Just this morning I forwarded a very well written article by Dr. Michael Horton to our church list here in Hawaii. In the piece he analyzes the deficiencies of the so-called “prosperity gospel” most notably advocated by the enormously popular Joel Osteen and many others like him. As Reformed believers, it’s not that we’re against success, prosperity or “possibility thinking” or “achieving your potential”, etc. But the problem is that these messages are NOT THE GOSPEL! And they don’t belong in our pulpits!
As ministers of Christ, our message is about something far higher and holier than anything pop-psychology, Dr. Phil, or the latest success guru has to offer. But instead of preaching Christ’s redeeming sacrifice on the cross, so often our pulpits are filled with worldly values and man-pleasing messages designed to indulge the masses rather than call them to a life of Christian discipleship. Heaven forbid if we should mention repentance from sin or suffering for righteousness sake!
Just when I think I’ve seen it all, the latest from the wire: Today MSNBC reports a minister pastoring a congregation called “Relevant Church” has launched a new campaign called “The 30–Day Sex Challenge”. The idea is to… … well, I’m sure you get the idea. (Click the photo for the full article).
I’m dumbstruck. I really am. That this kind of thing passes for a Sunday morning sermon in church. This is no gospel; it’s simply titillation. Of course the pastor will dress it up in Christian language and sell it as an attempt to strengthen marriages, but all this begs the question. Even if a message has a good moral theme; it doesn’t mean that message is fit for the pulpit! The Pharisees were great moralists; and Christ reserved some of his most scathing rebuke for them. It’s about the gospel (or lack thereof).
This is NOT what the Christian faith is all about. It’s not about having great sex in your marriage. It’s not about “possibility thinking” nor “achieving your potential” nor “fulfilling your dreams” nor “being a successful ________”. The message of Christ is a message of God-given grace to sinners who are called by His Spirit out of darkness and into his marvelous light.