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?)
As a mother, I believe that in today’s world – people should find WHOM EVER makes them feel close to God. There is crime and war out the “wa-zoo” in the world today. Everyone wants to exclude God from their life because they don’t want to offend anyone’s feelings. Controversey right down to removing the word “GOD” from print on our money and in our school books. When in fact, there is not enough God going around. Now, if you want “word-for-word” Bible regurgitation….open it up and read it!!!
I personally found God in my life through JOEL OSTEEN! Prior to listening to him, God was not even a thought in my life. So if he has opened the door to a relationship with God – then I am forever grateful to him. I happen to personally ENJOY the way he shares his interpretated messages in a realistic and “easy to understand” type fashion. I sit with my children and watch him. If more parents included God in their children’s lives – regardless of who was talking about HIM – the statistics wouldn’t be what they are today. Didn’t it ever occur to anyone that thousands of years and thousands of Biblical re-writes later….the actual “word of God” has been misinterpreted through language barriers or translations? How about the possibility of lost or missing documents that were meant to be included in the Bible that never even made their way into print? So wake up folks….the only true word of God is from God. Every single HUMAN being who “preaches” anything is going to interpret the messages differently and that is PRECISELY the reason we choose who we want to listen to. We are all looking for the one who makes it interesting and inviting to us – that’s who were are going to listen to. There is no contest to see which congregation has more followers or who went to a better “ministry” school. The bottom line is clear…the real goal is to provide everyone a relationship with God – the challenges are:
1. Do not support or look for ways to exclude God from our lives and schools.
2. Find the maturity and responsibility within our own selves to choose to have a relationship with God.
3. Once you’ve conquered number 1 and 2….Find your “JOEL” or who ever “speaks” to you in a way that you enjoy, look forward to, and keep as a part of your life.
I live way out of Joel osteen’s life and i dont think he will ever come to my country (Uganda). but i love his teachings and preaching. he restores faith n belief into me. i download podcasts of him preaching n listen everyother day. I do not know what you are talking about when you say Joel Osteen is not a bible reader because he is always quoting from the bible while preaching. Joel is a man of God who admits that he wasnot confident to do God’s work but he stepped up and did it. whether he did it to save the billions or whatever, bottom line is he is doing a good job. So many great men in the bible hesitated when called by God himself to do God’s work but they were blessed and turned out perfect. He said on Larry King that it’s not his place to judge, and it is not. The bible says ‘Judge and you shall be Judged’. I suggest you sit down, rid yourself of hate and bitterness and you will find alot of good in Joel Osteens teachings.
Hello,
What more can a computer Blogger do here. Joel is a wonderful person. And, has a great family. Yes,
I have listened to him. He is doing nothing illegal. If he has no License in Texas to preach God, than, he can not. He can only say his Name,”God”, That he uses in his testimonials. He, is however educated and very knowledgable of, God and Religion. And, he can help and mentor as many people as he wants too. That is, in his own way. That is legal enough. He is not a scam. You are, by putting nonsense on the web like this! He is a true blue man with alot of heart and love to share with others.
Kaloni
Leave Joel Osteen alone. He is a good guy. The person running this site is the evil one.
Who’s the real scammer with all these click on ads on this blog? And look at what you’re promoting: Prayer for a price. It’s all about money and so is this site. How much do you make from it? Joel Osteen does talk about GOD all the time. Get your head out of your uptight arse and listen to him. You might learn something. Joel brings the positive to the world (God’s work). Sites like this only contribute to more negative (the devil’s work.)
I was googling Joel Osteen and found your website. A lot of effort has been devoted to develop it and I congratulate you for your determination. I must say that I am quite disturbed by your attacks on Osteen. There is no facts to sustain your view and it seems to me that you must be bitter at his success. It is an not a american attitude to be this jalous. I can understand that you do not like his preaching techniques. So focus on your and show us what you can do to make us know God. A son of God must be careful not to be too unfair. I believe you have crossed the line. Please stop this while you can because our Father who is in heaven can be mad at you if you persist. Blessings to you and to your family. Blessings to your readers. Brother Roger
Joel Osteen is a very gifted man. The fact that he could develop the church without all the
degree’s, pomp and circumstance of other men pretty much explains everything. The church
people voted for him so he was not just handed this position..His positive approach is much
needed in these dark times. He give people hope. He mentions God constantly..if you actually listened to his sermons you would know that. Its amazing to me all the stories he can put
together to help people feel they have a chance in life. God through him helps people build
self esteem. What do you do with your time besides judging ministers? I would be careful
what you say.
As you can see from the responses in this blog..people are postively affected by
his ministry and are sharing that his messages uplift and point to God. Should he fail us
the truth is still the truth. Ultimately we are suppose to look to God. He invites people
to make Christ the Lord of their lives at the end of his messages..I think he is the complete
package for what he is called to do. “Touch not God’s annointed”: and spend some
time praying and building up those he has called to the ministry. God is a creative God
he can speak through people using many styles of preaching.
