Joel Osteen: Wolf in Sheep Clothing?
Joel Osteen the Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas runs quite the “spiritual” operation. Every week he packs them in as he preaches a doctrine of prosperity and has replaced Scripture with his own words. He is admittedly more interested in attracting people than honoring the Spirituals commands in the Bible. If Satan is “Prince of the Air” (airwaves included) and “God of this World” do you think he does not control who prospers on the television?
It is very easy to get caught up in any Pastor because you believe they know best when it comes to the Word. It also your own fault for not reading the Scripture yourself. You are not only placing your faith in “The Most High” but in the Pastor as well. Almost as if you are hiring a lawyer because they know the law and you hire the most expensive lawyer because they know every nuance of the law to keep you safe. Joel Osteen is no expensive lawyer!
The Gospel according to Joel Osteen
In fact what he teaches is unsound Scripture. Osteen has his own doctrine which includes supporting everyone in order to stay a mega church. By saying this I mean, listening to him talk reveals how far away from the Word he really is and this is done with conscious intent. He represents the wide path to the Kingdom within while the Bible teaches narrow is the path. Many people are probably upset reading this because they are “fans” of Joel Olsteen.
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
First let’s understand you can not say “yes” to everybody! All of us are imperfect and we can expect to “sin” daily however we should strive to recognize our sins and turn away from them. It will never be easy for us to do this because of our human nature but we should always strive to: recognize sin, correct it, and move forward. Not to just move forward for the sake of moving forward in His name.
More Biblically unsound doctrine from Joel Osteen
Osteen is sending a message to expect prosperity at any cost. He is basically “New Age” doctrine wrapped in the veil of Biblical Scripture. I remember seeing him on “The Larry King” show many years ago and I was shocked and disappointed to hear how he tapped danced around political issues the Bible does not support. His escape valve was saying things like, “Look I do not want to judge…”, or I do not want to say Muslims are not going to inherit the Kingdom. Or being a homosexual will not stop you from God’s promise of eternal life.
This was his opportunity as a Pastor to share with America exactly what the Bible states on these issues. Not his own beliefs! His thoughts are inconsequential in the Kingdom of God. First, he was supposed to tell America the Koran was written over 600 years after the Bible. The Bible was Divinely (by “The Holy Spirit) inspired over a period of 1,800 years by 40 different prophets, who lived on 3 different continents, spoke 3 different languages, wrote on hundreds of controversial subjects, yet penned their words in harmony.
2 Timothy 4:3
3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
The Koran was dictated by one Angel to one man. This is a major difference in beliefs and the Bible says it is only through Jesus you can reach the Kingdom. This is a major difference in Faith and his response should, as a believer be, Jesus is the only way. Next, Osteen says, “I do not want to judge…”, and I have heard this same argument you are not supposed to judge.
You are supposed to judge according to the Bible! In fact you are supposed to judge, test, and hold fast to the good! You are not supposed to be judgmental. The most political hot-button in America is the homosexual life style and Larry King asked Osteen about this. Again, he tapped danced around this issue without providing sound doctrine. Yes, we all sin but we are supposed to turn away from sin according to the Bible.
John 7:24
24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
The Bible does not support the homosexual lifestyle at all. Are you supposed to hate, bully, or insult the sin? No way, ever! The Bible is very clear on stating gently and lovingly correcting people (and bringing them to understanding) in the Word. So anyone, group or Church teaching hate homosexuals is sinning themselves! We are all sinners by nature. I have a friend who is married and addicted to sex with multiple partners. I do not condemn him! I tell him there is a better way through the teachings of the Bible!
When Larry King asked Osteen about his views on homosexuality he should have clearly stated New Testament Divinely inspired Word. Let’s take a look at the most powerful Divine statements regarding being gay. From here you will be able to ascertain if there is any legal interpretations to include the Bible supporting being gay and it is a gift from God.
Romans 1:24-27
New International Version (NIV)
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
As you can see without room for interpretation the Bible states same sex lust is unnatural. The Most High also considers these acts shameful. It is very difficult to say the Bible supports homosexuality after reading this verse, true? Osteen could have used this opportunity to share this but at the same time accept gay people into his Church. Do not tell them it is just a “sin” and please continue in the “eyes-of-God.” We can also look at the following verse as well.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
New International Version (NIV)
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Again, another verse that clearly states homosexuals will not be inheriting the Kingdom of God. As you can see there are other sins here to turn away from as well. The point is you can not continue these above-mentioned sins with any hope of receiving the Kingdom. This is what Osteen was supposed to share with Larry King. He could have said, “Larry these are not my words but His Word on this issue. I will always love and support everyone because we all fall short but people must honor the thoughts of the Divine Mind.”
Osteen has fallen short on sharing sound Biblical doctrine with his mega church and the world. Osteen and his wife are more concerned with filling up the Church rows by not offending anyone with the Word. Osteen also looks tarnished by hooking his wagon up to Oprah Winfrey who has denied Jesus is the only way on National television. She claims and is feverishly teaching there are many paths to God, besides Jesus, yet I have heard her claim to be a Christian! Oprah is more apt to quote Eckhart Tolle than a a quote from the Bible.
Oprah’s New Age doctrine borrows from Jesus without giving Him credit
Osteen is prospering because the world does not want sound doctrine. The world wants to be able to make the rules as they go and by consensus decide what is right. As a Spiritual leader he is woefully negligent on providing sound doctrine to his flock. He wants everybody to feel good regardless of Spiritual Laws or commands which need to be incorporated into lifestyles. Osteen is nothing more than a “yes-man” pulling people into a pit.
Galatians 1:8-9
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
For all of the good Osteen is doing he is leaving out the fact we are in the midst of a Spiritual War. Caught in the cross fire of forces of light and darkness. The ultimate goal of the dark forces is to deceive the world and disrupt the path laid out by Jesus Christ. He followed all of the Spiritual Laws and stated we must do the same. In the end, Osteen is nothing more than a distraction from the true path. He is not the way. As my sons say — Fail!
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Update 3/15/2013 – 6:38 PM (EST)
Joel Osteen appeared on Piers Morgan and sets the record straight using Biblical Scripture as a reference regarding gay marriage. He sounds fair and true to the Word at the same time. Perhaps he realizes there is a need, to stay true to the Word, in order to be a positive reflection of the Word?
