Chapter 13: The Power in Your Words
Rebuttal
Joel opens with an illustration drawn from baseball. Jose Lima, a pitcher for the Astros, was uncharacteristically upset because the left field fence in their new ballpark was significantly closer to that in their old one. The significance of this lies in that right- handed batters tend to hit toward left field, and this makes it harder on the pitcher. Joel blames the fact that Jose’s performance as a pitcher plummeted the next season is because when he first stepped onto the pitcher’s mound, he said, “I’ll never be able to pitch here.” This is to a large extent unverifiable.
Joel has gone from “we think it, therefore it is manifest” to “we say it, therefore it is manifest.” While he may be relatively close to the mark on both counts, the sole act of thinking or speaking, contrary to what Joel would have us believe, is not enough to influence or bring about events. While it is by no means in question that words have power, as is stated repeatedly in the Bible, the manner and magnitude of power is here in question. Joel bemoans the tragedy of those who call themselves names. He claims that these people are “paving the way for failure.” As we’ve said before in previous chapters, there is an extent to which consistent negative thinking will drag you down. To hear Joel say it, however, would make you thing that saying aloud, “I’m an idiot” would actually lower your I.Q. by five points. To support his point, Joel cites James 3:4, which reads, “Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.” I’ll add the next verse, so the illustration will make more sense: “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it also makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” Joel is, as per usual, not taking into account what the author intended his writing to mean to its original audience, as well as the context of the scripture. What James is saying in his letter is that the tongue is capable of tearing down people; with only a few words hearts can be broken, and friendships ruined. Even on a less drastic scale, James says just six verses after the one that Joel cites, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” In essence, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
Joel goes on to miss the point of James 3:4 even more by saying that when James is comparing the tongue to the rudder of a ship, he is saying that the tongue plays a significant role in determining the direction of your life. In the same paragraph, James also compares the tongue to a spark that is capable of setting an entire forest ablaze. What conclusion are we to draw from this? The extent of James’s rudder metaphor is that both the tongue and rudder are small in comparison to that which they are a part of, yet they have a significant amount of control.
What Joel says next is one of the most ridiculous and laughable things he’s said so far. He claims that he once “heard about a doctor who understood the power of words. One prescription he gave to all his patients was for them to say at least once every hour, ‘I’m getting better and better every day, in every way.’ The doctor’s patients experienced amazing results, much better than the patients treated by many of his colleagues.” Not surprisingly, Joel gives no reference or other indicator as to who this doctor that he “heard about” is. This is a totally unverifiable claim, and it employs correlation-causation reasoning. In other words, what the story is saying is that because A and B have something to do with each other, A caused B. This is a flawed argument. Joel’s story is flimsy in its supporting detail and will not hold up to the least bit of scrutiny. I wonder if this “prescription” would have any effect on terminal cancer patients? The only doctor that I can think of who would give a prescription like this is Dr. Phil. But that reminds me, I once heard of a lawyer who told all his clients to say each morning, “I don’t want to go to jail” and he never lost a single case! Yeah, right.
Joel builds on the point made by his aforementioned story. He says that if we repeat aloud something to ourselves “often enough, with enthusiasm and passion, before long your subconscious mind begins to act on what you are saying, doing whatever is necessary to bring those thoughts and words to pass.” Again, he gives no reference to support this statement; no study, expert, or other work is provided as a source. As a remedy far those of us struggling with low self-esteem, Joel suggests looking in the mirror each morning and saying, “I am valuable. I am loved. God has a great plan for my life. I have favor wherever I go. God’s blessings are chasing me down and overtaking me. Everything I touch prospers and succeeds. I’m excited about my future!” This mantra starts out fine, but quickly becomes Joel’s patent version of ridiculous and even egotistic. “Everything I touch prospers and succeeds.” Where do you get that? A lot of Joel’s mantra has been covered in previous chapters, and it bears mentioning that there is nothing wrong with being excited about one’s future, but saying that to yourself repeatedly won’t alter the course of events.
Further on in the chapter, Joel tells us to “guard what we say,” and that if we’re “murmuring, complaining, ant talking about how bad life is treating you, you’re going to live in a pretty miserable, depressing world.” What he’s saying here is true. However, when Joel claims that “God wants us to use our words to change our negative situations” he is straying from the truth. He also paraphrases a well known saying: “Don’t talk about the problem, talk about the solution.” But how can one find the solution unless one first analyzes the problem?
The next paragraph starts off with “The Bible clearly tells us,” so you know it’s going to be a good one. Joel claims that what is being clearly told is that we are to “speak to our mountains.” Joel uses Mark 20:23, “‘I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart but believes what he says will happen, it will be done for him.’” Joel is drawing a comparison between the mountain that Jesus is referring to and our own personal problems. Speaking of problems, there are several that come with this proposed correlation. First of all, in the preceding verse Jesus tells us to “Have faith” and in the following verse, Jesus says that “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” This passage is clearly about asking and receiving. Second, there is nothing in the language that is used here to suggest that Jesus is speaking figuratively. You’ll notice he said “this mountain,” not “your mountains.” Thirdly, nowhere else does Jesus use mountains as a metaphor for personal problems, nor are they used as such elsewhere in the Bible. On the contrary, Psalms frequently use mountains as a place of refuge (Psalm 1:11, 30:7, et. al.).
