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?)
Please note that I am not a member of any church or religious group, The God I know is loving, kind, compassionate, not exclusive but inclusive. Every now and then I do listen to Joel Osteen. Actually, to me, his messages are far closer to God than the lot of you. Unless you all read and understand Hebrew and/or Aramaic (the Language spoken by Jesus Christ) then how do you all know for absolute certainy? Also, are you scripture folks aware that in 1936 in the sands of Egypt, “The Sayings of Jesus Christ” was discovered? And those of you all who follow scripture so carefully, why aren’t you all following Genesis 1:29, or Matthew 7:1 or tht Sixth Commandment, “Thou shal1 not Kill?” It doesn’t say Thou shall not Kill Humans, but are allowed to kill any other living creation. It srictly and simply state, “Thou shall not kill.” I am a vegetarian because I respect all life. And isn’t judging God’s job? Lastly, I had a near-death experience and that is how I know about God. My belief is that some of Osteen’s messages are driven by God. Today I listened to him and even ordered a DVD and gosh it must have been two or three years when I last listened to him. So stop judging him so harshly. Just turn off your television. It is that simple.
You are the most incredibly ignorant person in God’s Word. Why don’t you do what you like and leave the real Pastors like Joel Osteen teach the Beautifull Word of God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All I’ve ever heard come out of Joel Osteen’s mouth is warm fuzzies.
Nothing wrong with warm fuzzies, but there must be a time when you get
to the nitty gritty of Christianity. Believe in God, Jesus, and the
Holy Spirit; Heb.11:6. Jesus said, “Except you believe that I am he you shall die in your sins”; Repent: Lk.13:3 “Except you repent you shall all likewise perish.” Confess: Mtt:10:32-33: Whosoever confesses me before men, him will I confess before my Father in heaven. Baptism: Acts 2:38: Repent and be baptized everyone of you
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
When Osteen starts preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, then I will listen to him.
Excellent story on Mr.Smiley as he given me the stomach ache a few times with his Christians are always suppose to be happy all the time,etc…………….could you investigate Victoria O’Steen’s relationsship with the Amway like company called TEAM NATIONAL.
They have her indirectly involved in some manner. I think O’Steen is using this TEAM NATIONAL as a vehicle to make even more money. I may be wrong. Thank you for your work.
What I want to encourage everyone is don’t criticize anyone by your knowledge but by the Word of God. May the Word of God show you the right thing.
I hope O’Steen is the real thing,but I don’t need him or any preacher telling me everything is wonderful all the time. Always ask questions.Never take at face value everything that comes down the pike.Investigate and ask the hard questions.
It is amazing how far so called “Christians” have departed from the Word of God. The apostle Paul teaches that if anyone, even an angel from heaven comes and preaches another gospel, let him be damned! (Gal 1). Jesus spent most of His ministry confronting religious hypocrites of His day for all the diabolical teachings they were promulgating in the name of God. So did every prophet of the Old Testament and every apostle of the NT. Simply put, those of us who claim to be Christian ought to be ashamed that an “unbeliever” like Joel(blog-guy) has to be the one to do what Jesus clearly mandated for us- beware of false teachers who will come in my name. Be careful of their subtle deception. A little leaven, leavens the whole lump. The Bible teaches us that Christians are to judge one another (search for it if you are a Christian), we are to refrain from judging unbelievers since they are already condemned. Judgement begins in the house of God. So let us not be simple. When anyone refuses to preach the same message Jesus and His disciples preached for any reason, we are thieves: robbing God of the glory exhibited by the cross of Jesus. Unless Joel Osteen gets saved, repents of his evil damned gospel and does right by God, he is a false teacher who is storing up wrath for himself on the terrible day of judgement. I pray that the Holy Spirit convicts him of this and I certainly do not wish this end for him or anyone leave alone myself. The Bible teaches that God does not wish any to perish but that ALL (includes everyone of us!) should come to repentance and be saved. God bless you all.
