Has Joel Osteen's preaching saved anyone?

[canadyjd]

I could list at least five things that I don't like about Joel Osteen, but I could do the same for teachers, like John MacArthur, who I mostly agree with.

The question is whether or not God can sovereignly use Joel Osteen's message to lead sinners to salvation, despite its imperfections.

Osteen's videos usually end with an invitation to come to Jesus and repent for salvation.

From the few times I’ve seen the end of his sermons, he always says,”repeat this prayer….bla bla bla… if you said that prayer I believe you are saved”

peace to you

 

[Humble Disciple]

From the few times I’ve seen the end of his sermons, he always says,”repeat this prayer….bla bla bla… if you said that prayer I believe you are saved”

peace to you

If you sincerely and genuinely accept Jesus as your Savior, you are saved. Is that untrue?

 

[Humble Disciple]

This is the statement of faith from Osteen's church, which seems pretty standard to me:
About Lakewood Church

 

[canadyjd]

If you sincerely and genuinely accept Jesus as your Savior, you are saved. Is that untrue?

If you receive Holy Spirit indwelling, that will be the mark that you have sincerely and genuinely accepted Jesus as Savior, and that you are saved.

That cannot be seen (at least I cannot see Holy Spirit indwelling) therefore, I don’t think we can declare anyone saved or unsaved based on a profession of faith.

peace to you

 

[AustinC]

What does Joel Osteen teach, specifically, that is contrary to the Bible? In this video, Osteen focuses more on the substitutionary atonement of Jesus than the average preacher would on any given Sunday:

I have never heard Joel Osteen claim that if bad things happen to you in life, it's a sign that your faith wasn't genuine. Instead, he says keep on having faith until God uses your suffering to demonstrate His glory when your day of vindication comes.

Here's a video that outlines Osteen's false doctrine.

 

[Humble Disciple]

That cannot be seen (at least I cannot see Holy Spirit indwelling) therefore, I don’t think we can declare anyone saved or unsaved based on a profession of faith.

Then it's not for us to judge whether Osteen's message has led others to salvation.

 

[Humble Disciple]

Here's a video that outlines Osteen's false doctrine.

I've watched the video. Here's the statement of faith from Osteen's church, which seems pretty standard to me:
About Lakewood Church

Given John MacArthur's own lavish lifestyle, he needs to remove the plank from his eye before pointing the finger at Joel Osteen who, unlike MacArthur, takes no salary from his church.

The Prosperous Lifestyle of America's Anti-Prosperity Gospel Preacher | The Roys Report

Are these the tears of a man who doesn't genuinely care about the people whose lives have been changed by his message?

MacArthur might have the right doctrines, but he shows no joy when preaching them, even though joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit.

 

[Humble Disciple]

If George Whitefield, despite his Calvinism, could work with John Wesley, then I can see the good in Joel Osteen. It's a no-brainer.

Unlike his critics, Joel Osteen doesn't take a salary from his church. He's no less deserving of the money from his book sales as a Christian film maker would be of the money from his movies.

 

[Humble Disciple]

A good Calvinist would see this story as the work of God's providence in Joel Osteen's life:

When we were trying to acquire our current facility, the former Compaq Center, there was one man I really wanted to get on our team. We needed to have the Houston City Council members vote for us because it was a city-owned facility. This one man knew all the people in the city. He was very influential. I thought if we could just get him on board, then surely we would get the votes that we needed. I called and called, but for some reason, he wouldn't call me back. I knew friends who knew him. They put in a good word for me. Still nothing. At one point, we got word back that this man was actively against us. He wasn't in neutral; he was on the opposing team! At that point, I realized I couldn't make this happen in my own strength. I quit trying to manipulate things and trying to convince everybody. I said, "God, it's in Your hands. I know You already have the right people lined up. I know You already have it figured out. So God, I'm just going to stay in that place of peace."

We needed ten votes from the City Council members. Two days before the main vote, we only had nine. But, a young Jewish councilmember that had been against us for two years suddenly changed his mind and voted for us. It was his vote that gave us the victory.

He told me later, "Joel, you were very persuasive, but you were not the reason that I changed my mind." He went on to tell about this elderly Jewish lady that called him out of the blue. He hadn't spoken to her in over 20 years, but he had great respect for her. He grew up with her. She told him in no uncertain terms that he was to vote for Lakewood having the Compaq Center. He said, "It was her phone call that changed my mind."

