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His confession is strong. He isnot asking for prayer out ofdesperation. He is a man offaith.’’11Even more tragic was John Osteen’sfailure as a prophet. The e-mail wenton to state what were said to bedivine promises for John Osteen andhis staff, which would go unfulfilled:TIVE THINGS. You may say,‘How long do I have to confessit?’ All of your life.’’14Additionally, John Osteen is onrecord as fully endorsing the errantWord Faith concepts surrounding financial prosperity:‘‘He knows God has promisedhim that he will be preachinginto his early 90’s, and he is only77 now. God gave him a visionfor ‘Seven Years of Harvest’, andwe are just beginning our 6thyear of this special thrust forworld evangelism. God haspromised our staff that He willbring our pastor’s kidneys on aplatter of praise.’’12‘‘I look at the great truths ofAlmighty God and with the sixthsense in my spirit-man, I believeand I have a consciousness thatthey are mine. I see and believesalvation is mine. Healing ismine. Prosperity is mine. All ofGod’s blessings are mine. On thebasis of this information from thesixth sense of faith, I can confidently say, ‘I am healed! I amblessed! I am redeemed! I amprosperous!’’’15John and the staff were grosslymisled. Less than a week later, JohnOsteen died. No new kidneys, nopreaching into his early 90s. He nevereven made it to his 78th birthday.When the announcement for ‘‘PastorOsteen’s Memorial service’’ wasmade, it closed with:In the citation above, he summedup the ‘‘health and wealth gospel’’ injust a few short sentences. So despitethe good things that John Osteen didas a pastor, he was ensnared by thesubtlety of false teaching and endedup misleading many before his death.Jesus warned His disciples:‘‘The Osteen family and Lakewood Church will continue toserve humbly and faithfully, aswe believe to see more miracles,healings, and the greater worksof Jesus.’’13‘‘‘Take heed and beware of theleaven of the Pharisees and theSadducees.’ . ‘How is it you donot understand that I did notspeak to you concerning bread?— but to beware of the leaven ofthe Pharisees and Sadducees.’Then they understood that Hedid not tell them to beware of theleaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees’’ (Matthew 16:6, 11-12).The ailing ‘‘healer’’ was unable tospeak himself or be spoken intohealth. He was living proof of thefallacy of his own teaching.IT’S MINE FOR THE ASKINGJohn Osteen also believed he hadthe power to make his children whathe wanted through his positive confession. Many would wish child-rearing were as easy as he made it out tobe:‘‘I am the sum total of what Ihave been confessing through theyears. My children are the bestchildren that ever lived on theface of the earth. They areblessed of God. They are the sumtotal of what Dodie and I haveconfessed and loved them intobeing. CONFESS THE WORDOF GOD INSTEAD OF NEGA-October-December 2004Even though it seems to us that Hisdisciples were, at times, a little slowon the uptake, Jesus made His pointclear. He was warning them to ‘‘beware,’’16 to be on guard against thedanger of doctrinal errors, whichJesus likens to leaven in bread. Jesusknew that if left unchecked, likeleaven in bread, doctrinal error wouldspread. The leaven of false doctrine,which John Osteen instilled in his sonJoel, is now expanding and misleading more people than the elder Osteencould have ever imagined.Sadly, Joel Osteen has never denounced the errors of his father, butperpetuates them by his silence andthe sale of his father’s books.THE MASTEROF MARKETEERINGJoel Osteen had no biblical trainingor experience to be a pastor, whichseems to be more the rule than theexception within the Charismaticcamp. Its pulpits are filled with menand women who ‘‘feel called’’ to thepastorate. They attempt to build congregations on the ‘‘strength’’ of theircalling. Some Charismatic leadersmay go on to an unaccredited ‘‘BibleSchool’’ for a year or two, such asRhema Bible Training Center startedby the late Kenneth Hagin. However,for the majority of Word Faith ministers, schooling at a legitimate seminary would be an anomaly.Few people would allow a surgeonto operate because he ‘‘felt called’’ tobe a surgeon as a child, but neverwent to medical school. Nor wouldmany allow someone to build a housewho firmly believed God had‘‘called’’ him to be an architect, yethad never gone to a college or university to study architectural design.Yet, thousands upon thousands ofprofessing Christians are more thanwilling to follow a man or womanwho professes a divine calling, buthas never studied Church history,hermeneutics, systematic theology,and Greek and Hebrew. They claim tohear directly from God. This is especially true for the sign-gift pastors.17Consider Joel Osteen’s own wordsto Charisma:‘‘‘Make church relevant,’ he says.