Dan Dúet: Blog

The Joel Osteen Hubbub

In the long, long ago... in the beforetimes... way back when I was a student at LSU, I happened upon a televangelist whom I did not recognize. After watching and listening for about 15 seconds, I sensed the Holy Spirit telling me that this preacher was not as holy as he was portraying himself to be... that he was more about himself than he was about Jesus.

A few days later I saw this preacher on television again. Turns out he was broadcasting from right there in Baton Rouge. Wow. We had a bonafide telesuperstar right in our own backyard. Name was Jimmy Swaggart.

About two years later ol' Jimmy was arrested in the whole prostitute mess and he gave his infamous, very, very tearful, lip-quivering, "I have sinned..." sermon. Donations to his ministry took a substantial hit but with his "sincere" and "humble" request for forgiveness, his financial setback was only temporary... until a couple of years later when he was arrested once again... for pretty much the same reasons. His ministry took a financial nosedive and it is a shell of its former megaministry. But there are still those who accepted both of his apologies... who still seem to worship him and send their hard earned money. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Fast-forward 25 years. A couple of years ago I was doing what all good "All-American Men" do... I was channel surfing on cable. I came across this young, energetic, good-looking, charming, charismatic, smiling, engaging, energizing, did I mention 'smiling', smart-sounding guy. I listened for a few minutes and thought, "Oh, he must be a pop psychologist... basic Psychology 101 stuff... a lot of fluff 'n stuff... feel good, warm fuzzy guy. Hmmmm...", The most notable thing about this pop psychologist was his smiling face.

I thought further, "Now what was that song from the '70's? Something about "Smiling faces..." Well, here are the lyrics to that song... take a good look... (notice the name of the group that wrote and recorded the song...)


THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH - Smiling Faces

Smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend
Smiling faces show no traces of the evil that lurks within
Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes
They don't tell the truth Smiling faces, smiling faces
Tell lies and I got proof

The truth is in the eyes Cause the eyes don't lie, amen
Remember a smile is just A frown turned upside down
My friend let me tell you
Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes They don't tell the truth,
Smiling faces, smiling faces Tell lies and I got proof

Beware, beware of the handshake That hides the snake
I'm telling you beware
Beware of the pat on the back It just might hold you back

Jealousy (jealousy) Misery (misery) Envy
I tell you, you can't see behind smiling faces
Smiling faces sometimes they don't tell the truth
Smiling faces, smiling faces Tell lies and I got proof

Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes They don't tell the truth
Smiling faces, smiling faces Tell lies and I got proof

I'm telling you beware, beware of the handshake That hides the snake Listen to me now, beware
Beware of that pat on the back It just might hold you back
Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes They don't tell the truth
Smiling faces, smiling faces Tell lies and I got proof

Your enemy won't do you no harm
Cause you'll know where he's coming from
Don't let the handshake and the smile fool ya
Take my advice I'm only try' to school ya

So anyway, I'm watching this pop psychologist guy and startlingly he throws out the name of Jesus. Well that caught my attention so I decided to listen to his message a bit more intently. Once again I sensed the Holy Spirit warning me that this guy was not preaching the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then it dawned on me... another "prosperity gospel" preacher. The measure of God's favor that rests on you is shown in the material wealth you have to show for it. Ahhhhh... yes... if we DO have God's favor upon us, then we will have material possessions and wealth beyond our itsy bitsy imaginations. And if we DO NOT have God's favor upon us... well... everyone will know because we WON'T have all these material blessings. Poor Mother Teresa... she must not have had God's favor... and I guess St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Padre Pio, and, well you get the picture.

This pop psychologist and his ilk cite and completely, COMPLETELY, quote out of context one line from Scripture: “I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) The people who follow this “prosperity” gospel interpret it to say this: “I have come that you might have material possessions and money, and have them more abundantly.” I say this is their interpretation because these pop psychologist “evangelists” clearly state that to have “life more abundantly” is measured by how much money you have and how many material possessions you have. That is FACT. And this pop psychologist I was watching I have now begun to research… and his name is Joel Osteen. He is not the only one spouting the FALSE prosperity gospel, he is just the most famous.

Many from my own church and in my family watch this guy faithfully and purchase and read all of his books. They have helped him become a multi-millionaire by the false gospel he preaches. They will not be pleased that I dare speak out against this false, misleading "preacher". The truth hurts sometimes.

Folks, I DON'T subscribe to the fallacy of the "prosperity" Gospel. Why? Because it is a FALSE GOSPEL. Do I think God wants to bless His children? Of course! Do I think we are supposed to measure our spiritual lives, our walk of faith, our relationship with Jesus Christ based on our material possessions? NO. NO. NO. A very simple reading and understanding of the New Testament shows that material possessions were not the focal point of Jesus' ministry. If you need specific references, let me know. Or, better yet, read the New Testament. All of it. Not just the tidbits that Osteen and his ilk throw out there to tickle the ears of honest people.

If you want a critical analysis of looking carefully, very carefully, at exactly what Osteen is saying, here is an excellent blog link to read:  http://wooq.blogspot.com/2006/01/on-false-teachings-of-joel-osteen.html

The thing I am most concerned about is that Osteen adamantly refuses to take a stand on any issue. That's so liberal. That's so politically correct. That's so un-Jesus like. Jesus was not afraid to take a stand on any and all issues. Everyone knew where Jesus stood on every issue. If you read the enitre transcript of his interview on Larry King (see the link below), you'll see Osteen even say about abortion that he "doesn't think that's best..." Well golly gee. He is absolutely afraid to call abortion what it is: the choice by at least two people (patient and doctor at the very least) to take the life of an unborn human being.

In this excerpt of the infamous Larry King interview, count how many times Osteen's response is, "I don't know." http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/osteen/king.htm

If you missed Joel's interview with Larry King, you missed a spectacle. The smiling preacher did such a pathetic job of witnessing for Jesus Christ that the outrage from his own church-goers led him to issue a written apology on his own website! Here is a link to a transcript of the Larry King interview: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0506/20/lkl.01.html

He also REFUSES to use the word "sin" and instead makes references to "mistakes" that people make in life. Note to Joel, "sin" is a turning away from God, a refusal to follow His truth. "Sin" is the reason Jesus died upon the Cross... to reconcile our sins to God's love and mercy. "Mistake" is when I get dressed in the morning and put on two different color socks... or turn "left" on a street instead of "right". Get it? "Sin" needs to be called what it is: Sin! Acknowledging sin and being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ is a matter of eternal life and eternal death.

Am I saying, "Don't read his book(s)!" or "Joel Osteen is not a Christian!" or something like that? No. I'm just saying in today's day and age, all of us need to be very careful in who we listen to, who we read, who we believe. We need to listen to more than just the words that ticke our ears and instead research the substance of what is being said. The Bible warns us that the time will come when satan will speak the words that tickle our ears... that he will come as an angel of light... so I'm saying critique what Osteen says. Think in a critical manner about the words he uses, and notice what words (and names... like the Name above all Names) that he chooses so often to not use. (He does say "Christ" but seems very, very uncomfortable using the name, "Jesus") Be informed.

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” – 2 Timothy 4:3

Would I send my money to his ministry? Not a chance. Would I go to see him in person, even if he was right here in San Antonio? Um, nope. I keep in mind that smiling faces, sometimes, they don’t tell the truth.