Joel tries to bring further support for this argument by citing Joel 3:10, in his own special version: “Let the weak say I’m strong. Let the oppressed say I’m free. Let the sick say I’m healed. Let the poor say I’m well off.” I don’t know what Bible Joe’s reading; according to other versions only a quarter of Joel’s translation is accurate. In the NIV it reads, “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, ‘I am strong!’” This is a call to arms for the last battle, and “Armageddon demands all possible weapons and warriors… Even the weak must volunteer for military service” (The Interpreter’s Bible).
Joel next uses the story of David and Goliath. He tells us that David succeeded because he “changed his whole atmosphere through the words that came out of his mouth.” The core of this line of thinking is that David destroyed Goliath not with help from God, but of his own power and ability, simply by saying aloud that he could. Joel says we should take note of the pre-giant slaying trash talk between David and Goliath, pointing out that David spoke aloud his feelings, and that doing so made all the difference. I can picture David sitting on an easy chair on the edge of the battlefield, saying, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give all of you into our hands” as he does in 1 Samuel 17: 47, and Goliath suddenly having a heart attack. We should take note that, following this line of thinking, a mute person would be helpless in this situation regardless of divine intervention.
In the next paragraph, Joel tells us that there’s a “miracle in your mouth,” and promises an example in the next chapter. While some might find this to provide a cliffhanger effect, it seems very anticlimactic to me. Taking the contents of this chapter together with the hermeneutical skills of its author, one might believe that Joel Osteen firmly believes in casting magical spells.
Monday, May 3, 2010
A rebuttal of Ch. 13 of Your Best Life Now
Chapter 13: Reprogramming Your Mental Computer
Rebuttal
In the beginning of chapter 13, Joel tells us to look on the bright side of things. He likens our minds to a computer, a not uncommon metaphor. He says that we “can have the most powerful computer in the world, but if you program it with the wrong software or with misinformation, it will never function as the manufacturer intended.” He furthers this metaphor using the example of computer viruses. Just as computer viruses have ill effects on a computer, negative thoughts have ill effects on a person. Also, just as we may inadvertently pass on malware to a friend’s computer, we may unintentionally pass on negative thoughts to those around us. Sadly, this is where Joel ceases to be consistent with what is right.
Joel claims that “before we were ever formed, He programmed us to live abundant lives, to be healthy, happy, and whole. But when our thinking becomes contaminated, it is no longer in line with God’s word.” As comedic as it is for Joel to claim what is and isn’t in line with God’s word, the above statement raises a few questions. Say God intended us to be “healthy” and “whole”, among other things, before we were so much as formed in our mother’s womb, and that all conditions contrary to this are caused by our own negative thinking. How then are things like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, babies that are born blind, or other birth defects even possible? A developing fetus is certainly not capable of negative thinking, right? But there’s hope, Joel says. In order to circumvent a downward spiral into feelings of “feelings of inadequacy and insecurity,” we must recognize the problem and change the way we think. He consoles us, saying. “you are not defective. God made you, and he has programmed you for victory.” I beg to differ; humans are quite defective. According to Romans 3:10-12, “As it is written, ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have become worthless; there is no one who does good; not even one.’” Hebrews 8:8 says, “But God found fault with the people and said, ‘The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (emphasis added).
Joel once again touches on his point that our thoughts determine our emotions, which again is not entirely untrue. Where he errs, unfortunately, is in his use of Deuteronomy 30:19. He uses it to support that thinking positively “is not a once-and for-all matter. It’s a choice we have to make on a moment-by-moment basis. We must choose to dwell on the positive, choose to dwell on the good.” While this may not be a false assertion, his use of the aforementioned verse certainly is. According to Joel, it reads, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses, positive and negative; therefore God says choose life.” Not only is Joel misconstruing the meaning of the verse, but he is adding words to it that aren’t there. In the NIV, it reads, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”. Here God is laying down the terms and conditions forIsrael’s occupation of the Promised Land, what will happen if they meet those terms and conditions, and what will happen if they do not. Notice there are only two sets of juxtaposed nouns, “life and death” and “blessings and curses;” Joel seems to have added a third, “positive and negative,” presumably for his own purposes.
Joel says truthfully that we cannot stop “negative thoughts from knocking at your door, but you can control whether or not” you open the door. He consoles us by using Isaiah 26:3, “God will keep you in perfect peace.” Not only is this out of context, but it is also not the correct wording of the verse and not the entire text of the verse, either. The entire verse reads, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” This verse, despite its wording, does not guarantee freedom from conflict, but it is part of a hymn of gratitude, “thanking the Lord for victory over their enemies.”
Joel says that every time we get “worried, upset, or depressed, all we’re really doing is delaying God in bringing the victory.” Again, Joel is placing God’s power under the limits of human thoughts, feelings, and attitudes, an assertion which is prevalent throughout his book. As I’ve said before, it is ridiculous to think that the god by whom the universe was formed can be limited simply by the way we think.
