SUPER FUNNY UPDATE ON JOEL OSTEEN: Check out Joel Osteen’s super scammy books he sells on Amazon (24!!!) including his self help BS book
and his hilarious book on “Wise Choices”. If only he’d follow his own advice!
LOL! For all you Joel Osteen fanboys – remember he just cynically feeds on you to make money so he can live his fancy lifestyle. He couldn’t care less about you in reality.
Popular televangelist preacher Joel Osteen has been named the “Most Influential Christian in America” in 2006 by the Church Report, was one of
Barbara Walters, “10 Most Fascinating People of 2006 and operates an extraordinarily profitable religious scam operation that probably will one day end in scandal.
So who is this guy who has appeared on 60 Minutes, Larry King Live and has his own television shows?
Who is this guy who thinks he can share the mighty name of Joel?
Joel Osteen has not yet had major sex scandals, drug scandals or molestation scandals like the other megachurch pastors: Pat Robertson, Al Sharpton, Ted Haggard, Paul Barnes, D.E. (Earl) Paulk, Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, William Dodd and too many others to possibly mention here. What Joel Osteen DOESN’T do is the real question.
In his sermons, Joel Osteen does not talk about God. Joel Osteen instead talks about almost everything except God. He has a television ministry, a massive church, $43 million a year in tithes and another $36 million a year in mailed in donations, but he won’t talk about God. He, like Pastor Kevin Gerald, talks about more pleasant topics, such as donating money to him and positive thinking. He has written two books, the second of which sold 3 million copies, but his books don’t really talk about God either. It’s just his bland and boring advice on how to live a happy life that has been thought of by other people first, “Think positively about yourself” and other such drivel.
What does Joel Osteen say when people ask him about why he does not discuss God or Jesus Christ or sin or what you need to do to go to Heaven? “That’s not my gift.” What are you doing being a freaking megachurch pastor then, bonehead?!
If you are going to try to operate a religious scam, at least make it religious! I actually think that Joel Osteen operating a secular “Christian” church is more of a scandal than Ted Haggard and his transsexual prostitutes and meth! (Though not nearly as funny of a scandal).
Joel Osteen didn’t even found his megachurch; instead the business was handed down to him by his father. When Joel Osteen became the head pastor of his church, he had only preached ONE sermon in his entire life- and that was the week before. Joel Osteen does not have any training in the Bible (seminary, degrees, etc.), which is probably why he doesn’t want to talk about it much.
My loyal readers have pointed out to me many times that the ridiculous actions of leaders in religion do not invalidate their beliefs. They are absolutely correct on this. However, there has never been anything that VALIDATES their beliefs either. The Flying Spaghetti Monster has the same amount of evidence on his side as most other gods. Here is another question I put to you: Please find me a single megachurch pastor who is NOT a scam-running, meth-eating, prostitute-abusing criminal. Anyone?
Update March 3, 2008 on JOEL OSTEEN:
Many people have been discussing Joel Osteen in the comments and making statements about his beliefs, behavior and preaching methods that show a distinct lack of understanding of his profit driven motives. Below I have added a video of Joel Osteen on Larry King Live where he dances around the core question of the Christian faith: What does it take to get to heaven? Joel Osteen hems and haws and won’t even say that people of different religions won’t make it to heaven.
The partial transcript for Joel Osteen’s interview with Larry King is below. I have basically pulled out the most pertinent excerpts to the point I have tried to make on televangelist Joel Osteen.
Televangelist Joel Osteen Discusses Christianity with Larry King
First is Larry King’s impressive introduction of Joel Osteen:
LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Tonight, Joel Osteen, evangelism’s hottest rising star, pastor for the biggest congregation in the United States… Pastor Joel Osteen is here for the hour…. Joel Osteen is the author of the number one “New York Times” best-seller, “Your Best Life Now.” There you see its cover. “Seven Steps to Living at Your Full Potential.” There is now a compendium been published called “Your Best Life Now Journal,” a guide to reaching that full potential. Joel Osteen is pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. His father before him. He has been called the smiling preacher.
Larry King knows Joel Osteen Ministries is huge and tries to play nice with him throughout the interview.
KING: Why are you a preacher?
