Joel Osteen's Church Has a Wide Door
And it Leads to Destruction
(Throughout the article I will not write out any Bible verses, but refer to them by book, chapter and verse. The point of this is to get people to open a Bible before trying to argue their points.)
Basically, Joel Osteen preaches what some have dubbed the, "prosperity gospel." It basically emphasizes that if you follow God good things will happen to you, such as being successful financially and career-wise. Osteen once preached, "because of the price He (Jesus) paid, we have a right to total victory...not partial victory, to where we have a good family, we have good health, but we constantly struggle in our finances. That's not total victory." Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Jesus died so we can have a family, be healthy, and financially stable! On the contrary, Jesus' death was so that we, sinners, may have life after the one in this world ends! We should not live this life for our own desires and securities, but in complete and utter sacrifice to God that puts our health and finances, things of ourselves, in danger! (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) Many people in this country want to learn about a God that only hopes we are happy, they don't want to hear the God that condemns (the God Jesus talked about!). The way Joel Osteen describes God sounds more like he is talking about Santa Claus, think happy thoughts, be good, and he'll reward you with worldly things. (1 John 2:15)
Another Osteen sermon quote: "It's God's will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty. It's God's will for you to pay your bills and not be in debt. It's God's will for you to live in health and not in sickness all the days of your life." Where does it say this in the Christian Bible? (Revelation 3:17) Paul, the post-Christ world's first great evangelist lived in poverty and with some type of physical ailment. He, as well as many other disciples of Jesus, sacrificed their lives in hope that the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ may be heard! They endured physical abuse, stoning, and poverty. Look at the way Jesus himself lived! Nothing Osteen teaches about the life God has for us matches up with ANYTHING of how our Savior lived!
Joel Osteen leaves out one of the most important parts of the Christian gospel: that everyone is a SINNER and deserves HELL. (Romans 3:23) The problem with this is that if Christian pastors do not explain the depth of sin, we cannot truly understand God's love for us. The most amazing thing about God's love is that He loves us no matter how messed up in sin we are. Did Jesus talk about hell and sin? Of course. (Mark 9:43-47) The topic of sin is NECESSARY, not to scare people, but warn them. Why should Christians share the gospel and warn others? Because we love them and care for them. Leaving out a huge portion of the Christian gospel cannot be considered loving our brothers and sisters in this world. Osteen says he doesn't talk about people being sinners because he doesn't want to condemn them. Uhh, who gave Osteen the power to condemn? God has already condemned humanity (John 3:18), and preaching the ENTIRE gospel is a way out of the condemnation we already have!
Here is what Osteen said when asked if the Christian life is hard: "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."
I'm sorry, but if being a Christian is "easy," for you, then somewhere down the line you have totally missed the point of Christianity. Are there any Christians in the Bible that professes living a Christ-like life is easy? However, I can see how Osteen sees Christianity as an easy thing to live, since his idea of Christianity is so warped. Christianity is all fun and happiness. If you're good and always happy, God will reward you with a healthy family, long life, and financial stability. This is why I say Joel Osteen's church (and theology) has a wide door (Matthew 7:13-14). Osteen has taken the wide, easy, road of Christianity, and many are entering, not because they cannot believe a God would love them for being a terrible people, but because they want to be better people. Jesus did not die so we could use our lives to work for what we want, but so that we could live and DIE giving God glory, no matter the circumstances of our health, families, or prosperity/poverty. Becoming a true Christian would change our dreams, our wants, and our hopes. Hear these words, friends: an easy Christianity is no Christianity at all. A Christian walk through the wide gate is what Joel Osteen is teaching.
To follow Osteen, and say things like, "Joel Osteen saved my life" are fine, but don't go labeling it in any way as Christianity. I do not credit the saving of my life to any man but Jesus Christ. Sometimes I wonder if any true follower of Osteen studies the Bible for himself or herself, because if they did, they would see his teachings as un-Biblical, and his points lacking scriptural backing. In fact, it's easier to find verses in the Bible that REFUTE Osteen's points.
I will admit Joel Osteen has done some pretty impressive things with his church and his points have changed many people's views on their self-esteem. My problem with this is that his self-help theology belongs next to Dr. Phil and not in the Christian church. To call him a "Christian" preacher is to insult and ignore the teachings of Jesus the man Christians should be listening to more.
This article is only part one of a series. I have a lot more on the issue of Osteen's non-Christian theology, but I wanted to get this out there to show scripturally based points that oppose Osteen's "prosperity gospel."
Published by Kyle Mori
i'm a student who enjoys writing whatever's in my mind. View profile
- Christmas Eve Services in Houston, TexasSince weeks before Thanksgiving, churches all throughout the Houston area have been preparing for their Christmas Eve services, deciding on just the right liturgy, songs, and mood to capture the Christmas spirit for t...
- Small Business Start-Up TipsThe CEO of ProBizAssoc.com talks about one of the key factors of starting up a small business - positive attitude.
