Evangelist Rick Ousley withdraws from speaking circuit after affair

I had mentioned this in the Prayer request forums a few days ago (before there was much reporting of this).

Ousley was a gifted preacher and dynamic leader. I'm sure many are shellshocked by these events. Please pray that folks will trust God through all this, rather than fallible man.

David Platt, the pastor who replaced Ousley at the Church at Brook Hills (pre-scandal), will obviously have a heavy load. I'm especially praying for him during this time.

 

We went to seminary with David Platt, and this will be extremely difficult for him as I do believe this is his first full time church as pastor. I am so sorry for all those involved. Its a widespread issue.

 

I have met Rick Ousley before and I have several taped sermons of his, and I agree with the assessment that he was a "gifted preacher and dynamic leader." Unfortunately or not, I can't say I am 'shocked' by this; I suppose because there have been so many of these "revelations" about Christian speakers, singers, et al, that we tend to expect it. That, plus that today in many facets of being a person in the news, some 'rivals' or the media seem to live to shoot such persons down; the opposite of the "old boy network" which sought to keep such things hidden.

Just because he is the one this is about, I will share a rather unusual story he told (in a sermon at the Singles' Conference at Glorieta) about sharing the gospel:
When he first came on staff of North Phoenix Baptist Church in 1982, for the first few weeks he was alone there (family would be coming later), and they had staff meetings at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings ["This was not in God's will," he added]. He got ready early and was waiting for another staff member to come by and pick him up, so he turned on the television. "Believe it or not, there were only 3 stations to watch at that time," he said. On the first station was a televangelist, making his promises that if you send in your money that you will experience a miracle from God. "Not this; the Holy Spirit is not for sale," he said, and switched channels. On the next one was a large, beautifully-robed choir, singing in great harmony. But they were a "high church choir," and singing in Latin-- "something like 'omulus, romulus, domulus,...," so since he couldn't understand it all, he swtiched to the last channel.

On this last channel was a cartoon show. So, expecting his ride to come by any time, he decided to sit there and watch cartoons and relax for the moment. A Popeye cartoon came on. "I always liked Popeye," he said. Then, as he was still in a state of wondering if he had made the right decision to come to Phoenix, leaving behind other circumstances, he said, "This may be hard to believe, but I have a conviction that everything is an illustration of something. So, right then I asked God, 'Show me a sign from this cartoon; tell me what I need to know, or what it is I've missed, because it seems I don't know, or I've missed, something.'" Then in the cartoon along comes Popeye; he described him and imitated his "yuk-uk-uk-uk" laugh. He said "Lord I know you don't want me to be like Popeye-- one minute he's losing, the next minute he's winning. I've done too much of that in my time, and I know you want me to be more consistent." Then along comes Bluto. He said, "Oh Lord-- not Bluto! I've spent half of my life living like him-- he's smash, bash, or trash anyone or anything to get his selfish way. You don't want me to be like Bluto." Then comes Olive Oyl. He said, "No, no Lord; not Olive Oyl. She is the epitomy of hypocrisy-- Popeye tells her 'You're so beautiful!" and Bluto tells her 'You're so beautiful!'-- that woman's ugly!" Then along comes another character. "I don't like his name," Rick said, "but I do like the character-- Wimpy. He's the guy who says, 'I gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.' It seems like everything he does or hopes for has to do with hamburgers. Then suddenly the Lord let me know-- that's it! You see-- Wimpy is a walking, talking, living advertisement of what he loves best. That's what you need to be! If Jesus is what you're living for, then show it!-- be a walking, talking promoter of what you love best."

Now, if there is downer for me about this new story, it would be in knowing that this woman was in Katy, by Houston, and the "other circumstances" he left before going to Phoenix, whatever they were, took place in that area, as he was at !st Baptist, Houston just before.

 

Soooooooooooo!!!!

He gets his directions from God by watching Popeye????!!!!!!!!

Don't you see????? Wimpy was a "bum"-----with no intention to pay for that hamburger!!! Come "payback" time on Tuesday ----- the story would be the same as the day he made the promise-----I want a hamburger today and I will gladly pay you Tuesday---a broken record promise that was never delivered!!! He got his hamburger but Popeye never got his money!!!!

Folks----don't get your "sign" from a cartoon----God help us!!!! Whats wrong with us!!!?????

Don't get your sign from a wimpy televangelist beggin' for your money like Wimpy begged for that hamburger!!!

