In the closing of his epistle to the Romans, Paul writes, "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them" (Romans 16:17). Paul is not appealing that Christians avoid any division, but those divisions contrary to the truth of the Scripture. Paul is appealing for Christians to unite in the truth of Scripture and to separate from those challenging the Word of Truth.
Unity in Truth is True Unity
This is not the post-modern message in the West, which defines unity as avoiding any and all division in tolerance of all beliefs and doctrines as equally valid and acceptable. For the apostle Paul, unity is found only in "the doctrine that you have been taught." Christ perfects, equips, and gifts His people through the Word "divided accurately" (II Timothy 2:15) until "we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes" (Ephesians 4:13-14). Paul contends that the saints are not brought to "the fullness of Christ" and perfected by smart preachers or human wisdom, but by Christ Himself through His perfect Word.
In Colossians 3, Paul commands the local church to have hearts ruled by the peace of Christ and put on love, "which is the perfect bond of peace" (Colossians 3:14-15). Our understanding of true unity and peace and love of Christ are not to simply take verses out of context and redefine the meaning. Paul finishes in verse 16 with, "Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all teaching and admonishing one another..." Our peace and love of Christ is ruled ultimately by Scripture, which so abundantly takes up residence in our hearts that we teach and admonish one another. Christ washes His local church with His Word (Ephesians 5:26), and Paul commends the God-breathed Scripture for "teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness," which equips us for every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17).
Unity in the truth of Scripture is the only true unity Christ graces for His church. Unity in the truth means not to have a problem with authority of Christ in His perfect Word, but to have problems with authority from any other source, including a self-distrust.
The Singularity of Truth
Paul consistently speaks of the truth (singular, not plural) of Scripture. Paul states that unashamed believers can "rightly divide the Word of Truth," claiming Scripture to be one, cohesive, consistent, non-contradictory revelation of truth. Paul supposes that, although difficult to understand at times, the Scripture is clear and speaks of truth, giving full authority to the Word's Author and no authority to the reader. In other words, the reader is not permitted to suggest truth into Scripture that is not there, but the Author reveals truth to the reader that did not know. For instance, Paul commands the local church in Ephesus to "Speak the truth in love." Not truth(s), or kindly suggest an opinion and happily agree that everyone has their own opinion or "personal interpretation", or be kind and "lovingly" never confront anyone with the truth of Scripture, but speak the TRUTH.
The singularity of truth in Scripture contends that God is sovereign; in other words, God is in full control and fully capable of revealing truth to us in a clear manner. Our reading of Scripture must be of an attitude of complete dependence and trust in God to reveal truth to us, lest we claim partial or complete sovereignty of truth. Remember, Scripture tells us that without Christ we are blinded by Satan (II Corinthians 4:4), not dimly seeing. Without Christ we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), not merely sick or wounded. To challenge truth with our opinions or to suggest parts that we do not like are antiquated or contradictory challenges God's sovereign authority in His Word, which causes divisions and sets up obstacles in the church.
Avoid Division
Paul goes so far as to command the local church in Rome to avoid those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the truth of Scripture. Avoid them. Paul suggests that in order to serve Christ and not be a people-pleaser, we are to be united in the gospel (again, singular) and reveals that if anyone including angels preaches another gospel contrary to Scripture, that person is eternally accursed (Galatians 1:6-10). Paul handed false teachers "over to Satan" for spinning a different teaching of the gospel.
To remove people from congregation in church discipline or to correct others with the Scripture seems intolerant or divisive in this day and age. However, biblically speaking, we are to unite in the truth of Scripture alone, and avoid and separate ourselves from those teaching otherwise. Some might suggest that Christians can unite with others to get work done. However, to compromise truth for pragmatism sets the church up for human cunning and deceitful schemes, placing what we do above the truth.
However, Paul does command the local church to be "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). We must yearn for unity, but unity is something the local church maintains (guard, keep) not creates. Unity in the truth of the Word of God is given to us by Christ, not made up by groups of people in our own opinions and suggestions while leaning on our own understanding. We must be eager, with gut-gripping yearning for the saints to be unified in peace bound by Christ's love and provided by His Word of Truth.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Praying for Power to Distrust Self
Today in my quiet time, I read from The Valley of Vision prayer entitled "The Infinite and the Finite." This line captivated me:
"Let me live a life of self-distrust..."
This prayer parallels Jeremiah 17, where the LORD says, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind" and "the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:5, 9). Our Savior instructs us, "out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders" (Matthew 15:19).
