The OSTEENification of American Christianity

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The OSTEENification of American Christianity Has anyone read this one yet? What’s your take?

Osteenification is nothing short of the wholesale transformation of American Christianity. It is conforming Scripture to cultural norms as opposed to allowing the plain reading of the text to transform. The glory of the cross exchanged for the paltry glory of consumerism.

Jonathan McCandless [02/24/2016 7:50 PM]
He seems to have a problem with telling people about their natural state of sin and their need for a Saviour. Oh wait, yeah, people don’t want to hear that though.

Corey Forsyth [02/24/2016 10:11 PM]
Before hearing Osteen or Joyce Meyer personally, I was concerned with the amount of people that raved about them but felt no need to change their life. They still had sailor mouths, backbiting tongues, and TERRIBLE attitudes but could quote ALL of the verses that promised blessings and prosperity… A gospel that doesn’t promote or even demand change, is NOT the true Gospel…

Timothy Carter [02/24/2016 10:20 PM]
Corey Forsyth, just think how bad this people would be without seeking God.

For them to be listening to, what they believed to be preachers, shows that they are seeking God on some level.

John Ruffle [02/25/2016 12:58 AM]
What bothers me is that the OP link itself is a money-spinning commercial and you even have to look at the graphic close to find out who wrote the promoted book – Hank Cultchaser. So that throws immediate doubt on all the seeming quotations etc. because we know the author has a strong bias before he so much as dictates a word. If it were a free article or an academic paper it would be worthwhile but its the same old commercial profit making nonsense – one of the very things Osteen is accused of!

Timothy Carter [02/25/2016 1:03 AM]
John Ruffle, good observation my brother

Troy Day [02/25/2016 4:50 AM]
John Ruffle Timothy Carter Sorry you got confused bretheren. I;ve placed a clear link in the status but fb has a mind of its own how they link it. Here’s the original Patheos text where the author Hank Hanegraaff (the Bible Answer Man himself, as seen from the book cover) wrote how it all led up to taking a shower and beginning work on a book now titled The Osteenification of American Christianity. There should be no doubt the aurhot is Hank Hanegraaff (the Bible Answer Man himself, as clearly seen from the book cover) http://www.patheos.com/blogs/philosophicalfragments/2014/03/19/osteenification-and-what-it-portends/

Timothy Carter [02/25/2016 5:09 AM]
Thanks, Troy Day, this is a good article.

Joel Osteen, like many others are reducing Christianity into mysticism. Mysticism is self-seeking, trying to please one’s emotions. In the 1st and 2nd century when mysticism first emerged, it was condemned as heresy. The mystics, seek the gift, the feeling, the manifestation, they do not seek an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.