SUPER FUNNY UPDATE ON JOEL OSTEEN: Check out Joel Osteen’s super scammy books he sells on Amazon (24!!!) including his self help BS book
and his hilarious book on “Wise Choices”. If only he’d follow his own advice!
LOL! For all you Joel Osteen fanboys – remember he just cynically feeds on you to make money so he can live his fancy lifestyle. He couldn’t care less about you in reality.
Popular televangelist preacher Joel Osteen has been named the “Most Influential Christian in America” in 2006 by the Church Report, was one of
Barbara Walters, “10 Most Fascinating People of 2006 and operates an extraordinarily profitable religious scam operation that probably will one day end in scandal.
So who is this guy who has appeared on 60 Minutes, Larry King Live and has his own television shows?
Who is this guy who thinks he can share the mighty name of Joel?
Joel Osteen has not yet had major sex scandals, drug scandals or molestation scandals like the other megachurch pastors: Pat Robertson, Al Sharpton, Ted Haggard, Paul Barnes, D.E. (Earl) Paulk, Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, William Dodd and too many others to possibly mention here. What Joel Osteen DOESN’T do is the real question.
In his sermons, Joel Osteen does not talk about God. Joel Osteen instead talks about almost everything except God. He has a television ministry, a massive church, $43 million a year in tithes and another $36 million a year in mailed in donations, but he won’t talk about God. He, like Pastor Kevin Gerald, talks about more pleasant topics, such as donating money to him and positive thinking. He has written two books, the second of which sold 3 million copies, but his books don’t really talk about God either. It’s just his bland and boring advice on how to live a happy life that has been thought of by other people first, “Think positively about yourself” and other such drivel.
What does Joel Osteen say when people ask him about why he does not discuss God or Jesus Christ or sin or what you need to do to go to Heaven? “That’s not my gift.” What are you doing being a freaking megachurch pastor then, bonehead?!
If you are going to try to operate a religious scam, at least make it religious! I actually think that Joel Osteen operating a secular “Christian” church is more of a scandal than Ted Haggard and his transsexual prostitutes and meth! (Though not nearly as funny of a scandal).
Joel Osteen didn’t even found his megachurch; instead the business was handed down to him by his father. When Joel Osteen became the head pastor of his church, he had only preached ONE sermon in his entire life- and that was the week before. Joel Osteen does not have any training in the Bible (seminary, degrees, etc.), which is probably why he doesn’t want to talk about it much.
My loyal readers have pointed out to me many times that the ridiculous actions of leaders in religion do not invalidate their beliefs. They are absolutely correct on this. However, there has never been anything that VALIDATES their beliefs either. The Flying Spaghetti Monster has the same amount of evidence on his side as most other gods. Here is another question I put to you: Please find me a single megachurch pastor who is NOT a scam-running, meth-eating, prostitute-abusing criminal. Anyone?
Update March 3, 2008 on JOEL OSTEEN:
Many people have been discussing Joel Osteen in the comments and making statements about his beliefs, behavior and preaching methods that show a distinct lack of understanding of his profit driven motives. Below I have added a video of Joel Osteen on Larry King Live where he dances around the core question of the Christian faith: What does it take to get to heaven? Joel Osteen hems and haws and won’t even say that people of different religions won’t make it to heaven.
The partial transcript for Joel Osteen’s interview with Larry King is below. I have basically pulled out the most pertinent excerpts to the point I have tried to make on televangelist Joel Osteen.
Televangelist Joel Osteen Discusses Christianity with Larry King
First is Larry King’s impressive introduction of Joel Osteen:
LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Tonight, Joel Osteen, evangelism’s hottest rising star, pastor for the biggest congregation in the United States… Pastor Joel Osteen is here for the hour…. Joel Osteen is the author of the number one “New York Times” best-seller, “Your Best Life Now.” There you see its cover. “Seven Steps to Living at Your Full Potential.” There is now a compendium been published called “Your Best Life Now Journal,” a guide to reaching that full potential. Joel Osteen is pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. His father before him. He has been called the smiling preacher.
Larry King knows Joel Osteen Ministries is huge and tries to play nice with him throughout the interview.
KING: Why are you a preacher?
