Joel Osteen Bashing

// October 19th, 2007 // Church Life, Video

Joel OsteenHave you ever watched or heard something that you thought was good at first, but just didn’t sit right for some reason? During my Friday post I linked to a video of Mark Driscoll giving Joel Osteen what-for. My brief comments indicated that I thought Driscoll was right in all that he said. All day I’ve been rethinking it and I thought I would turn this into a longer post with a more complete and balanced perspective.

First, watch the video so you will know what I’m talking about. I’ll make some comments following.

First, let me say that I usually agree with Mark Driscoll. I appreciate his wit from the pulpit as well as the stand he has made for good theology and missional living. He has also shown a great willingness to publicly repent for his mistakes over the years. All that being said, I have a problem with something here.

When I first watched the video, I thought it was great. His arguments were good and he did it with a sense of humor. My personality identifies easily with that “irreverent” style. Sometimes that leads me astray a bit… I don’t take issue with any of the doctrine here. I have similar problems with the “prosperity message”. And, since seeing Pastor Osteen on Larry King some time back I am concerned about what he didn’t say and what he avoided. I wish he had taken a clearer stand on some issues. (That stuff may be on YouTube by now, though I couldn’t find it)

However, I don’t think Joel Osteen is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the anti-Christ, or a bad man. I think it’s obvious that He loves Jesus and wants God’s best for his congregation.

So what’s my problem then? My problem is that if Joel Osteen is a Christian man, why is it ok to so publicly attack him? It’s not just Mark Driscoll. Half the church is throwing barbs his way. I’ve seen people accuse him of all sorts of things across the blogosphere. How does this honor Christ and how is this a good use of the pulpit? If Driscoll had simply done his teaching without mentioning Osteen (and showing a clip) I would have been happy.

It’s easy to get sucked in to this kind of attitude. I admit, I did when I first watched it. Even so, I think calling Joel Osteen out directly is not only out of line, but divisive. It doesn’t help anything, nor does it model for us how to act as believers.

All this has done is thrown another log on a fire that should not even be burning. But, the world is watching while we act like a dysfunctional family. Let Joel Osteen do his thing. He’s one of God’s kids and God doesn’t take kindly to His kids being picked on. The Osteen bashing is getting out of hand.

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