‘Give them something to be ableto take away. I find today peopleare not looking for theology. There’sa place for it. [But] in youreveryday life you need to knowhow to live.’’’18While Joel Osteen acknowledgesthere’s a place for theology, we mustinquire where it is. Theology is thestudy of God, His attributes, Hischaracter, and His works. We surelyneed to know those things in oureveryday life, lest we follow falsegods. The minimizing of theology byJoel Osteen makes way for his clearlyThe Quarterly Journal · 15

humanistic message loaded withseeker-sensitive buzzwords.THE UPBEAT GOES ONCharisma describes Osteen with having an “upbeat style.” Of course his‘‘style’’ is “upbeat.” It is safe to say hereally believes much of the WordFaith elements his father cultivated inhim all his life. Add to this whateveroffbeat spirituality Joel Osteen mayhave gleaned from his two years atOral Roberts University, where hestudied television production andmarketing. And he is authentic: whatyou see is what you get. Joel Osteen isa man without any biblical education,but an admitted talent for marketingand with a definite stage presence.To be a success in marketing, onehas to know where people itch andhow to scratch it. Or, one has to createa hunger for something they currentlydo not have, nor formerly knew theyneeded.So to become a megachurch, apastor has to make church relevant.He has to give the people what theywant, something that soothes thatspiritual itch. In order to be a ‘‘success’’ (many in attendance and lots ofmoney), pastors must preach unchallenging messages that uplift ratherthan convict. He must pander to thelowest common denominator andmake sure that whatever is taughtdoes not offend anyone at anytime.This is simply a fulfillment of Paul’swarning to Timothy:‘‘For the time will come whenthey will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their owndesires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up forthemselves teachers; and theywill turn their ears away fromthe truth, and be turned aside tofables’’ (2 Timothy 4:3-4).This is exactly where multitudes ofpeople are spiritually today. Theabove text also helps explain thephenomena of people like RobertSchuller, Rod Parsley, Joyce Meyer,Paul Crouch, Benny Hinn, RobertTilton, and now Joel Osteen.Recall Joel Osteen’s statement, ‘‘Ifind today people are not looking for16 · The Quarterly Journaltheology.’’ That fact is quite obvious,because if they were, they would haveto look elsewhere. Although he didnot reveal to Charisma’s readers wherehe derived this astonishing fact, itappears the folks he shepherds haveno interest in theology.Lest you think such a criticism a bitharsh, it is helpful to remember thattheology simply means ‘‘the knowledge of God.’’ In essence, Joel Osteenhas said that people are really notinterested in learning about God. Perhaps, due to his lack of biblicaleducation, he has made a distinctionbetween knowing the God of theBible through sound biblical theologyand knowing “how to live.’’ The truthis, without a true knowledge of God,we really cannot know ‘‘how to live.’’To separate doctrine from duty is amajor error addressed all through thebook of Titus. Likewise, an importantissue addressed by the Apostle Peteris that true doctrine and holy livingare inseparably linked:‘‘His divine power has given tous all things that pertain to lifeand godliness, through theknowledge of Him who called usby glory and virtue’’ (2 Peter1:3).Peter then adds:‘‘But also for this very reason,giving all diligence, add to yourfaith virtue, to virtue knowledge,to knowledge self-control, to selfcontrol perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godlinessbrotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if thesethings are yours and abound,you will be neither barren norunfruitful in the knowledge ofour Lord Jesus Christ. For hewho lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, andhas forgotten that he wascleansed from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:5-9).GROWTH FROMTRUE KNOWLEDGEScripture repeatedly declares thatthe more accurately one understandsGod, within the biblical context, thebetter life one will live before Him.Nearly every parent who has a childwho does not like to eat vegetableswill, with regularity, make the childeat