Words to Live By

“It is small; it is localized; we caught it early” are the words you want to hear from the surgeon who will be removing your tumor. (Praise God, we heard those words yesterday!) “We are praying for you; we love you; you have made a difference in our lives” are the words you want to hear from your friends when in crisis. With each note, each promise to pray, and each testimony to God’s faithfulness, I hear the Lord’s voice. “How delightful is a timely word” (Prov. 15:23).

But as comforting as those words are, it is THE WORD that anchor my soul in this time of trial—the Word of hope and promise, and faithfulness (Hebrews 6:19). From centuries past, the Psalmist declares, “… in faithfulness You have afflicted me. O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, according to Your word... may Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight” (Psalm 119:6-77).

In perplexing circumstances, Paul’s timely and timeless words come to mind: “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works… and encouraging one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). These are words to live by.

“Positive Thinking” Theology

When I saw this picture juxtiposing Joel Osteen's book of positive thinking with suffering children, I knew I had to write a post about it.  Even though a picture is worth a 1,000 words, I will add a few of my own.

The message of  Joel Osteen's book "Everyday a Friday" is that if we live our lives with a more positive and optimist spirit, we will be happier (think TGIF).  Tell that to the starving children of Africa, for whom everyday is one of misery, despair, and death.

Sound Bible teaching must be applicable to rich and poor, and to powerful and marginalized alike: the true gospel message must be relevant to all peoples and cultures.   The message of prosperity and positive thinking may look good on a greeting card, but it is shamefully lacking in sound doctrine and good exegesis (1 Tim 1:10; 2 Tim. 2:15).

This is the Time to Hold Fast to Sound Doctrine

Does it seem to anyone else that there has been an increase of evangelical motivational speakers? The Media refers to the ones popular enough to be on TV as “televangelists,” but nothing could be further from the truth— they are not evangelizing; they’re teaching human potential. They have replaced the pure gospel of Jesus Christ with motivational talks, e.g. ‘you can do it,’ ‘have faith,’ ‘keep believing,’ etc. Not the least apologetic, Joel Osteen proudly proclaims himself a “life coach”!

Why am I drawing your attention to it? Why should it matter? Because they are motivational speakers masquerading as Christian teachers, misleading millions into believing they are getting fed the Bread of Life, when all they're getting is white bread buttered with disconnected Bible verses.

Perhaps you argue, “If these people motivate others into action, encouraging them to be better, what is wrong with that? They are uplifting, positive, making people feel good.” But the message that motivates people to self-improvement and human potential is an offense to the message of grace. It is what Paul calls “another gospel” (2 Cor.11:4). John MacArthur says: “Some of the most popular preaching in America presents a message of positive thinking... Joel Osteen and the prosperity preachers forgo the cross and advise us to merely do our best.”

Each of us has a responsibility to “hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:9, NIV).