The Christian Post published an article this week about Joel Osteen. Joel Osteen is a televangelist, author, and pastor at Lakewood Church in Texas. Many critics of Joel argue that he has watered down the gospel and downplays sin. Joel responded by saying that he has been following God's calling for his life and that involves teaching about prosperity. In an interview with ABC News, Osteen said, "I believe God, Jesus, died that we not just go to heaven but that we excel in this life. I never think you make money your goal. … God wants you to excel. Just keep him in first place and God will open up doors you never dreamed of." When asked about his new book, Every Day a Friday: How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week, Osteen said, "I read some studies that said that people are happier on Friday," Osteen explained. "I thought, You know what? We should be happy every day. That's a choice that we can make." Osteen said that people need to hear about the goodness of God and not that God is mad at them.
This article makes me want to throw-up in my mouth. I am serious. There is nothing that makes me more sick than a man who preaches a "feel-good" message and says he is preaching the gospel. This is not the Gospel.
Joel Osteen is seen in today's society as a nice, positive, uplifting man who happens to be a Christian pastor of an extremely large congregation. There is so much to be said about this topic, but I will try to keep this as brief and clear as I can. Joel Osteen has indeed watered-down the Gospel. If you do not talk about the sinfulness of man, then you are not talking about the Gospel. The Gospel is only for sinners. If you are not a sinner (which if you are breathing and reading this post, then you are a sinner) then you do not need the Gospel. I will explain to you the true, unadjusted Gospel. First and foremost, you and me both are sinners. We were born sinners and we will die sinners. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Romans 3:11-12 says, " as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." Sinners, like you and me, have no hope of ever going to heaven and we will die in our sins and spend an eternity separated from God in Hell (2 Thessalonians 1:9). But wait, while the wages of sin is death, the gift of of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). The good news is that God sent is one and only Son to die on a cross and pay for our sins. God placed our guilt and our sin on his perfect, sinless Son Jesus Christ. Jesus bore the wrath reserved for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." If you will believe upon Jesus Christ and place your faith and trust in Christ alone, you can be saved (John 3:16). Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). However, know this: Jesus does not promise you an easy, smooth, or comfortable life that is filled with happiness and prosperity. Mathew 7:14 says, "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Luke 9:23-26 says, "And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." God does promise us life and joy. Happiness is based on circumstances by joy is based on Christ and all that He has done for us. You should also know this, that if you desire to be saved or believe that you have been saved, yet you do not love reading God's Word (the Bible), you do not have a love for the church or a desire to be apart of a body of believers or other Christians, and are not different from the world, then know that you were probably never saved. If you are saved or you want to be saved, then know that you should be different. There should be evidence of Christ in your life. You should desire the things of the Lord and to do his will. If you do not desire these things, then you should know that you are probably not saved. Ultimately, that is between you and the Lord, but God says that those who are His will be different and bear fruit that prove that they follow Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, John 15, just to name a couple). I pray that if you are not saved, then you will come to know Christ. Come and discover the life that can be found in Him. Let Christ rule over your life and watch your life change. It will not always be easy and filled with "happiness", but it will be filled with Christ, joy, and life. Come to Christ. If you are already a Christian or are just beginning your walk with the Lord I would recommend the following pastors: John MacArthur, Paul Washer, Voddie Baucham, R.C. Sproul, John Piper, Ligon Duncan, Albert Mohler, and Steve Lawson. These a few men that you can find on the Internet. They are wonderful preachers and teachers of God's Word. Many of them also have great websites with wonderful resources you can use.
So, are you a disciple and a follower of Christ? If not, I plead with you to come to Christ. Come and taste and see if the Lord is good. If you are a follower of Christ, I encourage you to examine your life and see where you are with the Lord and if you need to make some adjustments. In all things, to God be the glory.
I respect your views very highly. I too have a great love for God's Word. I must admit, at times it seems strange and even a little bit boring, but I believe every verse in the scriptures has something for us as sinners and especially as repentant followers of Christ to learn. I am definitely a Christian. Through baptism I made the decision to take upon myself the name of Christ, or I proclaimed myself as a follower of Him. Being saved is something my religion believes comes through the atonement of Jesus. The atonement only saves us if we repent, are baptized, and continue to repent and live the way the Lord through his prophets has commanded.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I thought was strange was your view of the gospel. I have every respect for your views, so please don't take this the wrong way. It sounds like you think the gospel is a message of wrath. The message of our Savior is one of hope, light, joy, truth, love, and understanding. It is a message of joy because we may be saved through God's Son, Jesus Christ. It is a message of hope because we may return to The Lord by repentance through Jesus Christ. It is only a message of misery to those who will not listen. The scriptures testify of the love God has for us. I want to be the best person I can, not because God threatens me, but because He loves me. If we love him, we will keep his commandments (John 14:15). The mercy of our Heavenly Father is seen everywhere. As I follow Christ, I wander and sin, but I am able to repent and feel His forgiveness. You seem to be follower if firm understanding, love, hope, and truth. That is why I admire your faith so much. Those of us who follow Christ, try to live by His example.
I have one quick question to ask you. In our church, we have pastors, but we call them bishops. We rarely use the term pastor. I was wondering if you could tell me the differences in a pastor, a preacher, and a minister. I've always thought of them as being the same, but I'd like to make sure before I say that.
Sorry for responding so late.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you have said and no offense taken. I didn't intend for what I had written to sound like wrath. However, I believe that someone will never know the absolute joy, love, grace, and blessedness of the cross until they realize how bad of a sinner they really are. One must first tremble at the law and realize that there is no hope for them before they can know and understand the amazing riches, blessings, and love that is found in Christ. God has been beyond merciful to save sinners like myself. I just get so frustrated when I see, read, and hear people like Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, and many (if not all) the tv preachers who preach this health, wealth, and prosperity gospel. They do not preach the true, pure, unadjusted Gospel, they preach a false version of a "gospel" that they have made themselves. And, they are leading multitudes astray making them feel as though they are saved, yet they have no marks of a true disciple of Christ.
I have always grown up with the term "pastor" for someone who preaches the Gospel. However, we believe that bishop, pastor, minister, and preacher are all the same, as long as they preach the Gospel. I see those words as interchangeable. I may have asked you this before, but where do you go to church?