This article has given pause to many people concerning Joyce Meyer's teaching. While the article itself hasn't elicited any response from me, the popular reading of the article has compelled me to spend some time articulating my reading of it and my response to it. I'm not interested in making a defense, but in sharing a reading, as it seems we need to have a common approach in order to have a productive discussion of the topics mentioned by Pastor Henderson. I intend to write a three-post discussion simply sharing my reading of Henderson's article and my perspective on the related issues (the "Prosperity Gospel" and the specific "false teachings" mentioned). I don't have any particular qualifications to talk about any of these things and I want to be clear about that - this is my reading through my lens. I hope that this will open up a more balanced, thoughtful discussion - so feel free to join in!
Pastor Henderson begins framing his case against both Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen -- the case that their teaching is "detrimental to your long-term growth as a follower of Jesus" -- by categorizing them as "Prosperity Gospel Preachers." Henderson doesn't provide a discussion of the "Prosperity Gospel," but includes a video of John Piper, entitled "Why I abominate the Prosperity Gospel." Henderson lets Piper define and, well, abominate the "prosperity gospel" for him. While Henderson uses Pipers' commentary in his argument, I find it important, since John Piper is esteemed as a teacher who is faithful to the Bible, to clarify his role in the conversation.
On John Piper's contribution to this discussion:
It is important to note that although a clip of John Piper speaking about the "Prosperity Gospel" is included in Pastor Henderson's article, John Piper did not write or actively contribute to this article. Piper does not mention Joyce Meyer as one of the preachers promoting the "abomination" of the "prosperity gospel." As far as I have read, I haven't found John Piper identifying any of the so-called "prosperity gospel preachers" by name. The closest is John Piper's tweet of support for Shai Linne's rap entitled "Fal$e Teacher$" (see the tweet and the song here). In this rap, Shai Linne describes the dangers of the prosperity gospel teaching and calls out by name 12 people as "false teachers," including Joyce Meyer (lyrics found here). If you'd like to know Joyce Meyer's position on the doctrine of the"prosperity gospel," you can read it here (http://www.joycemeyer.org/AboutUs/FAQ.aspx) on her website.
John Piper's video clip included in the Huffington Post article is a judgment of a doctrine - not of specific people.*
I think it is important to distinguish between calling out a teaching as false and calling out a teacher as false. Biblically, we are encouraged to test and judge teaching, but not one another.
How to Test a Teaching
Henderson doesn't outline his approach in assessing Meyer or Osteen's teaching, but I think that before we can discuss false teachings we have to agree on the standard by which they are examined.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 commands "Do not treat prophesies [1] with contempt [2] but test [3] them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil [4]."
The way this scripture describes our approach to christian teaching [teaching that purports to be biblical and reflective of the gospel] is that we should first receive it enough to examine it (not just treat it with contempt and throw it out), test it - and then keep what is good and reject anything and everything that is bad.
What I am finding is that many people are being encouraged to treat Joyce Meyer's teaching (or Joel Osteen's, or Mark Driskoll's, or whoever someone doesn't like) with contempt. The resulting effect is that the Holy Spirit is quenched (see preceding verse 20) and a way in which God could be speaking to you is denied.
This is how I would encourage believers to practice this principle of testing christian teaching:
- First of all - you actually have to read or hear christian teaching to test it! If the only thing you read are criticisms of the teaching, and not the actual teaching itself, you are getting lost in divisive, unproductive arguments. To be specific, if you've never listened to or read Joyce Meyer, but have only read the above article, then discussing whether or not she is a false teacher is irrelevant and unproductive for your faith or anyone else's. [5]
- Then, always hold up any and all teaching to scripture - no matter who is speaking it. Is the teaching reflective of what is said in scripture? Is it in keeping with the message of the Bible on a whole?
- Finally, what is the result of the teaching? Does it result in "good fruit" (on examining proverbial "fruit": Luke 6:43-45, Galatians 6:7-8; on what are good "fruits": Galatians 5:22-23) in your life and in the lives of other hearers? Does the teaching encourage repentance of sin and pursuit of godliness? Do you feel challenged, inspired, and encouraged to love God and others when you listen to/read these teachings (1 Timothy 1:5)?
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 is what I really want to encourage - don't treat prophesies [teaching, preaching] with contempt! You will miss out on some real blessing if you throw it away before considering it. Instead, use your head and your heart to receive the good and reject the bad.
Additional Comments
"Deadly Heresy": Henderson makes a surprising comment in his introduction to his critique of Joyce Meyer. He says "she gives spectacular advice. If my wife or if one of my daughters went to her in a moment of crisis, I believe they would return with magnificently helpful advice. If they went to her for teaching, they would return with deadly heresy." I cannot understand how "deadly heresy" could in any way result in good, much less "spectacular" advice. Advice may be helpful, but isn't transformative, unless it is wrapped up and enacted by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Henderson notes this very kind of transformation in Meyer's own personal testimony of "overcoming hurts and abuse." Perhaps Henderson is referring to teaching as an academic understanding of scripture or the gospel, separating it from what he is calling "advice." In my experience, that distinction has negative results - a true teaching will have powerful application to my life, whereas a teaching for knowledge sake results in arrogance and arguments."Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies." 1 Corinthians 8:1; "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power" 1 Corinthians 4:20. If Henderson observes results or indications of "good advice," I would ask him to reconsider his assessment of Meyer's teaching as "deadly."
Ruining Third World Christianity?: Following the listing of "false teachings" (which I will address in a subsequent post), Henderson claims "Her influence is severely disrupting the church in the third world." Can anyone help me out on this one? I haven't seen any specific "disruptions" described anywhere (particularly not here :)). If you've seen something articulating this concern in greater detail - please send it my way!
