Dr. Oral Roberts vs Dr. Albert Mohler

Here this ought to shake up some of my regular readers......actually that's probably not true. If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll probably just smile and say.....(I'll let you fill it in.)

This is the text of an email exchange I just had with someone I am VERY close to. (Not Michelle - but - very close.)

Thought I'd share it.

Larry,

Here's a section from a long obit on Rev. Oral Roberts written by Dr. Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Seminary. Thought you might pick up on a particular point . . .

"In the end, however, Oral Roberts should be measured by his message. Though his claims of visions and healings drew deserved attention, along with both scrutiny and embarrassment, it was the core of his message that is most problematic. In his prime years, Roberts was the most significant agent for prosperity theology.

Prosperity theology teaches that God promises his people financial gain and bodily health. It is a false Gospel that turns the Gospel of Christ upside-down. The true Gospel offers forgiveness of sins and leads to a life of discipleship. Following Christ demands poverty more often than wealth, and we are not promised relief from physical ills, injury, sickness, or death. Christians die along with all other mortals, but we are promised the gift of eternal life in Christ."

Love,

________

My Reply

Hi ______,

There are so many points in there for me to pick up on that they may have clouded the one you were thinking of in particular.

- I think Dr. Mohler would be well advised to go back and review his Greek vocabulary. I might humbly suggest he look up the word "save" as in,

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. Jn 12:47

A quick glance at a concordance leads me to believe it is more in line with Dr. Roberts message than with Dr. Mohler's.

- I think that if you believe the thousands of people who claim they were "saved", "physically healed", and "delivered from demonic oppression" through Dr. Robert's ministry; then Oral Roberts life seems to model the example Jesus lived in the Gospels more than does Dr. Mohler's.

- I would submit that Dr. Mohler's description of "Prosperity Theology" (a derogatory term coined by those who subscribe instead to a "poverty theology") is both uninformed and inaccurate. Further on this point, I would make the humble suggestion that Dr. Mohler reread2 Cor 1:20 before he teaches further on the "what God promises."

- When one considers the lives of each of these men I wonder whose accomplishments: # of people saved, # of demons cast out, # of blind eyes and ears opened, # of diseases destroyed.....more accurately reflects the words of Jesus when he said,

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. Jn 14:12

- My final thought is that Dr. Mohler could use a good dose of a lesson I learned from my (currently un-believing) Mother a long time ago.

Don't speak ill of the dead.

Chances are I might not have caught the exact point you were referencing....but clearly I'm glad to talk about it!

Much love,

Larry

So there's some food for thought. Wonder if the SBC will come after me? :)

By the way - on a different subject..... If you have gotten your,"signed and personally inscribed by the author" copies of The Second Trumpet yet then by all means click here! They are the PERFECT stocking stuffer this year, they're on sale, and they can still get to your house by Christmas! It doesn't get any better than that!!!

As always,

God Bless,

LM