From Billy Graham to Joel Osteen

For decades America’s spiritual leader was Billy Graham.

Here was a man who studied the Word of God daily, who led by example and didn’t bypass certain biblical verses if they didn’t suit his agenda. Here was a man who knew God, who lived and loved the message of the Cross. Here was a man who preached the Gospel to more people than any other person in history—to the salvation of countless souls.

We were blessed to have been led by such an inspirational bible-believing teacher.

Unfortunately due to advancing age (almost 97 year old today!) and declining health, the Reverend Billy Graham stepped down a few years ago. Today if America can be said to have a spiritual leader, the media would no doubt designate Joel Osteen as such, or any of a dozen other preachers of his genie-in-a-bottle god.

We are not blessed in this.

‘We know we have come to know God, when we obey His commands. The man who says “I know Him” but doesn’t do what He commands is a liar. But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. Whoever claims to live in Him, must walk as Jesus did’ 1 John 2:3-6. Love is expressed in obedience to God’s word—to His entire word.

While Osteen has risen as a celebrity preacher, America has declined from a God-Blessed country to a Godless nation. This is not a coincidence. Where Billy Graham shared the Gospel in a simple clear manner, emphasizing the potency of and need for Christ, Joel Osteen shares his personal philosophy, one that equates more with new-age self help attitudes than with biblical righteousness. He does not walk as Jesus walked.

To be clear, Joel Osteen does not preach from the bible, he merely uses some of its less offensive passages to convey a general sense of morality. His use of scripture is manipulative. Sprinkling in the occasional inspirational verse, Osteen very cleverly avoids the more touchy or provocative parts, like the crucifixion, repentance, sin, and the one narrow path to heaven—which is Jesus Christ!—to emphasize a prosperity gospel that is not scriptural.

Billy Graham’s famous Crusades culminated in calls of repentance to affect changed lives and saved souls. Joel Osteen’s Night of Hope event culminated in praise for his inspirational words.

Let that sink in for a second.

Billy Graham taught that without the Cross there is no salvation, and that the Cross is offensive—because it is the condemnation of the world. Woo boy. People don’t want to hear things like that today. That’s why instead:

Joel Osteen chooses to teach that you are not a complete believer until you are financially set, until you have that second luxury car you want, until you are out of debt and better than your ‘less than the best’ neighbor.

Billy Graham said: You’re a sinner. You’d better repent. (Hard truth trumps cozy-but-false teachings.)

Joel Osteen says: You’re destined for great things in this world. Don’t settle for mediocrity.

Billy Graham taught: God is good.

Joel Osteen teaches: You are good, maybe even a little god.

It’s easy to see why so many people fall for the prosperity teaching and feel-good sermons of Joel Osteen. But 2 Peter warns us against his slimy me-first theology: ‘Beware false prophets . . . Many will follow their unrestrained ways, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words.’

If you want to be a dupe for Osteen, that’s your choice. If not, read on.

Whenever Osteen mentions God in his sermons, it is to explain how God will bless you if only you will believe that you are worthy of every blessing.

But that doesn’t jibe with scripture. Usually when the bible uses the term ‘prosperity’ it is referring to spiritual well-being or sufficient fiscal care, not temporal wealth. Psalms 143:2 says ‘No one alive is righteous in Your sight.’ Romans 3:9-10 says ‘All are under sin . . . There is no one righteous, not even one.’ Christ Himself spoke against the love of money: ‘You cannot serve both God and money’ Luke 16:13. See also, 1 Timothy 6:9-11, a real eye-opener against Osteen.

We need God—not to improve our social standing or to get ‘liked’ on Facebook or to grow our bank accounts. No, we need God to save us from our sinful nature so we might glorify HIM and be redeemed by His grace to spend eternity in heaven. (All of which is impossible without repentance and the death on the Cross. But don’t ask Osteen about the Cross. I’m pretty sure he skipped over that part in the bible.)

‘Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal’ (there goes your luxury car). ‘But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also’ Matthew 6:19-21.

‘Your Best Life Now’? I’d rather enjoy blessings in heaven forever than riches here on earth for a few years.

Don’t be like the other sheep, following any false shepherd (Jeremiah 50:6) who’ll tell them what they want to hear. Don't eat up any piece of crap these false shepherds happen to lay before you.

God gave us brains, people. Let’s use them.

Good night and God bless.