A classic case of dog bites man. The man who is the epitome of a shakedown artist, finally gets shook down himself. It could not have happened to a better person. 😀
The Story via My Fox Houston: (H/T Fox News)
Houston Police investigators are looking for clues after it appears someone broke into a safe at Lakewood Church and walked away with nearly 6-hundred thousand dollars in donations. Two hundred thousands of it is believed to be cash.
The donations were from services on Saturday March 8th and Sunday March 9th.
The heist wasn’t discovered until 8:30 a.m. Monday morning when an employee of Lakewood Church and an off duty Harris County Sheriff’s Officer working security noticed the break in.
Right now investigators think the heist happened sometime between 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon and Monday morning when it was discovered.
The donations were from services PM Saturday March 8th and Sunday March 9th and included donations made by checks and credit cards along with the cash donations.
So, finally, the man who has used God’s Word as money-making racket, kind of like the Jews used the law of Moses as a money-making racket; gets robbed of donations. Please pardon me, if I fail to shed a tear for the man. Joel Osteen’s con game was basically, “plant the seed for the need.” Which is, in prosperity preaching double talk, means “tithe so you can get rich.” It is a horrible abuse of scripture and it often leads people into backsliding, all because God did not give them anything back at all.
You want to know what the Word of God really says about money? Check this out:
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. — (1 Timothy 6:5-12 KJV)
I know that tithing is scriptural. However, this man’s abuse of that doctrine is legendary. Hence my lack of compassion for him at all. The way I see, he got what was coming to him. You abuse God’s Word? You get what is rightfully coming to you. The Bible warns us of people like this man. See here:
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 longsuffering 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. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. — (2 Timothy 4:1-5 KJV)
The Bible also says this:
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. — (Romans 12:19 KJV)
It looks like Joel Osteen got a bit of that vengeance; and it could not have happened to a better person. To check out other news involving this huckster, click this link here.