Michael Horton on Joel Osteen

From Michael Horton's new book Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church:

"Osteen seems to think that we are basically good people and God has a very easy way for us to save ourselves--not from his judgment, but from our lack of success in life--with his help. 'God is keeping a record of every good deed you've ever done,' he says--as if this is good news. 'In your time of need, because of your generosity, God will move heaven and earth to make sure you are taken care of.'" (p. 70)

Horton goes on later to cast Osteen as a religious proponent of works-righteousness:

"Make no mistake about it, behind all of the smiles there is a thorough-going religion of works-righteousness: 'God's plan for each of our lives is that we continually rise to new levels. But how high we go in life, and how much of God's favour and blessing we experience, will be directly related to how well we follow his directions.'" (p. 86)