The only message that preachers of this dispensation are given is the gospel message. It is the only message that has the power to save lost people. We are warned that in our age people will heap to themselves false teachers who scratch their itching ears with what they want to hear. Doctrines of demons etc. However, the gospel message is very offensive and not self serving in any way. Actually, in the real message of Jesus, He says that we MUST turn away from self in any form: religious self, financial self, self-improvement, self actualization; etc. All endeavours for self are abominable to God and anti-Christ. So Jesus says, “deny yourSELF, take up your cross DAILY and follow me”. This is an invitation to suffering and ultimately death and it is the only way a human being can experience the resurrection power of God. Joel Osteen and todays evil ilk of prosperity preachers, health/wealth teachers and all weird animals in between, teach the exact opposite of what Christ, Peter, John, Jude and Paul taught. While the gospel is teaching people to separate themselves from the lusts of this world, these serpents are asking and even blantantly suggesting: “Did God really say you should not eat of every tree? I promise you you will not surely die. God was just lying to you after all God is just like a son on man and a blatant liar!” WRONG!!! God is not a son of man that He should lie. God says, if anyone does not hate his father, mother, brother, sister, wife, kids and even HIMSELF, he is not worthy to become a disciple of Jesus. These deceivers, like Osteen, are teaching you that you ought to love yourself and improve yourself etc and that God is just enamored with you and loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. God wants you to abandon yourself and any hope you have in yourself. God does not love you just the way you are. That is why He sent His own Son to die. So He can change you. If anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creature. ALL the old things have passed away, behold EVERYTHING has become NEW. The only way to become the holy person God demands is a narrow path of suffering and death to self that allows God to dwell in you is by the faithful preaching of the message of the cross. And just mentioning the facts of the cross at the end (as if it is an afterthought) of your deceptive message does not qualify. 99% pure water with 1% arsenic is poisoned water. Don’t you dare tell me it “good” just because it is not 100% arsenic. Beware of this stern biblical warning: “not everyone who calls me ‘Lord’, ‘Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only he who does the will of my Father. On that day (of Judgement), many will come to me and say ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your Name, and in your Name cast out demons and in you Name perform miracles? Then I will turn to them and plainly tell them: ‘Depart from Me you workers of iniquity, I never KNEW YOU!” If you are a Christian do not let people scare you with that admonition not to touch the Lord’s annointed. First and foremost, that scripture was written specifically about the nation of Israel- which today would mean every true Christian is the Lord’s annointed. The Bible clearly teaches us to diligently test everyone using the scriptures and if they do not measure us we are to expose them and depart from them. We expose them so that other brethren may be saved and we separate from them lest they defile us. Peace for the glory of God.
God said not to judge. All you people do is judge others, something Joel doesn’t do. He has a birth name of Joel, so what? what are you people jealous about? His success?
@ Martha: Now consider the application of the scripture you just quoted. Jesus commands us to remove the log in our own eyes first. But He does not stop there. He says, now that you can see, go ahead and remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
@Linda: God says not to judge unless we are willing to be judged also. You cannot ignore the scriptures that tell us to examine and test every messenger since there are so many deceptive false prophets: “Do you not know the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know you not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgements of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?” 1 Cor. 6:2-5
It amazes me that we so blatantly refuse to study the Word and apply it rightly. You all prefer to take verses out of context and misapply them while all the while ignoring the fact that it is the Name of our Great God that is being blasphemed. I wish you would defend the Name of God as vigorously as you defend that of Joel Osteen or any other man for that matter. Paul encourages Timothy to fight the good fight of faith. He tells Titus, as concerns these false teachers: “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision; whose mouths MUST be stopped, who subvert (ruin) whole houses, teachings things they ought not, for filthy lucre’s (money) sake…….. This witness is true. Wherefore REBUKE them sharply, that they may be sound in faith.” Titus 1:10-11,13. May God bless you as you hopefully realize that if you are a Christian who does not realize the injury these false teachers are doing to the Holy Name of God that you yourself ought to be ashamed and in God-given brokenness repent and set your mind to defend the one who gave His life for you on the cross at calvary.
Osteen is not a Christian and will burn in hell for eternity
Too many, so-called ‘christians’ refuse to really stand on what they claim to believe.
This is NOT faith or belief!
I am 100% persuaded that the Bible is the inerrant word of God (as originally written and recorded)
What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?
Joel is about to find out!
It amazes me that a non-christian will and has done the Biblical study to discredit this man when supposed christians refuse to crack the book
I rebuke them all in the Name of Jesus!
Like I said earlier and that is I hope O’Steen sees the light that the name of Jesus is above all names and power comes from him and him alone. Not through some flashy marketing circus arrangement via O’Steen’s empire. At the end of the day,is O’Steen really going to inspire you LONG TERM?? As Pastor Steve and others noted,we are to TEST the messengers. Never follow blindly just because he makes you FEEL GOOD.
Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.
@Martha.. Very good point and good scripture. What you may or may not have realized is that Jesus Christ will actually judge all, including Christians with that very righteous judgement on the the Day of Judgment. He even gos further to warn that teachers will be judged even more strictly. Paul warns that many should not become teachers owing to this fact of judgment. I don’t know about anyone else here but I fully expect that as a pastor Christians around me apply these same standards of judgment in this life to me and hopefully communicate the same. If I am judged now, and even found wanting- as as been the case numerous times in my life; then I have the opportunity (it’s called Grace Period) to run to my savior in confession, humility and brokenness and get myself cleansed of a guilty conscience by the blood of Jesus. Then having been cleansed and shown the right way, I am able to teach other transgressors the way of righteousness (Ps 51?). Woe to me if it is only unbelievers who will have the courage and uprightness to hold me accountable to biblical standards.
I think it is the height of hypocrisy (and i saying this in a spirit of love) to demand that I have to personally sit down with Osteen or any other public figure that purports to represent Christ, dialogue with them about their Christless Christianity, before I can publicly declare that they are fighting against the cause of Christ. Jesus clearly authorizes us to judge a book by its cover in Matt 7. You shall know them by their fruits, He says. Ask yourself this, if you are an evangelical or protestant christian: How come you do not have any scruples correctly judging that Muslims, Hindus, Atheists, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Roman Catholics etc are not Christians and that their religions will lead them to hell unless they repent and put faith in Jesus Christ alone- apart from any good works? Joel Osteen is no different- He preaches good works and self esteem. Where is the cross in his preaching? Where is self-denial. Where is death to self in every facet of life? Yet these are the very core teaching of reformed doctrine that every reformer taught all the way back to the Apostle Paul and ultimately our Lord Jesus Himself.
