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.
