Oohh... for those with weak stomachs - BEWARE!
I read an article on Joel Osteen and how his prosperity message is fairing in an economic downturn. Surprising really.
So, here is a brief excerpt, the part you may not want to read...
"... there is no denying that his message, and his marketing of that message, is getting out to the world while so many other pastors are preaching to empty pews. Osteen dismisses the notion that he has watered down the Scriptures to win over worshippers. “It’s who we are,” he says. “The accessibility of my message doesn’t bother me a bit. Look, we deal with people who are fighting cancer, fighting to save their marriages, dealing with the death of loved ones. I don’t think they need to be beaten down. And I think the success of the message in the marketplace is because we are optimistic, encouraging.” Phil Cooke, a longtime colleague and the author of Branding Faith, says, “Oprah has a brand, Nike has a brand, and Joel Osteen has a brand. Joel has made his brand the inspiration brand.”
Pardon me, but since when did we get to own the gospel of Jesus Christ and profit from our "brand?" "But didn't Paul call it his own gospel" you say. Let's see it in context:
Romans 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
2 Timothy 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
So, in both occurances of "my gospel" (the closest thing I can find to a "brand" of the gospel), Paul mentions preaching. This is significant because what it shows us is that Paul is describing what he personally preached - the good news (gospel). Never is it used in such a way as to be distinct from other (true) gospels (as if there were any other gospel, Gal 1).
Further, Paul was in fact one of the first to carry the gospel message to the non-Jews. Ephesians 3 talks about how the good news was entrusted by God to Paul to take to the Gentiles - a fairly novel idea at the time. So in a sense, he did have something unique, but unique in who he delivered it to, not in content.
Galatians 1:6 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— 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.
10 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 [2] of Christ.
Why do some "Christians" feel the need to follow another gospel? Maybe they've never heard the true gospel - that Jesus emptied himself of all of His glory as God to take on humble human flesh, that He died a horrible death on the Cross to be a substitute in our place because of the idolatry we do, and that He is going to fully restore all things in this creation to a glorious state.
Or, maybe they just don't like that Gospel.
Your thoughts? Any Rev. Feel Good fans want to chime in?
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3 comments:
Greg: Excellent post and good questions. However, I think you’ve hinged your argument on a faulty definition of “branding.” Here’s a couple of thoughts: First, in my quote I spoke of JOEL'S brand, not a brand of the gospel. Yes there is one gospel, but many messengers. A brand is simply the story that surrounds a person, product, or organization. In other words, “What do people think of when they think of you?” In that sense, Ravi Zacharias, John Piper, Billy Graham, Joel Osteen, Paul the Apostle, and you – all have a brand. I notice that in your list of favorite blog links, those men understand the power of marketing and branding and do an excellent job marketing their books and media resources. Ultimately, a brand is what other people say about you. As I said in the article, Joel’s brand is about inspiration, and regardless of what you may think of his theology, his life and ministry are about showing people how the gospel can inspire them to live a more triumphant life. In a media-driven world, there are a lot of competing voices, and my work in helping people understand their brand is about helping them cut through that media clutter and get their voice heard. It’s not about “compromising” the gospel, it’s actually about getting more people to hear the message. -- Phil
Phil - thanks for the visit and the clarifying follow-up!
I think I understand better now what you meant when you said "Osteen has a brand." There are certain things that come to mind whenever we think of how to describe someone's ministry, and what I now understand you to be saying is that the way you (and many others) label Osteen is "inspirational."
My next question then would be to see if Osteen's message of inspriration is really rooted in the gospel. Is Joel Osteen telling the world that all they need is Jesus, and He is enough? Is he encouraging people who are struggling to look to Jesus to be their sufficiency in the midst of the struggle and that if He never removes their thorn in the flesh (2Cor 12:8-9) He is still enough, and still worthy of their worship? Is Jesus the treasure to be sought at the cost of everything else, so that we would give up all things, we would be poor and sick if we could just have him? (Matthew 13:44-46).
The good news about Jesus is not that He died so that we could super size our life, store up treasure here, and get all we can. The message that will make an eternal difference in the lives of the hurting, hopeless, and desperate is that though we deserve Hell for how we have elevated things higher in our lives than Jesus, He took on a humble human body so that He could die in our place and provide us with righteousness through faith.
The gospel then transforms us as we are enabled to look upon the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus (2 Cor 3:18). This is the biblical pattern of tranformation by the gospel. It is only when our lives are impacted by the weight of the glory of Christ in the gospel that the hopeless have hope, the desperate see the light, and the hurting are made whole.
Would you say that is the same gospel message Osteen preaches and thus the message you support through your service at Lakewood? Are the listeners/viewers shown the glory of the poor and humble Christ, the majesty of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53), and the wonder of the coming King? Maybe only the bad days go up on YouTube - but the message I hear is quite different (e.g., Jesus died to get rid of our low self-esteem).
I think the big divergence in views of the 'gospel' comes not in the glory of Jesus - here we would probably use the same language - but in the 'blessings' gospel - God wants you to be happy, healthy, and have all your dreams come true.
I think that is NOT really the gospel. When the 'blessings' and 'good' become our greatest desire, and thus replace Jesus, they have become our idols.
The true gospel is that you will suffer - expect it, Jesus did - but He will not leave you or forsake you, His Spirit now endwells you offering hope and comfort and peace, and though you suffer now, it is only for a little while and eternity in His presence is right around the corner!
So, what are we seeking? Him or His 'blessings'?
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