A few days later I saw this preacher on television again. Turns out he was broadcasting from right there in Baton Rouge. Wow. We had a bonafide telesuperstar right in our own backyard. Name was Jimmy Swaggart.
About two years later ol' Jimmy was arrested in the whole prostitute mess and he gave his infamous, very, very tearful, lip-quivering, "I have sinned..." sermon. Donations to his ministry took a substantial hit but with his "sincere" and "humble" request for forgiveness, his financial setback was only temporary. Until a couple of years later when he was arrested once again... for pretty much the same reasons. His ministry took a financial nosedive and it is a shell of its former megaministry. But there are still those who accepted both of his apologies... who still send him thier hard earned checks. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fast-forward 20 years. A couple of years ago I was doing what all good "All American Men" do... I was channel surfing on cable. I came across this young, energetic, good-looking, charming, charismatic, smiling, engaging, energizing guy. I listened for a few minutes and thought, "Oh, he must be a pop psychologist... basic Psychology 101 stuff... a lot of fluff 'n stuff... feel good, warm fuzzy guy. Hmmmm...", I thought further, "Now what was that song from the '70's? Something about "Smiling faces..." Well, here are the lyrics to that song... take a good look... (notice the name of the group that wrote and recorded the song...)
THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH - Smiling Faces
Smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend
Smiling faces show no traces of the evil that lurks within
Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes
They don't tell the truth Smiling faces, smiling faces
Tell lies and I got proof
The truth is in the eyes Cause the eyes don't lie, amen
Remember a smile is just A frown turned upside down
My friend let me tell you
Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes They don't tell the truth,
Smiling faces, smiling faces Tell lies and I got proof
Beware, beware of the handshake That hides the snake
I'm telling you beware
Beware of the pat on the back It just might hold you back
Jealousy (jealousy) Misery (misery) Envy
I tell you, you can't see behind smiling faces
Smiling faces sometimes they don't tell the truth
Smiling faces, smiling faces Tell lies and I got proof
Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes They don't tell the truth
Smiling faces, smiling faces Tell lies and I got proof
I'm telling you beware, beware of the handshake That hides the snake Listen to me now, beware
Beware of that pat on the back It just might hold you back
Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes They don't tell the truth
Smiling faces, smiling faces Tell lies and I got proof
Your enemy won't do you no harm
Cause you'll know where he's coming from
Don't let the handshake and the smile fool ya
Take my advice I'm only try' to school ya
So anyway, I'm watching this guy and startlingly he throws out the name of Jesus. Well that caught my attention so I decided to listen to his message a bit more intently. Then it dawned on me... another "prosperity gospel" preacher. The measure of God's favor that rests on you is shown in the material wealth you have to show for it. Ahhhhh... yes... if we are in God's favor, then we will have material possessions and wealth beyond our itsy bitsy imaginations. And if we don't have God's favor... well... everyone will know because we WON'T have all these material blessings. Poor Mother Teresa... she must not have had God's favor... and I guess St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Padre Pio, and, well you get the picture.
Folks, I DON'T subscribe to the fallacy of the "prosperity" Gospel. Do I think God wants to bless His children? Of course! Do I think we are supposed to measure our spiritual lives, our walk of faith, our relationship with Jesus Christ based on our material possessions? NO. NO. NO. A very simple reading and understanding of the New Testament shows that material possessions were not the focal point of Jesus' ministry. If you need specific references, let me know. Or, better yet, read the New Testament. All of it. Not just the tidbits that Osteen and his ilk throw out there to tickle the ears of honest people.
If you want a critical analysis of looking carefully, very carefully, at exactly what Osteen is saying, here is an excellent blog link to read: http://broadband.espn.go.com/ivp/splash2?id=3083220
The thing I am most concerned about is that Osteen adamently refuses to take a stand on any issue. That's so liberal. That's so politically correct. That's so un-Jesus like. Jesus was not afraid to take a stand on any and all issues. Everyone knew where Jesus stood on every issue. But if you read the interview that is cited in the blog above, you'll see Osteen even say about abortion that he "doesn't think that's best..." He is absolutely afraid to call abortion what it is: the choice by at least two people (patient and doctor at the very least) to take the life of an unborn human being.
In this excerpt of the infamous Larry King interview, count how many times Osteen's response is, "I don't know." http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/osteen/king.htm
If you missed Joel's interview with Larry King, you missed a spectacle. The smiling preacher did such a pathetic job of witnessing for Jesus Christ that the outrage from his own church-goers led him to issue a written apology on his own website! Here is a link to a transcript of the Larry King interview: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0506/20/lkl.01.html
Am I saying, "Don't read his book(s)!" or "Joel Osteen is not a Christian!" or something like that? Not really. I'm just saying in today's day and age, all of us need to be very careful in who we listen to, who we read, who we believe. The Bible warns us that the time will come when satan will speak the words that tickle our ears... that he will come as an angel of light... so I'm saying critique what Osteen says. Think in a critical manner about the words he uses, and notice what words (and names... like the Name above all Names) that he chooses so often to not use. Be informed.
Would I send my money to his ministry? Not a chance. Would I go to see him in person, even if he was right here in San Antonio? Um, nope. I prefer to ignore the "prosperity gospel" preachers, new age simplicity, politically correct "wisdom", etc.
I invite your thoughts. Pro, con, or somewhere inbetween.
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