Prosperity Preaching Is Not Christian (Osteen)

Pastor Joel Osteen’s TV ad announcing his new show on Sirius Radio begins with the promise, “We can have victory every single day.” Next come scenes of his pastoral team on stage during a church service, followed by a long shot of the congregation that looks as if it was filmed in the Super Bowl with every seat filled. (He reportedly has the largest congregation in the United States.)

Finally, he comes back on screen and declares to the audience, “There is a power in you greater than any power that comes against you.”

After seeing the ad for about the 200th time, I sent the following email message to some friends:

I’ve seen the Osteen ad many, many times and my reaction has been the same each time—I have felt a powerful urge to convert . . . . . . to Buddhism!

What made me descend to such curmudgeonly pique? Was it because Osteen’s face appears locked in a smile that shouts “insincere” (at least to me) or because he and his wife call to mind the 1970s and 80s preaching duo of unhappy memory, Jim and Tammy Bakker? Was it because Osteen’s trademark black hair is beautifully coiffed and boasts innumerable curls in the back? Might I be jealous of that?

The honest answer to all three questions is “yes.” But there is another, more substantive reason for my negative reaction. It is that Osteen’s message is presumptuous and misleading, not to mention smarmy and glib. (I know, I know, smarminess and glibness are not serious flaws, so let’s put them aside.)

First, presumptuous. The line “you have power in you greater than any power that can come against you” obviously refers to more than simple talent and potential and probably to more than being created in the image and likeness of God. The most likely intended meaning is the gift of the Holy Spirit that Christians call grace.

The problem, however, is his notion that this “power” (grace) is automatically in us by virtue of our being alive. In contrast, Christianity teaches that grace is a gift that God gives us but does not force upon us. We either accept it or reject it, and that choice determines whether we experience its power. This crucial fact Osteen seems to ignore when he presumes that everyone possesses grace automatically.

Now let’s consider misleading. At the heart of Osteen’s message is the promise of daily success in life: “We can have victory every single day.” Surely he is not referring to the victory of being received into paradise, which comes only once (if we are lucky), after death. What then does he mean? I consulted Osteen’s website for the answer and found this:

You have been blessed for unprecedented success. God has healing with your name on it, new dreams with your name on it [sic], promotions with your name on it [sic]. You are a child of Almighty God. He has already gone before you and lined up promotion, victory, and favor in your life.

With the exception of healing, these things come under the heading “worldly success,” so that is what Osteen must mean by “victory.” Oddly, however, he denies that this is his meaning. For example, he has said, “If prosperity means God wants us to be blessed and healthy and have good relationships then yes, I’m a prosperity teacher. But if it’s about money, no, I never preach about money . . .”

Osteen is being disingenuous. His themes may technically not be about money, but they are about “promotion,” “favor,” “abundance,” etc., so they might as well be about money. Consider a more specific example from Osteen’s Message # 619, “It’s Already Yours”:

Psalm 8:5 says, “You have crowned him with favor and honor.” What does this mean for you today? It means right now, there are blessings with your name on them—healing, promotion, good breaks, houses, businesses, contracts—that already belong to you. The question is, when are you going to go get what’s already yours? [Bold added]

The word “money” doesn’t appear in this passage, but the words in bold certainly stand for financial success and that spells financial prosperity, also known as money.

At this point readers who embrace Osteen’s “prosperity gospel” would no doubt respond “What’s wrong with saying God rewards those who love him with prosperity?” My first impulse is to respond, “If there is nothing wrong with the prosperity gospel, why is Osteen so determined not to be associated with it?” But here is a more meaningful response:

What is wrong with prosperity preaching is that it grossly distorts the Christian message.

To begin with, Isaiah didn’t prophesy a prosperous Christ but a suffering servant who would be “despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” (Isaiah 53: 3)

Then, too, Jesus was born in a stable and lived a modest life with Mary and Joseph, so it is a reasonable assumption that neither Joseph nor Jesus was the sort of carpenter whose work brought that age’s equivalent of Ethan Allen or Thomasville prices.

In the most famous of all sermons, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, not a single one of the blessings mentioned suggests daily victory of any kind, let alone financial victory. They speak instead of daily spiritual stress, mourning, hunger, and persecution. The fact that Jesus called those who suffer these burdens “blessed” is best understood as a promise of eventual consolation or reward beyond this vale of tears.

The only place in Scripture where Jesus and prosperity are mentioned together is when Satan offers it to Him—“The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’” (Matthew 4: 8-9) In rejecting Satan’s offer Jesus did not condemn prosperity, to be sure, but He certainly didn’t laud it either.

Jesus did, of course, tell his disciples that they could achieve anything if they had sufficient faith. For example, he said that they could move a mountain. (Matthew 21: 21-22) But in the next breath He added that the way to do so is to “ask in prayer, believing,” underscoring that the power obviously resides in God rather than in us.

Jesus often reminded his disciples that the way to follow him was to deny themselves and take up their crosses every day. (Matthew 10:38 and 16:24, Luke 9:23, Luke 14: 27 and 18:18-22) The references to crosses obviously did not concern daily victories but, on the contrary, disappointments and sufferings. In our time those would include unemployment, accidents, the wounds of war, deadly diseases, emotional disorders, and the infirmities of old age.

