Comments on: An Interesting Question from Joyce Meyer

By: Bart Breen

Bart Breen — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Excellent Phil.

Knowledge accumulated doesn't necessarily equate to knowledge applied.

I think in the information age we live in, we've come to believe that information is the solution for most every problem we face. Information certainly helps to act better, but it doesn't make us act or ensure that how we act will bring about the results we desire if we don't act soon enough.

The Christian Life and the American Dream are not the same things. Telling people what we all want to hear is an effective means of success in our culture and society. Telling what we need to hear sometimes is painful and the road of Christ is often the narrow, more difficult one to traverse. Well said.

By: Mary Hutchinson

Mary Hutchinson — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

My grandma, raised dirt poor in the Mississippi cotten fields, used to refer to some people as "being educated beyond their intelligence".

Perhaps we have the same thing at play in the church relm here. (smile)

By: Daniel T

Daniel T — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Best post I have read in a year anywhere.

By: sam

sam — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Wow! Great post. I think nothing in Christendom annoys me more than people who are rubbing lamps hopping Jesus will pop out and grant them three wishes.

By: jsindorf

jsindorf — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil, you said: “We’ve forgotten how difficult living the Christian life can be.” The idea is right, but I think the vast majority of Americans didn’t forget, they never had a clue it might be a bit tough (especially when lived rightly).

I was in Romania right after the fall of the dictatorial communist regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu and had the opportunity to interview many of the Christian leaders and pastors. I heard something that changed my life. The pastor of one of the largest churches told me: “I kind of miss the old days. When I was followed constantly by the secret police, it was far easier to live a holy life. Now I have freedom. Much more freedom to sin without being found out.”

We want the fine gold, but think we can get it without the heat of the refinery. It doesn’t work that way.

We buy books (like Joyce referred to) Seven Steps to Success! But would never buy “How to Excel at Self Sacrifice”.

Good post Phil.
Now I have to go sell some Jesus Junk!

By: tm

tm — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

'She started thinking about it after hearing different people talk about reading all her books or listening to her teaching tapes, but they still have so many problems.'

Huh? Amazing! Do I really even need to discuss the weight of this one sentence?

By: tm

tm — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

in a much more toned down environment, this is exactly how I felt when I decided to attend a small Christian liberal arts university. It was in a small Bible belt town and I knew I was walking into a Christian bubble. All my high school life I had dreamed of going to a large public university, now I was in this bubble and my Christian life suffered.

I'm getting ready to move overseas to a harsh environment where every day my faith will be put to the test. I know I will be forced to grow there, far away from the comforts of 'home' as I am stretched and tested every single day from every part of life. Dependence on God will become necessary for life on earth.

No self-help televangelist book can help me there (just like it can't help me here).

By: Royzoner

Royzoner — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Oswald Chambers wrote about the drudgery and the difficulty that life naturally brings about, and how weathering both brings change and character. It’s a great point that we try to look for the easy solution, especially from an author like Joyce who’s published a wealth of self help “ten steps to weight loss” material.

I don’t think that we are all junkies, though, and it might be minimizing suffering to say “want to be healed?– lay off the french fries” when someone is struggling with a serious illness and looking for healing.

You are also correct lots of people go to conferences to seek a quick fix, sure. But others are wanting to deepen their relationship with God, and move in greater acts of faith for the kingdom. It’s not all that black and white.

By: breaklight

breaklight — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

“Yes – God can work miracles, but I don’t think He exists to make up for our lazy living”. Finally!:-) I can’t say anymore. WOW! I am stomped by this post for the first time in a long time!

By: breaklight

breaklight — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

“… but the worries of this age, the pleasure of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.” As correctly stated by Jesus Christ. And they way to solve that problem is surgery of the heart and unweeding of the soul as said by the Master Himself “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”…”Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” After we die to ourselves then we can live for God and others. The world is too busy trying to live while its dying, we are to be, too busy dying while we are living. (Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.)