Joel Osteen

[Kitty.]

I came inside from being in the snow and was washing my boots off and the TV was on and I heard a really encouraging person on TV. They were talking about how God does everything for our good, that God will bring us through all of our trials, etc. It turns out that this person is Joel Osteen.

I didn't see anything bad with what he was saying. It was extremely encouraging. I have thought about listening to some of his sermons.


But, before I do, I would like some input.
I have heard so much about him being a false prophet.
Is he a false prophet?
If so, what evidence is there to back this claim up?

 

[liesje]

I came inside from being in the snow and was washing my boots off and the TV was on and I heard a really encouraging person on TV. They were talking about how God does everything for our good, that God will bring us through all of our trials, etc. It turns out that this person is Joel Osteen.

I didn't see anything bad with what he was saying. It was extremely encouraging. I have thought about listening to some of his sermons.


But, before I do, I would like some input.
I have heard so much about him being a false prophet.
Is he a false prophet?
If so, what evidence is there to back this claim up?

Kitty,

I'm hesitant of calling people false teachers, and I believe that Osteen geniunely desires to be helpful, but he does NOT preach the gospel. Be very, very, very careful with anything by him. What he says is encouraging, because it is designed to be, but it is not the message of the Bible. Osteen's message is all about how you can help yourself. You can watch videos of him saying with his own lips that he doesn't believe in talking to his congregation about sin. He never uses the word sin. Now when he has one of the biggest congregations in America, something is wrong. It's all very well being encouraging, but if you do not talk about sin you are doing far more damage to your congregation than you are doing good. Sin is our problem, we struggle with it every day of our lives, and that is why we need Jesus. If it's left out, that's not the gospel. It's preaching 'what their itching ears want to hear.'

On top of that, Joel Osteen preaches a prosperity gospel. Put simply, it means if you are a good Christian you will be happy, healthy and rich. That is disgusting. Please don't think I'm saying there is anything wrong with being either of those three things, but they are NOT what God has promised us. He has told us that if we follow him we will suffer. We are living for heaven, and the only way we can live our best life now is if we are going to hell. (I think it was John Piper who said that). That gospel sounds encouraging, because we want it to be so, but it is wrong. Tell that gospel to the thousands of people who die every year because they will not deny the name of Christ their Lord. Tell that gospel to the millions of starving Christians in Africa. Tell that to a Godfearing person whose husband or wife is dying of cancer. Tell that to someone whose child has been killed in a car accident. That gospel draws people to Jesus for the wrong reasons - it is telling people to become Christians so God can do amazing things for them. And when these amazing things don't happen, guess what? People give up Christianity. (The people who preach the prosperity gospel are filthy stinking rich from the money they've raked in from all the people who listen to their 'encouraging' messages.) We must come to Christ because we love him. Simply that. Not because he can do something for us.

Joel Osteen's gospel encourages people to focus on themselves instead of God. If you want solid, biblical preaching, listen to the sermons of someone like John Piper. He sincerely desires the honour of God's name, not his own. He preaches the gospel. Joel Osteen does not. Here's one video from John Piper, which might explain more of what I've been saying: YouTube - John Piper - Why I abominate the prosperity gospel

Hope that helps!!

 

[Holy Events]

When I listen to Joel, I don't get a lot of the things people say he is, or what he isn't. False prophet. Con man. I don't see any of that. Joel says God wants the best for us. If that is wrong, is the opposite true? Surely it is not.

Joel also says that bad things happen, but to not dwell on them. From what I have heard from Joel over the years is somewhat of a balance...no he doesn't dwell on the negative, because that's not his personality. But he does speak about it in terms of overcoming it. No one said it would be easy, but people really paint this picture like Joel is saying come to Christ and everything will be roses, milk and honey.

To me, Joel is very encouraging and even when i receive the newsletters, I don't see anything that is a cause for alarm or concern. I think so many people look for the negative things to harp on about Joel that they miss the positive things. He's not perfect but you know, sometimes people need to be encouraged.

 

[liesje]

When I listen to Joel, I don't get a lot of the things people say he is, or what he isn't. False prophet. Con man. I don't see any of that. Joel says God wants the best for us. If that is wrong, is the opposite true? Surely it is not.

Joel also says that bad things happen, but to not dwell on them. From what I have heard from Joel over the years is somewhat of a balance...no he doesn't dwell on the negative, because that's not his personality. But he does speak about it in terms of overcoming it. No one said it would be easy, but people really paint this picture like Joel is saying come to Christ and everything will be roses, milk and honey.

