A couple of years ago Joel Osteen was preparing to have a "Night of Hope" at Dodger Stadium. Since the Dodgers are in our home city, Los Angeles, I wanted to support the effort. I mentioned to our congregation about the upcoming crusade and helping out so we could be a part of reaching thousands of people who would make decisions to follow Christ.
A few days later someone said to me,
"We're supporting Joel Osteen? He is pretty controversial you know."
I was surprised.
I thought to myself, "Joel Osteen, controversial? How could that be? He preaches the most clear and simple gospel message a person could hear."
I had not been keeping up with what people and other leaders were saying on the Internet.
One local pastor said to me later, "I hear you are supporting the Joel Osteen Crusade."
I said, "Yes I am. He reaches thousands of people for Jesus Christ, he's in our city, I want to be a part of it."
The pastor responded, "I'm not going to, I can't go for all that positive gospel stuff."
I don't even know what that means!??!
Are we supposed to be preaching the negative gospel?
What is the "positive" gospel?
Our sins are forgiven? God loves us – just like we are? God has something special for each of us to do?
Just sounds like the 'regular-amazing-outstanding-full of mercy- gospel' to me! You know... 'Amazing Grace' ...and all that.
In the last year I've discovered there are many outspoken Christians and leaders who don't seem to like Joel Osteen.
Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion – even if it is ill informed.
The disappointing thing to me is that Christian leaders feel the liberty to publically attack those whom they don't really understand or know. There are always such attacks and slanderous public accusations against the most well known of American pastors – Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Bishop TD Jakes and others. Leaders are encouraging other Christians to think it's appropriate – even spiritual maturity – to disrespect or doubt the authenticity of genuine preachers and to publically express that opinion.
Frankly, it's embarrassing.
As a Christian, I'm discouraged by the behavior of leaders who criticize, attack or diminish the significance of other Christian ministers.
This critical behavior and attitude is why many people do not want to be a part of Christianity or go to church because they feel that when they go to church they will be criticized the way our leaders do to each other.
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:14-15 NIV
I believe the main thing leaders should be "called out for" is the arrogance and the divisive example they promote by publically dismissing the relevance of another person's ministry in order to exalt their own.
Have leaders who take the liberty to bring unfair assessments of Joel Osteen spoken to him or one of his pastors in private about their concerns? I may be wrong – but I don't think they have.
I love the insights brought to us by Pastor Phil Munsey in an article, "The Joel Osteen Most People Don't Know" in which he points out that over one million people have received Christ through Joel's "Night of Hope" events and that Joel pastors the largest church in our nation's history – 45,000 in one building.
Look at this situation that the disciples brought to Jesus and notice His response.
"Master," said John, "we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."
"Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."
...Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem ...but the people there did not welcome him... When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them? But Jesus turned and rebuked them and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of "– NKJV) Luke 9:49-55 NIV
So, what's really the problem with Joel Osteen?
Critics say,
"He's shallow." "He's a phony." "He's a liar."
"He's not really a pastor." "He presents an easy, feel-good gospel."
This reminds me of being in the 8th grade.
I know Joel Osteen.
I consider him a friend.
I'm not a 'Joel Osteen fan' – I'm a friend.
I know him to be a genuine man, a humble man and know that he has a desire to lead people to become followers of Jesus Christ. He believes the same fundamental truths about the Bible and Christianity that main stream Christianity teaches and preaches from the pulpits of America.
The problem is not with Joel Osteen –the problem is in the hearts of the 'Christian critics' (sounds like an oxymoron) and 'the haters' –the newest gift in the body of Christ. They speak without thinking.
Joel is focused on reaching lost and unchurched people. He does it really well.
In interviews with Larry King, Piers Morgan and others, they always try to get him into controversial or divisive topics, (homosexuality, politics, Mormonism, who's going to hell, etc.) and Joel avoids answering those questions with much detail. His focus is reaching those who have been alienated and are not being reached for Christ with the message of God's grace. He tries to stay on point.
Why is this so hard to understand?
http://www.philipwagner.com/blog/wha...th-joel-Osteen
This is a very well written piece about those that criticize Joel Osteen. It's long, but well worth the read: and hopefully those that take issue with Pastor Joel, will have a change of heart.