August 29 2017 – Click here to listen
I’ve been reading about mega-millionaire Joel Osteen’s refusal to open the doors of his mega church to victims of Hurricane Harvey. As of this morning he still refuses to allow anyone in Houston into his massive stadium/church to find refuge. This in spite of forecasters predicting an additional 20” of rain on the way. Instead he tweeted that his huge congregation should pray for the victims. As one might imagine the twitter universe responded with vehement condemnation of him, and his tweet. Make no mistake this is another nail in the Christian brand’s coffin.
Give me a break. Yes, we all should pray, but for crying out loud pray while you’re walking. Providing warm dry shelter in his mega arena along with some food and clothing would go a long way in demonstrating what the ministry of Jesus is all about. Maybe he could even invest some of his personal wealth which is over $100 million in funding the effort.
Osteen’s church facility courtesy of Breitbart News
Of course, Joel might have a hard time empathizing with people who are cold, tired, hungry, and soaking wet. I suppose he’s quite comfortable watching events unfold on his big screen TV in his mansion located a few miles away.
Osteen’s luxurious mansion courtesy Breitbart News
To me this epitomizes what is wrong with so many mega-pastors in the organized religion community. This enrages me to the point that I’d like to knock that silly grin off his face. (I know – I know – that’s unchristian too, but it just burns me up to have someone who could offer so much help, steadfastly refuse to do so.) I suppose he doesn’t want his hallowed church grounds soiled by the muddy rabble whose lives have been shattered, many of whom are now homeless and devoid of any possession aside from their very lives.
Yes, by all means we should pray for these victims, but we also need to donate money and volunteer whatever resources we can. This is not a government responsibility. It is the church’s responsibility to help these people. Donate to the Salvation Army, Samaritan’s purse, or the charity of your choice. If you live in the vicinity and have a boat or jet ski, quickly get to the affected areas and start rescuing people. Do something!
Jesus was asked a question by a lawyer as described in Luke 10:25
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” . . .
Jesus answered as He often did by telling a story or parable. It is about a traveler who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead by robbers alongside the road. First a priest and then a Levite comes by, but both cross the street to avoid the injured man. Finally, a Samaritan happened upon the traveler. Samaritans were despised by the Jews, but the Samaritan helps the injured man.
In response to the question as to whom should be loved, Jesus indicated that the neighbor in the parable is the despised Samaritan who showed mercy to the injured man.
Hey Joel, if we are told by Jesus to love our enemy, shouldn’t we love our non-enemy neighbors and help them out a little?
Please put your busy lives on pause for a moment to write a check. And yes pray . . .
Gal. 5:14
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”