Ben Witherington writes an insightful critique of Joel Osteen and the dangers inherent in the "prosperity gospel" (via Verbum Ipsum):
With 20,000 peeople regularly showing up at [Osteen's] church in the Compaq center in Houston and bringing in revenues of millions on his bestseller book, it is not a surprise that many will wonder and ask--- well what is wrong with a message that speaks about kindness, and generosity and success and prosperity? What could be wrong with this? What's wrong with a message that hardly ever mentions Jesus by name, or sin, or suffering, or self-sacrifice? Of course this message of prosperity is not new in America, nor new to American Churches....
The problem is several fold, and it involves a fundamental replacement of what the Bible actually has to say about wealth, with what our culture says about wealth and prosperity. And of course when you preach a message that is heard as saying "God wants you rich" or is heard as saying "if you give generously to God (i.e. our ministry) he will repay you many times over"), then of course the implication is that the Gospel message is really all about us, and ways to get God to fulfill not merely our needs and desires but even our conspicuously consumptive dreams. But is God really a nurturer of a vision of life that says its all about me and my material success?
Ben's excellent post delves into the Biblical warnings against the temptations of excess wealth that stand in stark contrast to Osteen's message that "God wants you to be a winner."
God does indeed bless most of us richly in this life, but there are many Christians who remain impoverished in spirit and in finances despite their faith. A theology that focuses too much on blessings in this life does not speak to those who suffer in this world and await their blessings in the next life. While Osteen's focus on the positive aspects of faith can be inspirational to many Christians, it strikes me as particularly incomplete as we are about to enter Holy Week. I once had a pastor observe how easy it is for Christians to move seamlessly from the "hosannas" of Palm Sunday to the "alleluias" of Easter morning without pausing to note the darkness and grief of Good Friday. Likewise, when we overemphasize a God who doles out prosperity in this world, we can lose sight of the God who suffered on the cross, the God who allows suffering in the world, the God who stands by us through our pain and poverty, the God who gives us hope beyond this life, or the God who tells us to take up our cross and follow him.
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Comments (1)
Does Ben or Kim personally know Joel? Has he/she done life with him? Has he/she laughed with him? Cried with him? Walked through tough times and good times? Has he/she visited Lakewood church? If they can not answer yes to these, they have no business "critiquing" anyone. Really, what size church are you leading?
Secondly, Jesus paid the ultimate price for me and for all mankind. But it is called a sacrifice because it means YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO.
Jesus clearly outlines in the Gospels those who steward well what they are given will GET MORE. Its called being FAITHFUL and it is a position of your heart. It does not mean everyone will be rich and Joel does not even advocate this. God does not "dole" out flippantly, but he is a good God and a loving Father and gives generously to all (eternal life for starters) but gives more to those willing to be responsible. Yes there are christians who struggle in life financially but this is most likely from their own issues or bad habits.
Jesus died for you but also as you. . . He took our place. This is a debt I will never forget, but sooner or later we have to believe what is actually said in scripture and stand up as righteousness fully made new and quit trying to run back to the cross and choose a path of suffering when God hasn't intended that.
It is also nice that you feel the need for reverence over the suffering Jesus did going to the cross. But even in that, it says he suffered the cross for the joy set before him. The joy of us openly stepping back into a relationship with God directly. However, if you want to guilt or shame others into sharing the same reverence that you think they should have, that is pretty sad. Honestly the best favor you can do God is to celebrate the resurrection every day of the year by walking in the fullness, authority and power that his suffering paid for. When you pray for the sick and they receive healing miraculously by the power of the resurrected Christ moving through you, trust me-you are humbled by the generosity of Him moving through you and you are constantly reminded of the cross, and that without that you could not carry the hope that you do.
So maybe you should knock off the intellectual critiques, stop making excuses for any lack of prosperity with "temptations of excess wealth", get off the computer and go make a difference praying for people, encouraging people and bringing hope and a future to those in need. Yes he suffered and paid and incredible price. But then he defeated death so you could be great and make a positive difference to those who suffer. Stop talking about Jesus (and other Christians for that matter) and BE Jesus to the world in need. God doesn't wag his finger at you and scold you when you're screwing it up or when he disagrees with you, why are you doing that to Joel?