Newsweek has an interesting article on Victoria Osteen and her new book, Love Your Life. Ms. Osteen and her husband Joel are pastors of one of the largest churches in America, and tens of thousands are buying into their idea of religion as “appreciating what God's given us. He's given us this life, and he wants us to live it to the fullest” (from Lisa Miller's interview with Victoria). The writer’s response to Victoria’s prosperity-gospel: “All this is fine, in the pages of a women's magazine or a self-help book. But what has God got to do with it?”I don’t know the writer of the article or if she is a true believer in Christ, but what was striking to me was that an editor of a news source not known for its adherence to evangelical belief would come to that conclusion. That seems to show more discernment than many of the followers of prosperity-gospel philosophy. Despite the counsel of much contemporary Christianity, I think the world is looking for something different in Christians, especially ministers. If Christianity has nothing transcendent to offer, why bother?
Everyone wants to be happy and live life to the fullest. But how would we counsel a seeker or practice it ourselves? John Piper puts it this way in the opening words to his book, The Supremacy of God in Preaching:
People are starving for the greatness of God. But most of them would not give this diagnosis of their troubled lives. The majesty of God is an unknown cure. There are far more popular prescriptions on the market, but the benefit of any other remedy is brief and shallow. Preaching that does not have the aroma of God’s greatness may entertain for a season, but it will not touch the hidden cry of the soul: “Show me thy glory!” (The Supremacy of God in Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1990, p. 9)In times like these, when the economy is down and people are losing their jobs, how do we find comfort and practice our faith? By looking inside ourselves? How about gazing on God in His greatness and believing that since He gave us His Son, He will provide us with everything we need! That's the essence of the Christian life: to trust and enjoy God now amidst suffering and uncertainty and to be willing to wait for our best life then, when we're with Him.
How would you summarize Christianity? What is religion all about?
(HT:JT)
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Also by John Piper on happiness and the greatness of God—
- Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Portland, OR: Multnomah, 1986)
- The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God’s Delight in Being God (Portland, OR: Multnomah, 2000)
I loved this book by Piper. It has been a while since I read it, but I seem to recall that his main point centered around the idea that pithy anecdotes and witty self-help advice really isn't want Christians need (and often not even what they want). Rather, Christians (and unbelievers) are looking for solutions. Piper reminds us that God is the Solution to man's greatest needs! Because God is and offers what man needs, He must be given the supreme place in our preaching!
ReplyDeleteThe Osteen situation is not sad, it's disgusting. It is NOT the gospel.
Here's Paul's response to those who preached "another gospel."
Galatians 1:7-9
7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 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. 9 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.
See the video at http://www.justinpeters.org
ReplyDeletePeters is an expert regarding the health and wealth or prosperity gospel. He gave the seminar you will see an overview of id you go to the link, at my church and comes highly recommended by my pastor, Dr. John MacArthur.
Not having read any of Osteem's books, I won't comment on his ideas, but I will say that for Christians who have had to deal with the repercussions of difficult life experiences, suffering from depression for example, which can at times be spiritually debilitating, could be made to feel that their faith is weak or defective just because they're not experiencing the rich, full life God is "obligated" to provide. Desiring God is a good book. I received a copy as a gift a few years ago, and John Piper seems to be on the ball.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments, guys! Sorry I haven't been able to interact before now. We're having a trying week, dealing with an aging parent who has some increasing medical needs. So things are a little topsy-turvy right now.
ReplyDeleteSo, I've been thinking along the same lines concerning people in difficulties. How can they be helped by mere pep talks from well-to-do preachers in their prime?
Or what about people under persecution? I know this is satire, but Tominthebox News Network has a good post from a year ago on Joel Osteen's books not doing well in countries where Christians are persecuted for their faith - http://tominthebox.blogspot.com/2007/10/osteen-books-flop-in-1040-window.html It actually doesn't seem like satire because it makes such a good point.
The reason that things like the prosperity gospel and the "power of positive thinking" ultimately fail is that they are not the gospel, as Jason pointed out. Things may be going great now for some of these celebrity preachers, but I believe God is displeased. They depart from the Bible's message and methods in hopes of drawing the crowds and avoiding empty pews, but I agree with my pastor that there's something worse than empty pews - an offended God.
John Piper's books are a helpful counteractive to the "best life now" philosophy that mostly ignores the Giver of Life. I pray that the Lord will raise up more men who are gripped by the majesty of God and who give Him the supreme place He deserves in their preaching.