My best life now: Joel Osteen

Today I think I’ll come out of the closet, and admit that I have become a regular listener and, yes, a fan, of Joel Osteen, the smiling preacher and bestselling author from Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.

I haven’t read his books, and I don’t watch him on TV, but I listen to his sermons while I run - 7 or 8 of them over the past several weeks - and (here’s something I rarely say) my life is better because of it.

Joel Osteen courtesy of Joel Osteen MinistriesThis doesn’t mean that I endorse everything Joel says, or everything he ever has said, or what he is probably saying right now to make me regret this. Those who criticize Joel for preaching Christianity lite are partially right, though not as right as they think.

Here’s how I like to put it: No Christian should listen ONLY to Joel. But EVERY Christian would do well to listen to him some.

No Christian should listen only to Joel. He just doesn’t get into the Scriptures enough, and there are whole sections of the Bible I can’t imagine him ever preaching on.  (Sodom and Gomorrah:  When God Blesses You With a Chance to Relocate!)

But every Christian would do well to listen to him some. Joel just has a way of pushing you back up on your feet and refilling your faith tank. It isn’t just positive thinking that he’s teaching, but rather faith-filled thinking. You could call it positive thinking that grows out of your identity in Christ.

In the few messages I have heard, Joel has told us (Us? He has a way of talking to a hundred thousand people one at a time) how God can help us let insults roll off us, how to treat people more considerately, and how each of us is responsible to develop and use the talents God gave us without worrying about the talents he didn’t give us. It’s simple stuff, profoundly preached, and it inspires people to live better lives.

I need to learn from that. Even if I think I preach the Bible more completely than Joel, I want to learn from him how to hone in on inspiration and life-change. Otherwise, why preach?

PS - I also get regular doses of Rob Bell and Andy Stanley too.

January 30, 2008 · Filed Under Life, Posts that may get me fired :), The Church

Comments

4 Responses to “My best life now: Joel Osteen”

  1. sumgirl on January 31st, 2008 8:33 am

    the Bible says “man cannot live on joel alone” … well, not verbatim but you know what i mean. wisdom and inspiration can come in all forms and if we never try listening to someone new or different or someone we maybe never thought we would listen to then we may be missing something that may really spur us on in the faith-journey.
    good confession, dennis.

  2. Dennis Mullen on January 31st, 2008 2:55 pm

    “Man cannot live on Joel alone”…I wish I had said that!

  3. john on January 31st, 2008 9:25 pm

    This was a pretty sweet post D! I like how you speak out, to say that it’s ok to listen to other’s and learn something… Most people find 2-3 resources, and if you have a difference, well… You’re going to Hell! Everyone can teach some one some thing. :)

    Alright… Well, good talk

  4. Al Perry on February 1st, 2008 4:37 pm

    Dennis:
    This is Dewey Cheatum, representing Dr. David Eubanks, former president of Johnson Bible College. Because of the inflammatory nature of your post, I am hereby advising you that any further posting of this nature will seriously jeopardize your candidacy for the Council of Seventy. We may even have to revoke your degrees from this fine institution.

    If you have any questions, please contact me at my law firm:
    Dewey, Cheatum & Howe
    PO Box 666
    Seymour Heights, TN

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