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?)
but it does say in the BIBLE Tanya that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to make it to HEAVEN, my pc went on the blink……..
I think you people need to get a life and stop sending out sick stuff on the net.Joel O. is just trying to give the world of negative chaoes some hope and in a positive manner.All do sin and WE all are human and all preachers have the capacity to make mistakes, just like the rest of the human race.It all falls back on how strong your faith is and do you have what it takes to live in this ugly world without being conformed to it’s ugliness.Look at people through the eyes of GOD and focus on your own soul and what does GOD think of you.GOD LOVES ALL PEOPLE!!!
I just want to say that as a recovering addict, Joel Osteen has played a huge part in my life and my recovery. He inspires me and gives me hope.
Hey, why don’t you write something on the slash and stab flicks that are rampant in society today? He must really put a burr in your saddle to go throught this much effort to vilify him!
This is the first preacher to finally touch people’s lives and make a difference. Sincerely listen to Joel’s message and the message of Lakewood and you will find a loving and uplifting environment. Joel and his ministry has changed my life for the betterment of God. I pray more and listen and read His word because of listening to Joel. His daily devotionals are inspiring to say the least. Each of us needs to put God in our hearts, no matter how it arrives.
wow this is truly remarkable…you haven’t found any scandals because this is truly a man of GOD…listen please grow up and try to better this earth which allows you to live on it…he may not want to be too biblical for most so they grasp the concept and i GUARANTEE if you want to talk biblically with him he will put you to shame.
Trying to build and repair my life practicing spiritual principals there are three that are indespensible; honesty, openmindness, and willingness. With a open mind I have to take the best of what someone says and leave the rest. God and only him can judge what a man is doing is for the right motives. If Joel’s motives are not pure the he will have to answer to Him. NOT me or you. I am able to listen to him preach and take what I need to become a better person and leave all the rest to God. Praise you Jesus and thank you for all that I have and all that I don’t have.
We are ALL children of God. Joel spreads positive messages of love, kindness, and mercy and forgiveness. This is what God wants – he wants us to spread love so we can live in a better world. We have enough hate and negativity in the world. Joel Osteen empowers us to live out God’s true message, which is to love God with our heart, mind and soul, and to love our neighbor like we love God.
You need help because you are spewing venom about a person (Osteen) you do not know personally or respect!! Not sure why you picked on him and why you disrespect him but thousands of people have come to know Jesus through his preaching. For you to say he does not mention God is wrong. At the end of the sermon he extends an invitation for people to accept Christ! He does use Bible verses throughout his sermon to make a point. If you knew the Bible you will not waste your time attacking him. I ask all christians who are reading this to pray for this person who is filled with such hate. It is sad!
this is ridiculous..this guy needs to really be saved and realize that God is love…and this old school mentality of scaring people into believing in Jesus is ignorant….he is one of the reasons why the church is not growing…a house divided against itself…
Joel Osteen is definately a positive motivational type speaker, and has always been upfront about his belief in Christ. We are told that it is not our place to judge….looking at all the prior comments I can just say ‘wow’….glad God does the judging in heaven…
for your reading pleasure.
I’m not a fan of any televangelist and I wish they would all go away. But I do think it’s refreshing that Mr. Osteen refuses to judge anyone and states clearly that it’s God’s job to judge. He’s on the right path and whoever the loser is who is judging Mr. Osteen is no better.
I know just the thing this author talks about – it usually is from a judgemental believer who is quick to point out the faults in others. I know we have to “try the spirits to see if they are from God”, but you have to get your facts straight FIRST – heard any of Joel’s sermons? Actually listened to them to try to get anything out of them?” I don’t think the author of this article has done so. Also many of the clips and exerpts this author shows in the article are either short clips, or ones like Larry King where Joel was obviously caught off guard. In last year’s meeting with Larry King, Joel reiterated that “I do believe that we must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to go to heaven.”
When the disciples went to Jesus and said “we saw other casting out demons and healing in your name. Should we forbid them?”, Jesus responded with a “No. If they are not against us, they are for us.” What a non-judgemental attitude!
Yes, I was skeptical at first, and I do know that his teaching style is quite different. He is light on some things, but one thing he is NOT light on is integrity – he tells people that his gift is encouragement. Also, he is open about everything his ministry does – there are many people in Lakewood Church that are more versed in theology than he is. All I can say, is that I took a group of 20 people to see him in Chicago last year and all of them to a person still talk about how his encouraging and positive attitude and straight-forward teaching has led them back to God.