JOEL OSTEEN: You know, I never was for 17 years. I worked with my dad there at the church. He tried to get me to minister. I didn’t have it in me. I worked behind the scenes. I loved doing production and things. But when my father died, I just knew — I don’t know how to explain it, it sounds kind of odd, but I just knew down to here I was supposed to step up to the plate and pastor the church. And it was odd because I had never preached before. But I just knew I was supposed to do it.
Hmmm… either God gave him the “calling” or he was scared of losing his father’s multi-million dollar preaching business.
KING: But don’t you think if people don’t believe as you believe, they’re somehow condemned?
JOEL OSTEEN: You know, I think that happens in our society. But I try not to do that. I tell people all the time, preached a couple Sundays about it. I’m for everybody. You may not agree with me, but to me it’s not my job to try to straighten everybody out. The Gospel called the good news. My message is a message of hope, that’s God’s for you. You can live a good life no matter what’s happened to you. And so I don’t know. I know there is condemnation but I don’t feel that’s my place.
Joel Osteen comes right out and says that he will refuse to condemn sinners. He is too afraid, it’s not his place, he just wants to spew bland niceties… hmmm.
LARRY KING: Where were you ordained? OSTEEN: I was ordained from the church there, Lakewood, under my dad’s ministry.
LARRY KING: So you didn’t go to seminary?
JOEL OSTEEN: No, sir, I didn’t.
LARRY KING: They can just make you a minister?
JOEL OSTEEN: You can, you can.
Wow. Joel Osteen never even attended Bible school or classes for future preachers. No wonder he is so clueless about Biblical theology.
LARRY KING: Is it hard to lead a Christian life?
JOEL OSTEEN: I don’t think it’s that hard. To me it’s fun. We have joy and happiness. Our family — I don’t feel like that at all. I’m not trying to follow a set of rules and stuff. I’m just living my life.
LARRY KING: But you have rules, don’t you?
JOEL OSTEEN: We do have rules. But the main rule to me is to honor God with your life. To life a life of integrity. Not be selfish. You know, help others. But that’s really the essence of the Christian faith.
Of course its not hard for Joel Osteen to lead a Christian life. BECAUSE HE’S NOT!!!
LARRY KING: What if you’re Jewish or Muslim, you don’t accept Christ at all?
JOEL OSTEEN: You know, I’m very careful about saying who would and wouldn’t go to heaven. I don’t know …
LARRY KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They’re wrong, aren’t they?
JOEL OSTEEN: Well, I don’t know if I believe they’re wrong. I believe here’s what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God with judge a person’s heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don’t know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don’t know. I’ve seen their sincerity. So I don’t know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus.
The last exchange between Larry King and Joel Osteen hits the nail on the head of everything that is wrong with the Joel Osteen Ministry. All it is is fluff. He can’t even defend the single core belief of Christianity- that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is a requirement to gain access to Heaven.
Below is more Joel Osteen preaching videos. Joel Osteen preaches on cheesy, transparent topics that have nothing to do with the Bible. He twists scripture around to serve his own purposes of mass produced drivel. My question to Joel Osteen is where in the Bible does it say Christians have a “right to total victory” over physical pain, financial problems and other issues? Did he completely miss the book of Job or the trials and tribulations that the early Christians had to suffer under the Romans? I don’t think that Joel Osteen has ever even read the Bible.
DO NOT LET JOEL OSTEEN CONTINUE TO GET AWAY WITH HIS BIBLE-CONTRADICTING, POLITICALLY CORRECT AND PROFIT SEEKING DRIVEL! JOEL OSTEEN’S SCANDAL IS OUTRAGEOUS!
Jesus once went into a temple and threw out currency traders and salespeople…. WHO WILL THROW THE SCANDAL CREATING JOEL OSTEEN OUT OF GOD’S ASTRODOME TEMPLE?
Further discussion: Joel Osteen megachurch building – Joel Osteen paid the city of Houston $90,000,000 to remodel the former home of NBA team Houston Rockets and an additional $14,000,000 to lease the building for 30 years. Preacher Joel Osteen’s megachurch does not even own the building! Pastor Joel Osteen doesn’t care though- he’ll be dead by then and this church is all about him. The most interesting thing about the new church is that there is not a SINGLE cross in the whole building! Want to know why? Joel Osteen says that he wants to remove all “stumbling blocks” from the way of people coming to his church and being comfortable. Since when has Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross been a STUMBLING BLOCK for faith?! The scandal here is that the Joel Osteen is doing and saying blasphemous things… and no one is calling him out on it. The pastor of the largest church in America won’t even follow the basic tenets of Christianity!
