Every time I hear Joel Osteen or his wife… I’m outraged that: 1) They proclaim a FALSE gospel, and 2) So many believe it! Most recently Mrs. Osteen said…

“I just want to encourage every one of us to realize when we obey God, we’re not doing it for God–I mean, that’s one way to look at it–we’re doing it for ourselves, because God takes pleasure when we are happy. . . . That’s the thing that gives Him the greatest joy. . . .”

“So, I want you to know this morning — Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy. . . . When you come to church, when you worship him, you’re not doing it for God really. You’re doing it for yourself, because that’s what makes God happy. Amen?”

“We’re not doing it for God?” “You’re doing it for yourself?” I’m at a loss how to respond. Even pagans don’t have such a view of their god! Listen! THE most important thing to God is that He is glorified! God is not an idolater. He never breaks the First Commandment. God will NOT share His glory with anyone, including puny worms called humanity. Consider what God says about what He does as recorded in Isaiah 48:9-11…

For My name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of My praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. 11 For My own sake, for My own sake, I do it, for how should My name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

Compare Mrs. Osteen’s comments with the Scripture…

Mt 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

John 15:20Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

Phil 1:29 It has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.

Ro 5:3 We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Ro 8:16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

1 Peter 2:19 This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Dr. Albert Mohler wrote this about the Osteen’s message…

Prosperity Theology certainly sells books and draws crowds in the United States, but what does it possibly say to a grieving Christian wife and mother in Iraq? How can it possibly be squared with the actual message of the New Testament? How can any sinner be saved, without a clear presentation of sin, redemption, the cross, the empty tomb, and the call to faith and repentance? Prosperity Theology fails every test, and fails every test miserably. It is a false gospel, and one that must be repudiated, not merely reformatted.

What the Osteens proclaim is blatant heresy. . . and should be called such! Thus I say: “Osteen I Aint!”