Many people who are Catholics are Christians but have different beliefs in Saints and the Virgin Mary than the non-Catholic Christians, and many people I used to know seem to indicate that they will NOT get into heaven because of these weird beliefs. However, those judgemental people who can quote book, chapter and verse, have not met many of these people, do not realize both their love for the Lord in their hearts, and have not seen them in action to help the downtrodden people in the world, when many of the judgemental theologians do not lend a hand and spend too much time judging and condemning others.
Joel gets people’s attention by drawing attention to the love of God, then encourages people to come up higher in their lives, in their beliefs, and in their relationships. Because it is in these areas that others see us and then we have better chances to share God’s love with them. So, he even admits that his theology may not be 100% correct. BUT, he does not say that others who do not love and know Jesus Christ are getting into heaven, he just says that we have to respect their beliefs and their customs. The love of GOd will win people over, not guilt and condemnation.
The words, “Judge not lest ye be judged”, outed those ministers who preached one thing then lived another. I have met Joel and Victoria personally, and find them to be exactly who they are in person, joyful and humble. I also met his brother and his choir directors, and also found them to be very humble. Joel surrounds himself with ‘mighty men’ to make sure that he never get caught alone with anyone – and he has a finance ministry that takes care of the money, and it is all auditable. Believe me, the IRS is carefully watching his ministry and him personally.
So, I encourage you all to listen to him again – try to watch Daystar TV on Tuesday nights, when you see the church service – with upbeat music, sung all over the world, a great prayer time, and his messages.
We make it our mission in our Christian life to “set the record straight” to everyone on how WRONG many Christian leaders are. I know everyone is gun-shy on supporting a “televangelist” – I was…
However, when we open our heart and listen to the message the God may be speaking to us through him, we perhaps see God’s purpose for him.
With much Love in our Lord Jesus Christ!
I thoroughly enjoy Joel Osteen and the messages he gives in his sermons. He is one of very few television ministers I find to be ‘real’… We tithe to him out of each paycheck and will continue doing so.
I don’t know what they mean by saying Joel Osteen does not talk about God. Here are some of the latest podcasts by Osteen:
*GOD’S HAND IS OUTSTRETCHED TOWARD YOU
*INCREASING YOUR CAPACITY TO RECEIVE
*ACTIVATING FAITH INSTEAD OF FEAR
Is the Bible wrong for talking about faith? Is faith bad? Was Jesus wrong when he said “ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE”? I can not believe the trash that is talked about here about ministers. The Bible does talk A LOT about monetary blessings in both old and new Testaments. AS FOR JUDGING WHO GOES TO HEAVEN AND WHO GOES TO HELL, JOEL OSTEEN IS JUST A REGULAR HUMAN BEING, HE IS A MINISTER NOT GOD. GOD HIMSELF IS VERY CLEAR WHEN HE SAYS JUDGING IS LEFT SOLELY FOR HIM, IT IS NOT FOR MEN TO JUDGE, ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE WHO GOES TO HEAVEN AND WHO GOES TO HELL. Wether is is based on the Bible or not, we should only worry about the path we are talking, and if you are interested in heaven or hell for the rest of the world, wether they are jewish, catholics, hindus or evangelical chirstians then pray for them, talk to them about God and His perfect plan for each one of us, talk to them about God’s perfect love for each one of us and don’t waist your time playing god by saying who’s right and who’s wrong, who gets to go to heaven and who gets to go to hell. AND MOST OF ALL, IF YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO JUDGE SOMEONE… THEN JUDGE YOURSELF AND ASK YOURSELF A QUESTION: IF I DIE TODAY, BASED ON THE WAY I HAVE LIVED MY LIFE AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND THE BIBLE (THE WORD OF GOD), WOULD I GO TO HEAVEN OR WOULD I GO TO HELL?
God bless everyone.
You have alot of nerve to condemn a man that is spreading the word of God. I am a divorced mother of two and cannot believe the critics that come out to try to make this man out to be a scam artist or something. He teaches the word of God. He believes in the word of God. He is not a fake or phony. You should be ashamed of yourself for reporting nonsense about a man that delivers a message every week. We need a strong messanger of God these days … you obviously do not believe in God. Shame on you.
I have been to Joel Osteen’s Church and I really felt the love of God there like no other Church.I would be scared to talk bad about him. God won’t let anyone get away with that. So WATCHOUT!
I find it interesting that you went to all this effort to research and study someone you’ve obviously closed your mind to. And somewhat puzzled. Seems like there are better ways to spend your time, but that would be judgmental. But I do have one suggestion: GET A LIFE!
Your focus is in the wrong place, you alone should study your Bible and have a close relationship with God. Never put your faith in any man, stand on your own two feet and be responsible for your own salvation. Whether Joel is doing right or wrong he has to deal with the Lord one on one when his time comes.Be careful of what you say because in the Bible it says that your tongue speaks life or death!