General Theology
Joel Osteen and the Miracle of an Umbrella
by Matt Tootle
mir•a•cle (mĭr’ə-kəl)
n.
An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God.
While in a hotel recently, I was flipping television channels and landed on the preaching of Joel Osteen. His sermon topic was how to be a miracle in someone’s life. Osteen described how he often buys dinner for people he sees in restaurants, buys shoes for needy kids, and even stopped his car one day to offer his umbrella to some ladies walking in the rain. He described all these acts as being miracles in the recipients’ lives. You and I too can produce miracles in others’ lives, if we simply follow Osteen’s lead. I’d love to spend time discussing how this is a totally inappropriate use of the word “miracle”, but the punch line came later on.
Osteen explained if you want to “get on God’s good side” you will be a giver to others. Get on God’s good side? Is that all it takes? Why in the world did Jesus come to Earth and die the death He did if I can get on God’s good side by simply sharing my umbrella? This sounded so strangely opposite to what Tim preached a few weeks ago. There is nothing wrong with buying dinner for someone…unless I am doing it to get on God’s good side. Then it becomes disgusting. Oh how I wanted to rail on Osteen. I so badly wanted to send him an email listing all the ways his theology was so screwed up – until I remembered the things I do to make God like me. I found myself in a strange place. My blood was boiling over what I heard Osteen say, but I also knew that I still put on my costume and perform to gain God’s approval.
I think I was finally able to sleep when I realized that I truly do not believe I must, or even can, do anything to get on God’s good side. The only reason I am on His good side is because of His unfathomable grace…but I really am there, whether or not I share my umbrella. Yes, I sometimes forget this beautiful reality and try to convince God to accept me. But again, through His grace and mercy, I am reminded that He truly does like me.
Posted by Matt Tootle at June 3, 2007 11:07 PM
Great post and great observation, Matt. I’m sure ol’ Joel went on to tell everyone that when they “got on God’s good side,” they were in line to become as rich as he is, have a beautiful wife and perfect children like he does, get a promotion, never be ill, etc.
Something of a miracle does happen with me when I hear some of O’Steen’s (and others of that ilk’s) inanities. It seems almost supernatural that I am able to keep from going off the deep end!
Matt,
Great post. I’ll throw my revulsion in along with yours and Jimmy’s. Though at first it absolutely outrages me that O’Steen would say such a thing, after thinking about it (and cooling down a bit) I ultimately end up feeling sorrier for his congregants and listeners. What are they to think when they’ve been out there offering umbrellas and escorting little old ladies across the street like good little boys and girls, getting on God’s good side, and then get cancer? Or their parent dies? Or anything equally horrible?
If you view God as a vending machine - good works in, health and riches out - and then you’re suddenly not healthy or rich, the more human response (instead of questioning the premise your lousy Sensei taught you) is to assume you didn’t do enough good stuff, and you beat yourself up over it.
What a shame that so many buy into this.
Matt,
Ah, TBN, the train-wreck-of-a-channel that I can’t seem to not watch. Even though you shouldered some of Osteen’s theological thinking, I think there is a very big difference between your spiritual life and his: I think “cognizance of error” is far better than blissful ignorance.
It’s kinda like the Pharisee who stood praying, “Thank God I’m not like that tax collector over there.” And then the tax collector is standing there praying, “Have mercy on me, Oh God, a miserable sinner.” And then Jesus says the tax collector goes home justified.
I guess I’m saying you’re a saint— not because you are so great…but for the very reason you pointed out— grace alone.
Thanks, Matt…heckuva post.
Thanks, Matt. This was keenly insightful and equally convicting. A good reminder to keep “preaching the gospel” to myself every day.
LOL.. Joyce Meyers says most of the same things. In fact, my wife had a Joyce Meyers calender in her back office at work (she did not put it there), I was so mad at the theological misinformation that she was spewing that I wrote corrections on sticky notes and covered up her inspirational quotes. It just makes me angry.
Spot on! Things that were brought to mind:
We assume:
God has sides (good,bad,favorable, etc.)
We can manipulate those sides, or put ourselves in desirable positions
That God will accept our standards of morals, behavior, abstinence our whatever as His own for acceptance
Those are pretty major assumptions, in my opinion.
The kicker is at the end of your post. God, the creator of the universe, actually likes me, in spite of my fallenness. That’s still humbling and almost incomprehensible.
Matt, While reading your article, my “blood started to boil” as I read how you were somehow insulted by the fact the O’steen was talking about trying to be nice to people and do kind acts. Yes, I do agree that we are on God’s good side because his son died on the cross for us and gave us the ultimate sacrifice. However, I’m sure you’ve read Paul’s writings and in them he states more than a few times to lead a life worthy of what Christ did for us. Isn’t that what we do when we help others. Yes, we need to pray, read the Bible, and stay right with God, but also being an example for Christ certainly is a great thing. I think you took “get on God’s good side to literally”. I think we all need to practice a little more acceptance and the world would be a better place. Didn’t Christ do that? God Bless You.
Tony,
I think you missed the whole point, partner. Matt is insistent that our belief in Chirst’s work comes with NO trust in our own actions for justification with God. It is imperative that we continue to make this point AND point out error wherever it crops up. This is simply “practical theology.” If we ever think that we can sway, persuade, convince, or manipulate God, then we sure don’t have a God that we can properly worship. It is precisely this lazy thinking that has led to an entire evangelical nation that falls prey to false thought. The Gospel, in essence, tells me that there is NOTHING I do to gain God’s approval, and BECAUSE of this, the believing heart will naturally, (or supernaturally) begin to do all the “nice” things that you say will be lost. Check out the historical and orthodox church— there is a rich stream of men and women who have confessed their utmost depravity, and, in turn, have also confessed there utmost need for a Savior— SANS any good work presented from within themnselves. Take care, Tony….Tim