Mark Driscoll vs Joel Osteen - Are they Different? No.
- 16 years ago
Reformed minister Mark Driscoll claims to be above the Arminianism of Joel Osteen. But is it so? Driscoll says that we are required to do things in order to be saved. E.g. a "heartfelt commitment", "an embracing" and "forsaking sin" are all requirements. In fact, these works must be performed by someone BEFORE they have faith IN ORDER for them to get faith. Apparently, dead unbelievers must pray their way into life!
Contary to this, Scripture says that an unbeliever's "prayers", "seeking", "repentance" and "turning from sin" -- all these things are sin (Rom 10:14). In fact, all their feelings of "remorse", "regret", "guilt", "sorrow" must be sin. Any attempt to be "humble" or "sincerely turn from sin", is in fact sin. Because all the unbeliever's works are works of unbelief. If they try to be sincerely "seeking salvation", it's because they don't think Christ was sincere enough. By "seeking faith in order to be saved", an unbeliever shows they think they are capable to "finishing off" what Christ "failed" to do.
Scary, huh? Especially when you hear ministers (not of Christ) telling unbelievers to pray. Because everything an unbeliever does is sin, that means that praying will only serve to increase the unbeliever's sin (condemnation). In fact, every attempt by an unbeliever to "stop sinning" only increases their condemnation.
Take for example an unbeliever called John. Now, imagine a preacher told John to "seek after faith" in order to be saved. And suppose John follows the preacher's advice and tries hard to stop sinning, he prays, sings hymns, tries to be convicted by preaching, seeks to be around church members. But remember, he's doing all these things "in order to be saved".
In other words, the preacher has lead John to believe salvation by works. Every work John does of "seeking salvation" is actually an attempt to make himself better than other men (as if just being better than other corrupt people is enough to make the perfect God of the Bible pleased with you !).
Contary to this, Scripture says that an unbeliever's "prayers", "seeking", "repentance" and "turning from sin" -- all these things are sin (Rom 10:14). In fact, all their feelings of "remorse", "regret", "guilt", "sorrow" must be sin. Any attempt to be "humble" or "sincerely turn from sin", is in fact sin. Because all the unbeliever's works are works of unbelief. If they try to be sincerely "seeking salvation", it's because they don't think Christ was sincere enough. By "seeking faith in order to be saved", an unbeliever shows they think they are capable to "finishing off" what Christ "failed" to do.
Scary, huh? Especially when you hear ministers (not of Christ) telling unbelievers to pray. Because everything an unbeliever does is sin, that means that praying will only serve to increase the unbeliever's sin (condemnation). In fact, every attempt by an unbeliever to "stop sinning" only increases their condemnation.
Take for example an unbeliever called John. Now, imagine a preacher told John to "seek after faith" in order to be saved. And suppose John follows the preacher's advice and tries hard to stop sinning, he prays, sings hymns, tries to be convicted by preaching, seeks to be around church members. But remember, he's doing all these things "in order to be saved".
In other words, the preacher has lead John to believe salvation by works. Every work John does of "seeking salvation" is actually an attempt to make himself better than other men (as if just being better than other corrupt people is enough to make the perfect God of the Bible pleased with you !).