Visit the Prayer Helpers site here to buy prayers for sale.
Joel Osteen is unable to even keep his own family under control. Pastor Joel Olsteen’s wife, Victoria Osteen, has been fined $3,000 and is being sued for assaulting a flight attendant on her first-class trip to the playground of the rich and famous Vail, Colorado.
Bible Verses that Condemn Megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen
I have had quite a few people post in the comments asking what does it really matter what Joel Osteen believes if he’s helping people? If Joel Osteen teaches nice things, isn’t it okay for him to be a Christian pastor? I understand that my opinions of right and wrong should not sway you, but I ask you to consider what the Bible says on the matter. First, let’s take the Bible verses that are the standard definition of who is a Christian:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (NIV)
For the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godnot by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
To summarize, the only way to be saved and go to heaven is by the grace of Jesus and by faith in God. These are the basic verses that every Christian who has accepted Christ knows. Now for the verses that clearly state that only Christians who believe the above will go to Heaven:
-John 3:3: no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
-John 3:15: everyone who believes in him [Jesus] may have eternal life.
-John 3:18: whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of Gods one and only Son.
-John 14:6: Jesus answered: No one comes to the Father except through me
-Acts 3:23: And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. (ASV)
-Acts 4:12: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved
-Romans 10:9: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
-Hebrews 9:28: he [Christ] will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him
-1 John 5:12: he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
The nine quoted verses above clearly state that only Christians can go to Heaven. Now, if Joel Osteen truly believed and was a pastor of a Bible-based church, would he preach a false message of hope to people? Joel Osteen is essentially subverting the word of God, which motivated me to write this post. I am not sure why Joel would do this, but my postulation (as above) is that he is doing it for financial gain. Joel Osteens father was a pastor and he has been a pastor for a long time now and he should know better than most people the MOST basic tenets of Christianity. Ignorance is an excuse for new Christians (as long as they work at it), but not for a shepherd of the flock.
Do you know what the Bible says about false teachers like Joel Osteen?
-2 Timothy 4:3,4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth , and be turned aside to fables.
-Matthew 7:15,16 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.
-Acts 20:29-31 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves . Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
-2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
-2 Peter 3:16,17 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
-Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
-Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
The Bible is very, very harsh in its condemnation of people who change, twist or leave out parts of its doctrine. False leaders (Joel Osteen), to me, are more disgusting than someone who is a hypocrite (Ted Haggard).
For more information on mega church pastor Joel Osteen you can search Google with the terms joelosteen.com or joel osteen.com to find the man’s website. You could also use terms such as Joel Osteen Website or Joel Osteen Lakewood Church for other sorts of information on him.
Why do I care what Joel Osteen does or doesnt do in his church, especially seeing that I am not religious? People who are cheats, fakes, and phonies really bother me. I have written quite a few other posts on various community leaders who lead people astray for their own personal gain. My tax dollars go to support Joel Osteen (every church in America is exempt from taxes, but Joel Osteen is making millions tax-free teaching his Prosperity Message when he is basically just another self-help guru). I also am very wary of megachurch pastors (I used to attend one and have seen many on television)- they often seem to be some of the craziest people (Jim Jones-Want some Kool Aid?)
i dont approve of all of the megaprechers ways but i will speak on something that is right or wrong! joel olsteen was very correct for not being suckerd by larry king into being a judge!!Who goes to heaven or hell to say a person or group is going to hell IS A SIN!! it means you are the judge Allow God’s word to say it because it is God!! you dont ever know who will have a change of heart at the point of death read the crucifiction of Christ details of the thief on the cross!! not to mention the book of Rev. talks about a millinium period of teaching for those who were truly misled or did not have the chance to learn correctly so even after death some people still have a chance to be saved! break your bible down into the original languages and these things will be even clearer to you joel olsteen was smart on that one!!
