discrediting him.
"from goodwill"
Goodwill speaks of satisfaction and contentment, the attitude that Paul's supporters had for him personally and for his ministry.
"selfish ambition"
This describes those who were interested only in self-advancement, or who ruthlessly sought to get ahead at any cost. Paul's detractors used his incarceration as an opportunity to promote their own prestige by accusing Paul of being so sinful the Lord had chastened him by imprisonment.
"not sincerely" See note on v. 10
Sincere means "genuine", and may have originally meant "tested by sunlight". In the ancient world, dishonest pottery dealers filled cracks in their inferior products with wax before glazing and painting them, making them difficult to distinguish from expensive ones. The only way to avoid being defrauded was to hold the pot to the sun, making the wax-filled cracks obvious. Dealers marked their fine pottery that could withstand "sun testing" as "sine cera" - "without wax".
Paul's preacher critics did not have pure motives.
"the latter out of love"
Paul's supporters were motivated by genuine affection for him and confidence in his virtue (cf. 1 Cor. 13:1,2).
"I rejoice...will rejoice"
Paul's joy was not tied to his circumstances or his critics (cf. Ps. 4:7, 8; Rom. 12:12; 2 Cor.6:10). He was glad when the gospel was proclaimed with authority, no matter who received credit. He endured the unjust accusations without bitterness at his accusers. Rather, he rejoiced that they preached Christ, even in a pretense of godliness.
Bolding is mine. I don't think that Kanye is preaching with any kind of authority, he is too young a believer, if he is such.
And I don't think we can take this entire passage out of context away from Paul's situation to plant it firmly at the feet of anybody who claims to be a Christian.
I am still skeptical and await further proof of Kanye's genuine conversion.
Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.
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