The question you may have to really have to face Martha is not so much about Joel Osteen; It is about you. Have you really come to obtain the same faith that the apostles and reformers had? If you did, you would easily stand up for the same values they did and would be ready to be put to the stake for the faith. Yet you may now easily vigorously defend charlatans who despoil and defile the testimony of the cross and in their eloquent, persuasive and smooth false gospels empty the cross of its resurrection power. Let me lovingly point you to a scripture that by grace i have made a daily feature in my life and so ought every true Christian:
“On My return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you. EXAMINE YOURSELVES TO SEE WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE FAITH; TEST YOURSELVES. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you- unless, OF COURSE, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.” 2 Corinthians 13:2-6.
Notice that early Christians were taught and obeyed the teaching to test everyone, including Paul. See it again in Acts 17 with the Bereans. Are you a Berean? Are you a true Christian who takes God’s commands seriously? Forget about your opinion, it really does not count (am sorry, I know that won’t help your self esteem one bit). The only thing that counts is the Word of God and our diligent obedience to the same.
This is to funny. No man shall condem a man of god. Who are you to question what is in Joel Osteen’s heart? This man’s entire family was raised on the word. He has 4 other siblings in the ministry as well. I kke how you update your lite blog with stuff that only supports your small mindness. Where is the clip from his 2nd appearance on King where he says he believes it takes a personal relationship with Christ to get to heaven? Well it doesn’t matter what you think anyway. Osteen is and will continue to be blessed for all the good he does for us.
its the devil that wants to turn everyone against eachother we believe the same jesus… jesus is jesus always no matter what. and u all think mr joel osteen is bad????? hypocryts we r all fighting evil everyday lets all come together like the body of crist… but insted we have so many different groups ccristian catholic mormon mohamed and all that stop the fighting and go do something good to your neighboor n those in need of help the hungry the poor the sick the ones in prison. one love
As wonderful as this debate is, this is going to be my last comment on this topic. I sincerely hope and trust that God will save us all including Osteen. But I also know the testimony of scripture is that only a few will find the way of righteousness and most will go through the broad gate that leads to hell. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to destruction. The only way any of have a chance to make it is to abandon any hope that we may have in our own righteousness and fully and totally depend on Christ’s righteousness. This means walking the narrow path of continuous repentance, brokenness and growth in holiness that is administered by the Holy Ghost in all truly regenerated children of God. If any of you are interested in hearing preachers who actually preach and live the gospel message let me direct you to a few: David Wilkerson, Paul Washer, Richard Owen Roberts, the late Leonard Ravenhill, John Piper, Dr David Jeremiah, RC Sproul, Dr John MacArthur, Art Katz, KP Yohanan, Bravehearted gospel.com, sermonindex.net, Francis Chan, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Joni Earickson Tada, Pastor Jeff Noblit (anchoredintruth.org), Ray Comfort (Way of the Master), Jim Cymbala, Henry Blackaby, C H Spurgeon (all his sermons are available free on the net), Jonathan Edwards, Paris Reidhead, etc. As you may notice there is not a shortage of good teachers who teach sound biblical doctrine. So none of will have any excuse before God why we followed charlatans while we ignored the true messengers of God. At the risk of incurring the wrath of many I would avoid the word of faith movement altogether which includes such names as Creflo Dollar, Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin Sr, Benny Hinn, KC Price, TBN (almost 98% is poison- is the 2% worth the risk?),you get the idea. Please note that am not condemning any of these individuals. That’s God’s department but I have measured their message against the word and personally I have found them way off. In comparison the people mentioned before seem to stay centered on the message of the cross and are faithful whether people like them or not. Before you rush to defend you favorite, please try and remember that none of them were crucified for you: only Christ. Test every one of them vigorously as if your life depended on it, because guess what, it does. Above all constantly examine yourself not by comparing yourself to yourself or yourself to others, but rather compare yourself to the utter and incomparable righteousness of Christ. That ought to break any yoke of pride or boasting since we will be judged according to the righteousness of Christ (Acts 17:31). Ask God to reveal any offensive way in you even if it’s going to hurt you or kill you and repent. Believe in the Name of the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. Let me not belabor the point: test that faith against the biblical standard. Test. Examine. Test. Examine. Make your election sure. By God’s grace I hope and believe that I myself will make it into the presence of His holiness and I pray the same for everyone of you. God bless you abundantly (really!).
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE SYMBOL IS ON JOELS PODIUM EACH SUNDAY
I use to listen to Joel Osteen often, he was pleasant and smooth. Then one day I noticed he never talked about sin. And I reasoned that right now sin is so rampant. Why not talk about sin; I believe that is what is wrong with the whole greedy, evil world right now. And I along with alot of people need to be reminded to resist sin.
I concluded that he does not want to make his audience uncomfortable.