Don't be led by cartoons---or by any other "sign"----Jesus said that a "wicked and perverted generation seeketh after a sign"

Get your marching orders from the Holy Spirit

God help us!!! There's a price now that Osley will have to pay---its called the Law of the Harvest----you reap what you sow----you reap more than you sow---you reap later than you sow---and unfortunately---others must get in on the reaping process---his family and friends---will for generations ahead reap the embarrassment and shame along with him!!!

Men---Preachers---Keep yourself pure!!! Keep yourself honest!!! Keep yourself above reproach!!!

I heard the late, great Dr. Adrian Rogers say this----"Do you want to have an affair proof marriage???? If you do---this is how to have one!!!


Stay fervantely in love with Jesus!!!"

Blackbird

 

Agreeing with Blackbird here!

 

That's not happening just in the Christian sector but in most colleges/universities I know about. I don't think a Bachelor's degree means nearly what it used to in terms of educational value.

 

Even if this was the case (and it wasnt in my experience) that does not make one more succeptible to giving in to temptation.

 

That is one of the truest statements ever said. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can replace the written word of God. That is when He speaks directly to me. When I am reading God's word, I feel His presence and it's a wonderful time spent with the Lord.
I love to hear my preacher teach and look forward to it each week, but it's not the same as spending time with the Lord, one on one, just Him and me.
Gives me goosebumps thinking about it.

 

Wow, I've got some old tapes of Ously from his days at NPBC. He would preach when Richard Jackson was out of town. Man I miss Richard Jackson.

 

Alright, alright. This story was on the 'weird' side, very strange to hear from the pulpit, or I doubt if I would have posted it. I probably remember it so well because he has such an entertaining way about him; perhaps that in itself might be an indication that his status as a "dynamic" preacher and leader comes mostly from worldly 'attractions' of different sorts. I'm not sure, though, that should be presumed about every big-name, in-demand speaker.

But as to taking an illustration outside the point it is meant to illustrate, consider a few examples right out of scripture...

The story of the wealthy man who left the differing number of talents to his workers-- that last one who buried his one talent, had it taken from him and was "cast out"-- that story upholds the tenet of losing one's salvation, as he was a part of the master's household, but was kicked out therefrom.

The mustard seed parable-- the "tiniest"(?) of seeds grows into the largest(?) of plants, growing branches for the birds to come and rest upon. What are these 'birds' that come and do their droppings on the Kingdom of Heaven [which is the growing mustard tree, as Jesus said]? And when will the Kingdon rot away, as all plants eventually do?

The man who finds the pearl of great price-- ain't it interesting to know we can buy the Kingdom by selling our possessions to pay for it? Maybe these "wimpy" televangelists are right after all, huh?

Paul's illustration in Galatians of Abraham's sons, Isaac by Sarah, and Ishmael by Sarah's slave girl, Hagar-- 'we' are free children [said Paul] of the free woman, not of the bond woman, so we are "in" the family of promise, not connected by the physical sense only. What would this mean, taken a little further? that Jesus has one "bride," but he also has .......? that the children cast away still go wherever they go with God's blessing?

So, even if Wimpy was a bum with the intention of only sponging a hamburger with no intention of repaying it, he was still a walking advertisement of what he loved most, and that's as far as the illustration goes. Or do you really want to take biblical (or any other) illustrations further than the point they illustrate?

 

You will have to blame God also for He said there is nothing hid that shall not be revealed.
Why blame the messenger??

Yes, by remembering the two commandments He added while He was here. Love the Lord and Love thy neighbor. (not by loving on his wife)

I guess he is just a "good ole boy".

 

Who is doing so, Bub?

 

One may consider himself to be in love with Jesus and still wind up doing wrong. Its a gradual process of self-deception.

Many unbelievers have lived faithfully with their spouses throughout life. They didn't do it with Jesus, they did it with common sense.

What we need are clear boundaries and accountability. If I stay away from another woman, I cannot have an affair with her. On the other hand, if I act unwisely and pooh-pooh the legalists by saying "I love Jesus fervently, so this will never get out of hand," then I'm preparing to fall.

This, however, does not appear to be the problem with Mr. Ousley, as evidenced by the sustained fornication over decades. He lived that way because he wanted to.

 

Hello, New member to this forum.

pipedude, what you are saying is basically correct. My only criticism is regarding accountability. Does the natural man who is not cheating on his wife require supervision (accountability) from another person to stay faithful? Probably not. Would it not be an insult to suggest to a successful preacher that he needs to have someone to make him accountable to live without sexual sin? Is not the successful preacher of Gods Word not mature enough to know that this type of activity will wreck his family and his career?

Tom

 

This makes me sad.

You gotta watch out!!

 

Just more gossip.

Lord help us, PLEASE?