Top 10 Christian Programs of 2006"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 13:16. Have a very Merry Christmas an...- An Insight on Why God Doesn't ExistGod doesn't exist in Earth. He does not interact with us in any way.
- Barbara Walter's 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006The anticipation for this years list will leave some to wonder why, and others to emotionally understand.
- How Can Christians Hate Joel Osteen?
- Illustrious Pastor Joel Osteen Descends Upon New York City
- Is Joel Osteen Too Positive?: Reflections from Personal Experience
- Joel Osteen Visits Denver
- Joel Osteen, a Down to Earth Preacher
- The Inspiring, Uplifting and Entertaining Sermons of Joel Osteen - Religion Lite w...
- Your Best Life Now?: My Life Began, After Reading This Book
12 Comments
Post a CommentYes, we see them all the time. Thanks!
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
As a Christian, I appreciate Joel Osteen.His message is "Christianity Light" but it serves a purpose for God and a very big purpose. It draws people to the church and the word of God.I believe that someone that is truly called will research further. The bible says seek and you shall find.. and knock. Joel has lots of people seeking and knocking.. You might think about that.
Kylie,
The bible is quite clear...you can EXPECT anything from God...it doesn't mean you're going to get it though. I don't think his messages of prosperity are a bit off; however, I sometimes don't like his delivery. Be that as it may, who am I to judge him? That's what I thought.
As you know from reading my piece on Joel, I disagree with what you've said here. Joel teaches from the Bible and he does it in a way that motivates people to draw closer to Christ, which I think is a good thing. Even though I disagree with you, you did a good job explaining your points.
The prosperity gospel sucks so many people in because these people want to follow God to GET things...but we've already been given the greatest gift ever: salvation through Jesus Christ's death on the cross! How dare we expect ANYTHING else from God, who has already given us everything. Isaiah 53:4-5 is referring to our healing from sin, which is a disease that everyone suffers from. It brings about the death of our souls, destroys the chance of spending eternity with our Creator. It is NOT talking about healing our physical bodies of ailments, or other diseases. Paul himself had a physical ailment in which he described as a "thorn in his side" and thanked God for it, because it kept him humble. The same applies to 1 Peter 2:24. Just look verse 25. God is not promising healing to our bodies, but a spiritual healing, so that we can return to the, "Shepherd of our souls."
were not because of God's grace, the Philippian church would not have the means to give anything to Paul. As Matthew Henry put it, "for the more we do for God the more we are indebted to him, because we receive the more from him." Matthew 6:33 IS talking about material possessions, though if you read the 13 or so verses preceding it, Paul denounces storing up treasures on earth. How do we reconcile these two differences? The first part of 6:33 is extremely important, "Seek ye first and the kingdom of God, and his righteousness." If we first seek God because of the amazing grace He has provided for us, because we realize we are SINNERS and next to the cross we are nothing, because we want to live a life pleasing to God first, others next, and ourselves last, material possession will mean NOTHING to us! God will provide for us of course, but we should see it as something from his Grace, not something we deserve or are entitled to, which is what Osteen believes. The prosperity gosp
John 10:10 is relating to the thief stealing hearts and souls from the pasture of Christ. Having life abundantly in this verse is referring to having GRACE in abundance, kai perisson echosin, not material things or health, because grace gives us a more abundant life in that it is eternal. I think you meant Philippians 4:19, not 3. This does say Paul acknowledges that God will counter the Philippians poverty in His own time and will, but Paul sets an example of contentment in the previous verses. Paul says he is content in any situation, even in living hungry. If Paul preached the prosperity gospel like Joel Osteen, he would have told the Philippian church to NOT be content with their poverty. Instead, he shows them an example of being content with no worldly possessions, saying that even then, he is living in abundance. However, this verse points again in the idea of having an “abundance of grace†because if it were not because of God's grace, t
John 10:10 Says the" thief comes not but to steal and to kill and to destroy, I am come rthat you might have life and have it more abundantly"these are Jesus' own words. Phillippians 3:19 IT IS WRITTEN bUT MY God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Matthew 6:33 Says "BUT Seek ye First the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things(That the gentiles or unbelievers seek) shall be added unto you. As far as healing goes Isaiah wrote in CHAPTER 53:4-5 Surely He has borne our griefs ,and carried our sorrows,yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted . But He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities,The chastisement for our peacewas upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed. 1st peter 2:24 Its written (NKJV)who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree(CROSS), that we having died to sins ,might live for righteousness,by whose stripes you were healed. Yes, as christians we are going
true Christian preachers always consider the Christian life a fulfilling one, but not because we are happy, healthy, and wealthy, but because we are actively seeking the Kingdom of God. Osteen's message may sound "better" for living a happier life on earth, but it does nothing for our eternal salvation. Osteen believes he knows what happens to us when we die, but for some reason he isn't telling us everything about it.