Trell i read your post, how do you figure Joel was suckered? Larry King asked a simple question….he said Joel when people say you have to believe on JESUS, they are wrong are`nt they? Joel said well i would`nt say they are wrong, well you do have to believe on JESUS to have eternal life, Joel should have told king that, b/c there are lot`s of people that don`t know, but so for as who makes it to HEAVEN, only GOD and GOD alone knows who will be there…..what got Joel in trouble with GOD is when he said he did`nt know if people are wrong, i mean you pastor one of the biggest churches in the world and you don`t know that you have to believe on JESUS, i mean come on now, a first grade child would know the answer to that question….so joel did deny JESUS trell, Jesus said if you will not confess me before men, neither will i confess you before my FATHER, pretty simple, very simple in fact….i have watched larry king many times, in fact i`ve been on the show, i talked with playboy guru, heaftner, he may have lot`s of nice looking women, but it won`t mean a thing on judgement day, won`t mean any good thing i should say, but anyway i`ve never seen Larry try to trip people up and confuse them, larry is not a cross examiner, he just let`s people say what they are there to say. anyway GOD bless man.
I FEEL REALLY BAD ABOUT THIS. I REALLY LOVED JOEL OSTEEN. HE HELPED ME THROUGH SOME VERY DIFFICULT TIMES. I REALLY BELIEVED THAT HE WAS A GENIUNE MAN OF GOD. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS PRAY FOR HIM. PASTORS AND PREACHERS ARE NO DIFFERENCE FROM US. THEY SIN AND MESS UP JUST LIKE WE DO. JESUS SAID LET THE FIRST ONE WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE. AND THAT YOU WILL BE JUDGED BY THE SAME MEASURE YOU JUDGE OTHERS. WHAT JOEL OSTEEN NEEDS IS OUR PRAYERS!!! IF WE PRAYED FOR ONE ANOTHER MORE THAN WE BAD MOUTHED EACH OTHER OUR LIFE HERE ON EARTH WOULD BE MORE PLEASANT. PLEASE PRAY FOR JOEL OSTEEN AND PASTORS EVERYWHERE. JESUS IS SOON TO COME AND WE NEED TO BE PRAYING AND INTERCEDING FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. GOD BLESS, PATRICIA
I think Patricia said it right. we should pray one for another, and pray that joel sees his error on this clip on this site where he said he did`nt know if people were wrong for not believing on JESUS, so we will pray he learns the truth….nice words patricia.
Joel Osteen is awesome! He changed my daughers life (to make godly goals for her life) when nothing else could. Get real folks and stop picking a person to death that is saving lives.
I owuld call the critical spirit in your people, just that, a spirit thing and legalistic as well. The word will teach you how to get rid of both. That is what the New Testament is all about.
I watch Joel Osteen every Sunday and he does speak of God many times during his sermon. Unlike other evangelists, I actually learn something new everytime I watch him. I watch him because he is positive and not negative like so many other evangelists. All that matters is that he is spiritual. Spirituality and religion are not the same. Religion is nothing more than a set of rules and beliefs. You don’t have to go to church to worship God. He is not confined inside of a building. You don’t have to be religious to worship God either. You only have to be spiritual, believe, and have faith. God is an essence. God is everywhere and in everything.
I maself have been listening to joel osteen sermons and they ave changed ma life and ma faith towards God joel u should know u ave u own life and its up to u if u dont trust Gods word being sermoned by his man everyone will be judge according to his doing.anthony am very happy ad touched by your answers u gave may God bless u more
He is a great pastor and i believe in him i have been listening to his sernoms and to me he is the best.It takes ones faith to believe.Ihave read one of his books and it changed me so so much i thank God for him.
I don’t know why people spend their time talking against people who are actually helping people (whether for the right reasons or wrong) who are we to judge someone who is helping people. Are you? If Joel Olsteen is doing this for his own reasons then God will judge him and his true person will be brought out and that is for God to do not you or anyone else. I have heard him preach about God and what God says about life and stuff. So instead of making a big issue out of what he is doing you should really focus on what God wants you to do. If he never went to “seminary” so what people in the bible didn’t go to seminary and you don’t see in the bible where there are scriptures talking bad about Paul, Mark, James, Luke. We all need to remember God is God and if Joel is doing stuff he shouldn’t be doing that is for God to judge not you or anyone else. We are all human and all make mistakes.
Having watched and listened to Joel Osteen only briefly, I don’t find himself very compelling. Only slightly more so than the author of this article. But are Christians commanded to judge not lest they be judged?
