The Atheist’s Favorite Preacher

Bryan Matthew Dockens

 An avowed disbeliever recently told me that Joel Osteen is her favorite preacher.  The reasons she favors his preaching are the same reasons I do not – namely: he tells cute stories, avoids the Scriptures, refrains from convicting his hearers of their guilt, and focuses on the present rather than eternity.

When the apostle Paul ordered Timothy to “Preach the word” (2nd Timothy 4:2) he explained the reason: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2nd Timothy 4:3-4).  Fable telling is not sound doctrine, but it tickles the ears of those who dislike the truth.

“The word of God is… sharper than any two-edged sword… and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12; cf. Ephesians 6:17), which is why those who hear it are “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37).

Conviction is elementary to salvation because salvation is predicated on repentance (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38), and the prerequisite of repentance is “godly sorrow” (2nd Corinthians 7:10).  Lack of conviction results in lack of salvation.