He Who Has Ears To Hear

Amid this whole controversy surrounding Joel Osteen today, I find one thing quite interesting. That even with all the evidence, accusations, and NUMEROUS voices calling him out from believers and unbelievers alike, there are still many of those who still choose to defend him and believe in him.


I will not spend too much time elaborating on the so-called evangelist, his ministry, or the kind of gospel he preaches. Those who know me well already know where I stand regarding him and his ilk. My convictions regarding this matter will not waver. Rather, today I turn my attention to the people who have been dealt the Truth yet refuse to pay heed.


THE BIG QUESTION
What I really want to know is: WHY? Why is it that there are people who remain stubborn and see only one side of the story? Is it out of choice or is it pure ignorance? Somehow, I'd really like to believe that there are those who are just completely oblivious to the fact that the gospel preached in Lakewood church is far from the Gospel that the Bible teaches. If there are any such people, my heart is broken for you and I would like to reach out with compassion.

But as I scroll through the internet, my heart breaks in another way. I've seen countless articles and blog posts being shared calling out the Christians who DO see right through the pomp and whimsy, perhaps they've seen it all along, yet are being labelled as unforgiving, judgmental, ungracious and bigots. Just a few days ago, one of my own friends shared an article from a popular Christian website which totally left me confused more than convicted.

In the article, the writer attempted to rebuke Christians for digging into "outrage culture" claiming that Osteen has been merely a victim of "toxic, vicious, and fact-less" assaults. It could have been a thought-provoking read, but I was too bothered by the numerous "theological preferences aside" statements.

Again, why did the writer feel the need to do that? Why did he feel the need to constantly state "I don't care what your theological preferences are" and err on the side of human decency? Did he think that angle would serve as a more compelling entry? It doesn't make sense. Does he realize that human decency and social justice is NOT what being a Christian is entirely about?  In fact, I wonder if any of the people (Christians) defending Osteen's actions these past couple of days realize that the heart of the issue here is Osteen's issue of the heart?


ONE TIME OFFENSE?
To be honest, I've already seen this same kind of attitude from different people in different ways. There are Christians who listen and are quick to affirm a number of Reformed preachers and yet in the same breath denounce Reformed Theology, saying that "doctrine divides" or "theology makes things complicated, so I only believe in Jesus." Again being faced with the facts but denying it for themselves.

See, if Christianity were merely based on the things we do: how kind we are to one another, if we help the poor and needy - then practically anyone can become a Christian right? Even unbelievers know how to do such things. The Lord himself acknowledges that sinners are capable in giving good gifts. (Luke 11) But that's not all there is to it. Scripture makes it clear that we cannot earn our salvation, and no amount of good works enables us to truly call ourselves Christians.

Christianity not just believing what you want to believe about God. In the first place, we wouldn't even have ever had the ability to do so if the Lord didn't bring us to it first. Becoming a believer is first and foremost about being reconciled to God, believing in Him as Saviour, and following Him as Lord. Christianity is totally based on a theology - a belief in God - before it is anything else. The question here is whether you believe in the right One or not. Everything we do and say flows from that belief. It's only natural that an unbelieving world will criticize your faith for your actions, since it's the only thing they can see and comprehend. But when they're calling you out because your actions don't line up with your profession of faith, that's quite telling of what you actually believe in.


This is why the article I read this week doesn't sit well with me. One cannot simply write a piece in defense of a person who promotes falsehood and call this instance a one-time offense. This is not a one-time offense, but the culmination of all the bad theology this person has taught and believed in his lifetime. This is the result of sin. The same kind of sin that prevents us from believing the Truth, even when it's staring at us right in the face. This is why they will not hear even if you tell them to.


Now I understand why Jesus was always saying "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

SOME RESOLUTIONS
If there's anything I learned in light of recent events, it's that compassion for a person such as Osteen, or any of our other Christian friends who might subscribe to this kind of teaching does not often require a soft-spoken word, or a tolerant attitude. Would it be gracious to remain silent when you know a friend is driving head-long down a cliff? It would be more loving for us to tell them the Truth, for God's wrath is being stored up for such people (Romans 2:5) and there is no time but today to warn them of the impending danger. We may be perplexed at how such people are able to turn a blind eye to the Truth even when they've already been presented with all the facts. But let us not be crushed by these things. They are not our enemy, they are our mission field.

While I may be the type who would not hesitate to count Joel and his kind as a false teacher, I still try to be one that is not without hope. Who knows, perhaps this current endeavor is the Lord's way of putting the man through His Refiner's Fire? The fire that purifies gold is the same one that will melt butter. And as Paul Washer exclaims:

"Do not comfort the soul that GOD is breaking!"

May this be a lesson to us all. To be vigilant and to let the RIGHT theology inform our actions. I'm not too worried at how the current events have given "Christians a bad rep." We never had a good rep with the world to begin with. There will always be something to criticize, even as we remain lights in this dark world. What I am most concerned about is how there are believers who claim to know God, or at the very least know about Him, yet live lives that are a far cry from what God requires of them. Such is the deception of the prosperity gospel. So let these so-called Christians endure the backlash and pray that their eyes will be opened.