by Jeremy Stewart

Created on: June 22, 2009   Last Updated: June 26, 2009

In order to answer this question, we must answer what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is and then answer what Joel Osteen is spreading. There is a difference of opinion as to what the Gospel really is, so I will give you what I understand it to be. I received a degree in Biblical Studies, so I believe that I have a more precise understanding since I have devoted years of study into the Bible. Also, if you were to poll Americans today, most would not know what the Gospel is or what it means.

I read a recent report from the Barna Research Group that detailed some of the trends of religous belief in the United States. The report asked numerous questions but split those who were questioned into two groups. One group was labeled as "liberal" Christians and the other one as "conservative" Christians. In this report, only 33% of "liberal" Christians believed that Jesus did not commit sins. On the "conservative" Christian side, 55% believed that Jesus did not commit sins. The same poll revealed that 77% of the "liberals" believed that a person could earn their salvation while 63% of the "conservatives" believed the same.

You are probably wondering what these statistics have to do with Joel Osteen. The problem that is presented by these statistics is that it reveals that the majority ignore what the Bible teaches. Jesus, declared himself to be one with God in John 10:31. This is a great problem for those that claim that Jesus sinned. How can God sin? God is perfect. Next we have the problem that a majority of Christians believe that they can earn their way to heaven. This is impossible. As throughout the Bible, faith is the means by which men and women are saved. In the book of Romans verse 17, the apostle Paul tells us, "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." The apostle Peter tells us in his first book that Jesus was without sin.

What all does this mean? If we take a look at the whole Bible we will find a theme of God being just and righteous, requiring discipline and judgment for sin. Since all men have sinned except for Jesus, who was both God and man according to the Bible, there must be a penalty paid for the sin of all men. Since Jesus was the only one able to bear the penalty of sin for all men and women, he was sent here by God the Father, to save those who would believe in him. This belief did not guarantee them a life of luxury on earth. Jesus told his disciples that they would face persecution and go through trials and tribulations. He told them in the book of Matthew that if they were to follow him, they must deny themselves and take up their cross. This is a hard teaching for us to understand today. The cross represented a horrible death with suffering and persecution until the person died.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is in essence the story of Jesus Christ fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies by being born of a virgin, living as a man, dying for the sin of all mankind, and being raised from the dead. The message that Jesus preached was that we will not all have lives free of suffering and persecution. What Joel Osteen preaches is that we can "Have our best life now". The greatest problem with this preaching is that it does not represent the truth of the Gospel. I have watched a few of Joel's messages and he never teaches about this fundamental concept. He is constantly teaching that God loves all people and just wants the best for us here on earth. That is not what Jesus taught, nor his disciples. Most of the disciples were murdered for their beliefs and teachings. Would they have been murdered for the teachings that Joel has?

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