This worldview opposes what we are taught by our culture. Disney character Cinderella teaches us to "just follow your heart." The late Steve Jobs told college graduates that the "most important" thing to do is "have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." Yet, God tells us that our hearts are untrustworthy and wicked.
Self-distrust does not come naturally to sinful people. Such trust and such leaning on our our way of thinking and feeling about the world, people, and self is the corruption of our nature. The Word of God demands us to lay this trust entirely aside and be renewed in by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:22-24). Such a renewed mind is the good news of Jeremiah 17:7-8:
May our gracious God renew our minds and hearts with His Word, not trusting in our own hearts nor allow us to reign over ourselves, but "teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).
"Let me live a life of self-distrust..."
This prayer parallels Jeremiah 17, where the LORD says, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind" and "the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:5, 9). Our Savior instructs us, "out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders" (Matthew 15:19).
This worldview opposes what we are taught by our culture. Disney character Cinderella teaches us to "just follow your heart." The late Steve Jobs told college graduates that the "most important" thing to do is "have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." Yet, God tells us that our hearts are untrustworthy and wicked.
Self-distrust does not come naturally to sinful people. Such trust and such leaning on our our way of thinking and feeling about the world, people, and self is the corruption of our nature. The Word of God demands us to lay this trust entirely aside and be renewed in by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:22-24). Such a renewed mind is the good news of Jeremiah 17:7-8:
Blessed is the man who trusts inBy grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we are blessed to trust not in our own heart nor be tossed by the winds of wisdom of this corrupt world, but our trust will be found in God. Our trust must not be found in the imperfect and temporary, but in the perfect and eternal. A heart that trusts in our majestic God trusts His eternal Word. As Isaiah 40:8 says, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." The wisdom of this world dries and shifts over time, but the Word of God is trustworthy and eternal.
The LORD
And whose trust is the LORD.
For he will be like a tree planted
by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat
comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year
of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.
May our gracious God renew our minds and hearts with His Word, not trusting in our own hearts nor allow us to reign over ourselves, but "teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Igniting Hearts
In Luke 24, after Jesus' resurrection, two men were walking along the road to Emmaus discussing the events of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. Jesus walked near them and, having not been recognized by the two men, asked the two men a series of simple questions. The two men had hoped Jesus was the Messiah, but suffering and death seemingly quashed those hopes. Jesus answered His rhetorical question, "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" with "beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:26-27).
The necessity of the sufferings of the Messiah before entering His glory is answered by biblical study into the Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus began with Moses (the Pentateuch) and all the Prophets (writing prophets) and interpreted all the Scriptures what the Messiah is said to fulfill in prophecy. No doubt, a great deal of biblical typology was utilized by our Lord to explain "the things concerning Himself." Along the nearly seven mile trek, Jesus informed these two men of all the Old Testament teachings on what the Messiah was to endure and how Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies. The Old Testament is filled with Christ on every page!
After Jesus explained the Scriptures, the two men recognized Him and Jesus vanished. Then, the two men said, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Their hearts burned during Jesus talking with them and during the explanation of the Scriptures. Before Jesus taught the Scriptures to them, these two men were discouraged and doubted that Jesus was the Messiah, even at the news of His empty tomb (Luke 24:21-24). How were their eyes opened and hearts ignited?
Word and Spirit
The Word of God alone has the power to open the eyes of the spiritually blind and grant to sinners the perfect righteousness from God (Romans 1:16-17). The faithful teachings of the Word of God is the mode Jesus used to open the eyes of these two men as well as His own disciples after His resurrection (Luke 24:44-45). Persuasive techniques and philosophy cannot open blind eyes. The saying heard often in churches today is modeling Christ for the world, also known as "living out the gospel." We are to display the greatness of the glory of Christ, but our moral modeling is not the gospel. Jesus did not play charades making the two men on the road to Emmaus guess what He was talking about. Jesus spoke to them and explained the Word of God to them. We are messengers of God with a message that is to be spoken. The gospel is a spoken event.
The Holy Spirit accompanies the Word of God spoken to give sight to the spiritually blind. The Apostle Paul told the church in Thessalonica, "For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake" (I Thessalonians 1:4-5). The power of the Holy Spirit regenerates (that is, cause to become born-again) the chosen people of God when the Word of God is spoken from a believer with full conviction. Acts 16:14-15 describes how Lydia had her heart opened by the Lord to understand the biblical teachings of Paul. Commenting on this passage, the reformer John Calvin said, "we see that not faith alone, but all understanding and knowledge of spiritual things, is the peculiar gift of God, and that the ministers do no good by teaching and speaking unless the inward calling of God be thereunto added." We must believe and speak of what we believe to ignite the regenerating fire within the hearts of sinners.
