Oral Roberts

[kje123]

I feel the need to touch on this, before people really start tearing things apart. As I'm sure most of you know by now, Oral Roberts passed away yesterday. He was a pioneer of television based evangelism. He started by preaching the gospel, but over time became one of the chief proponents of the gospel of prosperity, which is an antibiblical view. Then there was the time he locked himself in his tower, calling for people to give or the Lord would take him away. I don't pretend to know whether or not he was saved, or just in it for his own purposes, but I can say this; through his ministry people did come to know Christ, and people were pointed to read the Bible. Whether this was because of his ministry or in spite of it I cannot even venture to guess upon.

What I am asking each of us to do is neither praise nor vilify the man, but just to remember that ultimately, it is not what any man (including myself) teaches, but what God says that matters. Oral decided his own fate, as we each do. We choose either to accept Christ or to deny Him. When we go to church, it is not to follow our pastor, but to follow God. (Of course we aim to choose a pastor that's following God.) Our eternity does not lie in the hands of any man, but in the hands of the Almighty. We ae all heading to an eternity, that once we pass from this world, will be set in stone forever. Wherever Oral is, that is where he will be for all eternity. Our responsibility is to make sure our eternal destination is secure, then to go out and help others secure their place in heaven, and to get them sharing the Good News as well.

In His service,
Brian

[DaRvrnd]

“Why, yes, there is a hell. And, yes, Jesus did say that only a few will not end up there. Are false teachers and false prophets among those that go there? Please, don’t ask me that. Some weather we‘re having.” lol

[kje123]

Oh we're free to discuss the theologies he discussed in his life, but not all on the net have been quite so respectful to the dead. And no Allen, you are not the one I'm talking about. I have seen some heavy, hateful discussion where there is spiteful namecalling on this issue, and I am just trying to nip it before it even becomes a bud. Our focus has been, and will continue to be on God's Word. The fact that there is such, for lack of a better word, fights occurring elsewhere over this is an indication that it is a good vs. evil discussion. And I agree; some weather we're having alright. 

[lillibet53]

I agree. Whatever his fate, wherever he is now, he made choices that put him there. But his ultimate fate is not for us to judge.

[DaRvrnd]

By all means, let's pretend the Bible isn't clear that false teachers go to hell...better yet, let's pretend there is no hell at all!