JOEL OSTEEN: You know, I never was for 17 years. I worked with my dad there at the church. He tried to get me to minister. I didn’t have it in me. I worked behind the scenes. I loved doing production and things. But when my father died, I just knew — I don’t know how to explain it, it sounds kind of odd, but I just knew down to here I was supposed to step up to the plate and pastor the church. And it was odd because I had never preached before. But I just knew I was supposed to do it.
Hmmm… either God gave him the “calling” or he was scared of losing his father’s multi-million dollar preaching business.
KING: But don’t you think if people don’t believe as you believe, they’re somehow condemned?
JOEL OSTEEN: You know, I think that happens in our society. But I try not to do that. I tell people all the time, preached a couple Sundays about it. I’m for everybody. You may not agree with me, but to me it’s not my job to try to straighten everybody out. The Gospel called the good news. My message is a message of hope, that’s God’s for you. You can live a good life no matter what’s happened to you. And so I don’t know. I know there is condemnation but I don’t feel that’s my place.
Joel Osteen comes right out and says that he will refuse to condemn sinners. He is too afraid, it’s not his place, he just wants to spew bland niceties… hmmm.
LARRY KING: Where were you ordained? OSTEEN: I was ordained from the church there, Lakewood, under my dad’s ministry.
LARRY KING: So you didn’t go to seminary?
JOEL OSTEEN: No, sir, I didn’t.
LARRY KING: They can just make you a minister?
JOEL OSTEEN: You can, you can.
Wow. Joel Osteen never even attended Bible school or classes for future preachers. No wonder he is so clueless about Biblical theology.
LARRY KING: Is it hard to lead a Christian life?
JOEL OSTEEN: I don’t think it’s that hard. To me it’s fun. We have joy and happiness. Our family — I don’t feel like that at all. I’m not trying to follow a set of rules and stuff. I’m just living my life.
LARRY KING: But you have rules, don’t you?
JOEL OSTEEN: We do have rules. But the main rule to me is to honor God with your life. To life a life of integrity. Not be selfish. You know, help others. But that’s really the essence of the Christian faith.
Of course its not hard for Joel Osteen to lead a Christian life. BECAUSE HE’S NOT!!!
LARRY KING: What if you’re Jewish or Muslim, you don’t accept Christ at all?
JOEL OSTEEN: You know, I’m very careful about saying who would and wouldn’t go to heaven. I don’t know …
LARRY KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They’re wrong, aren’t they?
JOEL OSTEEN: Well, I don’t know if I believe they’re wrong. I believe here’s what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God with judge a person’s heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don’t know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don’t know. I’ve seen their sincerity. So I don’t know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus.
The last exchange between Larry King and Joel Osteen hits the nail on the head of everything that is wrong with the Joel Osteen Ministry. All it is is fluff. He can’t even defend the single core belief of Christianity- that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is a requirement to gain access to Heaven.
Below is more Joel Osteen preaching videos. Joel Osteen preaches on cheesy, transparent topics that have nothing to do with the Bible. He twists scripture around to serve his own purposes of mass produced drivel. My question to Joel Osteen is where in the Bible does it say Christians have a “right to total victory” over physical pain, financial problems and other issues? Did he completely miss the book of Job or the trials and tribulations that the early Christians had to suffer under the Romans? I don’t think that Joel Osteen has ever even read the Bible.
DO NOT LET JOEL OSTEEN CONTINUE TO GET AWAY WITH HIS BIBLE-CONTRADICTING, POLITICALLY CORRECT AND PROFIT SEEKING DRIVEL! JOEL OSTEEN’S SCANDAL IS OUTRAGEOUS!
Jesus once went into a temple and threw out currency traders and salespeople…. WHO WILL THROW THE SCANDAL CREATING JOEL OSTEEN OUT OF GOD’S ASTRODOME TEMPLE?