Seed Spreading
In the Parable of the Sower (or Soils), Jesus tells of four types of soil (hearts of people) that the seed (the Word of God) falls upon. Three of the four soils produce nothing that lasts, while the "good soil" is the person who hears the Word of God and understands it, then produces fruit for the glory of God (Matthew 13:23). Although the Word of God accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit is the only way to ignite a sinner's heart toward repentance and faith in Christ Jesus, such evangelism is no guarantee that all will be saved. If we take the percentage of the soils (75% unsaved), the vast majority of the faithfully spoken Word of God falls on those who will never believe in Christ as Lord and Savior.
Does the Word of God thus fail? The LORD says in Isaiah 55:10-11,
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth;
it shall not return to Me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
The Word of God accomplishes its mission of igniting the flame inside the heart of God's chosen people. The good news is that God's Word does not return to God empty at all, but returns with a most blessed harvest of once dead sinners now with clean hands and a pure heart gathering around His glorious throne praising Him!
The flip side to this good news of salvation is that God's Word purposes many to condemnation because of the hardness of their hearts. The temptation for the Christian is to change tactics or reword the gospel for to suit the taste of our hearers. When we are spreading the seeds of the Kingdom, we do not hinder the power of God in the gospel spoken by softening the impact on the hearts of sinners in any way. To pervert or peddle the Word of God, but we preach the whole counsel of God with full conviction that the Word of God would accomplish its purpose to save some and condemn others (II Corinthians 2:14-17).
Igniting the hearts of sinners toward a bright flame of repentance and faith in Christ Jesus is a supernatural wonder by the sovereign grace of our God. God has given us a message to spread to all people without hesitation, addition, or subtraction. The message with the Spirit has the power to save sinners for the glory of God! Let us resolve simply to grab the sack of seeds and sow. Nothing less will save sinners.
The necessity of the sufferings of the Messiah before entering His glory is answered by biblical study into the Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus began with Moses (the Pentateuch) and all the Prophets (writing prophets) and interpreted all the Scriptures what the Messiah is said to fulfill in prophecy. No doubt, a great deal of biblical typology was utilized by our Lord to explain "the things concerning Himself." Along the nearly seven mile trek, Jesus informed these two men of all the Old Testament teachings on what the Messiah was to endure and how Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies. The Old Testament is filled with Christ on every page!
After Jesus explained the Scriptures, the two men recognized Him and Jesus vanished. Then, the two men said, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Their hearts burned during Jesus talking with them and during the explanation of the Scriptures. Before Jesus taught the Scriptures to them, these two men were discouraged and doubted that Jesus was the Messiah, even at the news of His empty tomb (Luke 24:21-24). How were their eyes opened and hearts ignited?
Word and Spirit
The Word of God alone has the power to open the eyes of the spiritually blind and grant to sinners the perfect righteousness from God (Romans 1:16-17). The faithful teachings of the Word of God is the mode Jesus used to open the eyes of these two men as well as His own disciples after His resurrection (Luke 24:44-45). Persuasive techniques and philosophy cannot open blind eyes. The saying heard often in churches today is modeling Christ for the world, also known as "living out the gospel." We are to display the greatness of the glory of Christ, but our moral modeling is not the gospel. Jesus did not play charades making the two men on the road to Emmaus guess what He was talking about. Jesus spoke to them and explained the Word of God to them. We are messengers of God with a message that is to be spoken. The gospel is a spoken event.
The Holy Spirit accompanies the Word of God spoken to give sight to the spiritually blind. The Apostle Paul told the church in Thessalonica, "For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake" (I Thessalonians 1:4-5). The power of the Holy Spirit regenerates (that is, cause to become born-again) the chosen people of God when the Word of God is spoken from a believer with full conviction. Acts 16:14-15 describes how Lydia had her heart opened by the Lord to understand the biblical teachings of Paul. Commenting on this passage, the reformer John Calvin said, "we see that not faith alone, but all understanding and knowledge of spiritual things, is the peculiar gift of God, and that the ministers do no good by teaching and speaking unless the inward calling of God be thereunto added." We must believe and speak of what we believe to ignite the regenerating fire within the hearts of sinners.
