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Martin - Reformed
Husband to the most godly, honorable and loyal wife Line
Searching for a Church
Webpage www.5solas.dk
Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net
Soli Deo Gloria

? What pastor?

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Ewen
1689 LBCF
Assemblies of God Bible College
Singapore

A little girl was drawing a picture. Joel Osteen asked if that was a clown. She replied "no, it's you".

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Rich Koster
1689'er
Browns Mills NJ USA
Often Goofy Reformed Eccentric
Romans 7:14-25

Joel isn't a pastor he's a motivational speaker and not a very good one either... well imo he isn't! Apparently, others feel differently!

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sarah
WI
OPC
My Pastor's Sermons: Mark Jenkins...he's awesome!!!

It is very disturbing to see the number of people filling that auditorium.

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William F. Hill, Jr.
Immanuel Presbyterian Church, (PCA)
Norfolk, Va.

It's interesting, I've noticed (also here in Portugal) how this kind of joke telling and (poor) humour is rather common on some mega churches approach, I wonder if it is a let off your guard kind of thing, it has clearly some marketing effect.

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César Proença

there is no will nor running by which we can prepare the way for our salvation, it is wholly of the Divine Mercy Jean Calvin Institutes II . V. 17

Reformed Churches in The Netherlands (liberated) http://www.gkv.nl/main.asp?intTreeviewID=954

Igreja Reformada em Massamá Portugal http://www.igrejareformada.pt

Well, Agreeing with the sentiment that Joel is not a Pastor. In regards to his jokes, when there is no content to your sermon, you have to give the people something for their money.

well, sadly, his jokes are better than the heresy he spouts out

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jason d.
deacon @ Sovereign Joy Community Church
reformed baptist (LBC.1689)
fort worth (haltom city), texas

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
2 Tim 4:3-4 (ESV)

I like a good joke as much as the next guy, but as my wife tells our kids "this is not the time or place." Sorry to say, but this is just as much a part of my denomination's preaching content on many a Sunday in many an SBC church.

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Cary
SBC
Newark, OH

To answer the OP, no. This is not acceptable. Why? Osteen doesn't take an approach to the worship of God with reverence and awe.

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John
Member
Christ Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.christpres.net

Is there such a thing as "christian humor" and if so, what is it like?

This kind of stuff makes me sick. Thats about all I can say on the matter. I wonder if they know what they are doing, or if they genuinely think what they're saying is ok?

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Bern
Evangelical
Kent UK

Yep, Christians telling clean secular jokes.

Christian Joke...

"Who is the wickedest man in the Bible?"....

"Moses, because he broke all 10 commandments at once."


Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
Samson. He brought the house down.



Why was Goliath so surprised when David hit him with a slingshot?
The thought had never entered his head before.




This fundamentalist Christian couple felt it important to own an
equally fundamentally Christian pet. So, they went shopping. At a
kennel specializing in this particular breed, they found a dog they liked quite a lot. When they asked the dog to fetch the Bible, he did it in a flash. When they instructed him to look up Psalm 23, he complied equally fast, using his paws with dexterity.
They were impressed, purchased the animal, and went home (piously, of course). That night they had friends over. They were so proud of their new fundamentalist dog and his major skills, they called the dog and showed off a little. The friends were impressed, and asked whether the dog was able to do any of the usual dog tricks, as well. This stopped the couple cold, as they hadn't thought about 'normal' tricks. "Well," they said, "let's try this out."
Once more they called out to the dog, and then clearly pronounced the command, "Heel!" Quick as a wink, the dog jumped up, put his paw on the man's forehead, closed his eyes in concentration, and bowed his head.

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Aaron Josh Wright
Deerbrook Baptist Church, Humble Tx
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

The fields are white unto harvest ... so many people that aren't hearing the gospel is why we are commanded to make disciples.

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Brian Withnell
Deacon, OPC
Leesburg, Virginia

You cannot train for war in the midst of a battle. Prepare before the battle starts; if the battle is long and hard, you will wish you had.

Okay... but the dog knows his bible, so he can't be a Pentecostal... so what is he??

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Jonathan
Audio Engineer
Reformed Anabaptist
Ohio

Moroni's magical glasses of proper interpretation:

This is common in Baptist Churches. Out of the last four Baptist churches I have visited joke telling is part of the service or sermon. Seems like every Baptist pastor tells jokes in the beginning and also during their sermons. (At least Joel had some good jokes compaired to some I hear in church). My wife and I do not like it. But what are you to do when their are no Baptist pastors that are confessional or hold to the Doctrines of Grace.

