1517: Mark Driscoll on Joel Osteen's Prosperity "gospel"

Friday, October 19, 2007

Mark Driscoll on Joel Osteen's Prosperity "gospel"

Just in case my call for Joel Osteen to repent was not clear enough, here are some important observations from Mark Driscoll.

3 comments:

revolution said...: Just out of curiousity, how exactly did you go about calling Osteen to repent?; October 19, 2007 at 11:09 PM
Todd Pruitt said...: After watching Osteen most Sunday nights, reading his first book (almost unreadable), and watching many of his T.V. interviews I felt compelled to call him to repent. Now, I'm sure he will never find his way to my little blog but at least for the folks I pastor it was a way to make it clear how false teachers ought to be dealt with.

I am sure Joel is a nice guy. I have no reason to question his intentions. But his self-esteem, self-help, "God will make you prosper financially and keep you healthy if you do your part" theolgy has to be denouced.

Michael Horton has wisely observed that what Osteen does is pervert the Gospel by replacing it with the law. But the "law" he preaches is not the terrifying law of a holy God that drives sinners to repent and trust in Christ's finished work of atonement. It is a law that's just easy enough for a lot of people to perform successfully. "Just try a little harder. If you mess up God won't mind. Just try harder and God will do his part."

What Joel Osteen preaches is not harmless. It is a distortion of the Gospel. In Galatians, Paul has a few things to say to those who preach "another gospel."; October 20, 2007 at 12:51 AM
Laura Lee - Grace Explosion said...: With all due respect, I thought Joel Osteen spoke a true message of the grace of God. I really didn't want to hear anymore from this other guy after I'd heard Osteen. I don't listen to Osteen. But what does "Standing on the promises of God" we sing about mean... if it isn't about believing that God has made us promises?? All he said was that God's perfect will for us is good. God is good. What's the problem?? We have to be encouraged to believe... and what we believe does have form and substance and we really do live lives that are the product of our faith. Any motivational speaker will tell us that... and it's true. Why is it wrong that Osteen gives the glory to God for our faith and for believing God is good and for striving to have peace in God and hope in, believe in, and trust God?? As a body, we need to be there for one another... but it's because we are frail and human and in a world of evil that we don't experience the promises of God. We need to be there for one another when we don't - but I see no reason to stop believing. It's by faith and patience we inherit the promises of God.

Why be against the promises of God?? Why not be patient with ourselves and one another... if we seem to fail or the promises seem to fail in our experience... and why not love one another at all times and continue to believe??

Why object or protest against believing good things... if love is being preached also to love one another at all times even if we fail to apprehend the promises?? We shall... one day... in Heaven. And God siad to pray that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

I didn't see an overfocus on money... but rather a broad focus on the goodness and promises of God.

Osteen surprised me with the balance of what he said... because he was not focussed on money. I didn't think he was as bad as I was concerned about. I guess I have to repent... because I thought he was all about money or something. This guy who criticized him wasn't jealous. Ummm... I'll pray for him.

Grace and peace.; July 7, 2008 at 3:35 AM

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