Joel quotes Mark 9:23 in part, which reads: “Everything is possible for him who believes.” The context is Jesus speaking to a man whose son has been possessed by a demon since childbirth, and is being presented before Jesus to heal “if he can.” Mark 9:23 is Jesus’s response, “‘“If you can”’? said Jesus. “‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’” Joel claims that the inverse is also true; that nothing is possible for he who does not believe. Granted, if I don’t believe that construction paper feathers will enable me to fly, I probably won’t jump off a cliff with a bunch of them taped to my arms and legs. Aside from that, it is just another assumption that Joel throws out there without any support, scriptural or otherwise. Joel warns us that even at times when we don’t feel like keeping positive attitudes we should, because “every minute you allow yourself to lapse into a negative attitude is a minute that God cannot work in that situation.” This sentence is flawed in a number of ways. Joel cautions us not to spend to much time lapsing. Wiktionary defines lapse as “a temporary failure or slip.” So really we can only spend a limited time lapsing; after that we’re wallowing. As I’ve pointed out countless times before and no doubt will again, God is by his very nature all powerful, and the notion that he can be limited by our thoughts and attitudes is beyond ludicrous. Even if what Joel said was true, having a negative attitude and believing are not mutually exclusive.
Joel describes a restless night in which he picked up his Bible and turned to a passage to which “the Lord seemed to be prompting” him. Here, Joel actually gives us the context of the verse as he cites it. 2 Chronicles 20:17 is God encouraging the people of Judah for an upcoming confrontation with several of their enemies, an “impossible situation” as Joel puts it. The verse reads, “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Oh Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.” Joel took this to apply to a dilemma that he was facing at the time: a lawsuit concerning his church’s venue. What puzzles me is that Joel quotes the verse as reading “You don’t have to fight in this battle. Stand still and you will see the deliverance of the Lord.” I searched 17 different translations of the Bible and no version had the same wording as the one Joel quoted.
Joel shares with us that a few weeks later, his attorneys called him and informed him that the opposing party wanted to settle, even though those same attorneys told him that they would never settle. Newsflash, Joel: the vast majority of litigation is settled out of court, and your lawyers are human and capable of error just like everyone else. The opposing party probably wanted to avoid the extensive costs associated with continued litigation and reach a compromise that would save everyone time and money. Joel proudly says that “in less than forty-eight hours, we came to an agreement and totally settled that lawsuit!” He quotes Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live in peace with him.” That may be so, but all around the nation lawsuits in which the parties engage in behavior not pleasing to God settle as well. Joel’s is not a special case. He brags that “the company that was so adamantly opposed to our church leasing the arena agreed to lease us nearly ten thousand covered parking spaces at the Compaq center for the next sixty years. Not only did this save us millions of dollars, but it allowed us to move into that new facility approximately a year sooner than we would have otherwise.” Despite what Joel would have you believe, the company did not give him those things out of the kindness of their heart, because Joel won them over with his ways that are pleasing to the Lord. The company did those things because they signed a settlement agreement, and included in the terms of the settlement agreement were ten thousand parking spaces leased for sixty years. What Joel doesn’t tell us is what he had to give up as his part of the agreement.
Joel instructs us to keep our trust in God, so he will fight our battles for us. He tells us that if we “simply obey His commands, He will change your life for the better.” Wow, I didn’t know it was that easy. Paul certainly didn’t when he said in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29,
Joel says that no matter what difficulties we go through, “the Bible says, ‘Don’t get weary and faint in your mind.” This is Hebrews 12:3, but in no discernable published translation. The NIV reads, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and loose heart.” Contrary to what Joel would have us believe, this verse is Paul telling the his church to watch and learn from those more experienced in dealing with opposition to their faith, so they will “not grow weary and loose heart.” This does not mean, as Joel says, to reject negative thoughts so that God can bring us more stuff and “bring us out with the victory.”
Joel concludes with telling us that choosing the right thoughts is key, and not just when we’re feeling good; we must “keep your mind set on the good things of God” at all times. If we do all this and are consistent, “God will continually work in your life.” Since when is it up to us as to whether or not God continually works in our lives? This chapter, though containing some things that are not entirely untrue, is just another tour in how we can control God through our thoughts and actions.
Rebuttal
In the beginning of chapter 13, Joel tells us to look on the bright side of things. He likens our minds to a computer, a not uncommon metaphor. He says that we “can have the most powerful computer in the world, but if you program it with the wrong software or with misinformation, it will never function as the manufacturer intended.” He furthers this metaphor using the example of computer viruses. Just as computer viruses have ill effects on a computer, negative thoughts have ill effects on a person. Also, just as we may inadvertently pass on malware to a friend’s computer, we may unintentionally pass on negative thoughts to those around us. Sadly, this is where Joel ceases to be consistent with what is right.
