A few good friends of mine have had the unfortunate occasion of finding themselves discussing the "bliss" of Joel Osteen's works with me over the last few years. On the surface, Osteen strikes the reader as an overall good guy; someone who writes books for people to "help themselves" to live better lives. In fact, Osteen was named one of Barbara Walter's "10 Most Fascinating People of 2006", a credit to his influence and wild-fire-like growing fame.
Unfortunately, Osteen’s attention to the intricacies of people’s lives has come at the same time as he has lost focus on Scripture and real Christianity. Osteen is the poster boy for what is a growing movement of “Church as Business”. Osteen’s exponential church growth has been praised in financial magazines, but what value is a growing movement if it has no truth behind it? Unlike the actual message of Scripture, a message which many if not most people will not like, Osteen is selling “Happy Christianity” instead of “Real Christianity”. People are buying, but this isn’t a genuine product. Many of my friends would never consider themselves Christians, so I’m sure that when someone reads this without a Christian background, they may think to themselves “Who cares what sort of lie someone believes?”
The problem with not caring about the lies that people believe, is that whether or not someone believes in Christianity is their own choice, (nods to Romans 9 and God’s election) but the decision would hopefully be made on the actual merits of Christianity. Imagine the individual who bought a fire insurance policy only to find out that “well yes, this is a fire insurance policy, but what we’re actually selling you is a modified copy of a policy. It isn’t actually a legitimate policy, but we made it easier to read and we greatly reduced your premium!” Unfortunately, that is the sort of thing that the emergent church is selling; all the happiness that “Christianity” can buy, with no commitment. Lest someone become confused, I’m not suggesting that you cannot become a Christian unless you “work” your way there, but that Christianity by Biblical definition does not come without repentance. Suggesting that good Karma and positive meditations is the way to heaven might work out for an Eastern Religion, but isn’t supported in Scripture. As a result, positive thinking and motivational speakers may be peddling a positive products that the masses are hungry to eat up, but they are lacking in the “truth” department. Here is a great quote from Mr. Osteen himself, in a letter from 2005 to church goers, product buyers, and publication subscribers;
"Sometimes it is hard for us to grasp that God wants us to prosper in every way...God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us. One of the most important Biblical principles that shows us how to prosper is the principle of sowing and reaping...
People tell me, “Joel, He is God. If He wants to bless me, He can.” Friend, God works by laws. You can't expect to reap a harvest without first planting your seeds. If you will be faithful and do what God is asking you to do, God will do His part. Don't let the enemy deceive you into holding on to your seed--get it into the ground!
As you read this, God may be speaking to your heart. Trust that He will direct you how and where He wants you to sow your seed. If you are moved to send a seed gift in the enclosed reply envelope...”
That’s it, folks. If you want to be happy, send me money and I’ll make it so. Catholic? Indulgences? This is nothing like those. At least with those, people were throwing away their money because they were trying to help someone’s soul. The prosperity gospel of Joel Osteen and those of his movement shows that many people who would claim the name of Christ are willing to do the opposite – throw away someone else’s soul to help themselves obtain wealth.
E.J. Wood is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay. He has a BA in Political Science, as well as BS in Public Administration. He currently is authoring a book called "Closing the Book on Christianity: The Post-Modern Christian’s War Against the Bible".
Contact him at proantiundecided@hotmail.com
The problem with not caring about the lies that people believe, is that whether or not someone believes in Christianity is their own choice, (nods to Romans 9 and God’s election) but the decision would hopefully be made on the actual merits of Christianity. Imagine the individual who bought a fire insurance policy only to find out that “well yes, this is a fire insurance policy, but what we’re actually selling you is a modified copy of a policy. It isn’t actually a legitimate policy, but we made it easier to read and we greatly reduced your premium!” Unfortunately, that is the sort of thing that the emergent church is selling; all the happiness that “Christianity” can buy, with no commitment. Lest someone become confused, I’m not suggesting that you cannot become a Christian unless you “work” your way there, but that Christianity by Biblical definition does not come without repentance. Suggesting that good Karma and positive meditations is the way to heaven might work out for an Eastern Religion, but isn’t supported in Scripture. As a result, positive thinking and motivational speakers may be peddling a positive products that the masses are hungry to eat up, but they are lacking in the “truth” department. Here is a great quote from Mr. Osteen himself, in a letter from 2005 to church goers, product buyers, and publication subscribers;
"Sometimes it is hard for us to grasp that God wants us to prosper in every way...God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us. One of the most important Biblical principles that shows us how to prosper is the principle of sowing and reaping...
People tell me, “Joel, He is God. If He wants to bless me, He can.” Friend, God works by laws. You can't expect to reap a harvest without first planting your seeds. If you will be faithful and do what God is asking you to do, God will do His part. Don't let the enemy deceive you into holding on to your seed--get it into the ground!
As you read this, God may be speaking to your heart. Trust that He will direct you how and where He wants you to sow your seed. If you are moved to send a seed gift in the enclosed reply envelope...”
That’s it, folks. If you want to be happy, send me money and I’ll make it so. Catholic? Indulgences? This is nothing like those. At least with those, people were throwing away their money because they were trying to help someone’s soul. The prosperity gospel of Joel Osteen and those of his movement shows that many people who would claim the name of Christ are willing to do the opposite – throw away someone else’s soul to help themselves obtain wealth.
E.J. Wood is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay. He has a BA in Political Science, as well as BS in Public Administration. He currently is authoring a book called "Closing the Book on Christianity: The Post-Modern Christian’s War Against the Bible".Contact him at proantiundecided@hotmail.com
