THE LEAVEN of LAKEWOOD Promises out Loud
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VOL. 24, NO. 4 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2004 EDITOR: KEITH A. MORSE Joel Osteen’s Appealing But Aberrant Message by Robert S. Liichow Many would look at Houston’s with G. Richard Fisher Baptist boat and walked out to Lakewood Church, with its 30,000 do what Jesus was doing. Others people attending services each Sun- have stayed in the boat where it day in a 16,000-seat arena that once is safe. They are not in danger of was the home of the Houston Rockets sinking, but they are not out basketball team, as the epitome of where the miracles are. Oh, for church success. But that success was men and women who will risk achieved at a cost to sound doctrine all for Jesus. Oh, for people who and spiritual integrity. will rise up and walk out, trust- ing only in the power of Jesus!’’2 Lakewood, a Charismatic, Word Faith powerhouse in the 21st century, Osteen eventually became associ- was founded by the late John Osteen, ated with the Word Faith movement. who started his pastoral career as a ‘‘A Tribute to Pastor John Osteen,’’ Southern Baptist. After receiving ‘‘the found on the church’s web site, offers baptism in the Holy Ghost in 1958,’’1 further details of the church’s genesis, he became enamored with the Charis- mission, and history: matic renewal movement. In 1959, he ‘‘John Osteen began Lakewood left the Southern Baptist Convention Church in a dusty, abandoned and described his exodus in these feed store on Mother’s Day 1959. terms: ... John Osteen was driven by an ‘‘One day I was sailing through how it thrilled me! I cried, ‘Jesus, amazing love for people of all life in my little Baptist boat. I I want to do what I see You ages, races, nationalities and began to study the Bible in my doing.’ He said, ‘Come!’ Thank walks of life. ... The late John search for deeper things. As I God, I marched out of my little (continues on page 14) read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, I saw the Son of the Living Inside this Issue: God. He was healing the sick. He Remember the Puzzle .................................................... Page 2 was casting out demons. He was setting the captives free. He was The Cultic Root System of King James Onlyism ........... Page 4 bringing men to God through the The Not So Guiding Light of Jack T. Chick ............... Page 5 power of the Holy Spirit. Oh, THE LEAVEN OF LAKEWOOD promises out loud. Say them to kidneys were not properly clear- (continued from page 1) yourself! Say them to the devil! ing the toxins out of his body as Say them to the sickness! Say they are designed to do. He had Osteen served the Lord Jesus them to your mountain of a heart catheterization in August Christ as pastor, evangelist, au- trouble! Confess them in the face that determined all was well thor, and teacher for sixty years. of all contrary evidence! Say with his heart at that time. Ordained as a Southern Baptist, them while the pain is there!! Say Nearly three weeks ago, doctors he received the baptism in the them while you are so sick you performed surgery to put in a Holy Ghost in 1958, an experi- can hardly think!! God is smiling pacemaker for his heart as the ence which revolutionized his down on you. He delights for upper and lower chambers were ministry into a worldwide out- you to ‘put Him in remembrance’ not in synch, and his heart rate reach for Jesus Christ.’’3 of His Word. The Lord will was low.’’8 surely make His promises come Apparently, John Osteen could not In a time of racial division, John true in your life. When we SAY tell his body how to feel. However, Osteen opened wide the doors of his and CONFESS His Word, He as the truth was being revealed, the church to all people, and all shades brings the miracle to pass!!’’5 and classes of people came. Although situation grew worse: John Osteen rejected Southern Baptist A few pages later in the same ‘‘The past two weeks or so Pastor theology — he received a Master’s publication, he wrote: Osteen has experienced excruci- degree from Northern Baptist Semi- ‘‘In your heart of hearts, picture ating pain in his chest. Doctors nary — he never lost sight of the need yourself completely delivered said it could be caused by the for foreign missions and his congrega- from sickness, suffering and all dialysis, or possibly a degener- tion still supports a great deal of trouble. YOU ARE!!! Now, take ated disc in his neck, but that mission work. At the time of his God’s promises without