Joel claims that “before we were ever formed, He programmed us to live abundant lives, to be healthy, happy, and whole. But when our thinking becomes contaminated, it is no longer in line with God’s word.” As comedic as it is for Joel to claim what is and isn’t in line with God’s word, the above statement raises a few questions. Say God intended us to be “healthy” and “whole”, among other things, before we were so much as formed in our mother’s womb, and that all conditions contrary to this are caused by our own negative thinking. How then are things like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, babies that are born blind, or other birth defects even possible? A developing fetus is certainly not capable of negative thinking, right? But there’s hope, Joel says. In order to circumvent a downward spiral into feelings of “feelings of inadequacy and insecurity,” we must recognize the problem and change the way we think. He consoles us, saying. “you are not defective. God made you, and he has programmed you for victory.” I beg to differ; humans are quite defective. According to Romans 3:10-12, “As it is written, ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have become worthless; there is no one who does good; not even one.’” Hebrews 8:8 says, “But God found fault with the people and said, ‘The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (emphasis added).
Joel once again touches on his point that our thoughts determine our emotions, which again is not entirely untrue. Where he errs, unfortunately, is in his use of Deuteronomy 30:19. He uses it to support that thinking positively “is not a once-and for-all matter. It’s a choice we have to make on a moment-by-moment basis. We must choose to dwell on the positive, choose to dwell on the good.” While this may not be a false assertion, his use of the aforementioned verse certainly is. According to Joel, it reads, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses, positive and negative; therefore God says choose life.” Not only is Joel misconstruing the meaning of the verse, but he is adding words to it that aren’t there. In the NIV, it reads, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”. Here God is laying down the terms and conditions forIsrael’s occupation of the Promised Land, what will happen if they meet those terms and conditions, and what will happen if they do not. Notice there are only two sets of juxtaposed nouns, “life and death” and “blessings and curses;” Joel seems to have added a third, “positive and negative,” presumably for his own purposes.
Joel says truthfully that we cannot stop “negative thoughts from knocking at your door, but you can control whether or not” you open the door. He consoles us by using Isaiah 26:3, “God will keep you in perfect peace.” Not only is this out of context, but it is also not the correct wording of the verse and not the entire text of the verse, either. The entire verse reads, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” This verse, despite its wording, does not guarantee freedom from conflict, but it is part of a hymn of gratitude, “thanking the Lord for victory over their enemies.”
Joel says that every time we get “worried, upset, or depressed, all we’re really doing is delaying God in bringing the victory.” Again, Joel is placing God’s power under the limits of human thoughts, feelings, and attitudes, an assertion which is prevalent throughout his book. As I’ve said before, it is ridiculous to think that the god by whom the universe was formed can be limited simply by the way we think.
Joel quotes Mark 9:23 in part, which reads: “Everything is possible for him who believes.” The context is Jesus speaking to a man whose son has been possessed by a demon since childbirth, and is being presented before Jesus to heal “if he can.” Mark 9:23 is Jesus’s response, “‘“If you can”’? said Jesus. “‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’” Joel claims that the inverse is also true; that nothing is possible for he who does not believe. Granted, if I don’t believe that construction paper feathers will enable me to fly, I probably won’t jump off a cliff with a bunch of them taped to my arms and legs. Aside from that, it is just another assumption that Joel throws out there without any support, scriptural or otherwise. Joel warns us that even at times when we don’t feel like keeping positive attitudes we should, because “every minute you allow yourself to lapse into a negative attitude is a minute that God cannot work in that situation.” This sentence is flawed in a number of ways. Joel cautions us not to spend to much time lapsing. Wiktionary defines lapse as “a temporary failure or slip.” So really we can only spend a limited time lapsing; after that we’re wallowing. As I’ve pointed out countless times before and no doubt will again, God is by his very nature all powerful, and the notion that he can be limited by our thoughts and attitudes is beyond ludicrous. Even if what Joel said was true, having a negative attitude and believing are not mutually exclusive.
Joel describes a restless night in which he picked up his Bible and turned to a passage to which “the Lord seemed to be prompting” him. Here, Joel actually gives us the context of the verse as he cites it. 2 Chronicles 20:17 is God encouraging the people of Judah for an upcoming confrontation with several of their enemies, an “impossible situation” as Joel puts it. The verse reads, “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Oh Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.” Joel took this to apply to a dilemma that he was facing at the time: a lawsuit concerning his church’s venue. What puzzles me is that Joel quotes the verse as reading “You don’t have to fight in this battle. Stand still and you will see the deliverance of the Lord.” I searched 17 different translations of the Bible and no version had the same wording as the one Joel quoted.
Joel shares with us that a few weeks later, his attorneys called him and informed him that the opposing party wanted to settle, even though those same attorneys told him that they would never settle. Newsflash, Joel: the vast majority of litigation is settled out of court, and your lawyers are human and capable of error just like everyone else. The opposing party probably wanted to avoid the extensive costs associated with continued litigation and reach a compromise that would save everyone time and money. Joel proudly says that “in less than forty-eight hours, we came to an agreement and totally settled that lawsuit!” He quotes Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live in peace with him.” That may be so, but all around the nation lawsuits in which the parties engage in behavior not pleasing to God settle as well. Joel’s is not a special case. He brags that “the company that was so adamantly opposed to our church leasing the arena agreed to lease us nearly ten thousand covered parking spaces at the Compaq center for the next sixty years. Not only did this save us millions of dollars, but it allowed us to move into that new facility approximately a year sooner than we would have otherwise.” Despite what Joel would have you believe, the company did not give him those things out of the kindness of their heart, because Joel won them over with his ways that are pleasing to the Lord. The company did those things because they signed a settlement agreement, and included in the terms of the settlement agreement were ten thousand parking spaces leased for sixty years. What Joel doesn’t tell us is what he had to give up as his part of the agreement.