the vegetables. As good parents,they know that eating vegetables isbeneficial and necessary.The same is true for every man whostands behind a pulpit. Jesus toldPeter, ‘‘feed My sheep’’ (John 21:16).He said, ‘‘feed’’ the sheep, not ‘‘entertain’’ them! Pastors are to give themthe Word of God in its totality. InJesus’ last commission, He told themto teach ‘‘all’’ that He commanded(Matthew 28:20). Any pastor can fallinto the trap of becoming a peoplepleaser. This is why Paul, through theHoly Spirit, warned young Timothy:‘‘I charge you therefore beforeGod and the Lord Jesus Christ,who will judge the living and thedead at His appearing and Hiskingdom: Preach the word! Beready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort,with all longsuffering and teaching’’ (2 Timothy 4:1-2).Timothy was warned to be steadfastin his proclamation of the Gospel, tobe ready to do so at all times (i.e., ‘‘inseason and out of season’’), and in hispreaching to: 1) convince (or reprove),2) rebuke, and 3) exhort the peopleaccording to the Scriptures. A minister is to preach with all long-sufferingbecause preaching with sound teaching or doctrine is unpleasant topeople’s carnal nature. This is inspite of the hue and cry of seekersensitive pundits who lament, ‘‘Ohcome now, surely you know preaching doctrinal messages is passé?’’ YetJoel Osteen would do well to heed theword of the Lord from a genuineprophet who stated:‘‘Son of man, prophesy againstthe shepherds of Israel, prophesyand say to them, ‘Thus says theLORD God to the shepherds:‘‘Woe to the shepherds of Israelwho feed themselves! Should notthe shepherds feed the flocks?You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do notfeed the flock’’’’’ (Ezekiel 34:2-3).October-December 2004

There are many biblical themeswhich are very unpopular and evenpolitically incorrect, yet the faithfulpastor-teacher will illuminate thesetopics so that the flock under his careis receiving a balanced spiritual dietand is able to walk in the full light ofGod’s Word, and not in the shadows.Joel Osteen’s ascent to the pulpit ofthis large congregation was an unusual one. He did not take a traditional path to pastoral work, butperhaps his training was ideal formodern, media-oriented Christendom:‘‘Meanwhile, son Joel, one of sixchildren, was learning the business of television . ‘Growing up,I knew what I wanted to do. Iwanted to be involved in TVproduction,’ he says. ‘That wasjust my passion.’ In 1981 he camehome from Oral Roberts University (ORU) to start the LakewoodTV ministry. ‘I did that for 17years, working behind thescenes,’ Osteen says. ‘My dad, healways wanted me to preach. Itjust wasn’t in my heart.’’’19Thus, for 17 years, Joel Osteen wasbehind the scenes, handling all thetelevision and marketing aspects ofhis father’s ministry. The Charismaarticle further reveals the impact ofthe abilities of this father-son team:‘‘The younger Osteen’s television-marketing talents and hisdad’s preaching skills resultedeventually in the church’s services being aired on stations nationwide and in more than 100countries.’’20No doubt, the combined talents ofthis dynamic-duo of folksy preachingteaching and television-marketingwas a chief cause for the growth ofLakewood Church into megachurchstatus.21TELLING TALESAs John Osteen lay sick and dyingin the hospital, he asked his son topreach for him on Sunday. Initially,Joel Osteen said, ‘‘No.’’ He thenrelented and described for Charisma’sreaders his preaching efforts that day:‘‘‘I spoke for him that Sunday forthe first time in my life,’ he says.October-December 2004‘I just got up there and told stories.I was so glad when it was over. Isaid, ‘‘I’ll never do this again inmy life.’’ Well, that was the lastSunday of my dad’s life.’’’22That was the beginning of his public ministry: he just got up and ‘‘toldstories.’’ Joel Osteen has been tellingstories that have been tickling the earsof the multitudes ever since. Considerthese descriptions of his preachingstyle:‘‘Everyone agrees Osteen’spreaching is a key ingredient.Descriptors of his style include‘simple,’ ‘down-to-earth,’ ‘practical,’ ‘relatable,’ ‘easy,’ ‘folksy,’‘humble.’’’23‘‘The appealing style of Osteen’spersonality in the pulpit is unmistakable. It is part of the reason for Lakewood’s current levelof success.’’24‘‘It’s 10 a.m. when he begins hissermon. The theme is practical ashe gives example after exampleof the importance of followingGod’s timing rather than one’sown. He keeps the tone cheerful,optimistic. ‘God doesn’t wantanybody walking out of heretoday heavy-hearted and downcast,’ Osteen says.’’25Some may object and say, ‘‘Well,Jesus told stories.’’ Yes, He did. However, the notable distinction is thatJesus told stories to teach doctrineand theology.Indeed, Joel Osteen is charismatic inhis personality. His delivery is asnon-threatening as the positive messages he delivers. Considering anagglomeration of Joel Osteen’s statements — with his emphasis on being‘‘practical’’ — it is a logical conclusionthat perhaps he believes teachingtheology is somehow ‘‘impractical.’’His words to Charisma, ‘‘I find todaypeople are not looking for theology,’’loudly resonate. In reality, ‘‘practical’’means he tells story after story, usesnumerous anecdotes, and then tries touse a proof text to bolster his point.Surprisingly, some of Charisma’sreaders picked up on and negativelyresponded to these issues:‘‘Joel Osteen says he does notpreach theology. According tothe dictionary, ‘theology’ is thestudy of God, His nature, attributes and His relationshipwith man and the universe. Considering the above definition,what is the message coming fromhis pulpit at Lakewood?’’26‘‘His ‘relevant’ sermons are allabout individualism and consumption. The implication is, ‘If Ijust do the right things or praythe right way, God will give mehappiness — especially as it relates to finances.’’’27‘‘I just finished reading aboutJoel Osteen and LakewoodChurch. I am more convincedthan ever that pragmatism dominates the church of Jesus Christ.Lakewood and pastor Osteenclearly embrace a Word-Faiththeology that is not based onsound doctrine but rather represents the spirit of this age.’’28LET ME ENTERTAIN YOUIt should also concern the discerning Christian when a pastor can makethe statement that God does not wantanybody walking out of here ‘‘heavyhearted.’’ In contrast, Scripture declares, ‘‘godly sorrow worketh repentance’’ (2 Corinthians 7:10). At times,God may well want us to walk out ofa service ‘‘heavy-hearted’’ if we havebeen sinning. We should allow theWord, when properly expounded,and the Spirit, when genuinelypresent, to break us and to convict usof sinful attitudes and practices. Jamesconcurs and states that, at times, wemust humble ourselves and evenweep and mourn (James 4:7-10).However, if all one hears is ‘‘upbeat,’’ ‘‘cheerful,’’ and ‘‘optimistic’’messages, there is little opportunityfor the Holy Spirit to work convictionin the hearts of the hearers. Thisfolksy, down-home, non-confrontational type of message also goes along way in explaining the largecrowds that gather to be entertained.Read the Old Testament prophets.They thundered, but did not tickleears. They did not entertain.The Quarterly Journal · 17

Lakewood Church’s music is animportant factor in drawing crowds.Once Joel Osteen took command afterthe death of his father, he began toexpand the musical talent as well:‘‘Four years ago, when CindyCruse-Ratcliff — former memberof the Dove Award-winningCruse Family gospel group —became Lakewood’s minister ofmusic, the church had only oneSunday morning service. . Soonafter Cruse-Ratcliff arrived, Lakewood expanded when two Sunday morning services wereadded and, eight months later, aSaturday night worship service. ‘The growth was extremelyrapid,’ says Cruse-Ratcliff, whostill serves on the 200-memberLakewood staff.’’29‘‘Star power’’ brings people tochurches as well, especially musicalstars, and Joel Osteen, with his television-marketing training, is not ignorant of this fact. Ms. Cruse-Ratcliffknows people in the contemporarymusic scene and, as Lakewood’s minister of music, she no doubt helps addto the musical strength of this megachurch by bringing in some moremusical talent. According to Charisma:‘‘Helping to spice up that mix aretwo of the most prominentnames in worship music. MarcosWitt, who fills stadiums in LatinAmerica for worship concerts,was tapped in 2002 to pastorLakewood’s 3,000-member Hispanic congregation. Also addingdiversity to the Lakewood staff isIsrael Houghton, whose soulfulworship anthems are sungaround the world.’’30The music at Lakewood is excessively contemporary. They have musical stars who appeal to Hispanic(Witt), African-American (Houghton),and Caucasian members (Cruse-Ratcliff). The musical team writes manyof their own songs, yet the Charismaarticle never mentions hymns.This is not surprising when oneconsiders that the rule among WordFaith and seeker-sensitive congregations is the absence of hymnals. Apartfrom the occasional singing of18 · The Quarterly Journal‘‘Amazing Grace,’’ contemporarysongs and choruses rule the day.Sadly, the Charismatic movement’sbrand of music