Joel Osteen Just
Explained Why He Refuses to Preach on Hell
.
It was an Easter Sunday profile that sparked the controversy. Featured on CBS Sunday Morning, Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, TX, told reporter Tracy Smith why he won’t preach about hell.
It was an Easter Sunday profile that sparked the controversy. Featured on CBS Sunday Morning, Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, TX, told reporter Tracy Smith why he won’t preach about hell.
“[People] already feel guilty enough. They’re not doing
what they should, raising their kids—we can all find reasons. So I want them to
come to Lakewood or our meetings and be lifted up, to say, ‘You know what? I
may not be perfect, but I’m moving forward. I’m doing better.’ And I think that
motivates you to do better.”
It’s not particularly surprising that Osteen,
famous for his self-help pep talk, wouldn’t preach what he calls “fire and brimstone.”
His messages frequently focus on the power of positivity
and ceasing negative self-talk. He’s sold millions of books preaching a gospel
that wants to make you happier and healthier while avoiding meatier subjects,
like hell.
However, hell is an integral part of the
gospel of Jesus. Jesus frequently talked about hell in many contexts. He condemned cities like Chorazin and Capernaum to
hell for not believing in the miracles he did for them.
Jesus also paints a picture of what heaven and hell are
like in his story of Lazarus and the rich man, with the rich
man in Hades looking for water while Lazarus rests in the arms of Abraham.
He also addresses the issue of hell in Matthew 25 as the place where those who
didn’t minister to the least of the world as Jesus. He describes it as a place
of eternal punishment.
In Matthew 22, in the parable of the wedding
supper, Jesus says that those without a wedding garment are cast into outer
darkness sand where people weep and gnash their teeth.
Ultimately, Jesus says in Matthew 10:28 that we should not fear those who can
kill our bodies, but fear he who can cast both body and soul into hell, a
sobering truth that should evoke reverent fear of the Triune God.
Hell is an uncomfortable subject. People
often say that a loving God couldn’t send people to hell, that the idea of hell
is inconsistent with love, mercy, and grace.
As Tim Keller says, hell is actually consistent with the ideas of love, mercy, and grace. Not only consistent, but necessary when those virtues of God are rejected.
In some ways, the fairest understanding of the afterlife
is the Christian one, which says God gives you what you want.
If you want to live with God forever, that’s heaven, and
you get it. If you want to be your own person, your own savior, your own lord,
that’s hell, and you get that – and you stay wanting it; you do not suddenly
change your mind. – Tim Keller
There is no doubt that God is love and that
he desires for us to know him, to walk with him and be in union with him.
Jesus, in his high priestly prayer in John 17, says that
eternal life is to know the one true God and Jesus himself who was sent by God.
There is verse after verse about the mercy of God
exhibited through the sending of Jesus to this earth to give sinners, the lost
– us, the chance to be saved.
And ultimately, that is what the preaching of
hell integrated into the preaching of the fullness of the gospel is intended to
do and why Osteen’s comments are so alarming.
The Scriptures not only paint a bigger picture of who God
is but remind us of what we are and why we so desperately need a Savior
and a Lord.
Heaven is a promise to those who have come into the
gospel of Jesus, who have loved Him, walked with Him and been obedient to His
commands.
Hell is the reminder that God is justified to send us
there if we have refused to repent, refusing the gracious gift of salvation
through faith in Christ.
As pastors and leaders in the church, we
cannot fail to include hell alongside other doctrines such as sanctification,
justification, repentance, and right relationship and intimacy with Jesus.
If we do so, we not only do a disservice to those that
God has entrusted to us, but to our own calling as well.
God has entrusted us with his word, gospel and people. We
must not shy away from preaching the full counsel of God, presenting people with the
fullness of who Jesus is in light of who and what we are and that without him,
the wages of our sin is death.
Are you struggling with a big decision or wondering how
your eternal future will play out?
Why not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work
in your behalf?
He says, “I will
instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my
eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask God to show you what to do. Pray the following
prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a
sinner and my sins have separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my
past sinful life and begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I
now receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I
believe and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose
from the dead.
I want to receive all
that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans
10:13).
I believe and confess
that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto
the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and
ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you
have given me eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank
You for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender my life to You.
I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
RELATED POSTS:
THIS WAS YOUR LIFE! .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It is up to you where you go when you die
Is There A Hell?
.
.
.
.
Carrie Kintz is a freelance
writer and communication strategist. She works with ministries and individuals
across the country, helping them figure out what to say and how to say it in
the digital space. Carrie has also spoken at conferences such as the Best of Social
Media Summit and That Church Conference. When she's not writing (or tweeting),
she enjoys hiking, time with friends and a good cup of coffee
http://www.churchleaders.com/daily-buzz/276763-joel-osteen-wont-preach-about-hell-but-he-should.html
No comments:
Post a Comment