fear and they had to do more extensive death in 1999, Lakewood Church boldly confess them day and tests this week to determine the claimed 6,000 members.4 night. When people ask you how cause of the chest pain.’’9 Those who may have had the op- you feel, don’t tell them. TELL The complications mounted: portunity to survey the ministry and THEM WHAT GOD SAYS legacy of the late Osteen probably ABOUT YOUR CASE!!! TELL ‘‘Now doctors believe that will agree that he appeared to have a THEM ABOUT THE PROMISES smaller arteries feeding into the genuine pastor’s heart and a desire to OF GOD!!! TELL THEM YOU larger arteries of the heart are see people come to a saving faith in DON’T GO BY FEELING BUT blocked and constricted. A new Jesus Christ. Perhaps it was his legiti- BY WHAT GOD SAYS!!!’’6 procedure will be available in mate seminary education that helped SAD CONSEQUENCES mid-February to do balloon sur- gery on the smaller arteries, keep Osteen from espousing some of OF BAD THEOLOGY the more heretical doctrines common which they feel he may be a among Word Faith teachers today. It’s impossible to know if the late candidate for. Yesterday Pastor Osteen was deceived by, or know- Osteen had a nuclear test done BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN ingly forged the ‘‘health and wealth’’ on his heart, and the test results We should never fall under the message. In any case, he was no showed his heart was greatly 10 illusion regarding the Word Faith poster boy for his message. Charisma weakened.’’ ‘‘leaven’’ that he propagated, and magazine reported, ‘‘In January 1999 Clearly, John Osteen was dying. which is being magnified through his John Osteen wound up in the hospital Perhaps God was giving him time to with kidney trouble.’’7 He could not son Joel, who assumed pastoral re- repent and renounce his false positive speak himself well, but resorted to sponsibilities at Lakewood upon his confession error, but he did not relent. medical help. father’s death. The elder Osteen was a He continued to give himself and leading crusader for the erroneous But it was more than kidney others false hope: doctrine of positive confession: the trouble. On Jan. 18, 1999, Lakewood ‘‘Pastor Osteen asks that you idea that we can speak our desires Church began a frantic attempt to ‘wait’ on the Lord with him, and into existence. This is also known as ‘‘confess’’ John Osteen well. The agree with him for a creative the ‘‘health and wealth gospel.’’ This church sent, via e-mail, what it called miracle for the kidneys and the metaphysical belief deludes many, a ‘‘RED ALERT PRAYER REQUEST.’’ functions of the heart to be nor- convincing them that they can either The e-mailed prayer request revealed mal. He is believing God for new create or change their reality by the the grave nature (which had a hereto- kidneys, a new heart and circula- power of their words. For example, fore unrevealed history) and the ter- tory system, and that he will John stated the following: minal condition of John Osteen: have an appetite for food. He ‘‘The miracle is in YOUR ‘‘Pastor Osteen began kidney di- also needs strength in his body. MOUTH. Dare to speak those alysis last Fall 1998 because his Pastor Osteen’s faith is strong. 14 · The Quarterly Journal October-December 2004 His confession is strong. He is TIVE THINGS. You may say, perpetuates them by his silence and not asking for prayer out of ‘How long do I have to confess the sale of his father’s books. desperation. He is a man of it?’ All of your life.’’14 faith.’’11 THE MASTER Additionally, John Osteen is on OF MARKETEERING Even more tragic was John Osteen’s record as fully endorsing the errant failure as a prophet. The e-mail went Word Faith concepts surrounding fi- Joel Osteen had no biblical training on to state what were said to be nancial prosperity: or experience to be a pastor, which divine promises for John Osteen and seems to be more the rule than the his staff, which would go unfulfilled: ‘‘I look at the great truths of exception within the Charismatic Almighty God and with the sixth camp. Its pulpits are filled with men ‘‘He knows God has promised sense in my spirit-man, I believe and women who ‘‘feel called’’ to the him that he will be preaching and I have a consciousness that pastorate. They attempt to build con- into his early 90’s, and he is only they are mine. I see and believe gregations on the ‘‘strength’’ of their 77 now. God gave him a vision salvation is mine. Healing is calling. Some Charismatic leaders for ‘Seven Years of Harvest’, and mine.