Pastor Shane Idleman of Westside Christian Fellowship has written a "tear-stained plea" to fellow Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church, asking him to preach the truth about the Gospel, even if it's not something the congregation wants to hear.
Osteen earlier told CBS Sunday Morning during Easter that he is not cheating anyone when he refuses to talk about hell, sin, or damnation. "Most people are beaten down enough by life. They already feel guilty enough," he said. "So I want them to come to Lakewood or our meetings and be lifted up, to say, 'You know what? I may not be perfect, but I'm moving forward. I'm doing better.' And I think that motivates you to do better."
While Idleman agrees that everybody needs encouragement, he also believes that most people feel "beaten down" because they don't see the whole picture of God's truth. The truth, he said, has been watered down so that church members will not feel judged or offended.
Idleman notices that most churches are more keen on building larger congregations rather than being biblically correct, and this is why they are coddling and comforting members when they should be teaching them hard truths.
"Pastor Joel, I don't know much about your ministry, but it appears that your gift is motivation — please use it to motivate people to turn from sin. We don't beat people up with the truth, but we do lovingly point them to it," Idleman writes in an open letter in The Christian Post.
Most pastors struggle with speaking about controversial issues, but Idleman believes it must be done. He says it is the pastor's responsibility to preach both difficult and joyful truths, as well as preach about heaven and hell. They should also preach about damnation and salvation, sin and grace, and wrath and love.
"I agree that we all need encouragement, that's a given, but, in my opinion, most people feel beaten down because they're not looking to the totality of God's truth but only certain portions. The truth is often watered-down in the hope of not offending members and building a large audience. Judgment is never mentioned and repentance is rarely sought. We want to build a church rather than break a heart; be politically correct rather than biblically correct; coddle and comfort rather than stir and convict."
He continued: "Most pastors, including myself, struggle with speaking about controversial issues, but it must be done. A motivational speaker might be able to avoid the difficult truths of the Bible, but a pastor cannot.
"We must preach the difficult truths as well as the joyful ones; preach the cross and the new life; preach hell and preach heaven; preach damnation and preach salvation; preach sin and preach grace; preach wrath and preach love; preach judgment and preach mercy; preach obedience and preach forgiveness; preach that God 'is love', but don't forget that God is just. It is the love of God that compels us to share all of His truth."
