What do Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Robert Schuller, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar and Joyce Meyer have in common with an Egyptian named Gasir Mohammed Mahmoud?
Nothing. You see, Gasir is a Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ.
I just finished reading the account of Gasir's imprisonment in an Egyptian psychiatric hospital for his conversion from Islam to Christianity. He had ice water poured over him, was placed in a room filled with water so he couldn't sleep, and still cannot put shoes on because his toenails were removed from him during 18 days of torture that he endured for his faith in Christ.
I finished reading this and thought to myself, "Maybe Gasir would like a copy of Joel Osteen's bestseller "Your Best Life Now". Perhaps this weak Christian could become an overcomer if he could just learn of Robert Schuller's "Be Happy Attitudes". Maybe his imprisonment and torture is the result of him not finding that special "Purpose" that Rick Warren is known all too well for in America.
No, unlike these conmen and leaders of so-called megachurches, Gasir is a real Christian. He's not some apparition conjured up by scientists in a lab at Zondervan. This man has decided that his relationship to Christ is more important than his relationship to his own flesh and blood and toenails.
This Sunday millions of spoiled Americans will sit in air-conditioned megachurches spewing forth the latest CCM bile in faux worship of a God they don't really even know. Then the pastor will wax eloquent about how to pray for a better parking spot or how the latest Star Wars movie has so much in common with the Gospel. And men and women like Gasir will be beaten, imprisoned and killed for their faith. I would ask any Word-Faith followers right now: What is Mr. Mahmoud doing wrong that he's not getting all the blessing? What must he do to be blessed? Joyce Meyer has the Mercedes and the huge houses - what must Gasir Mohammed Mahmoud do to be saved in such a manner?
I finished reading this man's account, linked above, and I immediately saw Joel Osteen's face plastered on his book cover, smiling back at me. That little turd is not worthy to untie Gasir Mohammed Mahmoud's sandals, but in American Babylon, he sits at the prominent place at the table, and he's not even ashamed. There is so much more Christ-likeness in Gasir than there is in a Joel or Rick it is almost unbelievable. Men like Osteen, Hybels and Hinn have blood stains all over their inner thighs from riding the bloodied back of the crucified Savior into the halls of their own glory. Sicker than child molesters are those who take advantage of Christ and His sufferings, exploiting the weak and sick in order to line their pockets and their egos.
Men like Gasir are spoken of by the writer of Hebrews, and one day in the not-too-distant future, sick criminals like those mentioned in my opening question will have to acknowledge that while they used Christ as a vehicle to personal greatness, wealth and fame, Christ himself calls Gasir "brother".
"Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; They were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated - the world was not worthy of them."
Hebrews 11:36-38
He'll never make the New York Times bestseller list, will never be known by millions, but when the roll is called up yonder, Gasir will be there.
Comments