The Disciples came to Jesus after seeing a man driving out demons in Jesus name. They said, "we told him to stop because he was not one of us." They didn't know him; they weren't sure what other things he might have been up to; up until that point its likely that the leaders in the Jesus movement were all known. The disciples felt the need to police the movement, to control it and keep it governed by the governance of human wisdom. They were not clear on the idea that God does amazing, unexpected things in ways that we will be able to predict or control.

Jesus doesn't grill them on what the man said, or did around their condemnation of him - He doesn't care about the man's theology, his approach or his righteousness.

Jesus simply replies, "Do not stop him,... No one who does a miracle in my7 name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us..."

Jesus is not a basher.

Jesus is not a control freak. Its an odd dynamic - God has all control - He isn't insecure about that - He has no competition for that control (Satan can't take it away from God) - we know how the story is going to end. Jesus is at ease with the man he doesn't know preforming miracles in His name.

I think that is the message to all the critics out there who want to categorize and judge other Christians: "Do not stop them." Scripture is pretty clear who the judge is and He is not stressed out about our human limitations as we approach theology - We have to understand that the Holy Spirit is doing the work - we cannot do anything in and of ourselves - the Holy Spirit is at work within individuals and amidst the bad, God reveals the good to those who are seeking in order to draw people to himself.

Osteen is not perfect, but why should he be? Osteen is wrong on many things and I can say that with confidence because we are all wrong on many things - none of us has it ALL figured out - God has it all figured out. That is why we need God. He is perfect and will lead us into the way we need to live.

Its sad that so many people who rise in ministry receive criticism. It seems to me that the critics expect these ministers to be perfect and when they realize that they aren't perfect they are disappointed - don't be disappointed - we aren't called to find God in humanity;...

God wants us to call out for Him - that is the invitation. God is here - look for God in God.