Hello, dear one!
Have you wondered why so many megachurch pastors, like Brian Houston from Hillsong and Rick Warren from Saddleback stepped down since the pandemic?
Many questioned if they had exited under God’s grace.
Your discernment will lead you to conclude with your research.
The next piece of news was hard for me to swallow personally, as I made a special visit to his megachurch and had donated generously to support his ministry.
I’m talking about the televangelist and megachurch pastor, Joel Osteen, in Houston, Texas.
Morning show host George Linsey at the Morning Bullpen at 100.3 dropped a bomb.
Linsey was shocked when a caller told him what happened at Osteen’s Lakewood Church.
The caller was one of the plumbers who was called to fix a loose toilet in the wall. As he and his buddies removed the tile around the toilet, some insulation came out. They found 500 envelopes fell out of the wall.
The envelopes were full of cash and checks; hope mine wasn’t there!
They went to contact the maintenance supervisor and turned them all into him.
But, there is more to this story that captured people’s attention.
Back in 2014, Osteen’s Lakewood Church reported to the Houston Police Department that a large sum of money was stolen.
Guess what? The Houston Police Department is still investigating the seven-year-old case today as the stolen $600,000 were never recovered.
For years, people questioned Joel Osteen’s wealth. He claimed that he had sold millions of copies of his books, but the dollar amount didn’t match his Mansons and private jets.
How can a pastor who preaches the gospel afford such a luxurious lifestyle?
I know one thing. People trust and worship him.
We had to visit his church on a regular Saturday night because the attendance was between 8,000 to 10,000 people. If you want to visit on a Sunday, you’re talking about a 15,000 to 20,000 crowd.
Osteen has been reported to be under fire for more than the stolen funds. Hmm.
Throughout human history, religious leaders have known people’s most intimate life details, their marriage struggles, financial stress, broken dreams, failing health, and the darkest secrets they could only consult with a pastor.
Can people continue to trust them?
I’ve learned my lessons as a blind follower, and I learned that spiritual blindness is far more detrimental than physical blindness.
That’s why Jesus proclaimed, “For judgment, I have come to this world so that the blind will see and those who see become blind (John 9: 39).”
Are you more interested in healing your spiritual blindness?
Hope is here as there are a few courageous pastors like Greg Locke.
Pastor Locke didn’t hesitate to warn his congregation, “Be careful who you listen to, who you read, and who you watch. Some of your heroes are going to jail. Some of your heroes are going to hell. Some of your preachers are going to hell…”
In times of trial and distress, what’s safer for you to see, through physical eyes or spiritual knowing?
The Bible says to trust in the Lord with all your hearts, because your spirit will never fail you.
And lean not unto your understanding which is all intellectual and pragmatic with physical limitations.
Instead, in all ways, acknowledge the Lord, our Christ, and our higher selves. The Infinite Intelligence shall guide your paths (Proverb 3:5-6).
And whatever happened in the past that you’re not proud of, remember this in your heart: The Lord will repay you for all the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25).
The locusts of self-doubts, confusion, regrets, anxiety, and indecision.
As you seek the Lord, not a human, the Universe will have your back.