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?)
Poor little ole joel just don`t have it going on, i heard him the other day preaching on an annointed frog, immagine that, an annointed frog, maybe it was kermitt.
Boy i tell you one thing, if benny hinn every comes there to preach, when he starts blowing people down, you better see if you still have your pocket book. joel you keep both eyes on hinn if he preaches at your church.
I could`nt help but roll in the floor laughing, paul crouch said, poor folks, get ready to come out poverty whe you make that vow of three thousand dollars, these mega preachers are cleaning peoples clocks, the sad part of it is the things they tell people to get their money has nothing to do with being saved, LORD HELP US.
Is it not a sin to judge others? Maybe you should read the entire Bible yourself, only GOD can truly judge a man!
Matthew 7:1 judge not lest you be judged.
But this is America, and the only leg you have to stand on is freedom of speech, but your freedom is the bondage of pride. God loves you enough to change the anyone that is willing to come to Him.
Peace,
Inmyheart
post 644 robert, you are dead wrong brother, if you don`t use some form of judgement, how will you know what the truth is, the BIBLE says test a man to see that he is of the truth, i don`t judge the man, i judge his false doctrine………..and it is no doubt a false teaching, these word of faith teachers teach their devotes that they can actually speak their own world into existence, little joel says if you say it long enough it will come to pass, that is pure nonsence. precious people with cancer would love for this to be true, they just go around all day saying i don`t have cancer, and they say it everyday all day, it`s not gonna change the situation, sometime GOD heals and sometime he don`t, some word of faith teachers teach that GOD always heals, well if you have the brain of a gnat you know this is not true, b/c if GOD always healed then nobody would die. the truth is we are all gonna grow old and get sick and die, the death rate is one per person and everyone is gonna make it. i guarantee you this is true, and you can listen to all the word of faith teachers you care to listen to, but you will still die………the thing is so serious that a lady had cancer, but she did as the word of faith teachers told her to do, rebuke the cancer, she died, did`nt go to the doctor, if she had gone it might have been something small, have it taken care of and still be alive…..word of faith teachers can get you in quick sand real quick.
The messag about total victory ,sounds like bible to me
JOHN 10 10 says jesus purpose for living and dying was that we would live in total victory , not so we would struggle through life , my concern is that many view God as tight, angry, a kill Joy , sounds like may of us our projecting our negative experiences of own fathers on to Father God.
You know I understand where you coming from however maybe you need to see God in a bigger way …I mean did Jesus go to any theology school? he spent a lot of time with the Father. I think so has Joel …come on God has use him to help countless of people, so what if he cheesy n stuff …God can use anyone…for crying out loud, look at Peter from the bible God used him to build th fist churches I’m sure he didnt have a degree in theology ….YOU CANNOT CONTAIN WHAT GOD CAN DO IN PEOPLE IN A BOX ; if its changing people lives for the better surely thats a good thing!
his sermons are great. i dont know why u guys waste time and energy talking about him. sad for you all.
Matt648,you are so right,I guess some ppl are just hard core jealous that THEY can’t do anything fruitful for the Lord
instead of criticizing the man why dont you pray for him and like a real christian would do believe that God will do his work. If this man is false, then let God handle it. And the same effort u use to prove that this man is false why dont u use it to be a real christian and seek God and let him do his work.
Well folks, its true. Joel Osteen is an antiChrist. I have heard him preach many times and compared his message with the message or our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Bible, inspired and written by the Holy Spirit. Joel Osteen is an antiChrsit that will lead more good folks to hell than Hitler.
Anyone, and that means a lot of you still drinking lambs milk, that takes time to read and understand God’s Holy Word will know without a doubt that Joel Osteen contradicts nearly all of it. I’ve preached on thsi 3 times on the radio thus far, as I am being ordained also.
Who was the richest disciple,….., Judas, I mean Joel. How hard is it for a rich man to enter the gates fo heaven “a camel entering the eye of a needle”, when did Christ get angry “when those in the temple had become a den of robbers, making a profit from God’s house.” What did Christ tell the young rich man “sell all that you have, giv eit to the poor and come follow me”.
Who in the Bible that was rich led anyone to Christ? No one. What did all the saints and disciples and apostles with Jesus have in common, they had no riches except Christ and the Holy Spirit. Joel is everything ther were not. Many false profets today, the curtain is torn in half. READ YOUR OWN BIBLE AND BE SAVED!!!
WHO cares? He’s on TV giving out positive stories and information which helps alot of people who don’t even have parents to guide them. He’s not hurting anyone with his positive energy. To me he’s making this world a better place to live. STop bitching and whining about it. Some of you haters act like he’s out there killing people.
I am a convert to Christianity( from Buddhism) by conviction, living in a country, Sri Lanka, where Christians are persecuted by Sinhala Buddhist majority. I have been watching Joel Osteen regularly on God TV and TBN. Didn’t really think of his feel good gospel until I came across your site and the Larry King Interview. Thanks. Come to think of it, Joel Osteen does sound too much like a feel good preacher which is not the only thing Christianity is all about. But, let me also add that in a nation like mine when we face so much hardship for being Christian (our churches burnt, believers and pastors assaulted) Osteen’s feel good sermons sometimes do help. Thanks
Jesus did not have a degree either he was given the knowledge by God and the holy spirit. The Bible teaches judge not lest you be judged It is not Joels place to say who will or will not go to heaven that is up to God. I watch Joel all the time I think he is a wonderful preacher,and he talkes about God all the time. Mark9:38 teacher said John,we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop,because he was not one of us. Do not stop him, Jesus said. no one who does a mirical in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me.for whoever is not against us is for us.
