To start, the word 'happy' in the English vocabulary has more meanings to more people than many other words. But that's not my point.
What caught me this week was the reactivity many of us had to her statement. In all honesty, I chuckled at the Bill Cosby retort video. I felt a little critical towards what I perceived as her fallacy, particularly in the second part of her recorded statement where she tells her congregation to 'Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy. When you come to church, when you worship Him, you're not doing it for God really. You're doing it for yourself, because that's what makes God happy.' It's easy to judge this statement, particularly when it's spoken in such a soft and tinny tone. Yet, I think she's speaking to reality here. Most of us 'worship' God for ourselves in order to get something from Him; in her case she seems to be after pleasure, comfort and success.
After chewing on this for a minute it began to dawn on me that I've been doing much of the same thing, just in an opposite way. Her appeal to 'do good for yourself' is not that far removed from my normal line of thinking/acting, which is something to the effect that God is most happy with me when I have the most orthodox doctrine or provide the best service for Him. In the past I fervently pursued these things with the hope of satisfying God so that I could finally get what I want - His approval.
Welcome the Elder Son to the party.
These two seemingly dichotomous pursuits are really one in the same. In Luke 15 Jesus frames this same issue for those listening. On one end we are introduced to the younger son who pursues his happiness through the attainment of that which makes him happy, namely success in a foreign land, fine clothes, a good vocation, lots of friends and sex. On the other end of the spectrum we are shown the elder son, who pursues his happiness through the attainment of that which makes him happy, namely the approval of his father, getting things right, hard work and discipline, not straying far from the orthodox way of living. It seems this paradigm is still hitting close to home.
I may not agree with Mrs. Osteen, but I'm starting to see that I'm no better off. In fact, I may be in a more dire position. After all, the younger son came home from his pursuit of happiness to find a fathers running embrace, while the elder son stood resentfully outside the party, turning a deaf ear to his fathers pleas. Jesus seems to be insistent that the father wants both of his boys to come home and be sons, not dutifully seeking his affirmation (everything the dad has is his already anyway), nor taking and leaving (at home is where there is identity, safety and life to the full).
So while we cast stones at Mrs. Osteen, let's first check our own hearts. Here are a few questions that helped provoke some clarity of heart and mind for me.
-What am I hoping my actions towards God will provide me?
-Why am I offended by someone who seeks God through pleasure? Is it because I think I've been dutifully serving and am the one deserving the honor of the bounty of the banquet table?
-What do I really think makes God most happy with me? Is it my actions, doctrinal purity, love for neighbor, service, happiness with self?
Whether you're like the elder or younger son, remember the pleading of the father, "My son...you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad (happy?), because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." Luke 15:31-32
