Now I have not heard Osteen say anything much about the Person or work of Christ.

There is your answer.

What I have heard him say is that if you are not a believer in Christ, then you can pray to the Lord, admit that you are a sinner, and ask Him to come into your heart.

Yes, and it’s usually tied to the end of a sermon in a way that makes it into the key to gaining God’s favour into your life. So – we are back to manipulating God in order to get what we really want.

I used to believe that. I rejected Halloween, and Christmas for the same reason. Pagan holidays. I also had a big problem with birthdays, because the only examples in the Bible were negative (i.e. Herod’s beheading John the Baptist).

So let’s condemn Osteen. And then let’s condemn Halloween. And then let’s condemn all those backslidden Christians who celebrate Halloween, and all those who celebrate alternatives to Halloween. And all those who allow their kids to get something from the Tooth Fairy. And all those who read the Chronicles of Narnia or Harry Potter. And all those Christian women who actually celebrate Mother’s Day. Let’s stifle Christian freedom every way we can, in the name of purity and the ole time religion. Why, the Christian church will just grow and grow, as we express the virtues of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit!

It’s no wonder people flock to Osteen. It really doesn’t surprise me at all. At least he isn’t listing every holiday they can no longer enjoy.

As to your question, what differentiates Christianity from any other religion, I would say it is Christ Himself, God manifested in the flesh, the Son of God going through death and resurrection and now reigning in ascension. That is, the truth, versus all human counterfeits.

Now I have not heard Osteen say anything much about the Person or work of Christ. What I have heard him say is that if you are not a believer in Christ, then you can pray to the Lord, admit that you are a sinner, and ask Him to come into your heart (or something similar). To me, that’s not a small thing. Does it make his ministry something that deserves our stamp of approval? Not really. But does that make the accusation “false teacher” a little bit overwrought? In my opinion, yes.

When you’ve answered that, answer this: How does the teaching of Osteen and others guard against idolatry? How does it guard against valuing God for what he gives you rather, rather than for himself?

Listening to Osteen brings to mind Richard Neibuhr:

“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross.”

Without the work of Christ on our behalf, Christianity has nothing to offer.

I have a big problem with churches who offer ‘alternative’ Halloween parties. Calling it a ‘Harvest Party’ while kids wear costumes, get candy and in general celebrate a pagan holiday. If it walks like a duck . . .

On Driscoll’s web site was a justification for Christians to participate in Halloween. Taking their kids door to door or to a party. Basically, he said this:
Halloween is not illegal
Candy tastes good
It doesn’t affect your faith

Maybe, just maybe . . . it’s time for some ‘Old Tyme Religion’. A little fire and brimstone and the consequences of sin. Oops, not politically correct.

to keep the strippers away??

Everyone needs a pastor.

Some people need a psychiatrist.

Psychiatrists and pastors can work together. Should work together.

Joel Osteen is neither a psychiatrist nor a pastor.

If you need a pastor and a psychiatrist, find one of each.

If you need to be drawn away from the spiritual and emotional work you need to do, follow prosperity theology.

-a Christian psychiatrist.