Joel Osteen -FALSE PROPHET! Dr. Terry Watkins . . . Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15 The latest star among the Christian world is Joel Osteen, pastor of nondenominational Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Osteen claims the nation’s largest congregation with over 30,000 members. Lakewood recently purchased the colossal Compaq Center, formerly home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets. After a whopping $95 million in renovations, the Compaq Center now houses Osteen’s empire called Lakewood Church. Osteen continually sells out huge arenas (at $10 a ticket) across the country. (on ebay Osteen’s tickets list for over $100—can you say $ch-ching$?) New York Times (July 18, 2005) reports Lakewood’s 2004 revenue’s of $55 million. Osteen’s book of human-potential, self-esteem, feel good, self-help-guide titled, Your Best Life Now: Seven Steps to Living at Your Full Potential, ranks number one on the prestigious New York Times best-seller list. Wxyz writes of Osteen’s enormous popularity, In the world of religion, he’s achieved the status of a rock star. . . Clearly, Mr. Osteen wears the coveted crown prince of the Christian kingdom. Osteen’s message is described as . . . simple self-help message that congregants say is both uplifting and accessible. . . Osteen proudly wears the title of the smiling preacher. His theology has been described as cotton candy theology – tastes good – but no substance. Before we examine Osteen’s disturbing theology, let us lay some ground work for our critique. Today’s Christians have been spiritually malnourished with a steady and unrelenting diet of judge not, that ye be not judged. . ., tolerant, inclusive junk food doctrine until they are completely void of any spiritual discernment. May I remind you in Matthew 7 where the popular judge not, that ye be not judged. . . mantra occurs contains the harshest warning in the Bible exposing false prophets and exercising personal spiritual discernment. The Lord Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23 provides the most enlightening and frightening warning found in all the scriptures. Many (not a few) people that openly call Jesus Lord, Lord. . . and many that prophesy in thy name. . . and . . . cast out devils. . . and in the name of Jesus Christ perform many wonderful (not hateful, but nice, sweet) works. . .— Jesus will utter I NEVER knew you. They were never saved. If they were ever saved—Jesus could not say, I NEVER knew you. Despite their many wonderful works in the name of Jesus, despite calling Him Lord, Lord—Jesus Christ will cast them into an eternal lake of fire, calling them ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:13-23 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7 (and there are many other scriptures) is an earth-shattering wake-up call for prayerful Bible discernment. If we, as Christians do not shine the exposing light of the Word of God upon preachers, Christians or anyone and everyone, how can we possibly obey the clear admonition of our Lord and Saviour in Matthew 7:15? How can we Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves— if we do not judge who are the false prophets? How in the world can we even KNOW who are these false prophets? They appear as sheep or saved people, but they are ravening wolves. There is only one way—the unchangeable, perfect Word of God. There is a very serious and very deadly Christian belief perverting Christians that says, I can’t judge them, I don’t know their heart. The Lord Jesus Christ says in Matthew 15:19, But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. What comes out the mouth – is in the heart. And what came out of the heart and mouth of Joel Osteen during the June 20, 2005 interview with Larry King literally sent shivers down my spiritual spine. As a Bible Believing researcher, I have researched many topics, many cultural issues and many false prophets—but what I heard repeatedly from the mouth of Joel Osteen on Larry King clearly ranks as the most disturbing words publicly coming out of a mainstream, accepted preacher. Bar none! Before we view Osteen’s troubling statements, let me also add: we are not frivolously sowing discord among brethren. . . (Proverbs 6:19); we are not blindly, . . . straining at a gnat, and swallowing a camel. (Matthew 23:14); nor is any personal malice or contempt against Mr. Osteen intended. As Bible Believers, we can disagree on certain doctrinal issues, but never the redemptive work and person of the Lord Jesus Christ. God forbid! God help us to never cease from exposing serious doctrinal errors, and make no mistake about it – several of Joel Osteen’s statements on Larry King Live were serious. Very serious. . . The first very alarming portrait of Osteen’s heart (Matthew 12:34) deals with the most important subject in the Bible—salvation is only through the redemptive blood of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary. Nothing is more important. Nothing is more evident in the scriptures. The following scriptures (among many) loudly and boldly proclaim Jesus Christ as the ONE and ONLY way of salvation, without any room for misinterpretation or misunderstanding. The Bible makes this crystal-clear. Other doctrines may have opportunity for argument, but not this one. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. On Larry King Live, the following very disturbing conversation occurred with Larry King and Joel Osteen: KING: What if youre Jewish or Muslim, you dont accept Christ at all? OSTEEN: You know, Im very careful about saying who would and wouldnt go to heaven. I dont know ... At this point, even Larry King appears surprised by Osteen’s answer. Then Larry tosses Osteen a soft-ball to explain his previous answer. And again Osteen openly denies that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way of salvation. KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? Theyre wrong, arent they? OSTEEN: Well, I dont know if I believe theyre wrong. I believe heres what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God will judge a persons heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I dont know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I dont know. Ive seen their sincerity. So I dont know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus. Again Osteen denies the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice, he praises the pagan, false-religion of India as I know they love God. Unbelievable. . .
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 00:30:50 +0000