The Great I AM

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I was recently researching the megachurch phenomenon that is booming in this country and stumbled upon an interview between Joel Osteen, preacher of America's largest megachurch, and Oprah Winfrey as they were discussing one of his bestselling books entitled I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life.

During the interview, Osteen discussed with Oprah the importance of positive self-talk and how the words you speak can become your destiny.**  At the conclusion of the interview, Oprah asked Osteen to "lead them in a few 'I Am's'" at which he promptly asked the studio audience to stand to their feet and repeat after him phrases such as: "I am strong.  I am healthy. I am confident.  I am secure.  I am talented.  I am disciplined. I am victorious."

Now, on the surface of things, particularly in today's psychological and positive self-esteem infused culture, this might not raise many eyebrows.  But, watching this interview and the audience's participation and positive reaction to Osteen's message made me writhe and wriggle like a worm on a hook.  What about it made me so uncomfortable?  Well, let me explain...

You see, the Scriptures reveal but ONE who is worthy to be addressed as I AM, and that is Jehovah God--the God who revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush, who is so holy that we must first discard our sandals before we walk near Him on Holy Ground (Exodus 3:14).

Furthermore, according to the Scriptures, you and I are NOT strong.  God's Word states just the opposite--we are weak and dumb like little sheep (Ezekiel 34).  We are NOT confident or secure--in fact, if we think we are, the prophet Jeremiah calls us "cursed" and warns us that we will NOT see prosperity when it comes.  Instead of self-confidence, we are to have God-confidence...

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
    who draws strength from mere flesh
    and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
    they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
    in a salt land where no one lives.
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”   --Jeremiah 17:5-8

So too, you and I are NOT disciplined or victorious.  In fact, only by the Holy Spirit will we experience the fruit of self-control in our lives (Gal 5:22-23), and only when we are empowered by God to say NO to sin and temptation will we be victorious in our lives (Titus 2:12, 1 Corin 10:13).

No, we are NEVER the things Osteen says that we are apart from Christ--apart from the GREAT I AM.  And while Osteen and Oprah purport that we can change our destinies with the words we say, the Scriptures reveal but ONE who has the power to create with the power of His Words, and that is the God we see at work in the first chapter of Genesis.

So, dear one, let us never proclaim "I am {fill in the blank}" apart from the grace of God and the strength He provides!  For He ALONE is worthy of these attributes and we are to fall upon HIS mercy and grace and all that HE does in our lives!

For HE is the GREAT I AM and we...are NOT!

**Please do not be confused--the Bible speaks at length about the importance of renewing our thoughts and minds with truth.  Philippians 4:8 in particular lists those things that we ought to think about--things that are true, noble, pure, lovely, etc.  However, the biblical practice of renewing our minds is never self-centered, but rather God-centered as we focus on the character of God, remember the things He has done, and meditate upon the truth of His Word.  We are never told that our thoughts shape our destinies--rather, our thoughts are to fixate on God who is ultimately sovereign over our lives and this world.