Further discussion: Joel Osteen megachurch building – Joel Osteen paid the city of Houston $90,000,000 to remodel the former home of NBA team Houston Rockets and an additional $14,000,000 to lease the building for 30 years. Preacher Joel Osteen’s megachurch does not even own the building! Pastor Joel Osteen doesn’t care though- he’ll be dead by then and this church is all about him. The most interesting thing about the new church is that there is not a SINGLE cross in the whole building! Want to know why? Joel Osteen says that he wants to remove all “stumbling blocks” from the way of people coming to his church and being comfortable. Since when has Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross been a STUMBLING BLOCK for faith?! The scandal here is that the Joel Osteen is doing and saying blasphemous things… and no one is calling him out on it. The pastor of the largest church in America won’t even follow the basic tenets of Christianity!
Visit the Prayer Helpers site here to buy prayers for sale.
Joel Osteen is unable to even keep his own family under control. Pastor Joel Olsteen’s wife, Victoria Osteen, has been fined $3,000 and is being sued for assaulting a flight attendant on her first-class trip to the playground of the rich and famous Vail, Colorado.
Bible Verses that Condemn Megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen
I have had quite a few people post in the comments asking what does it really matter what Joel Osteen believes if he’s helping people? If Joel Osteen teaches nice things, isn’t it okay for him to be a Christian pastor? I understand that my opinions of right and wrong should not sway you, but I ask you to consider what the Bible says on the matter. First, let’s take the Bible verses that are the standard definition of who is a Christian:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (NIV)
For the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godnot by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
To summarize, the only way to be saved and go to heaven is by the grace of Jesus and by faith in God. These are the basic verses that every Christian who has accepted Christ knows. Now for the verses that clearly state that only Christians who believe the above will go to Heaven:
-John 3:3: no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
-John 3:15: everyone who believes in him [Jesus] may have eternal life.
-John 3:18: whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of Gods one and only Son.
-John 14:6: Jesus answered: No one comes to the Father except through me
-Acts 3:23: And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. (ASV)
-Acts 4:12: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved
-Romans 10:9: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
-Hebrews 9:28: he [Christ] will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him
-1 John 5:12: he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
The nine quoted verses above clearly state that only Christians can go to Heaven. Now, if Joel Osteen truly believed and was a pastor of a Bible-based church, would he preach a false message of hope to people? Joel Osteen is essentially subverting the word of God, which motivated me to write this post. I am not sure why Joel would do this, but my postulation (as above) is that he is doing it for financial gain. Joel Osteens father was a pastor and he has been a pastor for a long time now and he should know better than most people the MOST basic tenets of Christianity. Ignorance is an excuse for new Christians (as long as they work at it), but not for a shepherd of the flock.
Do you know what the Bible says about false teachers like Joel Osteen?
-2 Timothy 4:3,4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth , and be turned aside to fables.
-Matthew 7:15,16 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.
-Acts 20:29-31 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves . Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
-2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
-2 Peter 3:16,17 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
-Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
-Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
The Bible is very, very harsh in its condemnation of people who change, twist or leave out parts of its doctrine. False leaders (Joel Osteen), to me, are more disgusting than someone who is a hypocrite (Ted Haggard).
For more information on mega church pastor Joel Osteen you can search Google with the terms joelosteen.com or joel osteen.com to find the man’s website. You could also use terms such as Joel Osteen Website or Joel Osteen Lakewood Church for other sorts of information on him.
Why do I care what Joel Osteen does or doesnt do in his church, especially seeing that I am not religious? People who are cheats, fakes, and phonies really bother me. I have written quite a few other posts on various community leaders who lead people astray for their own personal gain. My tax dollars go to support Joel Osteen (every church in America is exempt from taxes, but Joel Osteen is making millions tax-free teaching his Prosperity Message when he is basically just another self-help guru). I also am very wary of megachurch pastors (I used to attend one and have seen many on television)- they often seem to be some of the craziest people (Jim Jones-Want some Kool Aid?)
I was saying that I used to go this church in the 70s and 80s and all the preacher would say that we were going straight to hell!!! Alot of people got hurt and they left and went back to the world. I thought why am I going to this church if thats where I am going? Well, I had to go to another church and get some encouragement before I ended up like those people who left. They said that was his anointing but then again there had to be some encouraging words in there. It is good to know that there are preachers that won’t condemn you and will encourage you instead of discourage you. I found out there are different anointings just like the different gifts of the Holy Spirit. Not all of it is the same. Just like there are teachers, preachers, evangelists, apostles and prophets. All of them have different jobs that they have to do but the same Spirit. So… you see now that not all preachers preach the same. Some preach different but they have to have the Holy Spirit to do these things.
