Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
May 26, 2008 4 Comments
Why is Joel Osteen so popular? Is he a faithful representative of the Christian faith, or is his message more about self-help and personal motivation? White Horse Inn will examine the theology of this bestselling author as they continue their series “Christless Christianity.”
Yesterday I hung on the cross with Christ; today I am glorified with Him: yesterday I was dying with Him; today I am brought to life with Him: yesterday I was buried with Him: today I rise with Him. Let us become like Christ, since Christ also became like us. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
Sir,
You made several very good points critiquing Joel Osteen. As a person who appreciates his ministry, I was similarly stunned by his answers. He certainly fumbled his way through that interview and it is apparent that his desire to “build up” people can/did override his ability to speak to his real convictions with Larry. Obviously, he tried hard to be himself and failed to do as he knew and believed – to state Clearly that Christ is the only way. I think he is young and needs maturing still to be as confident in situations such as that. He clearly tried and was cauhgt up in a position that “only God knows the heart”. That’s where his responses were targeted, and not to truly responding as he should. He preaches Christ and repentance every week and, yes, he does so more softly than some. But, Christ is the center of his teaching and I always consistently realize I am being pointed to Him and to His whole word through Osteen. I always feel drawn to Christ alone through his ministry. That’s because Christ is the center of it.
What is sad, however, is that some prefer to throw him under the bus and dismiss the plethora of his teaching. Mocking him in this video had the unintended consequence of causing me to seriously question your motives. My heart was grieved at how Joel handled that interview. But I’ve seen and heard enough of his teachings to know that for whatever reason, that interview went horribly for him. He recognized it later and noted this for all. Yet, you are now leading believers and unbelievers through this video to conclude that he is a heretic. This grieves my heart yet more.
Sean
well spoken Sean
One need not look at just this video of Osteen. Various interviews on Larry King and even his own “sermons” on TV at the congregation where he speaks show his lack of understanding of the truth of Christ, the Bible, and Christian commitment. His comments about Mitt Romney that “Well, he beleives in Jesus as his saviour and that is good enough for me” yet ignoring Romney’s Mormonism (where their Jesus is the half-brother of Lucifer) builds a defense against Osteen’s ability to even know the truth – let alone whether he should be a pastor.
Whenever my family and I happen to catch Osteen speaking, we now play a game called “Count how many times Osteen says ‘I don’t know….’”. As a so-called pastor, he should know more that he “doesn’t know”. If you say Osteen needs to mature, then that is a lacking qualification of an “elder” – which would disqualify his pastorship. He should step down.
Osteen preaches “repentance” against my not being prosperous – not against the sins I commit against a Holy God. Osteen preaches a Christ who wants us to be successful, not the Christ of the Bible Who died a horrible death at the hand of a Holy God for my sin, and now whether death or life, or lack of food or clothing, good times or ‘bad’, I will NEVER be separated from the love of God in Christ.
Steve
well spoken SteveC