Seed Spreading
In the Parable of the Sower (or Soils), Jesus tells of four types of soil (hearts of people) that the seed (the Word of God) falls upon. Three of the four soils produce nothing that lasts, while the "good soil" is the person who hears the Word of God and understands it, then produces fruit for the glory of God (Matthew 13:23). Although the Word of God accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit is the only way to ignite a sinner's heart toward repentance and faith in Christ Jesus, such evangelism is no guarantee that all will be saved. If we take the percentage of the soils (75% unsaved), the vast majority of the faithfully spoken Word of God falls on those who will never believe in Christ as Lord and Savior.
Does the Word of God thus fail? The LORD says in Isaiah 55:10-11,
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth;
it shall not return to Me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
The Word of God accomplishes its mission of igniting the flame inside the heart of God's chosen people. The good news is that God's Word does not return to God empty at all, but returns with a most blessed harvest of once dead sinners now with clean hands and a pure heart gathering around His glorious throne praising Him!
The flip side to this good news of salvation is that God's Word purposes many to condemnation because of the hardness of their hearts. The temptation for the Christian is to change tactics or reword the gospel for to suit the taste of our hearers. When we are spreading the seeds of the Kingdom, we do not hinder the power of God in the gospel spoken by softening the impact on the hearts of sinners in any way. To pervert or peddle the Word of God, but we preach the whole counsel of God with full conviction that the Word of God would accomplish its purpose to save some and condemn others (II Corinthians 2:14-17).
Igniting the hearts of sinners toward a bright flame of repentance and faith in Christ Jesus is a supernatural wonder by the sovereign grace of our God. God has given us a message to spread to all people without hesitation, addition, or subtraction. The message with the Spirit has the power to save sinners for the glory of God! Let us resolve simply to grab the sack of seeds and sow. Nothing less will save sinners.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Joel Osteen's Gospel
In Wednesday's Christianity Today, Joel Osteen defended his theology against a theology that pushes people down and reveals "a God that you can’t measure up to." I described Osteen's doctrine of anthropology and theology in some detail yesterday. In this entry, I'd like to focus on Osteen's view of the gospel in particular as well as the danger of such a view in the contemporary church.
As stated in yesterday's entry, Osteen views the human condition radically different than what is defined in Scripture. Osteen's view of the human condition is to be made much of by God (man-centered). Osteen contends that God smiles down on us and has "a great plan" for people. This "great plan" is Osteen's gospel.
Osteen's Doctrine of Sin vs Biblical Doctrine of Sin
"You can overcome mistakes," says Osteen. Sin is viewed as a mistake in Osteen's view. Read this from Dictionary.com:
The biblical doctrine of sin is nicely defined by Wayne Grudem: "Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature." Sin is much more than mere action, such as making a mistake. Sin is who we are by nature and in our attitude toward God. The Bible depicts sin as totally corrupting in our thoughts and desires (Romans 7:18, Titus 1:15). The sinner is left utterly helpless to overcome sin, unlike in Osteen's view that "you can overcome mistakes." Because of humanity's sinful nature, all people are dead in their trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1). People are not sick in need of medicine or people who make mistakes that need help overcoming errors. The Bible says sinners are dead and utterly helpless to change. There is a lake of "fire and brimstone" for sinners (Revelation 21:8).
Osteen's Doctrine of Atonement vs Biblical Doctrine of Atonement
"You can overcome mistakes." Note, Osteen says you can overcome. Humanity has the power within themselves to invoke this change and "overcome mistakes." Also notice Osteen's absence of a human need for salvation and atonement. There is a total absence of any mentioning of Jesus, atonement, or sacrifice in a Christian magazine article about the gospel. That is not Christianity Today's fault; that is the fault of Osteen. Osteen's gospel has no need for atonement, nor Christ for that matter. If humans possess the power within themselves to change and God smiles down on us regardless, then we have no need of atonement for our "mistakes." So, in Osteen's view, people are not dead sinners in need of a Savior and perfect substitutionary atonement; rather, people are those with a misunderstanding of God and needs to hear positive messages about healthy relationships and healthy living. Osteen claims that such positive messages that avoid "fire and brimstone" are what "draws people to God." Thus, positive messages invites people who have the power to change themselves to draw themselves to God.
The Bible views man as sinners dead in their trespasses, utterly helpless, and deserving of eternal punishment by a just judgment from a perfectly holy God. People do not possess the power to reconcile themselves to God. This is the remarkable grace that is found in the true, biblical gospel. God initiates the change in position of the sinner (propitiation) and God Himself provides the power that sinners do not have to reconcile Christ's church to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). When Christians preach the biblical gospel "be reconciled to God," we are preaching the God "made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God" (II Corinthians 5:20-21). In order for sinners to be reconciled to God, God Himself must draw the dead sinner to Himself through Christ who took our sin to the cross and in exchange we receive His perfect righteousness.