Joel instructs us to keep our trust in God, so he will fight our battles for us. He tells us that if we “simply obey His commands, He will change your life for the better.” Wow, I didn’t know it was that easy. Paul certainly didn’t when he said in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29,
Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
Joel says that no matter what difficulties we go through, “the Bible says, ‘Don’t get weary and faint in your mind.” This is Hebrews 12:3, but in no discernable published translation. The NIV reads, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and loose heart.” Contrary to what Joel would have us believe, this verse is Paul telling the his church to watch and learn from those more experienced in dealing with opposition to their faith, so they will “not grow weary and loose heart.” This does not mean, as Joel says, to reject negative thoughts so that God can bring us more stuff and “bring us out with the victory.”
Joel concludes with telling us that choosing the right thoughts is key, and not just when we’re feeling good; we must “keep your mind set on the good things of God” at all times. If we do all this and are consistent, “God will continually work in your life.” Since when is it up to us as to whether or not God continually works in our lives? This chapter, though containing some things that are not entirely untrue, is just another tour in how we can control God through our thoughts and actions.
A rebuttal of Ch. 12 of Your Best Life Now
Chapter 12: Choosing the Right Thoughts
Rebuttal
In the first chapter of Part Three, Joel tells us that there is a battle raging all around us, but we “may not even be aware of it. The battle is not for a piece of land or for natural resources,” but for something of much more value: our minds. This is a good description of spiritual warfare. Joel proposes that to start off, we must “think about your thoughts first of all.” He says that our “enemy’s number one target area is the area of your thoughts. As support, he uses the fact that “satan” is the Hebrew word for adversary, that satan “is often used as a proper name for a powerful, angel-like being who is the avowed enemy of God and humans. Although Satan has great powers, he is no match for God.” While all of this is true, it is a bit of a non sequiter, since nothing in the above quotes indicates what Satan’s “number one target area” is, be it our thoughts or otherwise. Joel says that it is imperative that “we must be extremely not only about what we ingest through our eyes and ears, but also what we think about. Unfortunately for Joel, it is impossible for anyone to ingest anything through their eyes or ears; only the mouth is capable of ingesting.
Joel says that if we are “always thinking positive, happy, joyful thoughts, you’re going to be a positive, happy, joyful person, and you will attract other happy, upbeat, positive people,” and that the inverse is true as well. He says basically that if we think happy thoughts we’ll be happy, and if we think sad thoughts, we’ll be sad. This is to some extent true. He says that we are in control of what we think; we can choose to dwell on either the positive or negative things running through our brain. All of this is fine.
Joel says that we can’t walk around in denial, living under the false assumption that “nothing bad ever happens to us.” He points out that bad things happen to good people, and vice versa. He advocates an attitude of realism, and suggests relying on God for support, using Isaiah 40:31 and John 16:33 in context as scriptural support. Unfortunately, this is too good to last.
Joel says that if we cheer up, God will “turn your situation around. As long as you harbor that poor, defeated outlook, you will continue to live a poor, defeated life.” He says that “if you don’t think God can turn your situation around, He probably won’t.” This is a recurring theme in this book, our thoughts and attitudes being able to limit what God can do. Joel uses Proverbs 23:7, “As a person thinks in his heart, so he will become.” This is not necessarily what the verse says. With verse five included to give it some context, the text reads, “Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost, but his heart is not with you.” The footnote in verse five is to denote that the section there may also be translated as “for as he puts on a feast, so he is,” or it may be translated as Joel quotes it. However, given the context I doubt that was what the author intended it to mean.
Next, Joel says that when we think positive thoughts, we “will be propelled toward greatness, inevitably bound for increase, promotion, and God’s supernatural blessings.” Joel uses Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on the things which are above.” He uses this same verse in Chapter 2, but there it reads, “Set your mind and keep it set on higher things.” Neither of these is marked with a translation, so the only conclusion one could draw is that Joel skews the same text in one manner for purpose A and in another manner for purpose B. The entire verse in the NIV reads, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Obviously Paul is not talking about thinking positively, but about keeping our minds on things that really matter. The same thing applies to Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” Paul isn’t telling the church in Philippi to think happy thoughts, but rather he is, according to the New Interpreter’s Bible, urging them to “imitate Paul who embodies for them the gospel message” and to remind them “of the close link between the proclamation of the gospel and the moral demand to be like Christ, which rests on those who respond.”
