Joel Osteen On Fox News Sunday

This morning I took a few minutes to watch a very interesting interview of Joel Osteen by Chris Wallace of Fox News Sunday.  Osteen typically appears on the more “softball” interview shows like Larry King.  I have been hearing more and more controversy about Osteen, but until this morning I probably was not really aware of the apparent shallowness of his message.

Full Transcript of Interview

Wallace did a fantastic interview, I would almost have to conclude that he  is a Christian based on the thorough probing Osteen received.  What struck me as a little more than odd were some of Osteen’s answers to what should have been simple questions.  First, Osteen admitted to having no formal training as a pastor.  He explained this by comparing himself to the disciples, none of which had a theology degree before being tapped by Jesus to join his ministry.  Fair enough, but in today’s world with Evangelical Bible schools in every city, is this a reasonable position to have?  Osteen said he had friends that went the “educational route” but that was not for him.  Perhaps Osteen is legimately self taught as a pastor’s son and did not need to formally study theology.  The problem; Osteen does not seem to have even the most basic understanding of the fundamentals of Christianity in his grasp.

Wallace asked him about Mitt Romney, and while on the topic went on to quiz him about the Mormon faith.  Wallace mentioned a few of the Mormon’s more unusual views, to which Osteen said with a smile, “I probably don't get hung up in them because I haven't really studied them or thought about them. And you know, I just try to let God be the judge of that. I mean, I don't know.”  The first year of training at virtually all Bible colleges includes a course on basic theology and comparative religions.  The course provides the student a foundation of the core beliefs of that particular college’s denomination and an overview of the world’s major religions.  I know, as I was required to take that class as a freshman at Central Bible College in 1983.  The point of the class was not to tear down other religions, but to simply point out the vast differences that exist. 

If you don’t know why Evangelical Christianity is different than any other religious view, how can you really hold yourself out as an Evangelical Christian pastor?  Osteen says he considers himself an encourager and not an evangelist, but how can anyone encourage the church without being able to provide their followers with a defense of their Christian faith? 

I agree with Osteen that it is not our place to judge the Mormons salvation, and I too could vote for Mitt Romney (and we endorsed him several weeks ago).  Still, I could point out several significant differences between the Mormon belief system and Evangelical Christianity.  The Mormon faith, shares some of our beliefs as Evangelicals, but also includes signicant biblical problems that a person who is the pastor of a church of 20,000 should absolutely be aware of.   Click on link to articles from The Christian Research Institute on Mormonism

It is one thing for Joel Osteen to claim to be self taught and not in need of theological training, it is quite another for him to be unable to explain the substantial differences between Evangelicals and Mormons.  While I will honestly say that Osteen is very likeable and I enjoy watching his TV show, I am joining the ranks of those becoming concerned about someone whose fame may be surpassing his legitimate credentials and spiritual maturity for his position.

While the notion that in order to vote for Mitt Romney we must embrace Mormonism is ridiculous, I don’t think Osteen had any excuse for his inability to address the basics of Mormonism.  I can’t imagine he could have been surprised that the topic came up based on it being Fox News Sunday, the primaries coming up, and Romney being a leading candidate.  This question would have certainly been at the top of my prep list if I were Osteen. 

Joel it is not too late to get that theology degree.  You can even take the courses online.  I think you have a great deal of talent, and some formal education would make you just that much better.

Agree or disagree, click on comments below.

My main website is www.ChristianMoney.com

James L. Paris

Comments

[Charmaine]

TO WES
If you are a bible reading and bible believing man sir, then you HAVE "entrusted your soul which is the most important thing we have to those that have no training". Sorry, but you've already done that. Remember: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses, all of the prophets. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul (trained as a Pharisee & had to abandon much of that training) and Jesus? (Who chose to evangelize despite lack of formal accreditation). This ticked the Pharisees off too. May I suggest that it is not the educational training but INSTEAD the Spiritual training led by the Holy Spirit that makes our vocation (spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ) different from the average man, who's without Spiritual guidance, i.e. the aforementioned doctor and lawyer. Maybe there are those that are called to take the route of formal training and maybe there are those that God just hand picks.

[chuck]

Jim, I think you're far too hung up on his not being up to speed on Mormons or other groups. I suspect he as been asked the question before, so if he did not want to answer to Chris, I suspect it's because he chose not to study up on this previously. I also would believe that he thinks his message and teachings would be appropriate for Mormons or any other Christian based faith. Having a degree would not further qualify him. There are billions of people on this world who do not have a degree to understand comparative upbringing methods yet they are qualified and entrusted to handle and babies (yea, parents). I think you being a bit too pretentious and I'll bet you do have a degree.

[L E Bissett]

To understand Joel Osteen requires revelation by the Holy Spirit of God. From my perspective, I believe Joel's goal is to love the Lord with all his heart and soul amd mind ,to love his neighbor as himself,and to be led and taught by the Holy Spirit, I also beleve John, Joel's father, was led and taught by Holy
Spirit to walk in love. Three things will abide with us: HOPE, FAITH, AND LOVE. The greatest of these is LOVE.

[Wes]

I understand and agree with almost all these comments. The one question however is would you go to a lawyer with no depth of legal training or a Doctor with not much formal education? So why then should we entrust our souls which are the most important thing we have to those that have no training in the care of them? I am 52 and I am convinced that we must choose carefully that we follow those who truly are educated in what eternity affords mankind.

Wes

[Gina]

It appears that whenever one person has a large following, others will pick the person apart to try to find something wrong with them so that they feel better about not following. I have found Joel Osteen to be uplifting and encouraging. I really don't care if he has a pastoral degree since I am not selling my home, taking uproot, and following him into the sunset. As with everything and everyone, just listen, take what is important or useful and keep doing what you need to do to have a healthy and loving life while you can. You don't need a degree to encourage people to do their best nor to talk about being faithful. He obviously already has good things to say with such a following. Let the individual do what they do best, judge for themselves who and what they will listen to and believe in. The way the commentary sounds, pretty soon the common person will need a degree just to comment!

[jen]

I really enjoy Joel, I think he speaks from the heart. He loves his God, and his family. He wishes everyone the best in the world. Many people have recieved Jesus into there heart because of this man. One is only aloud to do the best the can.

[Rafael]

Once again, Joel Osteen's utter failure to uphold Christian truth in an age of apostacy only further supports what is all too clear about his teaching: it is spiritually bankrupt.

Here is a link to articles our ministry has created on Osteen's heretical compromise that is anointed as "Christianity" today.

http://spiritwatch.org/behindsmile.htm