Joel Osteen...Ive decided that...
Ive noticed that mentioning of his name solicits various responses. About a year ago i started getting a lot of questions on my radio show (am 1360 saturdays at 11am shameless plug) like: who is this guy? is he legit? my mom is reading his book...is that ok?" etc and so i decided that i should look into him before just answering off the cuff. I thought i would but i personally couldnt find anything heretical in his teaching. lakewood's (his church) statement of faith was similar to that of any evangelical church...they hold to essential christian doctrine. and so, why do so many CHRISTIANS seem to treat him with contempt or suspicion? Christians dont like Joel for 2, maybe 3 reasons. 1. He's not exegetical. but, neither is Billy Graham (he's the greatest evangelist of our time...see my most recent blog). Has exegetical preaching become a prereq for liking someone? Dont get me wrong here. i believe that every message should be exegetically researched, but not convinced its the only way for delivery. The 2nd reason Christians dont like Joel is bc he smiles too much. I'm serious. i actually had christians tell me this. Hmmm. I think that's pretty weak. So, Joel, I have decided that..i like the dude. In my research he's, while not a theological giant of the likes of N.T. Wright, Schaeffer, etc. he's not, as far as i can tell heretical. He presents a positive presentation of Christianity...thank God someone is. Do you have any idea of how tired i am of meeting bitter Rob Bell wanna-bes and know it alls (I like Rob too btw.) at emergent conferences? :O Maybe that's it. i actually respect someone who's just being himself and not trying to be someone else. And...i actually kinda like it when someone makes eye contact with me and smiles at me. The way i see it, he's not the enemy. The Philistines are. I do wish his gospel presentation was a little more in-depth and yet, at least he gives one. I'm not there week in and week out and so i'll have to hold further judgment until i can visit their new believers class or something. So, i know now that maybe some of you dont like me bc i like him. Let me conclude by saying, based on my studies...He's just a different tribe yes (the largest) but as believers we're still all Israel. thk God for variety. Personally, i'd be bored out of my skull if there were only one flavor of worship/message delivery. Joel Osteen...I like the dude.
posted by Bobby at 10:53 PM
9 Comments:
I don't know a lot about Joel. I've heard him speak a couple of times and the message is always very positive. "Your best is yet to come" kind of thing. This is very appealing to those who desire to live happier, more contented lives - and don't we all?
Some evangelicals believe that he is out of balance and spends too much thought on a feel-good message of positivism. Perhpas like a Robert Schuller.
Maybe some would be convinced to think more positively about Joel if he gave a message on how suffering brings us closer to Jesus.
Has anyone heard him speak on a topic like this?
10:30 AM
youre just a sucker for nice people B.
i know that youve got globe envy.
hey...wherever/whenever youre preaching, teaching, doing a devotional let me know k.
11:31 AM
I don't hold anything against Joel Osteen. Although I've heard that he flip-flops on the exclusivity of savlation. (i.e. Is Jesus the only way?) Perhaps this just trickles down from his feel good presentation of the gospel.
I think Jason Fritz hit the nail on the head. What are the quintessential qualities of Jesus? Are they not humility and suffering?
1:14 PM
Joel Rocks! I read. listened and studies his best seller. He has a 90 day devotional that has you read a verse in the Bible and then he tells a modern day story about the passage. He gives you the skeleton of walking with Christ.
His 7 keys to living your best life now are the cornerstone to any spiritual journey.
1) Enlarge your vision
2) Develop a healty self image
3) Discover the power of your thoughts and words
4) Let go of the past
5) Find strenght through adversity
6) Live to give
7) Choose to be happy
Attach these concepts into your life with Christ as the anchor and you will be living your best life NOW!