Money: Henderson's next critique is of both Joyce Meyer's personal finances and as well as the ministry's finances. As for the personal finances, Henderson comes out and says that Joyce Meyer spends too much money on herself. I am very uncomfortable with this kind of assessment, seeing in James 4:11 that we are not to slander or judge one another: "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?" and also in Romans 14:4 "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand." These verses make it clear that it is never ok for me to look at a brother or sister in Christ and judge whether or not they have given enough or kept too much. I am in charge of the investment of my own resources, not someone else's. Instead, I want to be praying for those in ministry, particularly those who are financially successful, that they would successfully "stand" against the temptation of the love of money. As for Meyer's ministry, Henderson says "Her ministry lacks real accountability. Her family and her close friends are the governing board. This is an organization that receives almost $100 million dollars annually, and with no substantive accountability." I haven't done extensive research by any means, but a quick google search sent me to the FAQs on the Joyce Meyer website, which contains a link to a third-party audited financial report from 2012. There seems to be more effort towards financial transparency than Henderson would like to give credit for. Yet, unless I am giving money directly to her ministry, I honestly am not concerned about the specifics of the ministry's spending/investments (provided that everything is legal, which we can feel confident that it is, being government audited).
Additional Comments
"Deadly Heresy": Henderson makes a surprising comment in his introduction to his critique of Joyce Meyer. He says "she gives spectacular advice. If my wife or if one of my daughters went to her in a moment of crisis, I believe they would return with magnificently helpful advice. If they went to her for teaching, they would return with deadly heresy." I cannot understand how "deadly heresy" could in any way result in good, much less "spectacular" advice. Advice may be helpful, but isn't transformative, unless it is wrapped up and enacted by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Henderson notes this very kind of transformation in Meyer's own personal testimony of "overcoming hurts and abuse." Perhaps Henderson is referring to teaching as an academic understanding of scripture or the gospel, separating it from what he is calling "advice." In my experience, that distinction has negative results - a true teaching will have powerful application to my life, whereas a teaching for knowledge sake results in arrogance and arguments."Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies." 1 Corinthians 8:1; "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power" 1 Corinthians 4:20. If Henderson observes results or indications of "good advice," I would ask him to reconsider his assessment of Meyer's teaching as "deadly."
Ruining Third World Christianity?: Following the listing of "false teachings" (which I will address in a subsequent post), Henderson claims "Her influence is severely disrupting the church in the third world." Can anyone help me out on this one? I haven't seen any specific "disruptions" described anywhere (particularly not here :)). If you've seen something articulating this concern in greater detail - please send it my way!
Money: Henderson's next critique is of both Joyce Meyer's personal finances and as well as the ministry's finances. As for the personal finances, Henderson comes out and says that Joyce Meyer spends too much money on herself. I am very uncomfortable with this kind of assessment, seeing in James 4:11 that we are not to slander or judge one another: "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?" and also in Romans 14:4 "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand." These verses make it clear that it is never ok for me to look at a brother or sister in Christ and judge whether or not they have given enough or kept too much. I am in charge of the investment of my own resources, not someone else's. Instead, I want to be praying for those in ministry, particularly those who are financially successful, that they would successfully "stand" against the temptation of the love of money. As for Meyer's ministry, Henderson says "Her ministry lacks real accountability. Her family and her close friends are the governing board. This is an organization that receives almost $100 million dollars annually, and with no substantive accountability." I haven't done extensive research by any means, but a quick google search sent me to the FAQs on the Joyce Meyer website, which contains a link to a third-party audited financial report from 2012. There seems to be more effort towards financial transparency than Henderson would like to give credit for. Yet, unless I am giving money directly to her ministry, I honestly am not concerned about the specifics of the ministry's spending/investments (provided that everything is legal, which we can feel confident that it is, being government audited).
I will look closely at the "prosperity gospel" doctrine and the list of Meyer's "false teachings" in two subsequent posts - but were there any other sticking points? What in this article did you find most shocking or worrisome?
Coming Next: Part II: The Prosperity Gospel, and Part III: Joyce Meyer
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[1] "Prophesies" προφητείας: "in NT, gift of expounding scripture, or of speaking and preaching, under the influence of the Holy Spirit" [LSJ Greek Lexicon]
[2] "Do not treat with contempt" μὴ ἐξουθενεῖτε: "set at naught," throw away as if nothing.
[3] "test" δοκιμάζετε: "approve after scrutiny as fit"
[4] "reject every kind of evil" “ἀπὸ παντὸς” εἴδους “πονηροῦ ἀπέχεσθε.”: In this version of the Greek NT, editors Westcott and Hort include quotation marks around "reject all evil things" which indicates that they believe this phrasing points to quotations from Job 1:1,8, 2:3, where Job is described as "a man who fears God and shuns evil."
I find it interesting that the NIV is one of the only translations that sets the "hold fast to what is good" in apposition to "reject every kind of evil" phrase. Most show a hard break (a canonical verse break, actually) between holding fast to the good and the next idea, which is to keep off or away from every form of evil/worthlessness. This reading would suggest to me that the testing of a teaching should result in clinging to what is good, not a weighing between good and bad. Perhaps a subtle distinction, but not without some implications.
[5] This is not me saying that everyone listen to Joyce Meyer or any one particular teacher. All of us in Christ are in the process of learning different things and thus benefit from different topics, different styles of teaching, and even different personalities of christian teachers. As you become aware of specific areas in which God is speaking to you (or specific areas where you are struggling), I encourage you to press in and seek out teachers who are wise in these areas.
* Edit 4-13-14: I just discovered this video from Piper responding to the question, "Is it ever appropriate to call out prosperity gospel teachers by name?," in which he describes the reason why he doesn't, or hesitates to do so.
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