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?)
about christ. I dare say that from my understanding of the bible, God will judge us according to knowledge, because if this is not so, how can He be the merciful God we know about? Jesus died for our sins, but the reality of the matter is that not everyone has had a chance to know Him as God. I totally agree with Joel, his role is not to judge who will go to heaven and who won’t.His job is to preach the gospel, and live the gospel, end of story.
THAT IS THE PROBLEM TODAY PEOPLE THINK YOU MUST HAVE MAN MADE TITLES TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD! SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND! ASK THE LORD FOR UNDERSTANDING AND HE WILL ENLIGHTEN YOUR PATH! NOT MAN! THE CHURCHES ARE BECOMING MORE COMMERCIALIZED!
This guy is such a fake…. I saw him on cnn and he don’t stand up to nothing, and don’t answer nothing. Never trust a man who always smiles and avoids answering. Besides the bible is not the word of god it’s the word of man. Guys giving all your money to these fakes so they can live the good life. Problem is when you die and nothing happens well thats it nothing happens,,,,lol
It’s amazing how a non-believer can see right through Mr. Olsteen. However, it is said that a non believer can’t accept the historical evidence for Christianity. Unlike “the flying spaghetti monster”, Jesus Christ and his early followers started a movement that has had a major impact on civilization on earth… on earth! It at least requires an honest look – as honest as looking a Darwin or Mohammed, two other men who has impacted the course of mankind. All diametrically opposed philosophically and logically speaking, all three “universes” described by the ideals and teachings of Darwin, Jesus, and Mohammed cannot all be true. They could all be false, but they cannot all be true.
I meant to type “sad” not “said”… fat finger error!
anyone that makes money in the spreading of the gospel or word of god is a fake, it is as simple as that e.g. if your a printing firm and sell the bible then you should donate all proceeds to charity. If your a preacher and generate lots of money then you should give it all for charity and live a simple life. this i belive would never happend as the new religion of money is an overiding factor in all areas of life. I do belive in god and yes I have made mistakes but generally I have lived a good life, these people on the other hand have lived their life using the word of god to generate cash forthemselves!!!
I agree with Rae, it is NOT Joel Osteens place to decide who is going to heaven or not… TRUE Christians aren’t suppost to judge people. TRUE Christians are suppost to be there for people no matter what their background or religious beliefs are. That’s one of the reasons. Why I love listening to him preach. He is a wonderful preacher and he is a good person for putting up with all the media drama that people like you put him through on a daily bases. He is HUMAN he doesn’t have all the answers he just shares the word of the lord and it good at it. If you don’t like him then stop watching his shows and stop posting rude thoughts about it. Did you have nothing better to do then make a wreckage about Joel Osteen just because you don’t like him doesn’t mean your gonna convience other people to talk bad about him.
I believe you are totaly out of order. Joel bases all of his sermons on references from the Bible; he starts all of his sermons with a prayer for the Bible and finishes his sermons with a prayer for Jesus to come into your life. I believe that you should pay more attention to your writing skills and spelling instead of pulling apart another human being that is helping people through life with God at their side being their guide.
stay where you belong. this is not a website for none believers. joel osteen has read the bible from what i can see. he quotes the bible verse before and after every testimonial that truely backs up his and others experiences.i have experienced similiar eposidoes that makes me a believer.for years i chalked it up as luck,there is no such thing as luck. GOD controls everything.the bible says non believers will perish. you admitted to being a non believer, so i wish you luck because luck must be running your life.say that simple prayer with joel at the end of all his sermones and GOD may touch your heart and come into your life and its GOD you will believe in (not luck). do you have 100,000 plus people coming to your house listening to the scriptures you quoted on this page because it sounded twisted from the scriptures i have read.he inspires myself and many others play in your own back yard because your worlds apart. good luck as it runs your life GOD is in control of ours. GOD BLESS how do you know he doesnt donate to charities? true believers dont brag on worldly possesions and i bet you dont do that either. all thats right your not a believer become a believer and you wont speak negative on GODs plan.
It is obvious to me that you are not a christian, there is no fruit in this .Jesus said you shall know them by their fruit.Your fruit is death.Get a life buddy..