To me, Joel is very encouraging and even when i receive the newsletters, I don't see anything that is a cause for alarm or concern. I think so many people look for the negative things to harp on about Joel that they miss the positive things. He's not perfect but you know, sometimes people need to be encouraged.

None of us are perfect. I do not say Osteen is trying to deceive people, but as a pastor it is his duty to teach the word of God. He doesn't. It's fine to be encouraging if you're a counsellor, but if you are standing in a role of a pastor you absolutely must preach from the whole Bible. He ignores teaching about sin, which is fundamental in any teaching about God. He may be encouraging, but it is not the encouragement we need if it doesn't talk about sin, surely the biggest struggle any of us face. I think so many people are in love with his flowery message that they miss all the warning bells. It goes both ways.

 

[RipleyCountyChristian]

Kitty,

I'm hesitant of calling people false teachers, and I believe that Osteen geniunely desires to be helpful, but he does NOT preach the gospel. Be very, very, very careful with anything by him. What he says is encouraging, because it is designed to be, but it is not the message of the Bible. Osteen's message is all about how you can help yourself. You can watch videos of him saying with his own lips that he doesn't believe in talking to his congregation about sin. He never uses the word sin. Now when he has one of the biggest congregations in America, something is wrong. It's all very well being encouraging, but if you do not talk about sin you are doing far more damage to your congregation than you are doing good. Sin is our problem, we struggle with it every day of our lives, and that is why we need Jesus. If it's left out, that's not the gospel. It's preaching 'what their itching ears want to hear.'

On top of that, Joel Osteen preaches a prosperity gospel. Put simply, it means if you are a good Christian you will be happy, healthy and rich. That is disgusting. Please don't think I'm saying there is anything wrong with being either of those three things, but they are NOT what God has promised us. He has told us that if we follow him we will suffer. We are living for heaven, and the only way we can live our best life now is if we are going to hell. (I think it was John Piper who said that). That gospel sounds encouraging, because we want it to be so, but it is wrong. Tell that gospel to the thousands of people who die every year because they will not deny the name of Christ their Lord. Tell that gospel to the millions of starving Christians in Africa. Tell that to a Godfearing person whose husband or wife is dying of cancer. Tell that to someone whose child has been killed in a car accident. That gospel draws people to Jesus for the wrong reasons - it is telling people to become Christians so God can do amazing things for them. And when these amazing things don't happen, guess what? People give up Christianity. (The people who preach the prosperity gospel are filthy stinking rich from the money they've raked in from all the people who listen to their 'encouraging' messages.) We must come to Christ because we love him. Simply that. Not because he can do something for us.

Joel Osteen's gospel encourages people to focus on themselves instead of God. If you want solid, biblical preaching, listen to the sermons of someone like John Piper. He sincerely desires the honour of God's name, not his own. He preaches the gospel. Joel Osteen does not. Here's one video from John Piper, which might explain more of what I've been saying: YouTube - John Piper - Why I abominate the prosperity gospel

Hope that helps!!

I agree as much as i possibly can! Osteen preaches a "Christian-Lite" message, you have Christ and everything is going to be great, no worries, and you don't have to do anything else.

 

[Kitty.]

Thank all for your replies. That really clarifies a lot for me.

 

[liesje]

Osteen promotes "feel good" Christianity. He's the opposite of Fred Phelps.

He also comes across as a used car salesman....jus sayin.

Lol he's quite the opposite of Fred Phelps But please...don't listen to Fred Phelps either!!!! Not that you'll want to after you've heard him once...

 

[Kitty.]

Lol he's quite the opposite of Fred Phelps But please...don't listen to Fred Phelps either!!!! Not that you'll want to after you've heard him once...

Hahahaha Fred Phelps has issues.
I've watched all of the documentaries on WBC. I would never listen to Fred Phelps and I'm guessing that 99% of the world would agree with me.

 

[WhyohWhy51]

Personally I find people who preach on TV and constantly talk about buying something to be fishy. As in they don't really care and just want your money type fishy.

About Fred Phelps, I have actually talked to the guy myself. To be honest he is a really smart guy who believes 100% of the bible. Talk to him and he will justify everything in the Bible. Their entire family is lawyers they are no slouches. They just take the Bible incredibly too seriously.

 

[Marco_732]

Aye, it's a kind of "God just loves ya, wants you to be happy" message, rather than a "you sinned against God, and there is a just punishment; but Jesus paid the debt" salvation message.

"Feel good Christianity" describes it exactly.