Turning to a different gospel

Joel Osteen's church, which recently relocated to the former arena of the Houston Rockets, boasts the largest congregation in the history of America, averaging more then 30,000 a week. Osteen took over the church in 1999 and has increased the size of the congregation almost five-fold since then. His book, "Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living Your Full Potential" has sold almost 3 million copies and is a New York Time's best seller. Yet, the brand of Christianity Osteen is offering is mild, shallow, and seems to be a kind of dim-witted boosterism simply designed to get you through the week. He has been called "prosperity gospel's coverboy," and John Piper speaks strongly against the "Health, Wealth, Prosperity Gospel" which Joel Osteen is known for (see John Piper on The Prosperity Gospel).

Although Osteen can boast the largest congregation in America his impact is not ultimately determined by church attendance or book sales but by the content of the Gospel he preaches. So I care little for Osteen's popularity (my only concern to the shudder and pray for his soul and for the thousands he has led astray), but I care much more about the content of his Gospel. In his letter to the Galatians Paul is a model of forthright frankness when central gospel issues are at stake.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

The gospel is unchanging. No pastor can rightly add or take away from the Gospel - it is an objective truth. Thus Paul pronounces a curse of final judgment on those who proclaim or receive a different gospel. Even if he himself, or an angel from heaven, were to preach such a gospel, the Galatians should reject it. Paul doesn't take this lightly and neither should we. So why do 30,000 men and women regularly put on their Sunday-best to hear Osteen's preaching?

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

The "Health, Wealth, Prosperity Gospel" pleases man in his greediness, and I don't doubt that Osteen knows that by now. A pastor who seeks the approval of man can quickly grow his church, while simultaneously revealing that he is not truly a servant of Christ. It is obvious that Osteen's congregation will fill the arena seats, buy copies of "Your Best Life Now", and rejoice as God provides. But try to find men and women in Osteen's church who desire to pick up their cross daily, who embrace persecution for the sake of the Gospel, who cry out "To live is Christ, To die is gain!"... because you won't find them there. Only the true Gospel brings about true disciples of Christ - because there is no other Gospel.