I agree with rae It is not Joels job to say who is and who is not going to heaven,or who is a christen or who is not a christin. I believe It is noble of Joel to uplift the spirits of people in a world so filled with gloom.Also his House of God is not the only one who does not display statues. The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s wittnesses also does not display statues. What do you believe these statues can do for us. Also Joel does back up his messages with the scriptures. I also believe Jehovah God can ordain whoever he wants to , to minister his word. Joel also spent one of his sermons entirely on how Jeasus died on the torture steak ,so we have a chance of eternal life after this life is over.Another point is God and Jeasus is not the same person. When on the torture steak was Jeasus praying to himself when he ask his father if it be his will to let this cup pass from him. When Jeasus went on the mountain to pray was he praying to himself. No! He was praying to his father who is the most high God. The bible states Jeasus is sitting on the right hand of God waiting for the hour to come when God gives the command to end it all. Is Jeasus sitting on his own right hand? No! He is sitting on Gods right hand. With this said I believe others should read the Bible and understand its contents. Hold up your bible and say this is my bible.
Very ture Joel Osteen is a fake….The bible says the devil can appear as an angel of light 2cor 11:14…it also states For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2tim 4:3……Any person who claims to have a relationship with Christ yet but does not carry out Jesus’s message is a liar 1 john 2:4….And the bible clearly stated that are mission is to spread the gospel throughout the world Acts 1:8…….to tell the world that Jesus died for our sins and that through him we may have enternal life! Only through him…Jesus is the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me Johm 14:6 For Joel to say that that the faith in India that he saw is the same as our and they through a diffrent god can get to heaven is a lie…the bible clearly states for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved. and that is Jesus Christ Acts 4:12 Jesus gave us a mandate before he accended in to heaven that was to go forth and make diciples…tell people about Christ so that they in return can tell someone about Christ and so on and so on…..not about money or how to be prospurous….The bible says we will suffer for his name sake but that is why God gave of the fruit of the spirit. God does not promise us a life of ease but one of suffering just as christ suffered and was persecuted so should we be…A true called man of God who is called to preach the gospel is also called to be offensive to step on people toes so that they may ask the question what must i do to be saved? Not to have people feel that by their own accord they are right with God we are sinners evil by nature….No man is good not one Rom 3:10……in conclusion Joel Osteen is not a preacher of christianity but a preacher of popularity the truth he does not know because he has not studied to scrpitures….the congragents should study the scriptures and see if Joel Osteen lines up for themselves but few are willing to leave there ego stroking Sunday mornings behind…
Touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm. I think you should of something edifying and stop castigating people.the lord shall open heart to see and understand the truth. Repent now
Joel’s books leads people to believe that God loves us unconditionally and that we should love others unconditionally. Unconditional means you make no discernments good or bad.
there is no such thing as unconditional love! If we don’t make good discernments about what we say or do it is not love.
Is our Heavenly Father an animal? Are we to act like animals? From what part of hell are these preachers coming from?
Did Jesus spend three years of his life giving us conditions on what we must do to get to heaven for nothing? Heaven forbid!
joel osteen believes everyone can b saved. i love the way he preaches. just because people have different faiths doesnt mean there wrong! GOD LOVES ALL….REMEMBER?!
You must not listen close enough, Joel does teach of Jesus, the God of the Bible, and His word. Not everyone is called for the same style of teaching, He walks in the love of Jesus which is a gift from God.We should have more people willing to teach the change is within one’s heart condition, we must first look within, without love we know nothing of what Jesus came and died for. It is by His love and grace we are saved. Joel is called for by His love.
I am a christian, but I don’t like reading a bible or listen to preaches, because it depresse me. They always contains of Lots of negative issues
Usually the bibles and preachers always tell us negatives issues that . But J. Osteen is different, I love to listen to what he’s saying. He is always lifting our spirits to go on and trust in God. There’s no
There’s nö ‘harrasment’ to say if we don’t do this and that we’ll go to hell or will b e punished.
(sorry that my comments is cut into 3 part, as I’m borrowing s.o’s pc in Europe.
Joel’s great, love his message, the critics can complain all they want, he is saying what people need and want to hear and bringing people to God in droves. If you don’t like what he says then don’t listen to him. God is the only true judge.