Joel tells us that it may be hard to focus on the positive, especially in times of adversity. He claims that “psychologists are convinced that our lives move in the direction of our most dominant thoughts.” While I am not necessarily contesting this claim, it is unprofessional and sloppy of Joel to make such a sweeping statement without citing any sources. Joel continues to tell us that our lives are our own, and that we are the only ones that can be held accountable for our actions. He tells us that even if we have been thinking negatively, we can change our ways and start anew. While, as Joel accurately claims, we are the only ones who can be held accountable for our actions, we are not our own. Romans 6:18 says that “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness.” Four verses later, Paul writes, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
Unfortunately, Joel’s example of the depths of despair does not revolve around anything pertaining to the last two verses he quoted: “You’re never going to get out of debt. You’re never going to be successful. You’re always going to live in poverty and lack.” None of this bears any eternal significance; what would be a better example of psychological spiritual warfare that Joel is attempting to describe here would be: doubting one’s standing with God, complacency, or distraction from God’s work.
Joel goes on about the power of thoughts and how they influence our lives. He says we can choose whether or not to dwell on the negative thoughts that come into our mind. The only problem here is his idea of the consequence of negative thinking is not psychological or spiritual, but material.
Rebuttal
In the first chapter of Part Three, Joel tells us that there is a battle raging all around us, but we “may not even be aware of it. The battle is not for a piece of land or for natural resources,” but for something of much more value: our minds. This is a good description of spiritual warfare. Joel proposes that to start off, we must “think about your thoughts first of all.” He says that our “enemy’s number one target area is the area of your thoughts. As support, he uses the fact that “satan” is the Hebrew word for adversary, that satan “is often used as a proper name for a powerful, angel-like being who is the avowed enemy of God and humans. Although Satan has great powers, he is no match for God.” While all of this is true, it is a bit of a non sequiter, since nothing in the above quotes indicates what Satan’s “number one target area” is, be it our thoughts or otherwise. Joel says that it is imperative that “we must be extremely not only about what we ingest through our eyes and ears, but also what we think about. Unfortunately for Joel, it is impossible for anyone to ingest anything through their eyes or ears; only the mouth is capable of ingesting.
Joel says that if we are “always thinking positive, happy, joyful thoughts, you’re going to be a positive, happy, joyful person, and you will attract other happy, upbeat, positive people,” and that the inverse is true as well. He says basically that if we think happy thoughts we’ll be happy, and if we think sad thoughts, we’ll be sad. This is to some extent true. He says that we are in control of what we think; we can choose to dwell on either the positive or negative things running through our brain. All of this is fine.
Joel says that we can’t walk around in denial, living under the false assumption that “nothing bad ever happens to us.” He points out that bad things happen to good people, and vice versa. He advocates an attitude of realism, and suggests relying on God for support, using Isaiah 40:31 and John 16:33 in context as scriptural support. Unfortunately, this is too good to last.
Joel says that if we cheer up, God will “turn your situation around. As long as you harbor that poor, defeated outlook, you will continue to live a poor, defeated life.” He says that “if you don’t think God can turn your situation around, He probably won’t.” This is a recurring theme in this book, our thoughts and attitudes being able to limit what God can do. Joel uses Proverbs 23:7, “As a person thinks in his heart, so he will become.” This is not necessarily what the verse says. With verse five included to give it some context, the text reads, “Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost, but his heart is not with you.” The footnote in verse five is to denote that the section there may also be translated as “for as he puts on a feast, so he is,” or it may be translated as Joel quotes it. However, given the context I doubt that was what the author intended it to mean.
Next, Joel says that when we think positive thoughts, we “will be propelled toward greatness, inevitably bound for increase, promotion, and God’s supernatural blessings.” Joel uses Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on the things which are above.” He uses this same verse in Chapter 2, but there it reads, “Set your mind and keep it set on higher things.” Neither of these is marked with a translation, so the only conclusion one could draw is that Joel skews the same text in one manner for purpose A and in another manner for purpose B. The entire verse in the NIV reads, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Obviously Paul is not talking about thinking positively, but about keeping our minds on things that really matter. The same thing applies to Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” Paul isn’t telling the church in Philippi to think happy thoughts, but rather he is, according to the New Interpreter’s Bible, urging them to “imitate Paul who embodies for them the gospel message” and to remind them “of the close link between the proclamation of the gospel and the moral demand to be like Christ, which rests on those who respond.”
Joel tells us that it may be hard to focus on the positive, especially in times of adversity. He claims that “psychologists are convinced that our lives move in the direction of our most dominant thoughts.” While I am not necessarily contesting this claim, it is unprofessional and sloppy of Joel to make such a sweeping statement without citing any sources. Joel continues to tell us that our lives are our own, and that we are the only ones that can be held accountable for our actions. He tells us that even if we have been thinking negatively, we can change our ways and start anew. While, as Joel accurately claims, we are the only ones who can be held accountable for our actions, we are not our own. Romans 6:18 says that “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness.” Four verses later, Paul writes, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
Unfortunately, Joel’s example of the depths of despair does not revolve around anything pertaining to the last two verses he quoted: “You’re never going to get out of debt. You’re never going to be successful. You’re always going to live in poverty and lack.” None of this bears any eternal significance; what would be a better example of psychological spiritual warfare that Joel is attempting to describe here would be: doubting one’s standing with God, complacency, or distraction from God’s work.