Kat with all due respect not only do you not know the BIBLE, you also can`t read…i made no mention of being perfect, i made no mention of being self righteous…..you are also wrong when you said joel o said he did`nt know what each individual had in their heart…..the clip is on this webb site, all you have to do is watch it…….he said on larry king show he did`nt know if people were wrong for not believing on JESUS, and you are wrong again my friend, he did discount JESUS with the statement he made to king……..see you don`t even know what you are talking about, you thought i watched one of his telecast and came up with this, no my friend he said this to the world on larry king. also i would never be jealous of anyone who denied JESUS, and when you tell the world you don`t know if people are wrong for not believing on JESUS, where you know it or not, you just denied GOD`S SON, JESUS………there`s nothing out of context about the denial of JESUS…….and i do pray for everyone, joel o included………..i have just been in the BIBLE long enough that when i hear a false message i recognize it instantly, not hard to do really, study and common sence…….i don`t put any stock in the wof movement, they have healings for every kind of sickness, thing`s you neither can proove nor disproove the person had, but when is the last time you saw a healing take place where a persons arm or legg was restored? i tell you when, you have`nt seen it, GOD is able though, you just have`nt seen it, not even benny hin can get an arm or legg restored, benny hin is one of the biggest false prophets of our time, there are many more, but i think hin leads the pack, this man has more hang up`s than a dry cleaners………anyone who can`t see through these health and wealth, name it and claim it gang, wof, teacher`s, it`s beyond me, a young child could see through this prostitution of the GOSPELL………there are at least 20 of these false prophets, false teacher`s that come on your tv every day, they are getting rich off of people who don`t know the BIBLE……..Hank Hanegraph, the BIBLE answer man exposess these false teachers every day, they have even threatned his life if he don`t stop, but he has no fear of them and keep`s telling it like it is……and kat you asked me, do you not think GOD knows when these peole are wrong, yes he knows every false teacher on the earth, and expects us to know also, and you can, study study, study……and you are wrong again, i have no hatred for anyone…….GOD BLESS ALL………..
It`s just beyond me when osteen follower`s call him anointed, how can a person be anointed that tell`s the world they don`t know if people are wrong for not believing on JESUS? i mean how can this be? but not only osteen, there are many others who teach a prostituted GOSPELL…..
The word anoint means to dedicate to the service of God which I believe Pastor Joel along with his family are striving to do. His comment on the Larry King show that he doesn’t know if people are wrong for not believing in Jesus is an honest one. Who is he, and for that matter, who are we to JUDGE what is wrong or right when it comes to a belief? Did God not give us Free Will? And does HE interfere with our Free Will? No, HE doesn’t interfere with that, so why would you expect Pastor Joel to?
Joel Osteen does talk about God if you listen to him! There are many uplifting verses in the Bible that I didn’t realize until I started watching him on Sundays.
Sure he makes a lot of money. They have also written books to earn that money!
That is what ticks some people off. They are jealous cause someone is successful!
Joel and Victoria are also doing good things with that money to help others.
I ordered a book from the website, but they didn’t keep trying to get money from me. Of course, they asked for a donation, but after a short while, they stopped sending anything.
Everytime someone does good in this world, there is always critics who try to pull them down to the critics level!!!
Joel and Victoria Osteen are good people and stand for good causes. As long as they are doing good in this world what makes the difference of how much money they have.
Joel Osteen does preach about God and goodness. If you really listen and put God first place in your heart, you would see what good Joel is doing. He is preaching God’s word, and God wants us to be positive and happy. Good things do happen when we are.
There has not been a preacher that has captured my attention as much as Joel Osteen. He doesn’t stand there and condemn people as some preachers do. That is wrong to condemn others according to the Bible.
