Outline
-
Introduction
-
Joel
Osteen's Word & God's Word
- Conclusion
Joel
Osteen at a Glance: His Interview
Introduction
Joel Osteen perhaps has
the biggest church in America today, with more than 30,000 visitors
according to an October 3, 2005 edition of US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT.
His best selling books, televised messages and expanding popularity
have caught the attention and worries from certain Evangelical Christian
watch group of watering down the Christian gospel and even preaching
another gospel altogether. With Joel Osteen’s word from a short
interview that was from the same edition of US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT,
we will compare it straight and directly from the Word of God. May
the Word of God be the final authority of Joel Osteen’s ministry.
Joel Osteen's Word &
God's Word
- “There’s so much negativity
pulling people down that I think they respond when you say, ‘You
know what: God’s not mad at you; he’s on
your side, he’s got a good plan for your life, and when
we obey what he wants us to do, we’re going to prosper.?br>
QUESTION: Is God mad at sinners?
GOD’S WORD: “The LORD is slow to anger
and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty
unpunished.?(Nahum 1:3a)
- “I’m not necessarily
explaining deep, theological questions and doctrine
and stuff like that.?br>
QUESTION: Should we teach doctrine?
GOD’S WORD: “Watch your life and doctrine
closely. Persevere in them because if you do, you will
save both yourself and your hearers.?(1Timothy 4:16)
- “People are used to
[churches] condemning people to make them feel bad so that they’ll
repent, so they’ll know that they’re sinners, but I think there’s
a different approach.?br>
QUESTION: Is there a different approach besides repentance?
GOD’S WORD: Jesus said “But unless you repent,
you too will all perish.?(Luke 13: 5b)
QUESTION: Is there a different approach other than sorrow?
GOD’S WORD: ?font color="#FF0000">Godly sorrow brings
repentance that leads
to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings
death.?(2Corinthians 7:10)
QUESTION: Is there a different approach other than the gospel
message mentioned above?
GOD’S WORD: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach
a gospel other than the one we preached
to you, let him be eternally condemned!?
(Galatians 1:8)
Conclusion
This article is by no
means definitive in analyzing the ministry of Joel Osteen. At the
minimum, Christians ought to be careful of the ministry of his ministry.
His lack of clarity in his ministry approach in relationship to
the Gospel blurs the very purpose of preaching itself. With another
approach other than conviction and repentance that is at the heart
of the gospel, one has to wonder if Joel Osteen is preaching another
gospel where everybody is alright despite their sins and the message
that God is on one’s side without warning of God’s impending judgment
upon sinners. Let God’s Word be the final Judge.
FURTHER READINGS:
?a href="http://www.forgottenword.org/osteen.html">Joel
Oosteen-False Preacher/Teachings?by Rev. Robert S. Liichow
accessible at http://www.forgottenword.org/osteen.html
--Jimmy Li
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