Ministers are human like all of us. They will fail, count on it..but the truth of God
will never fail!
To you Joel G. who keeps this blog..”Mercy triumps over judgement”.
I find your analysis of Osteen 100% correct. Keep up the good work!
How do you stop him?
I agree that this is horrible, and I know that you’ve portrayed him accurately. How do Christians stop him though?
Sure Joel seems nice and I am sure he truley believes in God. However, he appears to know nothing about the Bible and seldom quotes scripture which makes me question his reliability. He is very good at sugar-coating messages and telling us what we want to hear. He even believes all other religions are ok, which to me does not seem valid at all to what it says in the Bible. The Bible makes it very clear who is and is not going to Heaven and if Joel does not know, then he needs to go back and do some very careful studying before he tries to speak the truth. True, he never talks about sin. Jesus talked about sin all over in the Bible. Somehow Joel avoids the nitty-gritty and telling people the raw truth. I believe he is a scam and is soaking up the glory in dollar bills.
I watch Joel Osteen quite often and the bible says taht we are not to put our faith in man
I find him encouraging and Gods word is about encouraging if he is wrong he has to face God
but if you judge him you are also wrong the bible specifically says do not touch Gods annointed ones
The problem is thatyou are seeing through fleshy eyes, not the eyes of the spirit. You are not seeing him as a spiritual brother. He is telling the truth. You will judge him if you want, but you will be measured in the same way which you measure others. God finds pleasure in persectution. God will show who the false prophets, not you.
Amen! Although he may not be directly hurting anyone, he isn’t stating the simple truth “No one gets to the father except through me” John 14:6. Instead of calling himself a pastor, he should just call himself a motivational speaker.
Oh my, such words…
Be kind people.
…and they looked upon (the Apostles) and were astonished because they were unlearned men…
…But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance…for the Lord looks at the heart”
…Most assuredly I say to you, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God does not come by observation…
…if you knew the gift of god…you would have asked…and have…living water.
Jenny has it right on. Trash-talking any obviously annointed servant of the one true and living God is like Uzzah touching the Ark of the Covenant to steady it. For all of his good intentions, Uzzah was struck dead, so every one of us should live by the example of King David and resist the temptation to strike out at those we have ought against. Also, quoting scripture to make some point might seem intellectually sound on its face, but Satan himself likewise quoted scripture to make his case against Jesus, that is, God Himself in the flesh.
What I see in the diatribe of this blog is an expose’ of what you personally think of the man based upon past, unrelated experiences, what you think he might be doing or will eventually do based upon your assumptions, and what you think the Bible upon cursory examination says about that kind of person you postulate Joel may or might possibly be. Please accept my advice and try reading “The Case for Christ”, written by Lee Strobel, a one-time Atheist, and “Know Why You Believe” & “Know What You Believe”, written by the singularly highly respected college professor Paul E. Little, and after having done so, email me at jd_mix@yahoo.com. One final note:
…For God loved you and I so much that He freely gave His one & only irreplacable son whom He loved very dearly, as dearly as any human parent could love their child and more, to be crucified – from where we derive the term ‘excruciating’ – not to condemn you or I, but that through Him we might be saved, know God the person and His Holy Spirit, and have eternal, everlasting, unending life in the most beautiful, perfect way imaginable…
(Paraphrased and expounded upon)
Best Regards to All and God Bless
Joel is not at fault, you all are who chooses to condemn him. think about the people god used in the Bible. David was a murderer, fornicator,but God loved him and Jesus came from the line of David. Saul persecuted the christians and god blinded him and changed him and yet he is one of the greatest writer of the new testament.
judge not, less he be judged. no man is perfect. Our job is to accepted jesus as our lord and saviour and study his word. Get to know God for ourself and that way no one can mislead us.
the Bible talks about false prophets but it is not how job to condemn. Vengeance is mine says the Lord. Get save and stop trying to run god’s business. David had a chance to kill King Saul in a cave when Saul was trying to kill him. He took a piece of saul’s coat and left him unhurt. he said “touch not the Lord’s anointed”. Let the Lord have His way.
Osteen, Hagee, myers, parsley, crouch, Dollar. Bynum. Jakes, Hinn, Tilton, Roberts, the late Scott, Duplantis, Hagen, Popoff, and many more, i can`t judge their heart, but 20 years of BIBLE study, i can test what they say and compare it with the BIBLE, GODS WORD, and they just plain and simply don`t measure up…
I believe osteen is leading people who don’t care for ethics or god to begin a relationship with the lord. Preaching to the choir is easy.
grow the wheat and the tears until harvest. Let the Lord judge us.
JUDGE NOT LEST YE BE JUDGED Is that not for everyone of us??!!