April 6, 2006

OPEN LETTER TO JOEL OSTEEN

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4/3/06

Dear Joel,

Please take this as being from a concerned brother in Christ.

I saw you on The View and was grateful that the Lord had given you a forum to reach so many souls at one time who might not have seen your broadcast and to influence some of the Hollywood elite. I was however, somewhat disappointed that you compromised again on whether or not Jesus was the only way to salvation. You certainly nullified the previous apology on your website after the Larry King interview. Because of your obvious love for Jews and other non-believers, it is imperative that you tell them the truth about salvation. If the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for battle? (1 Cor. 14:8). Take Christ for example:

Jesus said to the Rabbi, Nicodemas, "He that believeth not is condemned already..." (Jn. 3:18) and "You must be born again."(Jn. 3:3). He didn’t worry about offending him or being judgmental. What was the result? Nicodemas became a believer! (Jn. 7:50; 19:39) If we don't warn the wicked that God places in our sphere of influence, then we will be responsible for their damnation. (Ezek. 33:8) Think about it Joel, on the Day of Judgment, how will you feel when Larry King and Barbara Walters accuse you of withholding the warning that might have saved their souls? You think they won't be offended then? And what about the millions who misunderstood the gospel and were damned for eternity because of your mixed message?

You say you don't want to judge. You say you don't want to offend. You misunderstand Jesus words about judging in Matthew 7:1-5. If we have in fact, taken the beam out of our own eye, and are not hypocrites, then we can "see clearly to cast the mote out of our brother’s eye." (vs:5). Jesus later commands, "Judge not according to appearance, but JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS." (Jn.7:24) Paul says, "HE THAT IS SPIRITUAL JUGES ALL THINGS" (1 Cor. 2:15) You might offend some people for sure. Jesus is, after all, "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to the disobedient. (1 Pet. 2:7-8). Some of those offended people will become uncomfortable enough to later turn to Christ for salvation. Isn’t that what you ultimately want to accomplish anyway?

On the positive side, you might be right in not saying too much about abortion to the general public. It’s clearly wrong, but some sins are better dealt with privately after a person is already a Christian and their conscience is more awakened. Why try to clean a fish before it’s even caught? But preaching against fornication, adultery, and homosexuality: sins that a person should clearly know to repent of early on. That’s what John the Baptist was imprisoned for when he told Herod, "Its not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife." (Mk. 6:17-18) Jesus commended him saying John was the greatest man who ever lived! (Mtt. 11:11)

Joel, you need to be a little more balanced. Christ should be your example. Why not be more like him who said, "The world hates me because I testify that its works are evil." (Jn. 7:7)

Are you not a "Full Gospel" minister? Yet you're only preaching half the gospel when you limit your teaching to the parts that the world will approve of. Read how Paul did it in the book of Acts and Galatians:

Acts 20:20-21,26
20 …I kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ…26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God.

Gal. 1:6-10
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (NIV)

Joel, I care about you and the multitudes God has entrusted to your care. As a charismatic brother and a former evangelist, I will prayerfully help you in any way I can. Your errors were done publicly, leaving many to think Jesus is just one of many ways to salvation. For that reason, I urge you to publicly repent on your TV show and preach the clear unadulterated gospel the next time you speak. I am certain you won’t regret it.

Sincerely,

Mike Bangs

Hurst, TX

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