Some people listen to authors, podcasters, and professors for insights about God. People with PhDs like me. Well, I don't have a Ph.D. I don't even have my Master's although I get encouraged to pursue one. I grew up lower middle class and I totally understand the appeal of Osteen because he a motivational speaker with a religious bent. He is not like your typical televangelist. He has a simple, feel good message that focuses on the material alone and does not go into the areas of human sinfulness, limitation or weakness, things that are antithetical to the American consciousness no matter what social strata you occupy. He's today's version of Norman Vincent Peale.
He is okay if require spiritual milk. For those of us who want a little more theological meat, we are going to find him a bit distasteful. The challenge is for those of us who want to go a bit deeper in the spiritual life not to become haughty with others who are content at the level of spiritual growth that they have attained.
I find this fascinating, and I’m certainly in the “Elite” by your definition. I too have sneered at Olsteen and his ilk. In fact, it’s the reason I got such a chuckle at your labeling of modern witchcraft as “Prosperity Gospel”. I know some other “Elites” who have flirted in that arena and I sent them that blog post.
So I’m going to have to spend some time thinking this through. My main pause about your criticism of the criticism is that ultimately Truth has to be honored. What is true and real matters. And it is true that many falsehoods have provided people with ways to cope with their lives. So how do you handle that? I know a lot of happy Mormons, a few Jehovah’s Witnesses and I’m sure there are many happy Wiccans, but as best as I can tell, it’s all built on falsities.
I’m thinking out loud at this point, but maybe the answer is to have churches that are built on what is true but to be sure that “true” includes the grace and hope that your Homeboy both needs and would find attractive. That’s the best answer I can come up with for now.
What did the Apostle Paul say about the power of the Gospel to be effective however it gets spread or by whoever spreads it?
Your homeboy felon has made me stop and re-think this too. The so-called Prosperity Gospel has got some bad theology around the edges, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, resurrected, and returning soon as King of Kings & Lord of Lords IS there at the heart of it!
I work with recovering alcoholics & addicts who, most of them, happen to be recovering Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, Catholics etc. They have real reasons to be suspicious of religious elites so my message to them, at times & to an elite, will sound prosperity like. @Majik, in her comment, hit the nail on the head. Jesus nor Paul beat people over the head with scripture even when fighting with the Pharisees. They always met people where they were spiritually while remaining 1 step ahead of them at least in their conversations. This is instructive to us & relates to the tour guide. That pastor delivered a part of the gospel that he could hear that also drew him out of where he was. That’s how I have to navigate conversations with the men & women I counsel. I don’t jump to the blood of the lamb talk, at least not immediately. Hurting people need comfort, the comfort of Jesus. Lost people need direction, direction only Jesus gives. Confused people need clarity, clarity only Jesus has.
I’ve written about this a lot & it’s worth saying again, the biggest hurdle, challenge & opportunity we have sharing the good news of Christ is learning how to better communicate the good news. Communication is 2 parts listening (2 ears) which means paying attention & truly hearing & understanding where people are. 1 part speaking (1 mouth) to where people are & like Jesus & Paul drawing others to the Best that is Jesus.
Is there more to the gospel than this person sees…yes. Is there more to the gospel than we see…yes & it may be inside what he sees that we have more to experience.
Living in Houston, Joel Osteen gets a bad reputation here because of his wealth. When Harvey hit, and areas around their church building were flooded, it was only after there was media attention on him and his church that they opened their building to help those whose homes had flooded. So I’m admittedly of the elite circle and don’t care for prosperity gospel, but with him personally it’s seeing how he interacts in his home town and how he does or does not show the gospel to those in physical need.
Some people listen to authors, podcasters, and professors for insights about God. People with PhDs like me. Well, I don't have a Ph.D. I don't even have my Master's although I get encouraged to pursue one. I grew up lower middle class and I totally understand the appeal of Osteen because he a motivational speaker with a religious bent. He is not like your typical televangelist. He has a simple, feel good message that focuses on the material alone and does not go into the areas of human sinfulness, limitation or weakness, things that are antithetical to the American consciousness no matter what social strata you occupy. He's today's version of Norman Vincent Peale.
He is okay if require spiritual milk. For those of us who want a little more theological meat, we are going to find him a bit distasteful. The challenge is for those of us who want to go a bit deeper in the spiritual life not to become haughty with others who are content at the level of spiritual growth that they have attained.
I find this fascinating, and I’m certainly in the “Elite” by your definition. I too have sneered at Olsteen and his ilk. In fact, it’s the reason I got such a chuckle at your labeling of modern witchcraft as “Prosperity Gospel”. I know some other “Elites” who have flirted in that arena and I sent them that blog post.
So I’m going to have to spend some time thinking this through. My main pause about your criticism of the criticism is that ultimately Truth has to be honored. What is true and real matters. And it is true that many falsehoods have provided people with ways to cope with their lives. So how do you handle that? I know a lot of happy Mormons, a few Jehovah’s Witnesses and I’m sure there are many happy Wiccans, but as best as I can tell, it’s all built on falsities.
I’m thinking out loud at this point, but maybe the answer is to have churches that are built on what is true but to be sure that “true” includes the grace and hope that your Homeboy both needs and would find attractive. That’s the best answer I can come up with for now.
What did the Apostle Paul say about the power of the Gospel to be effective however it gets spread or by whoever spreads it?
Your homeboy felon has made me stop and re-think this too. The so-called Prosperity Gospel has got some bad theology around the edges, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, resurrected, and returning soon as King of Kings & Lord of Lords IS there at the heart of it!
I work with recovering alcoholics & addicts who, most of them, happen to be recovering Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, Catholics etc. They have real reasons to be suspicious of religious elites so my message to them, at times & to an elite, will sound prosperity like. @Majik, in her comment, hit the nail on the head. Jesus nor Paul beat people over the head with scripture even when fighting with the Pharisees. They always met people where they were spiritually while remaining 1 step ahead of them at least in their conversations. This is instructive to us & relates to the tour guide. That pastor delivered a part of the gospel that he could hear that also drew him out of where he was. That’s how I have to navigate conversations with the men & women I counsel. I don’t jump to the blood of the lamb talk, at least not immediately. Hurting people need comfort, the comfort of Jesus. Lost people need direction, direction only Jesus gives. Confused people need clarity, clarity only Jesus has.
I’ve written about this a lot & it’s worth saying again, the biggest hurdle, challenge & opportunity we have sharing the good news of Christ is learning how to better communicate the good news. Communication is 2 parts listening (2 ears) which means paying attention & truly hearing & understanding where people are. 1 part speaking (1 mouth) to where people are & like Jesus & Paul drawing others to the Best that is Jesus.
Is there more to the gospel than this person sees…yes. Is there more to the gospel than we see…yes & it may be inside what he sees that we have more to experience.
I find this interesting and would like to hear Kate's thoughts. Have you communicated with her?
Living in Houston, Joel Osteen gets a bad reputation here because of his wealth. When Harvey hit, and areas around their church building were flooded, it was only after there was media attention on him and his church that they opened their building to help those whose homes had flooded. So I’m admittedly of the elite circle and don’t care for prosperity gospel, but with him personally it’s seeing how he interacts in his home town and how he does or does not show the gospel to those in physical need.