Joel Osteen on 60 Minutes
60 minutes has just aired a TV special on America’s most popular pastor. With a church membership of approximately 47000, Lakewood Church in Houston Texas is the largest church in America. Osteen's services are broadcasted all over the world with millions tuning in every week. And oh yeah by the way, he can bench press 300 lbs and cry on demand.
I thought the reporter did a good job, I don’t think he was buying all the stuff Osteen was yapping about. It seems like the reporter understood Christianity well enough to figure out the problem with Osteen. He kept pointing out the similarities between Osteen’s teaching and the teaching of Dr. Phil or Oprah. He also could spot the dangers in telling everyone that they will be rich and happy.
I was also glad 60 minutes brought on somebody like Michael Horton; it is very rare shows like this bring on someone of his caliber. Too bad he only got like 30 seconds of show time with 20 seconds showing him walking up stairs. But I think what they showed of Dr. Horton was good, I am surprised that they showed what they did. He was able to squeeze out a few phrases such as cotton candy gospel, fortune cookie, easy listening, and heresy. Dr. Horton is a professor at Westminster Seminary, he is also the editor of Modern Reformation magazine, and part of the White Horse Inn radio talk show.
None of this changes the fact that he is still deceiving millions with his distorted Gospel, and making millions if I might add. I am starting to think that he knows exactly what he is doing. He knows there is lots of money to be made from new age self help as well as Christianity, so why not combine them. When you need to talk about self help topics draw from your new age sources, and when you talk about something that can be supported from the Bible, use that.
The Internetmonk has a good article on the 60 minutes piece as well, so take a look at it if you can.
5 comments:
I saw the 60 Minutes Interview with Joel. You know, I don't buy everything that he says by no means. However, I do feel that there will be people in heaven as a result of his ministry. Is that bad? Plus, Dr. Horton's comments about cotton candy gospel and then calling Osteen a heretic. Why do that on national TV? Christians have enough problems as it is, without other Christians going on TV and calling each other names. We are not in preschool anymore!! It's one thing to have differences, it's another to openly criticize on national TV. I believe there is a Bible verse in Matthew about that. We need to portray a united front for the world to see. Regardless of your views on Joel, we are on the same team and have the same goals. We can work together. Plus, I thought I detected a hint of jealousy in Horton's voice. Could be wrong, but I wouldn't put it past other people to throw stones at Joel for running thousands of people when their church brings in only hundreds. Something to think about!
While there might be people in heaven as a result of his ministry, my question is: How many people will be in hell as a result of his ministry? Have you ever listened to an Osteen sermon or read an Osteen book. It's a far stretch to call what Joel preaches the Gospel of Christ. If anything, he is preaching a half-gospel and one that I think is very dangerous. While to the world it may appear as we are shooting others on the same team, I don't hardly consider Joel's ministry as being on the same team. He preaches a prosperity gospel which is indeed heresy and needs to be called out...and if that need be on National TV to get the message out...then it needed to be done on National TV. Just a little bit of research on Joel and his message will lead one to see that he is indeed preaching a false gospel. And I do seem to remember Jesus flipping tables at some point in Scripture...
Take 1 Corinthians 5:12 for example:
“12For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."
I think when it comes to something as important as the Gospel we have to be able to discern what is right and wrong, and if it differs from the true Gospel then we have to contend. We are told over and over to contend for the faith once and all delivered (Jude 1) and watch out for false teachers. Take a look at what Paul says in Galatians 1:
“ 6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9)
Paul was convinced that the Gospel he preached was the true Gospel, and anybody preaching a different Gospel is to be cut off. They were accursed or anathema. I don’t think Paul was saying we could go around throwing anathemas to everybody who disagrees in minor ways, only if they are preaching a different Gospel. Those who preach a distorted Gospel lay themselves under a curse and are in danger of laying others under it as well.
Paul also rebuked Peter in public in Galatians 2.
I have watched Osteen on TV dozens of times, what can I say, I like to watch TV preachers (I know it’s kind of sick but I can’t help it) and there have been times when he has never read scripture, how can you preach the Gospel without using scripture!
I think the question comes down to, is Osteen preaching a false Gospel or not? If he is not then I think you are right and we shouldn’t criticize him on TV, but if he is preaching a false Gospel what do we do then? Would it be wrong to do it on TV?
Instead of looking at it in terms of how many people are in heaven or hell because of his ministry, I think the better way to look at it would be to ask: Does this honor God? Does this bring Glory to God? Are we being faithful to the Gospel? The thing about the Prosperity Gospel is that it elevates the gifts above the Giver, by definition that is Idolatry and that never honors God. Numbers are not always good indicator of faithfulness; we have to judge it by an objective standard, faithfulness to the Gospel and the Word. If someone has lots of numbers but distorts the Gospel to get those numbers, I wouldn’t define that as successful or faithful.
To take a line from John MacArthur, “A half truth presented as a whole truth is a complete untruth.”
This is definitely one of those topics that can lead to great debate among Christians. I can see both sides of the argument and to some extent agree with both sides. However, I didn't see the 60 Minutes special and can't comment on what was delivered there. I do know that Dr. Horton is a well respected scholar and one whose opinion many trust. I have watched many Osteen sermons myself and at times I think he is a great guy and a charming man. He is a good preacher. However I don't think God is honored by the preaching of a Prosperity Gospel, and there are very few who would argue that Osteen is not in the Prosperity camp. Should he be ostracized on National TV--well maybe...maybe not. I think it depends on the situation and how it was addressed and since I didn't see the interview I can't comment. I do think there are too many people that bash the man and have never watched an Osteen sermon or read one of his books, and just bash to be bashing. That I don't agree with especially in the company of non-believers. However I would like to reference a great piece of writing on Dr. Ben Witherington III's blog were he takes on the Prosperity Gospel that Osteen preaches and teaches from Scripture(unlike many Osteen sermons) the problems that arise in such a gospel teaching. Here's the the link:
What's Wrong with Prospering?
You can watch the 60 minutes video from that link I posted. It is that video that pops up at the top.
Also, Dr. Witherington's article was really good as usual, and it was written almost a year and a half ago, he needs to update it.
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