There is another important lesson that Bunyan can teach us about this issue. In “Grace Abounding”, Bunyan credits God for protecting him from the questionable teachers of his day. If you have not fallen under Osteen’s spell,
thank God for mercifully protecting you. Christ alone is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption “…that, according as it is written, ‘He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord’” - I Corinthians 1:30 (WEB).

If he isn’t a true follower of Christ, I would love for the Holy Spirit to grant him faith and give him the new birth. If he truly is a Christian, then I would love to see personal revival — a work of the Spirit where he sees God’s holiness and his own sin and Christ’s person and work as if for the first time and he is changed by it.

I would love to see these types of changes because that would change who he is and what he teaches completely. At that point he would be studying the Scriptures in order to teach faithfully, he would be loving God and loving others and looking forward to seeing Jesus face-to-face while seeking holiness here in this life. His preaching would change drastically and his ‘ministry’ would become one seemingly for the first time. All of this would impact a HUGE number of people with the gospel. I would expect that number to drop significantly if that happened, but at that point Osteen wouldn’t care. Yes he wouldn’t be a perfect pastor, but he would be one that is being conformed into the image of Christ.

Something about Osteen brings out the “SQUEEEEE! KAWAII!” reaction in a lot of women.

http://lifehacker.com/340292/your-favorite-self-improvement-book

I would add that if Osteen does indeed want to continue as a self-help guru, then let him go and do that — but stop calling it “Christian” and stop calling it a “ministry,” because what he is doing is neither. Or let him go into (but never lead) an actual ministry that really does try to help others substantively; there are plenty of Christian ministries and charities that labor diligently, without fame or attention or a big operating budget.

Also, I’d suggest that Osteen start getting educated, as Michael said — both in terms of mentoring and, I think, in terms of theology, history, and all those other things that get steamrollered in the great drive for materialistic gain.

One more thing, since I’m evil. I’d make him go camping alone for a few weeks, away from all the trimmings and trappings of his empire, all that shiny stuff and public attention. Just him, a tent, some supplies, and his Bible — and the requirement that he actually read it. Cover to cover. More than once. Preferably in the Greek. (OK, I’m kidding about that last bit. Sort of.)

(And Dan, don’t get me started on Hinn! )

Pursue some spiritual formation from reliable mentors.

Exactly!

I really want to add “Stop visiting the dentist, just for a month or two” but that wouldn’t be constructive.

You know what I would love to see? Joel Osteen in his perfect suit with his perfect face, reading his book “Your Best Life Now” aloud to a room full of the downtrodden and homeless. That might make him think for just a moment about what he’s saying. I honestly think he’s not being malicious. He just doesn’t get it. He doesn’t need to be punished, he needs to see what he’s doing for what it really is.

Joel? I’m sure you’re reading, because everybody who’s anybody reads iMonk ;-), just stop for a minute, walk away from the flashy cars and the mansion, and spend a minute with God, who became flesh for us, who walked around for three years as a homeless man, who was spat at, bruised and battered for your sins, and hung on a cross, alone, to die. Then tell me that stuff you walked away from makes any difference to a person whatsoever. Our Best Life Now is solely comprised of loving that man who died on a cross and doing our best to be like him.

Go find out what it means to be a Christian from some people who are attempting to live like followers of Jesus.

Pursue some spiritual formation from reliable mentors.

What is it you wouild like to see Joel Osteen do or what would you like to see happen to Joel Osteen that would satisfy your sense of rightness and fairness?

What specifically would Joel Osteen have to do to make him okay in your sight?