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?)
Marty you are a psalm 53 fool, i hate to tell you that dear brother, but the BIBLE say`s in psalm 53, the fool has said there is no GOD, i did`nt call you a psalm 53 fool, GOD did, so if you don`t like it take it up with GOD, but i have to warn you dear brother, you get out of line with GOD and he will clean your clock just like he has cleaned a lot of others, you are a little bug on the windshield of life, and GOD can turn on the windshield wipers when ever he want`s…….confess JESUS little brother while there is still time……………
Since when as being ordained of God needed a theological background ?
OK, bring it on Davey. Your Psalm 53 shit is a bunch of made up crap, just like the fictional book that you and your idiot sheep swear by. By the way, it was published 400 years after the Clown Prince of Carnival Barkers supposingly lived. You sound like a Republican. Did you vote for McCain?
I hear what you are saying. There is a wide range of Christianity, we are all not puppets, some variation. Joel is being careful about boxing things in, he is not disputing what you say. He just is not as black and white being careful to reach a larger crowd. I know two people interested in Christianity because of him. If he reaches some for Christ you should be happy.
We need to remember that only those in Acts who got saved by examples, every other one
Jesus said are thief and robbers trying to get in the church through the side door, which is built upon JESUS CHRIST WHO IS THE DOOR, ALL THE LETTERS ARE WRITTEN TO THE CHURCHES OR THE SAINTS..
If I would open your letters without your ok I could be arrested,,with out going through the book of Acts we become a traitor and will be judged by his word not what I think or any man thinks,
God’s word says let all men be liars and my word be true, now what examples are we all using to get saved,? etc. etc.where are the honest people..
Ted
I noticed that in a section of this article it mentions that Joel has not actually taken any bible classes or any classes for preacher’s, but in the same article he is criticized for not mentioning God or preaching from the bible. Which in my opinion, is a contradiction. Would you prefer him to preach something he doesn’t completely understand? What he speaks of is inspirational! He speaks from his heart and means and believes with all his heart that he’s doing the right thing. Isn’t that what God is about? “FAITH” believing with all your heart that what your doing is right! When you do things with your best intentions at heart, God can see that and honors that. I’m sure that there have been many people who have learned the bible inside out and have what it takes in the technical sense, to be a preacher. Yet, don’t truly have what it takes to inspire people. It takes a special kind of person to touch someone every time you speak. To bring tears to someone’s eyes because they know exactly where your coming from. To me that is not something you can be taught. That is a gift that “God” himself has given you, and to me, Joel needs no other explanation. I believe he has Gods approval!!!
Do you have something against Joel? I can’t imagine that he ever will speak of anybody like you do. You still don’t undrestand the Good News!. What is the Good News? Jesus died for our sins. We live in His grace and Mercy! What is your problem brother?
You honestly think this man is in the wrong? THE WORD DOES SAY THAT WE CAN BE HEALED, it DOES say THAT POVERTY CANNOT TAKE HOLD IN OUR LIFE. God does not want to hold us back
Isaiah 53 says BY HIS STRIPES I AM HEALED.
Mathew 6:33 says Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and ALL these things shall be added unto to you.
You seem to be the one who does not know the word. YOu are useing pieces of the Bible and speaking around them. Get into the word more, mkay? Who are you to judge this man?
you’re all freaks that use religion like a drunk uses a railing to hold on to. Get a real brain and fess up to the fact that we were all fed this line of crap, and the ones that actually have put thought into the story, realize it was the biggest hoax ever, and 2000 years later only the stupidest of sheep are still follwing. For some odd reason I am still amused by that comedien Benny Hinn and the pin up barbie doll model Paula White.
i am not sure and as a christian i will not acuse any-one or two of you that doesnt believe in what joel preaches. if you dont here about god then you must be listening to it in spanish and not no how to speak it. or apparantly you could be one of the ones thats scared to ask god to forgive you and be your salvation and prepare a place in heaven for you. as a christian i think that it you dont have something to say in support then dont say nothing. and if you dont like him then dont watch or listen to him. if he bothers you that much maybe you should check and see why his positive christian outlook is the way it is and give in and say my father in heaven i am a sinner and i dont wont to be please god help me save me please o lord give me peace so that i wont be the first to cast a stone. oh yeah, this comment is from someone that used to be just as ignorant as you are , only i couldnt cast the first stone because i was a drunk and a dope head and when i hit rock bottom and looked up GOD WAS THE ONE THAT WAS THER FOR ME. so please dont worry yourself with joel because as a child of god he his where he needs to be ARE YOU.