Osteen's Gospel Reward vs Biblical Gospel Reward
In Osteen's view of the gospel, God is reduced to a cosmic cheerleader "smiling down" on people that make mistakes, and God is the one rooting us on to bounce back from those mistakes and have a good life. Osteen admits his gospel is focused on prosperity, but "prosperity to me is more than money. It’s health and good relationships … peace of mind." So, God does want us to be prosperous, and prosperous in ways beyond our finances. Osteen summarizes that gospel reward out of God's desire for people to be happy and healthy: "God wants you to be blessed and have good relationships and be healthy." Osteen views the gospel reward as God meeting our felt needs, both emotionally and physically.
The Bible tells us that the gospel reward is God. The biblical gospel reward is salvation for our souls from the deserved punishment of our sin through Christ's atoning sacrifice and to, as the Westminster Confession puts it, "fully enjoy Him forever." The reward Christ gives us reconciliation to God and to find our full satisfaction in Him above all of His gifts. As John Piper puts it in God is the Gospel,
Osteen's Gospel and Your Church
Let's face it; it is easy to pick on Joel Osteen. He is over-the-top and is rather ineffective when questioned by the media. It is easy for most to point our Osteen's gospel as false, or those like him. For example, you could point at Joyce Meyer's speaking with all the profundity of fortune cookies at your local Chinese take-out. Perhaps you can easily ignore the likes of historical prosperity gospel preachers like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Kenneth Copeland, or Robert Shuller and his Crystal Cathedral. You may only be able to shew away Osteen's gospel because of his over-the-top church of 40,000. However, could you recognize a false gospel in a church of 40? How about in a book on a shelf at your local Christian bookstore? How does your pastor express the gospel from the pulpit?
It is my hope that I have clarified that Osteen's gospel is no gospel at all and is radically oppositional to the Bible. However, I am blogging for teaching reasons. To leave you here would leave you with the usual "you should evangelize" ending to a typical Sunday sermon. As Don Whitney puts it, "It does little good to encourage people to discipline themselves to evangelize if they do not know the gospel." You should know the gospel and hear the gospel from your pastor. You should be able to discern whether or not what you are hearing from the pulpit or reading in a book is the biblical gospel or another false gospel. The implications could be deadly (Matthew 7:15-20).
As stated in yesterday's entry, Osteen views the human condition radically different than what is defined in Scripture. Osteen's view of the human condition is to be made much of by God (man-centered). Osteen contends that God smiles down on us and has "a great plan" for people. This "great plan" is Osteen's gospel.
Osteen's Doctrine of Sin vs Biblical Doctrine of Sin
"You can overcome mistakes," says Osteen. Sin is viewed as a mistake in Osteen's view. Read this from Dictionary.com:
noun1) an error in action, calculation, opinion, or judgment caused by poor reasoning, carelessness, insufficient knowledge, etc.
So, Osteen's doctrine of sin is founded upon a lofty view of man and an anemic view of God. Man makes mistakes and God keeps on smiling and looking for the best for humanity. In other words, sin is not a breaking of God's Law deserving death as described in the Bible (Romans 6:23), but rather a mistake that people have the power to bounce back from. Osteen views people as those making errors or have a misunderstanding with God. This goes to why Osteen preaches "positives" rather than "fire and brimstone sermons," as he reports.2) a misunderstanding or misconception.
The biblical doctrine of sin is nicely defined by Wayne Grudem: "Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature." Sin is much more than mere action, such as making a mistake. Sin is who we are by nature and in our attitude toward God. The Bible depicts sin as totally corrupting in our thoughts and desires (Romans 7:18, Titus 1:15). The sinner is left utterly helpless to overcome sin, unlike in Osteen's view that "you can overcome mistakes." Because of humanity's sinful nature, all people are dead in their trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1). People are not sick in need of medicine or people who make mistakes that need help overcoming errors. The Bible says sinners are dead and utterly helpless to change. There is a lake of "fire and brimstone" for sinners (Revelation 21:8).