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John Komenda
Symphony Bible Church
Conservative Baptist
Buffalo, New York

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. Is.65:24 ESV

I occasionally joke in a sermon, but they are never planned. It usually arises when I say a word wrong or something spontaneous. Congregations find things funny that I would never have thought. perhaps it relieves their boredom after putting up with me for 30 minutes

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Jonathan Hunt

Elder holding forth the word of life at:
Cheltenham Evangelical Free Church (Confessionally Based)
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence.
-- Thomas Elsworth

I'm sure this individual is sincere and well-meaning.

The problem is he is creating dependency on himself and special revelation through unknown tongues/intepretation, rather than on the Holy Spirit speaking through Scripture.

And Scripture says those who would presume to teach God's people will be judged by a higher standard.

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Scott
PCA
North Carolina


"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)"
Hebrews 10:23

Perhaps.

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Ben
Chaplain, US Army
Ft. Riley, KS
TE Ohio Valley Presbytery, PCA

Can't say much about this dude, but I have observed that relevant jokes that are related to the life of the speaker or congregation can help to make a point. What I don't like are "canned" jokes thrown in for effect ....

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JWithnell
Member Bethel OPC
Virginia
http://learningyesican.blogspot.com/

I do not believe the Holy Word of God is something to joke about....

Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts!

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Bert Mulder
Elder of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Edmonton
Edmonton Alberta Canada

Jeremiah 1, etc... there's puns and plays on words throughout the Bible. So:

"Goddidit." To quote a pop atheist.

Matthew 12:36
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Does "humor" = "idle"?

Matthew 7:6
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Hey brothers, you guys are proof texting, cut it out. If you want to discuss this then open another thread and discuss it. Explain why you are using and applying these scriptures you are pulling out of context.

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Bob Vigneault C.O.L, L.E., G.E, Dr.O.P., O.U.T.
The Heartbeat of Heaven (blog)
Deacon/Christ Presbyterian Church, Janesville, WI OPC www.christ-opc.org

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Sorry Bob.

Sorry Skyler

Getting upset because Joel Osteen says something heretical is like getting upset that you got wet when you went out in the rain sans an umbrella or rain jacket.

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Andrew DeShazo
Husband of Kathryn
Father of Phillip-Giles B. DeShazo
Deacon
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN
"From out of the depth of unbroken Infinfity arose the Question, "Who am I?" And to that Question there is the answer, "I am God!" -Meher Baba, died 1969.

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Christ, died 33 AD, ressurected three days later.

I was just kidding. Sorry if I offended anyone.

I don't ever tell jokes while preaching. However, they are many times, when things in the Bible are funny (ironic), ie "18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

That's funny I don't care who you are.

Also, real life illustrations and applications can be humorous.

His name is Hinn Tinn Tinn.

Sorry Bert, Bob. I wasn't seriously trying to debate like that. I know better... at least, I should!



...but are we derailing the thread?

Some of Osteen's jokes are actually quite funny. He should be a comedian instead. After all, it seems like he's already in the business of entertaining people.

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Joel de Leon
Member (man under care)
Christ Presbyterian Church, OPC
Salt Lake City, UT

The Cleansed Leper

On-point humor to illustrate a point is acceptable as long as it is not irreverent.

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Curt Lovelace
Pastor, Covenant Baptist Church (CBA)
Acton, Maine
Director, Lifework Forum
Sermons at SermonAudio.com/CBCActon
Blogging at Coffee with Curt

Now this was the kind of answers I was looking for, so this kind of humor "on-point" to illustrate a point is that all we can except from a pulpit, and what about between christians in every day life?

I think there are plenty of good clean humor for our everyday lives. There was a thread recently with a post linking a Puritan and his famed sense of humor.

If I can only find it..

Hmm. What's worse: that my pastor has used some of the same jokes or that I find some of them funny?

Nonetheless, I don't think the pulpit in the right place.

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Jake; Hold to Original WCF, member of SBC; Greater Atlanta, Georgia Area

The cross does not give us a minor shift or two with regard to a few of our ethical and moral and religious values; the cross radically disrupts the very center and citadel of your life from self to Christ. —Albert N. Martin