Joel Osteen…Kick The Man?
"Don't kick a man when he is down". This is a well known saying although the human condition is usually prone to do the opposite. There are those who do like to kick someone when they're down but I submit to you that due to jealousy, people are more likely to kick a man when he is in the reverse condition. The tabloids simply love to see someone who is on top brought down. Often the tabloids are castigated for their insensitivity and commitment in an almost blood lust for bad news about a celebrity. Why do they love it so much? That is a very simple question that demands a clear answer. Here it is; it sells papers! So although I believe the tabloids are wrong in their "blood lust", I also believe the public is complicit in the sensationalizing of people's difficulties.
I am keenly aware that when a person is very popular, has loads of money, and lives a life style that most can only dream of, they will have many gunning for them and sometimes even making their living by attacking them. I say this because I believe it is a very ungodly thing to do. To rejoice in others bad situations (even if they caused it themselves) is not biblical. When speaking of love the bible says;
1 Corinthians 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
It is clearly not God's will that we rejoice when people fall into sin or struggle with their human condition.
I say all this because I want to make it clear that my problem with Joel Osteen is not with his popularity, his personal finances, his T.V. show, or anything that he possesses. I have no problem with people making money. I also have no problem with ministers being paid well since the bible declares they ought to be. Joel Osteen has many responsibilities as the leader of the largest church in America. I am not here to kick this man nor am I here to wish him ill will.
Having said all of that, I am bound by my position as a minister of the gospel to speak the truth. My problem with Joel Osteen is that he is a heretic. He said on a recent interview with Fox News that Mormons are Christian. He is either totally unaware of Mormon heretical teaching, inept at biblical exegesis, or he simply is a deceiver. I find it difficult to believe that he has no idea what Mormon's teach. I also find it hard to believe that he has no knowledge of the bible concerning the fundamental core doctrines. I am left to the conclusion that Joel Osteen is the worst type of heretic. No one can deny his incredible charm. He is an excellent personality for television in our culture. He is completely non offensive in his words and demeanor. What's not to like? He is a mixture of Tony Robbins, and Mr. Rogers. It is a very pleasing "gospel" that Osteen preaches to a world that likes the idea of God (God made in man's image instead of man made in God's image) and yet wants nothing to do with His Word. It seems clear that Joel Osteen believes that the gospel consists only of his view of a "positive message". This is very troubling since the true positive message of the gospel (which means good news) has no teeth if it is not in the context of the bad news. In Paul's letter to the Romans he makes the gospel very clear in this context;
1) Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"
2) Romans 6:23 " For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"
3) Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"
4) Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved"
5) Romans 10:13 " For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"
To sum this up; all have sinned, the wages are death for all, the only way to be forgiven is through calling on Jesus Christ to save us by His work on the cross, and his resurrection. It indeed is a very positive message when in context but Osteen's positive message, in spiritual reality, is not positive at all. Osteen seeks the positive message outside of the reality of the taint of sin on all people. If people believe that they do not need Jesus Christ to go to heaven, if they do not believe that there is a distinction in Christian teaching, if they believe that Mormons are Christian for example, then in the end Osteen's positive message turns out to be the most bitter message (Hell is after all as bitter as bitter can be). This is due to the biblical facts of Christ, and the Apostles teaching concerning how one obtains salvation. After Peter preached the first sermon on the day of Pentecost a question was asked;
Acts 2:37 "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
They who heard the message preached by Peter asked "what shall we do" and Peter answered with;
Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost"
The key answer to the question is "repent". This is not the message of Joel Osteen. Osteen's answer to "what shall we do?" is "feel good about yourself".
I saw him interviewed on "Larry King Live". He was asked the direct question "are you saying that the only way to heaven is Jesus Christ?" His answer was "I am not here to judge." I guess he was calling the Apostles Paul, and Peter judgmental. I guess Joel Osteen thinks that the bible is judgmental. I gather that Joel Osteen believes that his gospel is superior to the gospel preached by the Apostle Paul. The bible says;
Galatians 1:8-9 " 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. 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"
I take no pleasure in saying that Osteen preaches another gospel which is a false gospel. I wish he did not. I would be thrilled if a man who preached the Word of God without compromise was as popular as he is. That would most likely mean that we were having a revival and a great awakening. The problem is that we are not having any such thing. We have a man who is nice, with a kind voice, an endearing smile, and a false gospel being heard by millions of faithful listeners, deception rules the day. Perhaps Osteen will see the errors of his ways. I sure hope so. Until then he remains a heretic with a tremendous amount of power to reach people with his Unitarian message. It is a shame and a further erosion of our Christian founding principles. In closing I say again that I don't want to kick him for the sake of bringing him down out of some sort of gratification in seeing him fall. That is not my heart or desire at all. I must however warn everyone I can about Joel Osteen's heretical teachings. Remember that sermon of Peter we spoke of? Remember the question "what shall we do" that was asked by those who heard? That was asked after they heard the Apostle Peter preach the following;
Acts 4:10-12 "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"
This is the word for Joel Osteen "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"
No other name, no other gospel, no other road, no other way, no other "positive message". Perhaps God may in his providence use this article to free people from the grip of the man with the nice smile and positive message. I end this with the following Scripture;
2 Corinthians 11:13-14 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light"
May The Lord free Joel Osteen of the blinders that have gripped his spiritual eyes. May he have an ear to hear the voice of the Word of God cut through the deception of his heretical positions. Amen
Dr. David M. Berman
Senior Pastor, Author, Convention Speaker
211 Whitcomb Road
P.O. Box 10357
Swanzey, NH. 03446
Phone 603 352 9471
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