Now, I couldn't make that happen in my own strength, but God already had somebody lined up that could make it happen. The amazing thing is that I didn't know the woman and still don't. I never talked to her, never asked her to call. That was the hand of God orchestrating it all.
If God Is For You

 

[Yeshua1]

What Osteen says is that God allows hardships and setbacks to happen in your life, so that His glory will be more demonstrated when He turns things around for you.

he does far more then that, as he seems to hold that every Christian has a right to have God bless and prosper them!

 

[Yeshua1]

What do you mean by "new age?"

Are you just throwing buzz words around again or are you actually referring to something specific? I'm certainly not an expert on Schuller, but I am unaware of him embracing any facets of the new age movement.

ttps://www.issuesetcarchive.org/issues_site/resource/archives/gudel2.htm

 

[Yeshua1]

Can a teacher use the Bible to motivate people without compromising doctrine? Also, does Joel Osteen promise that you will never have hardships and setbacks in life if you follow Christ?

He holds to word of faith and health and wealth prosperity of heresy!

 

[Yeshua1]

Then it's not for us to judge whether Osteen's message has led others to salvation.

The Holy Spirit can take a donkey speaking to correct another!

 

[Humble Disciple]

He holds to word of faith and health and wealth prosperity of heresy!

This seems to be the message of Joel Osteen, that just like the story of Joseph, God will use what the devil intended for your harm for your good.

Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

I have never heard him promise that Christians will never have suffering and adversity in life.

 

[AustinC]

You would have to find something that Osteen has taught from the pulpit which specifically contradicts what's in the Bible.

Did you watch the video? They do just that.

 

[AustinC]

I've watched the video. Here's the statement of faith from Osteen's church, which seems pretty standard to me:
About Lakewood Church

Given John MacArthur's own lavish lifestyle, he needs to remove the plank from his eye before pointing the finger at Joel Osteen who, unlike MacArthur, takes no salary from his church.

The Prosperous Lifestyle of America's Anti-Prosperity Gospel Preacher | The Roys Report

Are these the tears of a man who doesn't genuinely care about the people whose lives have been changed by his message?

MacArthur might have the right doctrines, but he shows no joy when preaching them, even though joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit.

May I ask why you support a known charlatan?

 

[Baptist Believer]

ttps://www.issuesetcarchive.org/issues_site/resource/archives/gudel2.htm

Beyond the sketchy way this article uses sources, there is NOTHING here that ties Schuller to the new age movement.

Please don't make false accusations. There is plenty to critique about Schuller without making stuff up and discrediting everyone here by association with your false charges.

 

[Humble Disciple]

May I ask why you support a known charlatan?

Like I said, I wouldn't attend a church that has Joel Osteen as a pastor, but that doesn't mean he's teaching things that are contrary to the Bible.

In the same fashion, I am not a Pentecostal, but I'm not going to look down on others who speak in tongues.

If you have something from his sermons that specifically contradicts what the Bible teaches, please share the quote, rather than just a Youtube video. Let others read the quote for themselves.

Who is the bigger charlatan, Joel Osteen, who receives no salary from his church, or John MacArthur, who draws extravagant salaries from his ministries while pointing the finger at others?

The Prosperous Lifestyle of America's Anti-Prosperity Gospel Preacher | The Roys Report

A good Calvinist would see this story as the work of God's providence in Joel Osteen's life:
If God Is For You

 

[Humble Disciple]

When it comes to teachers like Joel Osteen, who might not be from our tradition of Christianity, why not look at the words of scripture?

Mark 9
38 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Matthew 7
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 12
25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

John 17
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

1 Corinthians 1
11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 8:2-3
Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

 

[AustinC]

Like I said, I wouldn't attend a church that has Joel Osteen as a pastor, but that doesn't mean he's teaching things that are contrary to the Bible.

In the same fashion, I am not a Pentecostal, but I'm not going to look down on others who speak in tongues.

If you have something from his sermons that specifically contradicts what the Bible teaches, please share the quote, rather than just a Youtube video. Let others read the quote for themselves.

Who is the bigger charlatan, Joel Osteen, who receives no salary from his church, or John MacArthur, who draws extravagant salaries from his ministries while pointing the finger at others?

The Prosperous Lifestyle of America's Anti-Prosperity Gospel Preacher | The Roys Report

A good Calvinist would see this story as the work of God's providence in Joel Osteen's life:
If God Is For You

The video I posted shows his theological error. Please stop your attempt to lift him up.