There's no shortage of churches in Houston, deep in the heart of the Bible Belt. So it's surprising that the largest one in the city -- and in the entire country -- is tucked away in a depressed corner most Houstonians would never dream of visiting. Yet 30,000 people endure punishing traffic on the narrow roads leading to Lakewood Church every weekend to hear Pastor Joel Osteen deliver upbeat messages of hope. A youthful-looking 42-year-old with a ready smile, he reassures the thousands who show up at each of his five weekend services that "God has a great future in store for you." His services are rousing affairs that often include his wife, Victoria, leading prayers and his mother, Dodie, discussing passages from the Bible.
Kyle
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.
Absolutely disgusting; but, I would want to make clear to those who do not know, that Joel Osteen and Lakewood ARE NOT PART OF THE CHURCH! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/nope.gif" alt="" /> They are 100% WORD FAITH, which is 100% CULT, and not part of the BODY OF CHRIST but rather the Kingdom of Satan <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/threaddevil.gif" alt="" />. Yes, their leaven is everywhere in the Evangelical Church today, but Osteen himself is as outside the mainstream of historic Christian orthodoxy as the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, and his sins and heresies are far greater and deeper than those common to most "evangelical" magachurches. Many of these "superchurches" come DANGEROUSLY CLOSE to outright heresy, but most have not fallen all the way outside the pale of orthodoxy into outer darkness, preaching a Jesus who died spiritually and was "born again" in hell, and a God who is a slave to the Sovereign Laws of Faith.
You're proving to be a good resource person.<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" /> Thanks again for the references you've provided and for revealing this wolf in sheep's clothing. Certainly these kinds of folks are a real danger to the church.
Thanks Brad. I've heard of a couple of different people I know talking about Osteen just recently. He just came to speak at the United Center (in Chicago) a few weeks ago. I had heard from one person that there were "problems" with him. I was wondering what that was about. Now I know!!! Will be interesting if this author now creeps into my church. At least I've got a heads up.
Thanks again for the references you've provided and for revealing this wolf in sheep's clothing. Certainly these kinds of folks are a real danger to the church.
Indeed they are; I believe the words of Jude apply to them perfectly: "These are...waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever" (Jude 12-13). The only reason that I did not choose Word Faith on my "Which Heresy is the Most Dangerous" poll is that its errors are so obvious and egregious, and the "sheeps' clothing" so gaudy and unconvincing that I doubt its ability to seriously deceive many among the elect. But in the wider evangelical church and in the world missions field there is great danger as this false gospel is confused with the real thing. I think D.R. McConnell was right when he said that, in terms of carnal appeal, the Word Faith gospel is "without question the most attractive message being preached today or for that matter, in the whole history of the church...for seldom, if ever, has there been a gospel that promised so much, and demanded so little." Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer are by far the most dangerous purveyors of this heretical hogwash since they are less flamboyant than others like Benny Hinn, Robert Tilton, Marilyn Hickey, and Paul Crouch, and their "ministries" focus less on miraculous "signs and wonders" and "words of prophecy." As depressing and infuriating as it is to constantly see these false teachers on television and hear them on the radio, my consolation comes from 2 Peter 2:2-3: "their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction slumbereth not."
Will be interesting if this author now creeps into my church. At least I've got a heads up.
If he does, give your pastor (and your husband) a copy of Hank Hanegraaff's Christianity in Crisis and DARE them to explain how this heresy is acceptable.
Are these guys anything like Oral Roberts and his gang up in Tulsa?
Unfortunately, yes. Oral Roberts is thoroughly in line with the Word Faith movement and has identified himself as an adherent, although his origins are somewhat distinct from most of the other more well known Word Faith teachers. Although Kenneth Hagin is regarded as the "father" of Word Faith, Roberts has provided the movement with one of its most popular doctrines: the "seed faith" teaching or formula. As one website puts it: "Oral Roberts is the granddaddy of all televangelists, as well as being their patron saint...Everybody who has ever asked for a "seed-faith" financial donation MUST tip their hat to brother Roberts." We can only pray <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grovel.gif" alt="" /> that the Lord will renew His offer to take Roberts "home" again sometime soon before he swindles any more little old ladies out of their life savings.
You're welcome. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/coffee2.gif" alt="" /> If you or anyone else wants any more info about these abominable heresies and those who propagate them just let me know.
I was at Hasting's book store the other day and noticed in the "Christian" section, an entire shelf devoted to the books from the Charismatic preacher-ess Joyce Meyer. It is reported that the annual budget of Joyce Meyer Ministries is very near 100 million dollars. In size, some of these TV megachurches put Osteen's to shame. IMO it is our New Age "Christian" television that feeds these cults.
I think it should be noted that the Reformers had the charismatics of their day in which they named "enthusiasts".
Calvin noted the enthusiast's attempt to bypass the Scripture and seek the Spiirt in the Institutes 1-9 "Fanatics Abandoning Scripture..." and especially 1-9-3 "Word and Spirit Belong Inseparably Together"
Rather then wade (which I highly recommend) through this in the Institutes one might simply reflect on the perspicuous words of Luther concerning this issue.
"I slap your spirit on the snout." (Commentary on Romans)
Denny
Roms 3:22-24
Denny
Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." [John 6:68]
Whatever his own flaws, Mike Spencer is right in calling on evangelicals to "out" Osteen and make clear to the watching world that he is "not one of us":
"If you want to read a book in which discontentment is encouraged, a book that shows God to be powerless apart from your power-filled thoughts and words, a book in which sin is minimized and renamed in every conceivable way, and a supposedly 'Christian' book that gives only trivial mention to Jesus Christ, Your Best Life Now is the book for you!"
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