Post by Armany on Mar 8, 2007 16:57:01 GMT -5
What do you think about Joel Osteen? He has one of the largest (if not the largest) congregations in America at his church in Houston, Texas. Preaching a 'feel-good' message, Osteen has became very popular among Christians all over America. However, is his seemingly unending optimism providing followers with the true gospel?
In my humble opinion, Osteen is apart of a larger movement within the Church in America that is scripturally aberrant and promotes a bad theology. By focusing only on "the bright side" of the gospel and making people feel good about themselves, Osteen is selling followers counterfeit gospel. He is, along with other prominent televangelists like Joyce Meyers, the late Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, and others, preaching a prosperity gospel that is not what the Bible provides us. Osteen and his contemporaries use parts of the Bible to try to tell followers that, through their faith, they can experience worldly riches and happiness. As Osteen says, "God is on your side." This ignores the truth of the matter, which is that wealth, prosperity, and unbridled optimism are secondary and perhaps incompatible to the Bible and well-grounded theology.
Some say that Osteen "does a lot of good" and that he and others like him are saving a lot of souls. But what if they're misleading many more? These televangelists preach a gospel that makes you feel good about yourself and say that blind faith can get you whatever you want in life. I contend that they are misleading many with this popular yet false gospel.
What do you think?
In my humble opinion, Osteen is apart of a larger movement within the Church in America that is scripturally aberrant and promotes a bad theology. By focusing only on "the bright side" of the gospel and making people feel good about themselves, Osteen is selling followers counterfeit gospel. He is, along with other prominent televangelists like Joyce Meyers, the late Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, and others, preaching a prosperity gospel that is not what the Bible provides us. Osteen and his contemporaries use parts of the Bible to try to tell followers that, through their faith, they can experience worldly riches and happiness. As Osteen says, "God is on your side." This ignores the truth of the matter, which is that wealth, prosperity, and unbridled optimism are secondary and perhaps incompatible to the Bible and well-grounded theology.
Some say that Osteen "does a lot of good" and that he and others like him are saving a lot of souls. But what if they're misleading many more? These televangelists preach a gospel that makes you feel good about yourself and say that blind faith can get you whatever you want in life. I contend that they are misleading many with this popular yet false gospel.
What do you think?
