I came across an interesting discussion on Facebook the other day. Someone had posted an article that was critical of Joel Osteen, the charismatic TV preacher from Houston, calling him a false teacher.
In the comments there were efforts on the part of several to defend the man and his teaching. These efforts ranged from characterizing his lack of scripture in preaching as “paraphrasing to make it more understandable”, to decrying those critical because they were “judging him when they have never met him”, to referencing his 20,000 strong Sunday services and prolific TV, radio and podcast messages as evidence of His being anointed by God and blessed by Him.
We are living in a time where our culture has greatly impacted our view of God, grace and judgment. These apologists were not parroting godly principles, but an attitude of tolerance for all that has its genesis in popular culture rather than the Bible.
The apostle Peter expresses a very different view towards those who teach error. In the second chapter of his second letter he describes a future where “there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction” (2:1).
It is obvious that if one is actually a teacher of false doctrine, he needs to be exposed because of the danger he poses to the people of God. Too many people are more concerned about the sensibilities of the man accused than the vulnerability of the souls he endangers. Is it a big problem? Peter thought so.
“And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber” (2:2-3).
We make a mistake if we perceive a biblical imperative to be unkind or unfair. The call to mark a man as a teacher of heresy is from the Holy Spirit! (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17). To say it is unkind is to cast aspersion upon God Himself. Put simply, if we are “nicer” than God, we are too nice.
Of course, the reality is not that we are nicer. Rather we are exhibiting arrogance toward the Almighty. Paul disclosed this truth in 1 Corinthians 5, when he admonished the church there for being in fellowship with a man from which the apostle had instructed them to withdraw. He wrote to them, “you are puffed up…”, further, “Your glorying is not good…” (vs. 2,6). He called them to repent of their prideful refusal to mark this unrepentant man.
The principle to remember is that sin must always be dealt with. To refuse to mark a man who is bringing in destructive heresies (no matter how much you personally like him), not only does not help him, it also endangers God’s people. And, it is directly disobedient to His commands.
Our question is not whether Joel Osteen is a false teacher. It takes little Bible knowledge to know he is. Our question is whether we should be looking for such “savage wolves” (cf. Acts 20:29), wherever they may be found, and warning men about them. Peter says YES! Doctrine matters. Truth matters. This is important!
“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
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