Yes, I Like Them All!

Especially if They Are Preaching Christ

Bishop Freddie Steel, Sr. Pastor Life Church of Chicagoland February 7, 2011

I cannot tell you how often I hear someone speak condemningly and critically of ministers and Churches, especially those who have media ministries. For it to be spoken by fellow-believers is mutinous and treasonous, especially in light of the prophetic times we are living in right now. We cannot afford to hinder the influence, even the potential influence any carriers of the Gospel hold. I, too, am a pastor, and I like everyone who is getting the name and news of the Lord Jesus Christ out to the masses (especially in these dark, closing moments of time). I refuse to be a hinderance to any fellow-minister and carrier of the Gospel in the public forum if we are in agreement on the basic and foundational doctrines of the Bible. If their message is directing the masses and their attention and faith to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and a devotion to His Holy Word, Im behind them. In my mind, I can see some of the dissenting preachers running up to Saint Peter when we all get to Heaven, and they point to the large masses who made it there because of Joyce or Joel only to try to convince Saint Peter why those conversions arent legitimate and those converts should not be welcomed in. Yeah right . . . Heres what I have concluded. First, the Church in America is self-absorbed! Were all about going to Church and being the Church in order to get helped every week year-after-year. Lets face it: The Church has NOT impacted culture like salt and light. We tried to legislate our influence, picket our influence and it hasnt added up to much. However, like McDonalds, Coke, Taco Bell, etc. we have discovered the power and potential of the media and some ministers and pastors are using it to reach billions around the globe. While in America we sit back, critique and whine and watch Church attendance in steady decline (except in 2 evangelical Churches, of which to 1 I belong), in other parts of the world, especially the southern hemisphere, thousands are coming to faith in Christ each week. We are not the standard and example we think we are. We, the Church in America, have been eclipsed. You see, I believe that we, the pastors, may be upset because Joel and Joyce are doing our work for us. We should be doing more than arguing with boards over renovations, styles of worship, etc. While pastors and boards are sequestered behind their own four walls arguing over non-essentials that do nothing more than pump up the power struggles in a local Church, you have people like those I have mentioned who are reaching people where they are with a message of hope. Im sorry I just cant diss them. While some see them as doctrinal threats, I see them as paramedics rushing into the burining building to save the lost whiles the last few moments of opportunity are ticking away. I see them as the brave soldiers who are rushing the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, using their faith and valor to attack the entrenched pill box that is decimating their fellow-comrades.

Second, how spot-on does their theology have to be in order to function successfully in their ministry calling as evangelists. They are preaching our message to the people we are not reaching. To berate them is treasonous to the Kingdom of God. We sit cloistered behind our own sacred walls doing our best to limit our exposure to any ridicule or threat and are hurling insults and obstructions against the ones who said, in essence, this is too good to keep to ourselves, we must compel them to come in. If their doctrine and theology are foundational enough so that they preach the Lord Jesus Christ and the inerrancy of the Word of God, leave them alone. In a short time, youre going to get people visiting your Church who were saved through their efforts and you can endoctrinate them according to your lacking then. I can tell you, however, I have watched the child-like look in their eyes that comes with the New Birth fade quickly when the pastor hits the podium and begins to discredit the very one who had thrown the lifeline that brought them from death to life. That is shameful. Because of offenses, the Word is choked and no fruit is born a tragedy of the most unparallelled magnitude. Their doctrine and theology may not be perfect according to your perspective, however, let me ask: Is their doctrine good enough to lead a viewer to Christ; if conversion occurs from their message and ministry, is that new birth legitimate? If you answered yes to both, then dont be found fighting them or wishing them anything but Gods best or you may find yourself railing on God indirectly. Like it or not, a third reason they and other global ministries are not liked stems from plain, ole jealousy. It is this simple: we dont have what they have because we have not done what they have done. A very wise Servant of God was asked to comment on the ministry and success of a very well-known minister. His reply has remained with me for many years. He said that when he, the old, wise Servant of God, has seen as many people come to Christ as the object of discussion had and had impacted as many people as the well-known minister had, then he would have a comment - but not until then. The old servant knew that he was out of his league and that he had no room or platform from which to make a judgment or assessment. When I am around people who are way out of my league in business, sports, knowledge, skills, etc., I have learned to shut up or Ill show my ignorance. I have learned to operate in my level of grace and favor. I have no opinion about the last crusade that Joel and Victoria Osteen held where 12,000 came to faith in Christ because I have never been graced or favored at that level. I can only imagine the intense prayer, fasting and spiritual warfare involved in expanding the Kindgom of God to such a great extent in a city-wide / area-wide crusade. I cannot imagine the amount of money that it took to reach that one individual in a marvellous city-wide crusade but it was worth every penny. We have NO problem watching a Mercedes Benz blown up in a high-action movie we never flinch. However, we are so pauperly minded that when there are extravagant tools involved in reaching the masses, we suddenly become chinchy money sages appalled at the waste and excess involved in doing the work of the King. Its hypocritical. You see, we espouse the humble, struggling, burden-ladened image of the missionary who eeked out a few conversions over their lifetime. It is, in a sense, romantic and very 2

