Let's Go Back to the Bible

Popular Brand of Christianity?

On November 28, 2010, The Miami Herald carried an article by Jaweed Kaleem entitled, “Famed televangelist Osteen’s ‘Night of Hope’ in Miami.”  The article (published in The Palm Beach Post on December 2) preceded Joel Osteen’s motivational message in Miami last Friday night (which attracted 13,000 “fans,” as they’re called).  Osteen is a popular televangelist, who preaches for a 43,000-member “church” in Houston and is watched by millions worldwide.  What was interesting about the article was the Staff Writer’s insight into the nature of Osteen’s preaching.

Kaleem wrote, “But wherever this mega-preacher goes…so do questions about his increasingly popular brand of Christianity.”  Stop and think about that—Osteen has a “brand of Christianity.” Are there really different brands? What is his brand?  The writer tells us.

Osteen’s “brand of Christianity” is understood and defined by his preaching. His “feel-good sermons”:

1. “seldom mention the Bible in detail,”

2. “are devoid of talk of sin,”

3. “are devoid of talk of…redemption,”

4. “are easily embraced by Christians and non-Christians,”

5. in a feel-good way say, “God is here…not to punish us.”

These are exact quotes from the article about his sermons, made by an “outsider” (Jaweed Kaleem) and not my interpretation.  Are these the kinds of sermons that God desires?  Is this the “brand of Christianity” Christ established?

Christ’s “brand of Christianity” is also understood and defined by its preaching. However, the sermons in Christ’s “brand of Christianity” look and sound nothing like the features given to Osteen’s sermons.  God-pleasing sermons:

1. “preach [all] the word” (2 Tim. 4:2; Acts 20:27).

2. “call…sinners to repentance” (Matt. 9:13).

3. stress “redemption that is in Christ” (Rom. 3:24).

4. “rebuke, exhort…convict” (2 Tim. 4:2; John 16:8).

5. declare God’s “goodness & severity” (Rom. 11:22).

Christ’s “brand of Christianity” is the ONLY brand! In fact, it is wholly inappropriate to even tie the word “brand” with Christianity!  Christianity is not “a brand”!  Further, there are NOT “brands of Christianity”!  There is ONE Christ (Eph. 4:5)!  There is ONE religion that He established—Christianity!  There is ONE way to please God!

Read Acts 4:12 very closely, with Joel Osteen’s style of “Christianity,” yea, all of denominationalism in mind.  “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Think very soberly about these words.  God has only ONE plan!