Joel goes on about the power of thoughts and how they influence our lives. He says we can choose whether or not to dwell on the negative thoughts that come into our mind. The only problem here is his idea of the consequence of negative thinking is not psychological or spiritual, but material.
A rebuttal of Ch. 11 of Your Best Life Now
Chapter 11: Be Happy With Who You Are
Rebuttal
The title of this chapter is somewhat misleading. No one is arguing that it is a bad thing to be happy with who you are; it’s the how and why of being satisfied with oneself that comes into question. Right off the bat, Joel makes a sweeping statement that many of the world’s “social, physical, and emotional problems” are caused simply by “the fact that people don’t like themselves.” Granted it’s not a good to have people constantly wish that they were more like someone else or being insecure, but there is a line here. I challenge anyone to name five problems that were caused solely by someone’s low self esteem. Hitler had wonderful self esteem, he was sure that what he was doing was the right thing to do. Besides that, liking who you are is not a good thing if you are someone not worth liking. A healthy dissatisfaction with oneself can be very useful when one is engaged in or desperately needs rehabilitation for chemical dependency or is living one’s life in a manner that is destructive to others. While it is no doubt a good thing to be satisfied with who one is, I sincerely doubt that the absence of such a feeling is the cause for many of the world’s problems.
Next, Joel reminds us that we don’t need to look good in order to feel good. He says that wishing we were built differently or had a different personality is a wasted effort, and he is right. Where he errs is when he claims that “some people spend three-fourths of their time trying to be someone else.” How could he possibly quantify this? He cites no study or survey to support this “fact” and just assumes we’ll eat it right up without question. Joel extols us to enjoy the fact that we are different from other people. He reminds us that in so doing we should also be open to the advice of people wiser than ourselves and that we should not be foolhardy or rebellious. There’s nothing wrong here. However, the idea that “we never have permission to live an ungodly life” is false. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12 that “‘everything is permissible for me’- but not everything is beneficial. ‘everything is permissible for me’- but I will not be mastered by anything”. Instead, Paul says in chapter ten, verse 31 of the same book, that “so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Over the next few paragraphs, Joel tells us that we are special just the way God made us, that we don’t need the permission of others to express ourselves and be who we want to be. This is all true. Joel tells us not to compare ourselves with others, and that “God has an individual plan for each of our lives.” This is also correct. Joel admits that he might never be the best preacher, husband, or father, but “as far as I’m concerned, I’m number one!” This is taking it one step too far. According to Psalm 25:9, “he guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” According to Proverbs 3:34, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Finally, James 4:10 says that we should “humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” While it is only beneficial to be satisfied with oneself, the idea that everyone should think that they’re “number one” borders on pretentious and is not what the Bible teaches.
To some hilarious effect, the very next thing that is written after Joel’s claim to be “number one” is “that is what the Scripture teaches. It says ‘Let each one examine his own work.’ In other words, quit looking at what everyone else is doing and run your own race.” The text that Joel uses as support in the above quote is from Galatians 6:4 in the New King James Version. Here Joel quotes only half of the verse; the entirety of it in the NIV reads as follows: “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.” This verse appears to support what Joel is saying in this chapter, and to some extent it does, just not in the way Joel is using it. According to the New Interpreter’s Bible, “Paul is convinced that authentic faith manifests itself in action” and therefore that “to test one’s ‘work’ is to examine whether it really embodies the loving character of Christ.” It is odd that the second half of the verse, which Joel omits, can be used to support the points he makes in this chapter, but he chooses to use the first half of the verse out of context to support a flawed assertion.
Joel tells us not to give in to peer pressure and that we can’t and shouldn’t try to please everyone; we need only please God. Joel also tells us that we should not hesitate to ask for the advice of people we know and trust. All of this is true. Joel, to bolster his point, claims that the Bible says, “there’s safety in a multitude of counselors.” This is another one of Joel’s made up verses; the closest thing to it is Proverbs 15:22, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.” It’s a pity that Joel either made up or mutilated a verse to support a perfectly valid point, especially when there are actual Bible verses that will do the job. For instance, Proverbs 12:15 says that “the way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”
Joel asks us, “Are you being the person God made you to be?” Who else can we be but the person God made us to be? To be someone other than the person God made us to be would mean that God’s plans can be circumvented by our own thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. Joel says that we shouldn’t try to live life with the objective of pleasing other people or trying to emulate their own lives, and he is right. He refers to Joshua taking on the role of the leader of Israel after Moses’s death. He quotes Joshua 1:5, inferring that “as I was with Moses, so shall I be with you” is God telling Joshua to be who he made him to be, “and then you’ll be successful.” Once again, Joel is using only half of the verse. The entire verse reads, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so shall I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Contrary to what Joel would have us believe, God is telling Joshua that he has his back, so to speak; not encouraging him to be different and be his own man. This is another instance where Joel uses scripture out of context to support a point that could be just as easily bolstered by a verse used in context.