Osteen's Doctrine of Atonement vs Biblical Doctrine of Atonement
"You can overcome mistakes." Note, Osteen says you can overcome. Humanity has the power within themselves to invoke this change and "overcome mistakes." Also notice Osteen's absence of a human need for salvation and atonement. There is a total absence of any mentioning of Jesus, atonement, or sacrifice in a Christian magazine article about the gospel. That is not Christianity Today's fault; that is the fault of Osteen. Osteen's gospel has no need for atonement, nor Christ for that matter. If humans possess the power within themselves to change and God smiles down on us regardless, then we have no need of atonement for our "mistakes." So, in Osteen's view, people are not dead sinners in need of a Savior and perfect substitutionary atonement; rather, people are those with a misunderstanding of God and needs to hear positive messages about healthy relationships and healthy living. Osteen claims that such positive messages that avoid "fire and brimstone" are what "draws people to God." Thus, positive messages invites people who have the power to change themselves to draw themselves to God.
The Bible views man as sinners dead in their trespasses, utterly helpless, and deserving of eternal punishment by a just judgment from a perfectly holy God. People do not possess the power to reconcile themselves to God. This is the remarkable grace that is found in the true, biblical gospel. God initiates the change in position of the sinner (propitiation) and God Himself provides the power that sinners do not have to reconcile Christ's church to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). When Christians preach the biblical gospel "be reconciled to God," we are preaching the God "made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God" (II Corinthians 5:20-21). In order for sinners to be reconciled to God, God Himself must draw the dead sinner to Himself through Christ who took our sin to the cross and in exchange we receive His perfect righteousness.
Osteen's Gospel Reward vs Biblical Gospel Reward
In Osteen's view of the gospel, God is reduced to a cosmic cheerleader "smiling down" on people that make mistakes, and God is the one rooting us on to bounce back from those mistakes and have a good life. Osteen admits his gospel is focused on prosperity, but "prosperity to me is more than money. It’s health and good relationships … peace of mind." So, God does want us to be prosperous, and prosperous in ways beyond our finances. Osteen summarizes that gospel reward out of God's desire for people to be happy and healthy: "God wants you to be blessed and have good relationships and be healthy." Osteen views the gospel reward as God meeting our felt needs, both emotionally and physically.
The Bible tells us that the gospel reward is God. The biblical gospel reward is salvation for our souls from the deserved punishment of our sin through Christ's atoning sacrifice and to, as the Westminster Confession puts it, "fully enjoy Him forever." The reward Christ gives us reconciliation to God and to find our full satisfaction in Him above all of His gifts. As John Piper puts it in God is the Gospel,
Jesus must be the supreme treasure of our lives, if we are true disciples of Jesus. Jesus died for us and rose again to make it possible for us to see him and savor him above all things with everlasting joy. This is the great good the gospel is meant to accomplish. (144)Osteen challenges the biblical view of the gospel and views those preaching the biblical gospel reward as "some people want you to think you’re supposed to be poor and broke and suffer to show that you’re a Christian, and that’s just not the way I read the Scripture." To which Scripture are you referring to, Mr. Osteen? Remember this one, where Jesus says, "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great" (Matthew 5:12a)? So Jesus' great reward in heaven brings rejoicing and joy. To what was He referring to? "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me...for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12). Of course, Osteen's way of reading Scripture is in eisegesis. Osteen wants a God that meets his felt needs and preaches this way and does this by informing the Word of God what the gospel is. The Word of God is meant to inform Osteen and us what the gospel is (exegesis). Notice that Osteen views a gospel that offers no other gift but God as "you're supposed to be poor and broke and suffer." Osteen only accepts a God that gives you money and comfort. If money and comfort were stripped away in Osteen's gospel reward, you have nothing. Osteen views himself making God good by transforming God into an earthly gift-giver and not Himself. A gospel that gives God as the reward is not a good God, in this view. I see Christ as the Joy above all joys, Gift above all gifts, and long to see Him return for His church. I grieve that Osteen views this reward as unsatisfactory.
Osteen's Gospel and Your Church
Let's face it; it is easy to pick on Joel Osteen. He is over-the-top and is rather ineffective when questioned by the media. It is easy for most to point our Osteen's gospel as false, or those like him. For example, you could point at Joyce Meyer's speaking with all the profundity of fortune cookies at your local Chinese take-out. Perhaps you can easily ignore the likes of historical prosperity gospel preachers like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Kenneth Copeland, or Robert Shuller and his Crystal Cathedral. You may only be able to shew away Osteen's gospel because of his over-the-top church of 40,000. However, could you recognize a false gospel in a church of 40? How about in a book on a shelf at your local Christian bookstore? How does your pastor express the gospel from the pulpit?
