Hmmm. Lots of questions arise in my mind. Wonder what you think?
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I was immediately struck by the words Osteen speaks just a minute into the clip – “That’s just MY message.” And therein lies the issue that most of Christendom has with him – he preaches his message and not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
His empire and message is a lot like sparkling water – it seems all bubbly and exciting at first, but once you really taste it, there is just not much to it and the bubbles don’t last long.
Sad that that much exposure and following is wasted, if only he did preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how many peoples lives would truely be changed.
What is the fruit? What do they do with $73M?
One of my favorite contemporary theologians.
Horton, not Osteen, that is!
Since I was ordained using the old Prayer Book and had to promise to: ” . . .be ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God’s Word,” I probably need to stay out of Joel Osteen rallies!
interesting video Steve, i take it you’re a big fan?
Tom, no commentary on my end regarding Joel. I just found the clip very interesting.
Makes me want to take a shower…
I know that it was a brief snippet, but I was struck by how insubstantial his defense against theologians like Horton was. There is nothing there.
I also found him more sincere that I expected. But in the end, that is all, insubstantial sincerity.
I am thinking how late modern he really is. The world is crumbling around him and the final foundation in a de-constructing world is self-help and sincerity.
Well, Two things He has help bring more people to Christ than most of the pastors in the churchs.Number two. He always gives the viewers a chance to make Jesus there Savior. He also says to get involved in a Bible based Church. Most people don’t remember the sermons they heard 45 min. ago. So Get off his back and go to work. Let God be the Judge not you people.
I almost get the feeling he doesn’t exactly know why people are drawn to him. I haven’t read any of his books so I can’t comment on them, but watching this he didn’t come across as either proud or arrogant to me.
Sometimes society just seems to arbitrarily pick someone they deem worthy of admiration and then a whole halo effect eventually takes over. I tend to think this has happened here.
When he says he doesn’t consider himself the most gifted preacher, I think that comes from a place of humility. And if he is using the gospel to throw out a lifeline of hope to those who otherwise wouldn’t have it, then okay (as long as he’s not overtly bilking people out of money to finance that “hope”). For those who realize there is more to Jesus and want a deeper theology–the Holy Spirit will stir that in them and they will go looking. They will.
“rguerard”: in Christian theology the ends never justify the means. So, the size of his church is immaterial (as are the number books he sells). In fact, it is easy to argue that the Devil himself drives people into some churches precisely because they will not hear the gospel preached in those churches.
Perhaps you ought to pick up a book endorsed by the former Bishop of my Diocese, Bishop Allison. It is entitled “Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church.” In it the author, Michael Horton, describes and dissects the counterfeit American “gospel” and the prism he uses to highlight everything wrong is none other than Joel Osteen. Bishop Allison, speaking of this new “gospel” wrote, Horton’s “wide ranging carefully researched examples show how our churches and megachurches have pandered to the culture with…moralistic and self-help heresies bereft of the saving action of Jesus Christ.”
Lastly, you may also want to read (re-read?) St. Paul who, counter to your final comment, does in fact demand that the church judge those who are entrusted with the gospel message. It is those outside the church whom we are not to judge.
i actually watched him for about 1 minute last night flipping the channels… he actually said that we need to notice that whenever God did something/created something, he always praised himself, ie’ ‘it is good, etc.’… so when we accomplish something, we should do the same…. I actually screamed, half of Beaufort probably heard me (or at least St. Helena’s next door to me)…
“That’s just my message . . . . there’s Scripture in there that backs it all up.” And that’s a problem. Preaching is not about using the Bible to support my message. The purpose of preaching to present the work of Christ and to explain His message (Scripture). Joel seems to start with man (his message) and end with man (helping people).
Joel does what he does in Jesus name,and what he does is wonderfull. Jesus has adressed this same situation before.Dudes there are Christians with your same attitudes about Joel talking about you.I’m serious, people at St. Andrews just have too much fun on Sunday worshiping God.
Okay. Steve’s last comment gave me a better understanding of the issue at hand. Joel said something about his message being simple, and originally I sort of wondered what was so wrong with that especially if it gave people hope. I think I know now.
In thinking about this, the truth is Jesus spoke simply, too. This is why He told parables–to teach presumably simple people incredibly difficult truths but in a context they could easily relate to and grasp so they could repent and be reconciled with God, their only source of hope.
But even though Joel has a simple message, he doesn’t share it with any intention of delivering those hard truths like Jesus did. And failing to remind people that Christianity often involves painful sacrifice and suffering (the very places where we learn the depth of God’s love and mercy) so his congregration won’t feel badly or offended is not the same as offering them hope.
This is a major departure from sound theology. And yes, it’s a problem.
My favorite Horton quote is: when asked does he consider Osteen a heretic. Horton..”I-I-there’s just not enought there in the message to decide that.”
I love how Osteen opens his Bible at the beginning of all his sermons, says his little Bible creed, puts it down and never touches it again.
Your Best Life Now = “pick up your cross”.
The focus on the individual instead of God brings to mind one of Oswald Chamber’s daily devotionals in “My Utmost for His Highest”
June 10
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.” If you ask for things from life instead of from God, you ask amiss, i.e., you ask from a desire for self-realization. The more you realize yourself the less will you seek God.