Most of what Joel says in Chapter 11 is true; he just takes it one step beyond legitimacy. It is mostly where he tries to use scripture that he fails in making arguments with any veracity. This concludes Part Two on developing a healthy self-image, and we are on to Part Three: Discover the Power of Your Thoughts and Words.
Rebuttal
The title of this chapter is somewhat misleading. No one is arguing that it is a bad thing to be happy with who you are; it’s the how and why of being satisfied with oneself that comes into question. Right off the bat, Joel makes a sweeping statement that many of the world’s “social, physical, and emotional problems” are caused simply by “the fact that people don’t like themselves.” Granted it’s not a good to have people constantly wish that they were more like someone else or being insecure, but there is a line here. I challenge anyone to name five problems that were caused solely by someone’s low self esteem. Hitler had wonderful self esteem, he was sure that what he was doing was the right thing to do. Besides that, liking who you are is not a good thing if you are someone not worth liking. A healthy dissatisfaction with oneself can be very useful when one is engaged in or desperately needs rehabilitation for chemical dependency or is living one’s life in a manner that is destructive to others. While it is no doubt a good thing to be satisfied with who one is, I sincerely doubt that the absence of such a feeling is the cause for many of the world’s problems.
Next, Joel reminds us that we don’t need to look good in order to feel good. He says that wishing we were built differently or had a different personality is a wasted effort, and he is right. Where he errs is when he claims that “some people spend three-fourths of their time trying to be someone else.” How could he possibly quantify this? He cites no study or survey to support this “fact” and just assumes we’ll eat it right up without question. Joel extols us to enjoy the fact that we are different from other people. He reminds us that in so doing we should also be open to the advice of people wiser than ourselves and that we should not be foolhardy or rebellious. There’s nothing wrong here. However, the idea that “we never have permission to live an ungodly life” is false. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12 that “‘everything is permissible for me’- but not everything is beneficial. ‘everything is permissible for me’- but I will not be mastered by anything”. Instead, Paul says in chapter ten, verse 31 of the same book, that “so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Over the next few paragraphs, Joel tells us that we are special just the way God made us, that we don’t need the permission of others to express ourselves and be who we want to be. This is all true. Joel tells us not to compare ourselves with others, and that “God has an individual plan for each of our lives.” This is also correct. Joel admits that he might never be the best preacher, husband, or father, but “as far as I’m concerned, I’m number one!” This is taking it one step too far. According to Psalm 25:9, “he guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” According to Proverbs 3:34, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Finally, James 4:10 says that we should “humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” While it is only beneficial to be satisfied with oneself, the idea that everyone should think that they’re “number one” borders on pretentious and is not what the Bible teaches.
To some hilarious effect, the very next thing that is written after Joel’s claim to be “number one” is “that is what the Scripture teaches. It says ‘Let each one examine his own work.’ In other words, quit looking at what everyone else is doing and run your own race.” The text that Joel uses as support in the above quote is from Galatians 6:4 in the New King James Version. Here Joel quotes only half of the verse; the entirety of it in the NIV reads as follows: “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.” This verse appears to support what Joel is saying in this chapter, and to some extent it does, just not in the way Joel is using it. According to the New Interpreter’s Bible, “Paul is convinced that authentic faith manifests itself in action” and therefore that “to test one’s ‘work’ is to examine whether it really embodies the loving character of Christ.” It is odd that the second half of the verse, which Joel omits, can be used to support the points he makes in this chapter, but he chooses to use the first half of the verse out of context to support a flawed assertion.
Joel tells us not to give in to peer pressure and that we can’t and shouldn’t try to please everyone; we need only please God. Joel also tells us that we should not hesitate to ask for the advice of people we know and trust. All of this is true. Joel, to bolster his point, claims that the Bible says, “there’s safety in a multitude of counselors.” This is another one of Joel’s made up verses; the closest thing to it is Proverbs 15:22, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.” It’s a pity that Joel either made up or mutilated a verse to support a perfectly valid point, especially when there are actual Bible verses that will do the job. For instance, Proverbs 12:15 says that “the way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”
Joel asks us, “Are you being the person God made you to be?” Who else can we be but the person God made us to be? To be someone other than the person God made us to be would mean that God’s plans can be circumvented by our own thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. Joel says that we shouldn’t try to live life with the objective of pleasing other people or trying to emulate their own lives, and he is right. He refers to Joshua taking on the role of the leader of Israel after Moses’s death. He quotes Joshua 1:5, inferring that “as I was with Moses, so shall I be with you” is God telling Joshua to be who he made him to be, “and then you’ll be successful.” Once again, Joel is using only half of the verse. The entire verse reads, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so shall I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Contrary to what Joel would have us believe, God is telling Joshua that he has his back, so to speak; not encouraging him to be different and be his own man. This is another instance where Joel uses scripture out of context to support a point that could be just as easily bolstered by a verse used in context.
Most of what Joel says in Chapter 11 is true; he just takes it one step beyond legitimacy. It is mostly where he tries to use scripture that he fails in making arguments with any veracity. This concludes Part Two on developing a healthy self-image, and we are on to Part Three: Discover the Power of Your Thoughts and Words.
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