During a dinner conversation, the inevitable question came up recently: What do I think about Joel Osteen? The question is always a loaded one because the one who asks almost always has their own personal opinion. However, as it is in keeping with my nature, I like to engage in conversations about random topics in the hopes that either someone benefits from my position or that I may benefit from theirs. Joel Osteen is a topic that I admit I have changed my mind on before.
It’s so easy to look at Joel Osteen and proclaim him to be a false prophet and one that is stealing away sheep from God’s kingdom and hand delivering them to Satan himself. In reality, if the roles were reversed and Joel Osteen was preaching to less than 25 people at the first preview service of a new church gathering and I was on stage at Lakewood Church in Houston, the critics would come after me and totally disregard Osteen.
While most won’t admit it, I will. I believe there is jealousy and covetousness within the church. Pastors–especially church planting pastors–have been conditioned to look at how many people come on a Sunday as a sign of God’s hand upon a ministry. The funny thing is, Lakewood Church has something like 35,000+ people in attendance on Sundays and is most-likely the largest church in the United States, yet for him that growth and size is not used as a gauge of God’s hand at work in Houston. Is this hypocritical? Absolutely! Are people tired of hypocrisies in the church? Absolutely! An interesting thing to consider is that it is generally pastors of smaller churches that are criticizing the pastors of larger churches. I have yet to see a pastor of one of the 5 largest churches in America speaking negatively about the pastor of a 500 member church.
As you can probably guess from where this is going, I am one who chooses not to speak negatively against Pastor Osteen. I cite this Scripture from the Apostle Paul to the church in Philippi:
- It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. –Philippians 1:15-18 NIV
While it’s true that I absolutely have disagreements with Osteen’s theology and I also have an issue with his ministry charging people something like $10/ticket to come to one of his speaking events in their city, if he preaches Christ crucified as the means of knowing the Father, then I’m okay with him.
I did witness Osteen’s very first appearance on Larry King Live and was shocked when he stated that he didn’t know people’s hearts and that a Muslim could die and know God eternally in heaven. However, I have not heard him take that position ever again and that was several years ago. I believe that in his desire to not put anyone off he miscommunicated his position at that time. If at any time Pastor Osteen takes the position that there are many ways to God and that Christ isn’t necessary, then I will have to change my position based on this instruction in 2 John 7 NIV:
- Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
As an Evangelical that believes that the Bible is error-free and stands alone as the Word of God, I thank God that tens of thousands of people are getting the opportunity to know Christ through Lakewood Church and potentially millions more around the world may get that chance through watching Osteen’s broadcast every week. I trust that God will grant them wisdom and encourage them to be rooted in His word. If I am wrong and Osteen isn’t working under righteousness and favor from God, then I must also trust in God to handle that as well. It is not my place to pass judgment on someone if they are preaching the gospel, regardless of the manner, style, language, etc.
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Dave,
Thank you for writing this i really appreciate it. I have my opinion concerning Joel but i will not put it here. I agree that the Lord will use him to reach people. To me that’s what matters most. Are souls being won to Jesus?! Again thank you for what you have written here. It was done very well.
Blessings
Michael: Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. If you ever post your thoughts somewhere, trackback here or email me. I’d like to see your elaboration :)
Whilst I have a couple of his books and enjoy his ‘feel good’ ministry, I have to completely disagree with you regarding Joel Osteen. I honestly believe that his message is not the one that will receive favor from Jesus. I won’t go as far as to call him a false prophet, just misguided. Mostly, this time last year I was entirely affected by a speaker named Jason Ostrander (head of Youth ministry for the C&MA church) that completely blew my mind. Though Francis Chan has inspired me with his teachings, Ostrander has completely changed my thoughts on theology. Well, that and being at Fuller.
Timothy: Great to see you here…thanks for posting your thoughts! I would agree that in my personal opinion–through how I believe the Word of God to be interpreted–that Pastor Osteen is a little misguided. However, I affirm again that if he does preach that we can only truly know God through the saving grace of Christ, then in essence he is preaching the gospel. It may not cause people to become devoted Christ followers through his messages of God wanting us to live in prosperous conditions, but I do think it will change hearts and cause people to love others more.
In reality, I’m kind of on the fringe of Evangelicalism as I seek to do my part in bringing a relevant gospel to a world that doesn’t see it that way yet. However, it is not my intention to change the gospel as Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
I appreciate your view and thanks for sharing! As the one who first introduced me to Francis Chan, now I think I have to go check out Jason too :)
Dave: What a good heart you have toward your fellow Believer (Osteen). Here are a couple of tid-bits that you might find interesting. Joel went back on Larry King several months later and at his request adressed the question again. Joel stated straight-out that only through Jesus Christ can one have eternal life. He called it the most important tenant of our faith. He has restated that dozens of times since in many other interviews. In fact, recently, he was asked on a national radio program, “Who is going to Hell?” His answer: “Anyone who does not have a relationship with Jesus Christ.” I wish people would stop beating him over the head because of that first Larry King interview. It isn’t like he denied Christ — and he certainly hasn’t done it three times like Peter did?
Also, I think it is important to realize that at the end of every TV program Osteen gives as strong an altar-call to accept Jesus as I’ve ever seen from any minister. Osteen’s invitation to accept Jesus Christ is seen thousands of times each week all over the world. Who else is doing that?
In fact, while Joel Osteen is inviting the world to know Jesus Christ, his critics — guys like Mark Driscol & Paul Washer — are spending their resources trying to make a name for themselves by attacking him on You Tube. I would bet that Joel Osteen encourages more people to accept Christ as Lord & Savior in a single week than the two of those jokers will in their entire lifetimes.
I agree with Dave whole-heartedly on this one. Why is it that so many believers spend so much time criticizing Osteen, when there is a lost and dying world out there? Time is short…I just don’t get it!