emotional. It really feels and seems more sacred. However, todays privilege of reaching the masses is just as sacred because of what they are accomplishing and because of the sacred foundations upon which they are built. Today, its just a different model of evangelism and ministry exponentially more productive in the numbers of people who can hear and be reached. Isnt it interesting that the average size of a Church in America is 100 or less and we feel that we are qualified and justified to critique and find fault with those who are reaching the lost souls of the entire globe by the multiplied tens of thousands. That doesnt make sense and of this, Im not guilty. Fourth, God did not call me to defend the Gospel nearly as much as He called me to preach the Gospel. When the Bible says that the Servant of God must not strive, it means what it says. All of the energy you expend in strife concerning the Gospel and how it is handled is sacred and rare time and opportunities that are being wasted that could be used in a positive declaration of Jesus and His love. Lastly, the Church has an AWESOME opportunity to correct things and become a brilliant, shining light. In the midst of such uncivilized dialog in America, if we became one anothers biggest fans and laid down the temptation to correct what we view as being wrong with our Brother or Sister and preached Jesus, wow! Think of what could happen! I remember Larry King asking Joel Osteen about Mormonism and whether they were saved or not. I didnt care about his reply, but it came from someone who has a unique gift to be Gods P. R. (Public Relations) Agent to correct how we have presented God to the world as mean, vengeful and angry. He wasnt distracted or caught up in striving over the question. He didnt use his platform to give a reply that would make him look good in the eyes of the Church. He focused on Jesus. Joel didnt answer the way that Franklin Graham answers such questions possibly. Mr. Graham is more exact, to the point, etc. and theres a reason. The world knows Franklin Graham and what he is all about because of his Father, Rev. Billy Graham. Franklin has some grace cash he can spend. If Joel or Joyce doesnt answer the way you like it, give them some grace cash: cut them some slack and believe that God can, in spite of what you may feel that they are lacking, use them to help reap a harvest that is so ripe and waiting that there arent enough reapers (Churches doing the job) to gather it in. For me, I believe it is spiritually criminal to hurt and hinder the influence of anyone who is throwing the lifeline to a drowning soul and carrying the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ especially to the masses. God is the Sovereign and has all of the ability to thwart their efforts if He chose. However, when you consider the far-reaching, blanket coverage of the globe with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the many Christian television networks, we have to admit that they are being used to reap the ripened harvest in areas of the world where the Gospel is not permitted nor being preached. The harvest is the Lords and He is a good Husbandman and Steward of all of this, His ripened harvest. He is moving inside the box, outside the box and without any box to get the job done. 3

So, you dont like Joyce Meyer? Joel Osteen? Id suggest taking that matter up with their boss . . . . Pastor Freddie Steel Life Church of Chicagoland revfts@usa.net www.lifeinchicago.org