Written by Jerry Robinson
Originally Posted on 3/28/2005
Surprisingly, while the overall level of church attendance has decreased in recent years, the emergence of the mega-church is raising serious doubts concerning Christian leadership in the United States. This past Sunday, October 14, 60 Minutes conducted an interview with Joel Osteen. Osteen is the head Pastor of the nation’s largest congregation, Lakewood Church, in Houston, Texas.
When Osteen was questioned about the lack of reference to God and Jesus Christ regarding his feel-good, self-help emphasis in his ministry he gave a frightening response. He told the interviewer, “…there’s a lot of people better qualified to say here’s a book that’s going to explain the scriptures to you. I don’t think that’s my gifting.”
This should be appalling to most of you but unfortunately it is not. The church is adopting a worldly theology of self exultation and its membership is buying into it with raised arms and happy faces. In this same segment of the show Reverend Michael Horton, Professor of Theology at Westminster Seminary California, refers to Osteen’s ministry by saying, “It is heresy, I believe, to say that God is our resource for getting our best life now…because it makes religion about us instead of about God.”
So if the pastor of the biggest American church is engaging in heretical teaching what is the contrast? What example do believers have of sound Christian leadership?
The Early Church Fathers
Consider the early church fathers. These men were more than admirable during the Apostolic Age. In this Pre-Nicene time frame our leaders abandoned their lives, had all things in common and marched forward with the Light of Truth, most of them towards certain death.
Moreover these men were fashioned in excellence. They reasoned from scripture, conducted themselves wisely and led the Body of Christ not just in word, but through the example of their deeds as well. Men of God study scripture to show themselves approved, always having in readiness to answer those who ask them about the hope that is in them. They do not pass the buck and claim that having a scriptural explanation for their ministry is not their gifting.
A single glance across the periphery of Christianity in America shows that the level of leadership exemplified by our fathers has been relegated to a remnant.
This Current Generation
Instead, this is a generation of forgetful hearers. The prophetically foreknown masses who would no longer endure sound doctrine, but after their own lust they shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. (2 Timothy 4:3 KJV) Rather than pour out our lives to the Great Commission we have become the Great Complimentarians having loved the praises of men more than the praises of God. There truly is fame and money in espousing a watered down, or false gospel, in these latter days.
Now, having abandoned the sound doctrine established by our early church fathers this generation has fallen into the degradation of hardened hearts and seared consciences because of its friendship with the world which the Bible claims is enmity with God. (James 4:4)
However, our brethren are not yet dead. They are, of a truth, fatally unaware. A majority of believers in this country, and the leadership they represent, have shifted their attention from the sound doctrine found in God’s Word and are presently in the throes of spiritual amnesia.
The Cross is the Answer
It is important to remember that the Word of Life has not changed in its two thousand year reign of revolutionizing mankind. This mind should be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, "Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:6-8 KJV)
Body of Christ, listen to this message! Mr. Osteen, church leaders in America, wake up to the example of our Savior and lead by this example. Here is the truth:
Being a follower of Jesus Christ has never been about having reputation, personal happiness or worldly success. We are called to have His same mind and example. To make ourselves of no reputation, become a servant and in humble obedience, take up our cross and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Zechariah 3:7 says, "Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house and shalt keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by."
From leadership to laity the call of Ephesians 1:18 needs to liven your memory brothers, "that the eyes of your understanding (would be) enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance (is) in the saints."
The truth is plainly evident. How long will the church lay in the doldrums of willful ignorance of the straight and narrow path that God has called us to. Mr. Osteen is a brother, but he is in deception. It is his gift to be the head of the largest “Christian” church in America and it is his responsibility to represent Christ well. Passing on teaching doctrine from the Word of God and refusing to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the only name by which man can be saved, as he has previously done on Larry King Live, is false teaching and it is wrong.
When will this cry, coming from the wilderness to sanctify our hearts in obedience to the fullness of God, once again become a light upon our hill America? Be assured, this Gospel message will go forward, and this generation will give an account to God for the opportunity we have squandered.
Jerry Robinson is the founder of Jerry Robinson Ministries, a ministry devoted to taking the Gospel of Jesus' First Coming to the unbeliever, and the Good News of Jesus' Second Coming to the Global church. He is an ordained minister, writer, and speaker and holds university degrees in International Economics and Religious Studies. Additionally, Jerry operates jerryrobinson.org, an internationally known website that archives and analyzes global events through the lens of biblical prophecy.