9:34 AM
I don’t know much about Joel Olsteen myself but do know that people, in general, are uncomfortable with those who seem too happy, nice, and or content. People often have a difficult time watching others become extremely successful in their pursuits. When I first heard him speak I thought “Is this guy for real? How can he be so happy?” I was a tad bit envious because I saw in him what I wanted more of in me…happiness and contentment in today. We may not all agree with his delivery but we do have to admit that he must be doing something right with an attendance of over 30, 000 every weekend. He meets people where they’re at in a country whose faith and families have deteriorated more and more with each passing decade. This country is in dire need of a positive message and he brings just that with the incredible message of hope promised in Christ! We, as fellow Christians, should be ecstatic with the work he has done and continues to do in the name of our Lord! I would much rather listen to a pastor who focuses on the good than one who speaks with negativity. So, I applaud Joel for his work….he reaches many……he encourages us to live in full glory of who God has made each of us to be……why then are we so quick to criticize……maybe it’s time for some to examine our hearts and attitude.
Blessings,
Margaret
8:12 PM
Joel Osteen is a likable person, but what bothers me about him is best summed up in this interview he did with Larry King in 2005. It bothers me that he never mentions a point in his life where he realized he was a sinner in need of a Savior but just says he has always believed. It also concerns me that he won't preach the gospel that Jesus is the only way to salvation. He skirts around the issue. I think about all the people that will be in his church from birth to old age and may never hear a clear representation of the gospel message. Here is a portion of the transcript.
KING: Is—have you always believed?
OSTEEN: I have always believed. I grew up, you know, my parents were a good Christian people. They showed us love in the home. My parents were the same in the pulpit as they were at home. I think that’s where a lot of preachers’ kids get off base sometimes. Because they don’t see the same things at both places. But I’ve always believed. I saw it through my parents. And I just grew up believing. [Believing what?]
KING: But you’re not fire and brimstone, right? You’re not pound the decks and hell and damnation?
OSTEEN: No. That’s not me. It’s never been me. I’ve always been an encourager at heart. And when I took over from my father, he came from the Southern Baptist background, and back 40-50 years ago, there was a lot more of that. But, you know, I just—I don’t believe in that. I don’t believe—maybe it was for a time. But I don’t have it in my heart to condemn people. I’m there to encourage them. I see myself more as a coach, as a motivator to help them experience the life God has for us.
KING: But don’t you think if people don’t believe as you believe, they’re somehow condemned?
OSTEEN: You know, I think that happens in our society. But I try not to do that. I tell people all the time, preached a couple Sundays about it. I’m for everybody. You may not agree with me, but to me it’s not my job to try to straighten everybody out. The Gospel is called the good news. My message is a message of hope, that’s God’s [message] for you. You can live a good life no matter what’s happened to you. And so I don’t know. I know there is condemnation, but I don’t feel that’s my place.
KING: You’ve been criticized for that, haven’t you?
OSTEEN: I have. I have. Because I don’t know.
KING: Good news guy, right?
OSTEEN: Yeah. But you know what? It’s just in me . . .
KING: So it’s self-fulfilling. Billy Graham was here last Thursday.
OSTEEN: I saw.
KING: Might have been his last interview. Is he a hero to the evangelists?
OSTEEN: He is a hero to us all. His life of integrity. Somebody that can stick with it for that long and just stick with his message. What I love about Dr. Graham is he stayed on course. He didn’t get sidetracked. That’s what happens to so many people today. It’s a good lesson for me, a good example for me to say, you know what, Joel, you may have a lot now, but I want to be here 40 years from now sitting with you.
KING: Do you share Billy’s beliefs of life after death in a sense of going somewhere?
OSTEEN: I do, I do. We probably agree on 99 percent. I do. I believe there’s a heaven you know. Afterwards, there’s, you know, a place called hell. And I believe it’s when we have a relationship with God and his son Jesus and that’s what the Bible teaches us. I believe it.
KING: Is it hard to lead a Christian life?
OSTEEN: I don’t think it’s that hard. To me it’s fun. We have joy and happiness. Our family—I don’t feel like that at all. I’m not trying to follow a set of rules and stuff. I’m just living my life.
KING: But you have rules, don’t you?