Jesus provided the supreme example of suffering courageously as He prayed, sweating blood, in the Garden of Gethsemane, was mercilessly scourged at the pillar and humiliated by the Roman soldiers, crowned with thorns, and nailed to a cross. Moreover, in the final throes of suffocation and exsanguination, He felt forsaken by God.

Down through the centuries, the message that has framed the Christian perspective on living has been Jesus’ words, “take up your cross and follow me.” His disciples were the first to do so, and every one of them suffered a violent death. The early Christians were required to practice their faith in secret or face imprisonment and death. And Christian martyrdom continues in our time. In 2013 alone, 2,123 Christians were murdered for practicing their faith.

Promising daily victory and worldly success insults all those who maintain their faith in Jesus despite suffering and disappointment. Rather than raising their spirits and giving them hope, it tempts them to think, “If I am not prospering, maybe God doesn’t love me.” Worse, it tempts the wealthy and successful to believe that they really are more virtuous and deserving than the poor and thus to adopt the attitude of the Pharisee: “God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” (Luke: 18:11)

Whenever I hear Osteen or others preach the prosperity gospel, I am reminded of Jesus’ advice to the young man who lived honorably and wondered what more he could do to achieve an even better spiritual state. Jesus did not tell him to claim and enjoy the first century equivalent of “promotion[s], good breaks, houses, businesses, contracts.” Instead, he advised him to “go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Mark 10: 21-22)

The prosperity gospel is understandably appealing in this self-absorbed age, but because it replaces the cross with a dollar sign, it bears no resemblance to the Gospel of Jesus.

Which sect has the correct interpretation of the purloined from the Catholic religion Bible?

What gives the Roman Catholic church the right to purloin from the Jews the Jewish religion's Bible? Your religion added books (the Apocrypha) to that Bible and called them inspired and canonical even though they were written originally in Greek (never Hebrew) and were thought of as "historical" and not Divinely-inspired. In fact, the Apostle Paul says that to the Jews were given "the oracles of God" (Romans 3:2).

Instead of leaving these extra-biblical books in a separate section as Jerome did back in the fifth century when he translated them into Latin (the Vulgate), the Council of Trent decided they had to be mixed in with the books of the Old Testament and considered as "inspired" in order to dispute the Reformations correct claim that they were not canonical and should not be used to establish doctrines. Something even Jerome stated a thousand years prior.

What is ironical to me about this is the Roman Catholic church now claims that it doesn't really NEED the Bible to base her doctrines on, that she has authority OVER Scripture itself and has the power to decide what is the truth of the Christian faith and everyone who claims to be a Christian MUST be in obedience and subjection to her. Funny thing for "stewards of the Bible" to say, don't you think?

Amen! And it is to only those whom the Holy Spirit illuminates the Scriptures that receive the deep truths they reveal.

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him —

these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2)

I'd have to say when I was attending Bible college is when the Lord taught me the most about faith and trusting Him to provide all my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. I worked my way through, on minimum wage ($1.50 per hr. - I know, I'm old) and there were numerous times when I didn't have enough money to eat for several days and before I got a car, I often lacked bus fare to get to my job. A few times, I had to walk four miles to get back to the dorm. But...I'm still alive and kicking - probably could use a few fasting days as well.☺

One of my best and fondest memories of learning to really trust God - and which carried me through the rest of my time there (though there WERE many, many more miraculous ways God helped me), was one week in my freshman year before I got a car, I had $2.00 left in my pocket and two more days until I got paid. It was a Tuesday, and that was always the day we had a collection for the college during chapel. I felt this sense of peace come over me and I remember praying, "I know I can't out give you, Lord. I'm just going to trust you will provide.". Then I dropped one of those dollar bills in the offering plate. That left me with $1.00. I spent 80 cents on lunch which left 20 cents for bus fare TO work, but none for the return trip. After lunch, I went to my room to change for work. As I was walking out the front door to catch the bus, I noticed the mail had come early that day. I had a few minutes to spare so I went and checked to see if I had anything. There was a card addressed to me from my Mom. It wasn't any holiday or my birthday, just a nice card telling me how much she loved me and inside she had tucked a twenty!

That was GOD! Mom had sent that card a week before I was even in that situation, but the Lord already had it in the works so that I could learn to trust Him with the little things as well as the big things, like my salvation. There have been many other times where money was involved and plenty where money was not the point, but in every situation my faith grew because it was tested by trial and was refined. I don't believe God wastes our pain - no matter how serious or minor. He is refining and growing our faith through it all so that we may understand that even when something doesn't work out the way we think or want it to, we STILL trust Him to work all things for our good - no matter what. He is SO good!

Whatcha gonna believe?

Today's press releases or yesterdays historical facts?

I don't believe God wastes our pain - no matter how serious or minor. He is refining and growing our faith through it all so that we may understand that even when something doesn't work out the way we think or want it to, we STILL trust Him to work all things for our good - no matter what. He is SO good!