First off is do you you have a degree or have you ever gone to a seminary so you can talk about a person as you do.If so I am sorry. You used your people to look the different verses because you don’t know the first thing about it.That’s pot calling the kettle black.I guess that if a pastor doesn’t put fire and brimstone into a message your not a pastor. There are only a few pastor I will listen to and he is one of them. You are worse that Joel because the only reason you attack Joel is so your ratings will go up for smashing on Joel. You said it your self when you said that Ted Haggar scandal was not as bad as Joel but it was funny I hope you amuse yourself. You can’t find any scandle on Joel so you made one up. You did a bad job of it also. If you keep your mouth shut that will just make people wounder if your stupid. You opened your and relived all doubt BECAUSE YOU ARE STUPID.If the fine on his wife is all you can do for a scandal your bad off for work.
Doug, you calling someone stupid “is” calling the kettle black. You need to take a writing class Doogie. The Ted Haggerdy scandal was hilarious. Just like the Paul Crouch, Jimmy Swaggert, and Jim Baaker scandals. These are only a few of freaks that were caught. All of these hoaxsters have skeletons in their gypsie closets. Doug, you are a bonified idiot.
Bush/Cheney/Rummie/Oprah(Condie)- War Criminals/hang them all!
Read my blog. All of this pandering on religion and the ins and outs of a single pastor is irrelevant unless there is a systematic analysis of the roots of religion. The principles of logos dictate that the discussion of religion is both fruitless and a pursuit of something which does not exist in any state of substantiable claim. Both of you are wrong- Joel is neither guilty nor innocent: such qualifiers are built on human constructions of morality, that is, something that does not actually intrinsically exist in our universe.
Peace,
Soldecnihath
your all wrong, there is a GOD who rules in all the affairs of man kind, we are not the captain of our own ship………..if you say there is no GOD, you better be right, but the truth is you are a psalm 53 fool soldecnihath, psalms 53 says, the fool has said there is no GOD…….so do you just want to be a psalm 53 fool all your life?, or do you want to know the truth, your just a little pee ant in the world, a little pee ant that GOD can snuff out at will anytime he want`s to, you may be madd b/c you can`t defeat GOD, well nobody else can defeat him either, so cheer up pee ant and get on board………..also on the larry king show j.o. said he did`nt know if people were wrong for not believing on JESUS, j.o. is not a preacher of the gospell, b/c he denied GODS only son on the king show, king is not a believer, b/c he said he was`nt, he said his wife is a believer, but king said show me the evidence, well don`t worry the evidence is`nt far off……….people will say we are not to judge, well let me tell you something, when someone denies JESUS, you better speak out, if you don`t GOD will personally clean your clock, and no brain dead that`s not judging, it`s taking a stand for JESUS…….
Marty you seem to be upset b/c GOD has been gone 2000 years, you say people are still following and believing…..you just proved you are BIBLE illiterate, the BIBLE says a thousand years to GOD is as one day, so by GOD`S calendar he has only been gone 2 days, just think marty if you had that power, a thousand years is as one day, you could live along time, but we can`t, GOD created time, it`s his world son, we are just living in it, o the thousand years is as one day, thats recorded in the BIBLE, and you can read it free of charge……GOD BLESS YOU BUBBA……
I agree with most of your comments regarding Joel Olsteen. To me, he is just another face in a long line of prosperity cons. I actually have a pretty good knowledge of the Bible and Scriptures, and therefore can attest that there is no promise of earthly rewards in exchange for faith. When the Bible does talk about rewards, it is always directed toward a single individual (e.g., Abraham), or it refers to spiritual blessings, not earthly ones. I have noticed, however, that Olsteen will twist Bible passages to suit his purpose. I laughed when I heard him preach that when Jacob took the name Israel it meant kingly or annointed. Actually, the word Israel means one who struggles with God. It seems Joel is ignorant of even basic Biblical concepts. In reality, his feel good, positive thinking is not the least bit original. His sermons might as well have been written by Norman Vincent Peale. I believe the only reason he’s so popular is that he tells people what they want to hear, not necessarily what God wants them to hear.
Joel I beleve is right you have to understand the heart of God. to understand were joel osteen is speaking from.Because man was born with a sin nature you can always find fault in Him because he is not perfect.Its not our job or place to judge others,but as christian to spreed the good news. There is enough negative going around. I think what joel does is what Jesus did he gives people hope no matter who you are or what walk of life you come from.Jesus word saves not condem,Gods word is love it may sound C H E E Z Y. But this is why you dont understand.
all we need is hope, all we need is love. there is not any of this without Jesus, who is God’s son.
please understand that without them, we feel have only ourselves to decide our purpose and fate and that simply isn’t possible because we can not be perfect -we can only live through his grace and faith.
Carl, you sound angry. I thought religion was supposed to soothe your sole and put you at peace. Instead, you come across as a bible thumping, probably an ex druggie, who found religion later in life because you most likely failed at everything else. Where was God during the Holocaust? Couldn’t he have veered those planes a little right on the World Trade Center? Your idea of a God is this great being, who is all knowing, and with so much hunger, poverty, crime, violence and war in this world, what the hell is he doing that is so great. Tell me that Carl. You are a SCAM 57 fool Carl!
OOPs, Cal, I meant a SCAM 53 fool. What redneck state are you from Cal?