The Gospel According to Joel Osteen - Part 1

With today’s post, I have no intentions of blasting or slandering Pastor Joel Osteen. But when I watch a video interview like these (scroll down) with Chris Wallace from Fox News Sunday, I can’t help but share it with others. And its healthy for us Christians to practice discernment because 1) Jesus told us to, 2) Jesus warned about false teachers and prophets, and 3) its necessary so we can catch error when we find it in order to continue to believe and exalt truth! The hard part is learning to lovingly and kindly disagree with those who are in error. So my prayer is that I’ll be able to do that here.

After watching this video, I believe that Joel Osteen indeed preaches another Gospel. Sure he tells people about “sin” and gives them a chance to change their lives for the better in Christ at the end of each service. But that involves only a simple repeated prayer and some superstitious robotic terminology. Joel says himself that he desires to build people up, preach positive messages, inspire people to live each day, give them something to use the next day at work or home, and help increase personal growth.

He doesn’t like to talk about sin, negativity, or tear people down. I agree, don’t tear people down Joel. Just tell them the truth about God’s wrath, judgment, and their utter depravity and wicked heart. Christians don’t have to tear down and condemn, God’s Holy Spirit and Law will tear down and condemn. Then God will lift them up by His grace through the preaching of the true Gospel. Then they’ll understand their sins and come to Jesus because their eyes will have been illumined with truth and they’ll behold Him and willingly embrace Him.

Sinners need the truth more than anything. Often times that truth will offend and bother them. In fact it should, does, and will do just that. But that truth will also lead them into eternal life and to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Give them truth Joel, please!

Part 1 - Chris Wallace interview with Joel Osteen on FoxNews Sunday

Part 2 - Chris Wallace interview with Joel Osteen on FoxNews Sunday

Next time, I’ll look more closely at each Part of these interviews to examine exactly what concerns me about Joel Osteen. Osteen is indeed sincere and one of the nicest preachers I’ve seen in a long time. But I can’t say he is caring. Because, “the one who tells you the most truth is your best friend” (unknown). When you truly care for people, you care more for them hearing and embracing the truth then you do their feelings, reputation, self-esteem, or financial status. That’s one reason why Jesus was the most caring person ever to live. Because He not only told us the whole truth, especially when others didn’t expect it or desire it, but He embodied truth and therefore had to speak truthfully of Himself, God, man’s state, and how to obtain eternal life.