I assure you based on the word of GOD, no one is anointed who say`s they don`t know if people are wrong for not believing on JESUS….if you don`t believe on JESUS, then who are you going to church to worship? santa claus…..i could hardly believe what i was reading in the post 964, where the lady said who are we to judge what is right or wrong? you use the standards of the BIBLE to judge if a teacher is of GOD, i assure you no teacher is of GOD that won`t tell people they must believe on GOD`S son JESUS..you notice i call them teachers, not preacher`s, JESUS said clearly in the BIBLE, if you deny me before men, then so shall i deny you before my FATHER whitch is in HEAVEN, that`s so clear a small child could understand it…….that`s the problem now, people stand up for their teacher who has rock star status, instead of standing up for JESUS, maybe you are a new believer and just don`t understand the BIBLE, people say don`t judge, well if you don`t set a standard to go by, how will you know what to believe? i watched one time to see what joel would say, he told his devotees if you say something long enough it will happen, a bright child knows this is not true, next time yo get sick, keep your maoney, don`t go to the doctor, just keep saying i know i have cancer but it will go away, it will go away, it will go away, i assure you it won`t….and yes there are really people out there that has done this and they died, their wof teacher told them to hang in there for a healing, and they died, look GOD gave up doctor`s, in the BIBLE luke was called luke the physician……someone said we are jealous of his money, money has nothing to do with serving the living GOD, the BIBLE say`s GOD owns all the cattle on a thousnd hills, if you don`t know what that means, it has nothing to do with cattle, it`s just GOD`S way of saying he owns it all……and when joel said that on larry king, he denied JESUS, the woman in 964 said we are all different, that`s true, but we will all stand before the same GOD, being different won`t change that….joel is`nt the only one though that teaches outlandish thing`s…..
Some people on this site said they did`nt like hearing about hell, who does? look God came to this earth in the person of JESUS, he took on human flesh and dwelt among his creation for 33 year`s, during his earthly sojourn he preached, you would`nt have liked to sit under his preaching if you don`t like to hear about hell, JESUS talked about hell twice as much as he did HEAVEN, he also had a good deal to say about money……i still believe when JESUS returns to this earth there will be people that will be so wrapped up in their teacher, they will try to show JESUS where he is wrong and their teacher is right, in the theater of my mind i can almost see this…..it is believed that the anticrist is on the earth now, alive and well, being groomed and getting ready to take his place…..if people are so into their rock star teacher, imagine what easy picking`s they will be for the antichrist, he will make these teacher`s look like field workers, in the BIBLE it say`s he will have the power to call fire from the HEAVENS, can your teacher do that? i think not…..GOD BLESS……
Responding to Post 966 on the comment about the Bible and understanding it – again, it is each individual’s choice to find his/her truth about the Creator whether it be the Bible or any other spiritual writing. It is not yours or any other human being’s place to “judge” another. The main message that God wants us to understand is to “Love thy neighbor” for we are all One. What you do to another you do to your Self.
As far as self-healing, one’s beliefs are a very strong factor in healing oneself. Pastor Joel’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and was given only a few months to live, but through her prayers and support from family and friends, she overcame her illness.
Again, we do not begrudge another for not agreeing with our personal beliefs and values for we do not know what each soul’s purpose is. We all have our paths to follow in this life and we can do it by choosing love to guide us in all that we do or we can choose fear. God gives us this choice each and every day to help us remember Who We Are — children of God.
Wahtever you say Fee Leap. Your sense of humor is strange. Are you a Bush lover too? What side of the fence are you on in this little fairy tale we are discussing? Notice how all the christians are getting along so smoothly on the blog. Screw you all, you hypocrites!
PS send money!
Wow,
Lou and Marty…you two just did nothing but show how completely ignorant and unteachable you are. Oh boy does the love of God really show in you….NOT! I never stated that YOU said you were Mr.perfect…pay attention to what you are reading! Dugh! What I’m saying is this is how you come off with your replies. You just made my point for me and confirmed that YOU are a phony “Christian”. Amazing how the truth comes out on it’s own. Ha ha!
I choose not to go any farther with this as you are clearly unteachable. God will deal with you in his own time. I’m sure you will come back with yet another nasty repy. I don’t give a hoot!! LOL!! I have the love of God in me which I’m sure will make you both angry enough to say something nasty back …whatever makes you feel important. LOL!!
Bye Bye!