OSTEEN: We do have rules. But the main rule to me is to honor God with your life. To live a life of integrity. Not be selfish. You know, help others. But that’s really the essence of the Christian faith.
KING: That we live in deeds?
OSTEEN: I don’t know. What do you mean by that?
KING: Because we’ve had ministers on who said, your record don’t count. You either believe in Christ or you don’t. If you believe in Christ, you are, you are going to heaven. And if you don’t, no matter what you’ve done in your life, you ain’t.
OSTEEN: Yeah, I don’t know. There’s probably a balance between. I believe you have to know Christ. But I think that if you know Christ, if you’re a believer in God, you’re going to have some good works. I think it’s a cop-out to say I’m a Christian but I don’t ever do anything . . .
KING: What if you’re Jewish or Muslim, you don’t accept Christ at all?
OSTEEN: You know, I’m very careful about saying who would and wouldn’t go to heaven. I don’t know . . .
KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They’re wrong, aren’t they?
OSTEEN: Well, I don’t know if I believe they’re wrong. {that is the part that really concerns me}I believe here’s what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God will judge a person’s heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don’t know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don’t know. I’ve seen their sincerity. So I don’t know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus. [Hindus love Jehovah God (Yahweh), and worship Him as Scripture commands? All sincere souls go to heaven? What about Christ’s claim that “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6)?]
-----------------------------------
One thing is clear from Joel Osteen’s interview: He revealed more about what he doesn’t know than about what he claims to know. Osteen joins a growing company of celebrity “evangelicals” who have appeared on Larry King Live and have failed “to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you . . .” (1 Peter 3:15). As evidenced by this transcript, Osteen seems a great deal less certain about the Gospel than the following New Testament saints:
Paul declared, “I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded . . .” (2 Timothy 1:12); he prayed, “that ye may know what is the hope of [Christ’s] calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18); and wrote, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19); “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings . . .” (Philippians 3:10); “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6); John declared, “These things have I written unto you . . . that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” (1 John 5:13,19,20).
And of course, the Old Testament also repeatedly states, “that ye may know. . . .” God certainly has conveyed the impression that He wants us to be certain! Yet for Joel Osteen, over and over again, it’s “I don’t know.”
I certainly don't want to come across as harsh or judgmental, but it is not being judgmental when you are standing on scripture and for me, Joel Osteen doesn't seem to do that.
1:12 PM
Well C.J. this also sounds like President Bush another man of strong Christian faith! Mark 9:40 when Jesus tells His disciples that "Whoever is not against us is for us". I agree with you that Joel is a loving, gentle forgiving man, much like Jesus himself, now who's complaining about that? Miss ya, love ya Bobby, blessings......
RDHyndman
3:07 PM
Bobby - have you read the Sept. 18th edition of Time magazine? The cover story is all about the prosperity gospel and it's current resurgencence in American Christianity. And guess who, according to Time, is the poster boy of this reemerging theology. You guessed it...your boy Joel Osteen.
Here's the link:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1533448,00.html
I believe he is a great guy - in fact , I am sure he is. And certainly, if god used an ass to accomplish his plans, he can use anybody he chooses. But do we really want to get behind this guy? -especially for those of us who find comfort with the "emerging" label. It seems to me that what he is about is the opposite of most things we are fighting for in the church.
Osteen is another example, (like our president) of a nice person, with nice-intentions, who seems to have missed some pretty important elements of the message of Jesus.
Of course - we are all guilty of living out a truly holistic Jesus-following faith (isn't that what the journey is all about). But then again, we aren't the weekly voice of Jesus for 40,000+ people. Which brings up a question for another time - "If we all have some serous issues, should anybody have a much influence and voice in the church as we give some mega-church pastors?"
Anyway - Bobby - thanks for the post. I can't agree with you on the Osteen plug.
12:10 PM
I read an article in Time magazine that blasted Joel for preaching that God wants to bless his people materially on earth. The article's assertions are completely unfounded. I will find it and post a couple excerpts when I get a chance.
11:26 AM
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