It is my hope that I have clarified that Osteen's gospel is no gospel at all and is radically oppositional to the Bible. However, I am blogging for teaching reasons. To leave you here would leave you with the usual "you should evangelize" ending to a typical Sunday sermon. As Don Whitney puts it, "It does little good to encourage people to discipline themselves to evangelize if they do not know the gospel." You should know the gospel and hear the gospel from your pastor. You should be able to discern whether or not what you are hearing from the pulpit or reading in a book is the biblical gospel or another false gospel. The implications could be deadly (Matthew 7:15-20).
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Joel Osteen's Theology
Christianity Today posted an interesting article on Joel Osteen, who recently preached at a Night of Hope event in Hawaii. Osteen leads the largest church in America, boasting some 40,000 in attendance on Sunday mornings. Osteen has been criticized for preaching a prosperity gospel that is inconsistent with the teachings of Scripture. Osteen centers his messages on his listeners thinking positively about themselves, founding this anthropology on a theology that God wants what is best for you and He has promised to bless you. In the Christianity Today article, Osteen defends his theology.
Osteen states, “I think for years people have been pushed down by religion, and I don’t say that disrespectfully, but they’ve been shown a God that you can’t measure up to." This is a revealing statement. Osteen pits his theology of positive thinking and prosperity up against religions that push people down by showing them "a God that you can't measure up to." Let's break this down.
Osteen's Anthropology vs Biblical Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity; biblically speaking, anthropology is the state of humanity or the human condition. Osteen stated, "...people have been pushed down by religion. By "religion," Osteen defines this as a movement that reveals "a God that you can't measure up to." This religion is called Christianity. Paul says in his letter to the Romans, "both Jews and Greeks are under sin" and "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:9, 23). As the Psalmist asks, "If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" (Psalm 130:3). The biblical answer is "not one is righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10). Osteen's view of humanity is that religion should not push them down. This is foundational to his positive thinking motif to his messages. Religion should exalt humanity rather than push humanity down.Osteen said, "I think that God wants us to excel" (emphasis added). According to Osteen, God wants human beings to individually excel; in other words, God wants to make much of us. Yet, the Bibles says, "no man may boast before God" and "let him who boasts, boast in the Lord" (I Corinthians 1:29, 31). The God of Scripture is quite the opposite to Osteen's description. Humanity is to boast in God, not God boasting in humanity as Osteen details. Osteen's prosperity gospel is summed up in this way: "I think that God wants us to excel and be the best at what we can do and have happy families." Osteen says that God makes much of us by "smiling down" on us and having a "great plan for your life." In Osteen's anthropology, it is all about you. In the Bible, it is all about God.
Osteen's Theology vs Biblical Theology
Osteen's view of God stands in contrast to what he claims is "a God that you can't measure up to." This means that Osteen sees God as one that people can measure up to. To Osteen, God can be approached by sinful human beings. This is an outright rejection of God's holiness. God is not set apart from the world because, according to Osteen, people can measure up to him. Contrary to Osteen's doctrine of God, the Bible calls God the Holy One of Israel (Psalm 78:41 et al) who cannot be approached by sinners (Psalm 24:3-4). We already discussed that the Bible defines the human condition as utterly sinful and fallen short of God's glory. Man in his sin is incapable of approaching God. God in His perfect holiness cannot be approached by sinful man. There is a great separation between God and man. To make a god that can be measured up to by sinful human beings of his own creation is a god that lacks position above his creation (transcendence) and moral superiority to his creation (ethical holiness). The God of Scripture is a God of Light, "and in Him there is no darkness at all" (I John 1:5).
"My goal is to make God good..." states Osteen. That's right, Osteen's preaching makes God good. Osteen sees the God that cannot be measured up to by sinful people who are pushed down by religion as an evil God. Osteen fancies himself as a repairman to the broken, wrathful God that cannot be measured up to. Yet, God is holy and unapproachable. God is wrathful against all unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). And yet, the Bible states that God is perfectly benevolent as well (Psalm 106:1, Psalm 34:8). To entitle the God of Scripture as evil that needs to be reformed ("made") good by popular psychology is blasphemous.God is not broken, He does not need human public relations to be "made" good. God's perfect love and perfect goodness is shown to sinners by sending us His Son; though we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). That, Mr. Osteen, is the demonstration of God's goodness. His perfect love and goodness are found in the gospel, not in the positive thinking of sinners exalting themselves and avoiding conviction over sin.
