Joel Osteen is an American pastor, televangelist, and author who serves as the senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. With over 4 million viewers in over 100 countries, Osteen’s televised sermons are among the most watched Christian programs in the world. He is also a New York Times best-selling author of books such as Your Best Life Now and Become a Better You.
Osteen preaches what has been dubbed the “prosperity gospel,” which emphasizes personal happiness and financial prosperity as God’s will for all believers. This teaching holds that through faith and positive speech, Christians can obtain material wealth and success. Osteen promises that if believers truly internalize the Word of God, they will become wealthier, healthier, and overall more prosperous. Critics, however, argue this prosperity gospel distorts true Christian doctrine and amounts to nothing more than superficial self-help advice.
There are several aspects of Osteen’s teachings that raise biblical concerns:
Overemphasis on Prosperity
A core component of Osteen’s message focuses on financial increase and physical well-being for Christians who obey God. In his book Your Best Life Now, Osteen writes: “God wants you to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for you” (p. 5). He regularly assures people that as they give generously, God will give back abundantly (Luke 6:38).
However, the Bible contains many warnings against loving money or perceiving wealth as a sign of God’s favor (Ecclesiastes 5:10; Matthew 6:24; Luke 12:15). Jesus himself encouraged people to sell possessions, give to the poor, and store up treasure in heaven rather than on earth (Matthew 6:19-21; 19:21). Paul often described faithful Christians as impoverished, hungry, and ill-treated (1 Corinthians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10). Their eyes were set on eternal, not earthly rewards.
While God promises to provide for the needs of believers who seek His kingdom (Matthew 6:33), the New Testament writers clearly did not equate true faith with material prosperity. In fact, wealth could often impede spiritual growth by fostering self-sufficiency rather than reliance on God (Mark 10:25; Luke 18:24). Osteen’s disproportionate focus on worldly success seems at odds with the sober perspectives of these biblical authors.
Minimizing Sin and Judgment
Osteen often assures audiences that God is not judging or condemning them, but smiling down with unconditional love. “The last thing God wants to do is judge you,” he says. “He wants to help you” (I Declare, p. 76). Osteen encourages positive visualization and declares, “See yourself rising to new levels. See your business taking off. See your marriage restored. See your family prospering. See your dreams coming to pass…” (Your Best Life Now, p. 4).
However, Scripture frequently warns of God’s impending judgment on unrepentant sinners (Hebrews 9:27; 2 Peter 2:4-9). Jesus himself spoke often of God’s wrath against unbelievers and those who use their influence selfishly (Matthew 13:41-42; 23:13-33). He called people to repentance, not motivational speech (Matthew 4:17). And he promised persecution in this life, not endless prosperity, for his true followers (John 15:20; 16:33).
While affirming God’s deep love for individuals, the Bible cannot support Osteen’s avoidance of sin, hell, and the consequences of rebelling against God. Osteen’s non-confrontational style conflicts with the forthrightness of both Old and New Testament prophets.
Self-Focus Rather than God-Focus
Prosperity teachings assert that God’s greatest wish is to shower blessings on people. “He wants you to be a winner, not a whiner,” Osteen declares (Your Best Life Now, p. 122). His books, sermons, and stadium events largely revolve around believing in and benefiting oneself.
In Scripture, however, Jesus commands self-denial, not self-esteem (Matthew 16:24). Christian discipleship means dying to self and following Christ’s lead. Rather than pursuing private ambitions, believers are called to seek God’s kingdom first (Luke 9:23; 12:31). Paul even expressed his desire to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).
While affirming personal dignity and value, the Bible maintains that human life is not about us but about God (Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11). An overemphasis on visualization, personal achievement, and realizing self-potential conflicts with the biblical call to displacement of self in favor of Christ.
Selective Use of Scripture
Osteen frequently quotes passages about God’s goodness and promises to provide. He cites texts stating that Abraham and Job obtained fortunes and that David’s descendants would reign forever. Yet he pays little attention to verses indicating that faith also involves hardship and persecution (Romans 8:35; Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 4:12-13).
Osteen’s handling of Scripture has been labeled “pick-and-choose” theology. He often isolates verses beneficial to prosperity claims while ignoring the larger biblical context. For example, he quotes that God takes “pleasure in the prosperity of his servant” (Psalm 35:27), while disregarding passages like Psalm 73 where godly sufferers question why the wicked seem to prosper.
Osteen’s approach has been criticized for only citing passages supportive of his overall message. This selective use of the Bible is considered eisegetical, where meaning is imposed on the text, rather than exegetical, where meaning is derived from the text.
Low View of Suffering
Osteen repeatedly disparages negative attitudes. To him, poverty and illness result from ungodly patterns of speech more than God’s mysterious ways. “Your external world is a reflection of your internal world,” he writes (Your Best Life Now, p. 9). “If you don’t like what you have in your life, then focus on changing the things you see in your mirror [attitude]” (p. 15).
Yet Scripture offers complex perspectives on why Christians suffer. Though illness is not directly from God (James 1:13), He still sovereignly works through disease and grief to refine faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). Paul pleaded to have his “thorn in the flesh” removed, yet God chose not to heal him so that divine grace could shine through human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
Osteen’s emphasis on overcoming negativity suggests that believers can nearly avoid suffering by cultivating enough mental and spiritual vigor. But the Bible makes no such claims. Even mature Christians like Paul experienced profound hardship, often due to persecution or their identification with a suffering Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5-7; Galatians 6:17).
Allowing Culture to Shape Message
Critics say Osteen waters down the Bible’s harder teachings to appeal to a contemporary culture that values positivity, prosperity, individualism, and inclusion. He steers clear of controversial doctrines like hell or exclusivity among world religions.
Osteen also rarely addresses social issues like abortion or sexual ethics, focusing mainly on personal actualization. His church services feel more like motivational speeches than biblical exposition. Scripture, some argue, is used to validate notions of prosperity already common in American culture rather than to radically transform culture.
In contrast, Jesus confronted the false culture and mindset of his day, even when it cost him followers (John 6:66). The Bible warns against catering to ear-tickling desires for novelty rather than divine truths that challenge (2 Timothy 4:3). Many believe Osteen’s message reflects cultural accommodation more than biblical integrity.
Unclear Gospel
Perhaps most concerning, critics say Osteen fails to clearly explain the Christian gospel – that humans are hopeless sinners requiring radical grace found only in Christ and his atoning death. Osteen urges unbelievers toward greater self-belief rather than surrender to Jesus.
The Bible, however, teaches salvation comes through denying self, not believing in self (Luke 9:23). It involves counting everything as loss compared to knowing Jesus (Philippians 3:8). Right standing with God is received by faith in Christ, not activated by personal attitudes or mindsets (Ephesians 2:8-9). Osteen’s messages largely avoid sin, the cross, repentance, and turning to Jesus in dependent faith.
In summary, while Osteen declares support for Christ and cites portions of Scripture, the overall orientation of his ministry is deemed human-centered rather than God-centered. His messages promise earthly well-being more than eternal redemption, temporary treasures rather than treasures in heaven. Critics argue Osteen’s teachings distort the Bible’s call to die to self and live for Jesus alone.