The BIBLE says to not judge falsely, but when someone goes on a talk show and says he don`t know if people are wrong for not believing on JESUS, i would hardly call that judging. if i say to someone, well i don`t know if people are wrong for not believing on JESUS, then i`m just as wrong as mr osteen, nothing personal against mr osteen, but i believe he would be more of a motivational speaker, i don`t believe you could make a case to say he is a preacher of the gospel. the BIBLE says we are to test the pastor and see if what they say is true, well i know for a fact you have to believe on JESUS to gain entry to heaven. to make a statement like mr osteen did on this site on the talk show, mr osteen is as lost as a goat in a hail storm, i don`t care how he makes one feel, and he will remain lost until he confessess GODS only son, JESUS. i wish only the best for mr osteen and his family, but his teaching is in grave error. if you don`t have to believe on JESUS, then who do you have to believe on?, and why do you go to a church and tithe to keep a so called preacher up, give Dave Ramsey your money, he will motivate you. i`m glad you people get blessed from watching mr osteen, but you have to remember, some good things are not from GOD. GOD BLESS YOU PEOPLE.
Thank you for all you do Joel Osteen, the person who wrote this does not belive in God!
u should open your heart and understand that people have diffrent gifts and if u say u have a gift and dont then i will pray 4 u brother cause u need the lord jesus in your life
you see all these people and their hype,talking about different gifts, but like some other people on this post i read, they said tell the rest of us, if joel is so plugged into GOD,why did he say what he did on the L. King show?. i looked the postings over and i have`nt seen one supporter explain how you can say you don`t know if people are wrong for not believing on Jesus. so whitch God do you people serve? you don`t serve the christian God, there is no way you can, not when you won`t confess Jesus, yall must have your own religeon, make your own rules, and you supporters can`t deny it.
I think if you don’t like him….SIMPLE turn your “TV” channel… simple
The Lord loves us all and he knows the will and intention in his children’s hearts.
Shame on you!!! Jesus said “in my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you”. NOT “I go to make Heaven Exclusively Christian”. Also, there is no reason for a cross in the church, the early Christian sign was a fish. not a cross. The cross didn’t become popular until Emperor Constantine some 300+ years after the Resurrection. And the miracle of Jesus is his message of God’s Love and the Resurrection, NOT the crucifixion. Joel preaches his entire televised sermon about God’s love and how God wants the best for us. We just have to keep in His faith.
I cannot believe what I have read. Instead of condemning the words and preachings of anyone, why don’t you do the right thing. It’s simple. Take the good and leave the rest alone. Why judge a man? If in fact Mr. Olsteen is indeed all the negative writings I have read, that is between him and his God. Don’t judge. If you don’t like his practices or words you have a choice. Don’t join in. Turn him off. Don’t send him your money. This is fundamentaly why I have such a hard time with organized religion. Why all the negativity and judgement?
I am not Christian. I am a spiritual being. I seek God’s words in many faith’s. Some of Mr. Olteen’s words speak to me. I prefer to have hope and positivity rule me than fear of hell and damnation.
But again, this is a personal choice. Make your own choice without harming others with your words.
“Let he who is free from sin cast the first stone.”
I see a lot of stone throwers in this blog. Shame on you.
What is wrong with you? I mean seriously, what IS wrong with you?
First off, it really sounds to me like you are envious of this man’s ministry. So he makes a ziliion dollars. Who really cares? Is that the point?
Joel speaks about things that God is calling him to speak on. God is working through him….those words aren’t Joel’s, they are God’s. Joel is the fortunate vehicle that god is using to speak through.
You bring up the issue of Heaven…. and Joel’s take on that. Pretty much everyone gets to heaven because God’s Love is LIMITLESS…. I’ll say it again.. Limitless! Can you even fathom God? Do you know the hope that God and Joel brings to people?
You sound like a petty school kid. You do. You sound ridiculous!
I mean.. do you think you have the authority to say yourself who goes to Heaven. Is that something God chose for you to do? An Eastern Indian woman has just as much right to Heaven or reincarnation… or whatver she believes in. God doesn’t just speak English!!!
Do everybody a favor and reassess your opinion. Because it seems like this issues is entirely your problem!!
Did Peter go to the seminary?Does the bible requires preachers to go to the seminary?What are your bible basis to your accusation?