Jesus warned us, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15). John MacArthur comments that false prophets impersonate true shepherds promoting the wide gate and the wide way toward destruction. Sure, Osteen has a nice smile and is kind to others. He is peaceful and is just plain nice. However, his theology is shepherding people along the wide path toward destruction, blaspheming God and promoting a theology in rebellion to the teachings of Scripture. Inwardly, that is not very nice at all. There is a total absence of a genuine articulation of the gospel in Osteen's teachings, which has been replaced with positive thinking by perverting God into a god that must be "made" good and can be measured up to by people who make mistakes.
Tomorrow, I will turn to Joel Osteen's view of the gospel versus the biblical view of the gospel.
Osteen states, “I think for years people have been pushed down by religion, and I don’t say that disrespectfully, but they’ve been shown a God that you can’t measure up to." This is a revealing statement. Osteen pits his theology of positive thinking and prosperity up against religions that push people down by showing them "a God that you can't measure up to." Let's break this down.
Osteen's Anthropology vs Biblical Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity; biblically speaking, anthropology is the state of humanity or the human condition. Osteen stated, "...people have been pushed down by religion. By "religion," Osteen defines this as a movement that reveals "a God that you can't measure up to." This religion is called Christianity. Paul says in his letter to the Romans, "both Jews and Greeks are under sin" and "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:9, 23). As the Psalmist asks, "If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" (Psalm 130:3). The biblical answer is "not one is righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10). Osteen's view of humanity is that religion should not push them down. This is foundational to his positive thinking motif to his messages. Religion should exalt humanity rather than push humanity down.Osteen said, "I think that God wants us to excel" (emphasis added). According to Osteen, God wants human beings to individually excel; in other words, God wants to make much of us. Yet, the Bibles says, "no man may boast before God" and "let him who boasts, boast in the Lord" (I Corinthians 1:29, 31). The God of Scripture is quite the opposite to Osteen's description. Humanity is to boast in God, not God boasting in humanity as Osteen details. Osteen's prosperity gospel is summed up in this way: "I think that God wants us to excel and be the best at what we can do and have happy families." Osteen says that God makes much of us by "smiling down" on us and having a "great plan for your life." In Osteen's anthropology, it is all about you. In the Bible, it is all about God.
Osteen's Theology vs Biblical Theology
Osteen's view of God stands in contrast to what he claims is "a God that you can't measure up to." This means that Osteen sees God as one that people can measure up to. To Osteen, God can be approached by sinful human beings. This is an outright rejection of God's holiness. God is not set apart from the world because, according to Osteen, people can measure up to him. Contrary to Osteen's doctrine of God, the Bible calls God the Holy One of Israel (Psalm 78:41 et al) who cannot be approached by sinners (Psalm 24:3-4). We already discussed that the Bible defines the human condition as utterly sinful and fallen short of God's glory. Man in his sin is incapable of approaching God. God in His perfect holiness cannot be approached by sinful man. There is a great separation between God and man. To make a god that can be measured up to by sinful human beings of his own creation is a god that lacks position above his creation (transcendence) and moral superiority to his creation (ethical holiness). The God of Scripture is a God of Light, "and in Him there is no darkness at all" (I John 1:5).
"My goal is to make God good..." states Osteen. That's right, Osteen's preaching makes God good. Osteen sees the God that cannot be measured up to by sinful people who are pushed down by religion as an evil God. Osteen fancies himself as a repairman to the broken, wrathful God that cannot be measured up to. Yet, God is holy and unapproachable. God is wrathful against all unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). And yet, the Bible states that God is perfectly benevolent as well (Psalm 106:1, Psalm 34:8). To entitle the God of Scripture as evil that needs to be reformed ("made") good by popular psychology is blasphemous.God is not broken, He does not need human public relations to be "made" good. God's perfect love and perfect goodness is shown to sinners by sending us His Son; though we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). That, Mr. Osteen, is the demonstration of God's goodness. His perfect love and goodness are found in the gospel, not in the positive thinking of sinners exalting themselves and avoiding conviction over sin.
Jesus warned us, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15). John MacArthur comments that false prophets impersonate true shepherds promoting the wide gate and the wide way toward destruction. Sure, Osteen has a nice smile and is kind to others. He is peaceful and is just plain nice. However, his theology is shepherding people along the wide path toward destruction, blaspheming God and promoting a theology in rebellion to the teachings of Scripture. Inwardly, that is not very nice at all. There is a total absence of a genuine articulation of the gospel in Osteen's teachings, which has been replaced with positive thinking by perverting God into a god that must be "made" good and can be measured up to by people who make mistakes.
Tomorrow, I will turn to Joel Osteen's view of the gospel versus the biblical view of the gospel.
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