LEAVE THIS MAN ALONE,WITH ALL THE NEGATIVE CRAP OUT THERE HE PREACHES ABOUT POSITIVE THINGS.HE PUTS HAPPY THOUGHTS IN DAILY LIFE AND TO ME,THAT IS NOT HURTING ANYONE.IF YOU DON’T LIKE HIM,DON’T LISTEN TO HIM.IT’S A SURE THING THAT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE LOVE TO LISTEN TO HIM AND THAT HE MAKES THEM FEEL BETTER ABOUT LIFE IN GENERAL RATHER THAT PREACHING ALL THE GLOOM AND DOOM STUFF A LOT OF PREACHERS PREACH ON.JOEL IS RIGHT ON WHAT HE SAID ABOUT GOD BEING THE ONE WHO DECIDES WHETHER YOU GET INTO HEAVEN OR NOT.AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT GOD KNOWS THE HEARTS OF EVERY ONE OF US SO LEAVE THIS POSITIVE PREACHER ALONE AND START LISTENING TO SOME OF THE OTHER GLOOM AND DOOM PREACHERS.I THINK WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LISTEN TO WHO WE WANT TO LISTEN TO SO JUST TURN THE CHANNEL IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN HIM.AS FOR ME,,I WILL LISTEN TO HIM EVERY CHANCE I GET CAUSE I LIKE POSITIVE THINKING PEOPLE,THEY ARE HAPPY PEOPLE AND FUN TO LISTEN TO.
You said he danced around in answering questions? I say you have little understanding of your calling or none. When you know God calls you, you’ll conceder the cost. As to not wanting to pick up the mantle from his dad that is wisdom. When you have the understanding that people souls are in your hands you will conceder the cost. I also see you are a well read christian. Almost everyone God called ran, said not me Lord or I am not qualified. Not picking on you just want you to get understanding so God won’t judge you. David said I won’t even say any thing negative about Gods anointed. Yes I think Joel doesn’t say the name of Jesus enough either but I know this he is doing a lot more than I am. Next time you see a sermon from him, Stop looking and listen to the very end, when he ask if you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, Accept Jesus into your heart and you will see him like Jesus sees you, With love even with all your imperfections. I too had to learn not to do what you are doing. So I know if you are truly seeking Jesus you to will learn and grow up.
YOU KNOW IT’S REALLY SAD THAT YOU ARE CRITICIZING HIM, MAYBE YOU NEED TO SEEK GOD AND ASK HIM TO HELP YOU GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A CHRISTIAN IS. IT IS NOT BASHING OR PUTTING DOWN A FELLOW BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST. PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, BUT TO ME HE SPEAKS OF HOPE AND NO MATTER WHAT MAY BE GOING ON IN OUR LIVES TO ALWAYS HAVE FAITH AND KEEP BELIEVING. IT SAD THAT THIS WORLD TODAY IS SO QUICK TO JUDGE SOMEONE ELSE INSTEAD OF SEEEKING, AND PRAYING FOR OUR OWN LIVES..MAY GOD BLESS YOU, AND SHOW YOU WHAT IS TRULY RIGHT!!!
Why are you so afraid of this man? He only talks about love of our fellow man, hope, a happy, balanced attitude towards everyday life, and the power of personal prayer.
I’m just wondering how hard your heart must have turned during your lifetime to fear this man.
He keeps Not A Penny of Contributions; he instead lives on the honestly earned money from his books & CDs.
Just wondering … May God bless you, sir!
philip (*_*)
The article/blog was interesting, but honestly, the author’s point would have been better served by providing a more objective stance. Obviously this blog panned out more as an “I’m going to prove to you Joel Osteen is a crook” instead of being objective and allowing the facts and the reader’s intuition and common sense to allow them to come to their own conclusions. But then again, it is a blog. I understand where the author is coming from, but I disagree on the whole interpretation of whether Joel Osteen had ample theology indoctrination. I would say he had more than his fair share, given that it was under a teaching style we in America are no longer familiar with. Mentorship and apprenticeship can make up and even surpass countless hours of studying books, or going to seminary. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in total support of seminary, but we should not discount someone’s methods because they do not fit the model we are most comfortable with. As for whether or not the theological training Joel received from his father was valid, all I can say to that is that I am born again and saved because of the ministry of John Osteen. Whether you ascribe or his brand of Christian doctrine or not, I will be seeing the author in heaven because of John Osteen.
As for Joel, I do agree, that maybe he could use more theological terms in his sermons, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe the congregation he preaches to is the type that has heard all the terms, and is just in search of someone who talks their language and is real. Whatever the case, those who attend and ascribe to Joel’s theology are not being fed anything untrue. A rose called by any other name still smells just as sweet.
I’m not here to change anyone’s mind about Joel, honestly he needs no defense. I am here, however, to question whether or not we as a community have the flexibility to grow up in God, and not expect the entire body of Christ to be all feet or all hands, when obviously the body needs a heart to keep the blood flowing.