Lou it`s no wonder why do did`nt respond to that person kat, this person is a fruit cake, she better not walk to slow in the forrest, the squirrels will pick her up. i`m just being fair, i noticed she called you ignorant and a phony, i read your post to kat and i did`nt see one name that you calle her. then i could`nt help but laugh when she said you were unteachable. but joel osteen is`nt a preacher i would listen to. just my two cents. i do believe in God, i just don`t fall for the false preachers, i`m like you, the saying it til you get results is bunk.
Lou it`s no wonder you did`nt respond to kat. this woman is a fruit cake. she better not walk to slow in the forrest the squirrels will pick her up. i could`nt help but laugh, she called you ignorant and a phony, then she said you called her names, well i read your post and i have to be fair, i did`nt see where you called her one name, that`s why i said she is a fruit cake. i believe in God, i just don`t believe in false preachers, and i`m like you, say it until it happens, pure bunk.
I posted twice, maybe this nut will understand one of them.
Thank`s, i just told her what the BIBLE say`s. but i really did hear Joel one time talking about an anointed frog, you think i`m kidding but i`m not, he really did, i knew right then it was time to change channels. anyway i can`t help what believe, as some suppose, what ever is right for each person, that`s called feel good theology, but you still have to stand before the same GOD on resurection morning. you are right, people have the right to worship any ole way they want to, that`s why the BIBLE say`s, man has a way to justify his ways and actions no matter what they are, but the real verdict comes from GOD. that`s what opra winnfrey is teaching, she say`s there are many way`s to GOD, and alot of people are buying it, she is heading one of the biggest cults in AMERICA……
Marty go shave your leggs and be quiet you old hairy legged truck driver. ps did you ever get the green off of your teeth. old hairy legged truck driver with green teeth.
Casandra i just noticed your post, you said it is up to each person to discover their own truth, i see in the BIBLE there is only one truth, and that`s the truth of GOD, everything i said is in the BIBLE.
How sad you are. You can not see the forest because the trees are in your way.
Is there somewhere in your Bible about not judging people? Or is it ok to do that in your faith??
I stumbled across your site. I should say first that I’m an athiest, so I don’t really have a stake in whether Joel Osteen preaches Christianity the correct way. However, I’m a bit confused by your criticism. It sounds like you have a very rigid understanding of how Christianity should be taught. To use a few examples, only people who believe in Christ will go to Heaven. Crosses and such should be displayed in churches. I’m not religious, as I said, but I have read the Bible, and you will know better than I that it is not a book that can be interpreted literally, particularly commands in the Old Testament (I’m thinking Leviticus). There are passages that say not to judge, and others that say everyone who isn’t for Jesus is against him. Ultimately, I think you have to understand that the Bible was written by people, and in the New Testament, by people who lived after Jesus and never saw or heard him preach. I think it’s more important to find a message than nitpick about details, especially since you can cherry pick quotes in order to back up your assertions. In the case of non-Christians going to Heaven, I think it’s pretty humble for Joel Osteen to say that he doesn’t know, but what he does know is that you should believe in God and do good works. I’m not sure that’s something that Jesus, in his forgiving and benevolent personage, would have been angry about. Joel picked the positive message of the Bible, instead of rooting through the negatives.
As for the crosses bit, I feel like there are sections of the Bible that say we should not worship idols or symbols. Is a cross, or stained glass, so much better than a block of gold? Doesn’t it seem more in line with the message of the Bible to worship no symbols at all, but simply to keep God in your heart?
Finally, in terms of finances, I’ve seen a few episodes, and I’ve never actually seen him ask for money. It’s certainly not a large part of his sermon. There is also nothing on the website about paying to go to Lakewood, and I would bet that it’s actually free, like any church, with an optional donation. I also don’t think you substantiate your claims about him getting rich off this scam. It seems like they raise a lot of money, but they also have a lot of expenses (the rent on the building, their community outreach, the podcasts and TV broadcasts). Joel doesn’t seem to be raking in millions, and even if he is, his congregation doesn’t seem to mind.
Response to Post 976: There is one abiding truth in the Bible – God is Love. Everything we do in Life is from two basic emotions: love or fear. Humans are busy “doing” more than “being”. It’s when we are “being” we are reflecting that part of us that is holy.