One day while I was praying about this health issue I've been dealing with, I was thinking and said to God that this all seemed so pointless.

I was very rebuked when He spoke to me and said *Nothing I do is pointless*.

And I still need to remind myself of that.

I came to terms over 30 years ago with the fact my position in life wasn't going to be one of monetary wealth or success as some define it. 20 years ago same conclusion about my health. I'm not unhealthy to the point of death or with what can kill me but a condition making employment unrealistic. That comes back to GOD will not place more on you than you can endure. Something had to give in my life to make things workable at home. It was my physical health somewhat and mental concentration somewhat but left me functional {somewhat LOL}.

I'm in a situation in life I have no doubt whatsoever GOD was preparing me for since my birth. To many twist, turns, experiences lead up to it. As The Lord let me know 29 years ago "It's going to be OK" and it is. Things will and still must happen but He is there.

GOD uses us in our time here on earth even in ways we can't grasp. A mothers nightmare in the middle of the night yelling for her son to jump is instantly heard thousands of miles away as an accident that could have been fatal was escaped or rather the injury from it was. A miracle I wasn't aware of till a few months later when questioned by my dad.

Why persons are born unable to walk or become so later often perplexes all including preachers. I know three in my family. I saw how their lives touched others even some celebrities in one case with a cousin who was mentored by a once famous country music group as well as their battle hardened grandfather. I know how my wife changed my life for the better. I've seen the persons she interacts with.

GOD knew many things. I was born with a condition that would require intervention as in being placed in a special ED school for physically disabled kids for a few years. There I saw kids overcoming adversity. Years later I met the love of my life. Three years after marriage it ended in death. Three months later I was meeting a woman quite GOD fearing and GOD Loving who would bring radical change in my life much of it for the better. We look for miracles, prosperity, magic wands, but often miss the small details GOD for years is putting together in our lives. How we we respond to that is up to us.

A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place or thing. Proper nouns are always capitalized. That is the rule. There is no exception for God or the Bible.

To treat a proper noun as a common noun is a sign of disrespect. I do that with words like muslim, islam, or obama; sometimes even at the beginning of a sentence, just to make it clear the disrespect is intentional.

I’m no expert in grammar. If someone who is wants to pick my posts apart, they could have a field day. Proper nouns are a pretty simple concept though. The rule of capitalizing proper nouns used to be known to all children by the time they finished elementary school. I don’t know what they’re learning these days, but I’m sure proper nouns are still to be capitalized, whether the children know it or not.

Based on Biblical history and a Biblical insight into the divine nature and character, I find it's dubious to assume that the Our Lord would let nigh unto 100% of His Church go disastrously astray for, say, 1500-2000 years.

Nail, meet hammer. Reminds me of how Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal when they could not invoke him to their sacrifice. (Maybe he fell asleep. Maybe he's in the bathroom.")

Blithe dismissal of the first 1500 years after our Lord walked this earth must accept that God was stymied by men in carrying out His program.

And, why He promised to send the Holy Spirit (to lead into all truth) instead of a book; which promise was fulfilled fifty days after His Ascension.

But, none are as blind as those who refuse to look.

Excellent article. Joel Osteen is in it for his own “prosperity” and comes across as a con man/slick charlatan.

Matthew 19:24

And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

That pretty much sums it up! All we actually require is our “daily bread.”

MRSD: Based on Biblical history and a Biblical insight into the divine nature and character, I find it's dubious to assume that the Our Lord would let nigh unto 100% of His Church go disastrously astray for, say, 1500-2000 years.

MRD: Nail, meet hammer. Reminds me of how Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal when they could not invoke him to their sacrifice. (Maybe he fell asleep. Maybe he's in the bathroom.")

Blithe dismissal of the first 1500 years after our Lord walked this earth must accept that God was stymied by men in carrying out His program.

And, why He promised to send the Holy Spirit (to lead into all truth) instead of a book; which promise was fulfilled fifty days after His Ascension.

But, none are as blind as those who refuse to look.

We haven't refused to look, and we are not "blithely dismissing" anything, but have such a different view of what the Ecclesia IS, that we cannot help but to view the history of it in an entirely different way than you do. That is not dismissal. That is acceptance of the teaching of Jesus. We make a different set of assumptions about the scope and nature of the Ecclesia BECAUSE Jesus invites us to look not at superficialities like geography or outward appearances, but inwardly, to the spirit, and to truth, as the grounds of proper worship of God. As a result, we understand that our parochial views of history do not validate Scripture, but Scripture validates (or fails to validate) those views of history. As the Scripture says, let God be true, and every man a liar. There are many human institutions which claim divine authority, and give formal assent to many things that are true, and yet they are not the Ecclesia. This is the threshold we look to, the single, narrow passage into the spiritual building, the true Ecclesia, to which we seek admittance: "Ye must be born again."

Peace,

SR

Let’s return this thread to its full and upright Prosperity Preaching position.

How much more prosperous could fella be if he could afford a bunch of wives?

;^)

I know of a certain institution that seems to take great pride in pointing out how prosperous it's members are; and what great business successes are being run and what...

Oh; let me stop now before I begin again.

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