has infiltrated manyevangelical congregations, leading toan abandonment of the use of thehistoric hymns. It could be thathymns are, in fact, rhymed theology.It is not uncommon for seeker-sensitive churches to utilize songs andchoruses that originated from theToronto Revival or the Vineyardmovement, which are two examplesof some of the wildest expressions ofextremism within the Charismaticrenewal movement.Musically speaking, there is amethod to the madness at Lakewoodand other megachurches. They workhard to cut all ties with traditionalChristianity. The classic, highly theological hymns and hymnals virtuallyscream out the dreaded word ‘‘traditional.’’31THE KEY TO SUCCESS?Joel Osteen is probably the leadingexample of a Word Faith adherentwho has combined the successfulmarketing techniques of the seekersensitive megachurches with a positive confession, health and wealthmessage. The blend becomes a potenthybrid that appeals to both sign-giftbelievers (sort of ‘‘Charismatic lite’’)and baby-boomer seekers.The message that God wants tobless His children with completephysical health, give them great financial wealth, and demands little ofthem in return regarding their spiritual life is a highly appealing message. Also combining popular Gospelsingers with highly orchestrated praiseand worship teams creates a decidedly non-church atmosphere whichappeals to an even wider audience.Additionally, marketing strategiesand their successes seem to run in theOsteen family. Smuggled within theconfines of a recent parody of JoelOsteen in the satirical The Door Magazine, was the revelation of a firmoperated by Joel’s brother, Justin. Thepublication, in its spoof-interview ofJoel Osteen and his feel-good gospelmessage, disclosed:‘‘Oh, that’s my brother Justin.He’s real smart. He’s president ofJustin Osteen and Associates, Inc.They’re the guys who set the‘independent reasonable compensation’ limits for many oftoday’s top televangelists andpreachers. I don’t really understand it myself, but it has to dowith tax stuff. For instance, Iknow he got the IRS to approvean annual compensation packageof 1.75 million for ArchbishopRobert Tilton and his currentwife, even though Mr. Tiltondoesn’t really do anything but sitaround Miami eating stone crabs,re-running his old programs andmining his mailing list. Hedoesn’t even have a church!’’32Even though the interview wasfictitious, The Door’s publisher, OleAnthony, told PFO that the information regarding the company operatedby Justin Osteen was factual. Themagazine’s lampoon was based onactual interviews and documentedfact.Of further concern is that one hearslittle, if any, Law and Gospel proclaimed at Lakewood Church. Thereality is that 30,000 people are notbeing fed a biblically balanced spiritual diet which will promote truegrowth in their lives. What one hearsis a synthesis of Word Faith conceptswrapped up in a seeker-friendly environment by a young man with awinsome smile. One can preach grace,but if only grace is preached, itbecomes something else, as Jude 4indicates.IF YOU BUILD IT,THEY WILL COMELastly, we cannot lose sight of thefact that a certain synergy builds withany church when it begins to reachsuch a size. People who have no soliddoctrinal foundation will want toattend the place where ‘‘something’’is happening. So adding a coffee bar,marketplace, and gym to the churchfacility will be a dynamic for such abustling fellowship. Charisma reports:‘‘Lakewood’s new InternationalCenter allows the church to ex-October-December 2004

pand its ministries even more.An ice rink and a basketball gymare available for use by familiesand city sports leagues. Thechurch hosts concerts, sportingevents, family conferences, conventions, business workshops, receptions and seminars. Plans forthe future include a fitness center, and a dining and retailplaza.’’33In America, bigger is better. Afterall, many presume, if Joel Osteen wasnot being used of the Lord, then whywould God allow all these people tocome to Lakewood Church? The rubis that the same logic could be appliedto the Latter-day Saint (Mormon)church, Islam (with its more than abillion adherents), or any other fastgrowing cult. The previously citedCharisma reader hit the nail on thehead with his comment, ‘‘I am moreconvinced than ever that pragmatismdominates the church of Jesus Christ.’’In reality, coul

Joel Osteen’s Appealing But Aberrant Message. . In a time of racial division, John Osteen opened wide the doors of his church to all people, and all shades and classes of people came. Although . It’s impossible to know if t