Joel Osteen

The wife has been watching him preach on TV. He has some good thoughts but he is more like Dr. Phil will a little religion thrown in.

Thoughts?

 

I've listened to him several times for about 10-15 minutes at a time. I got frustrated because he used very general language and didn't seem to define his terminology. He talks about giving and thinking of others, but he just as much pushes the theology that God will bless you for doing so. Whether I agree or disagree depends upon the details. If you're talking blessing with material things, then I strongly disagree. If you're talking spiritual blessing, i.e. a sense of closeness to God, a sense of purpose, etc. then I agree. But I've never heard him define "abundant life." Not that I've seriously try to figure out his stance, though.

 

I just did a quick google search for "Joel Owens critique" and found this critique from a conservative Presbyterian view:http://www.challies.com/archives/000768.php



I don't think his theology is necesarily bad, but I think it's mostly feel-good stuff, that points more towards self-actualization than self-sacrifice (well, he does want people to sponsor seats for about $2500 a pop in his new sanctuary).

 

He seems to have a lot of humility, hope, and charisma, but not a lot of depth. His target audience looks to be what contemporary churches call "seekers", or people who are not yet Christians, but considering the Christian faith.

I've caught a couple of his broadcasts, and he really doesn't do much for me. His style is a little too...sugary for me. I dont' really know a better way of putting it than that. I prefer to swim in the deep end of the theological pool.

 

I like him a lot, and try not to miss his sermons.

Approximately 35,000 adults attend Lakewood Church every Sunday. Yes, it is one of the more diverse congregations because the church is in Houston. The message reaches millions internationally throughout over 100 nations; He does preach a salvation message to seekers, and that's a good thing. But he also offers scriptural insights and encouragement to all christians in overcoming obstacles, and living a more rewarding life while here on earth.

His book, "Your Best Life Now", has been on the NY Times Bestsellers list well over a year, and remains there today.

 

From what I have read, it seems like the conservative type Christians don't like his loose interpretation that the WF uses. They want more of the direct relationship with God preached and not the feel good stuff. They also like to point out he dropped out of Seminary school after only 2 years.

Could be just jealousy.

 

The $2500-a-pop stuff is setting off a few alarms for me.

 

Here's a portion of an article from TV investigator Steve Wilson withWXYZ:


"Which brings us now to the reigning "King of Charismatics." Joel Osteen, is Pastor of Houston’s giant Lakewood Church. "

"My message is God is a good God. When you live according to his principles that I believe, he wants you to be happy and healthy and whole. It’s really a message of encouragement," says Osteen. Those simple, basic principals are outlined in his first-ever book to help you live "Your Best Life Now"


"When I wrote my book, this is going to sound naive and maybe I shouldn’t say it, I didn’t know I was gonna get paid for it. Okay, I gotta stop," Osteen said in an interview while a colleague, cringing off camera, worried that such statements might be put on the air and make Osteen look, well, stupid.

"But my point is, I didn’t know about the book that it was even gonna make money and when it comes out and sells 2 or 3 million copies," says Osteen.
"Which makes you fabulously wealthy," Steve Wilson chimes in. "It does," confirms Osteen.
So yes, he stays in expensive suites at the finest hotels, flies first class and lives in a fine home, too. But unlike the others mentioned earlier, not with church money. We’ll get to all in later 7 Action News reports, but what is it that has drawn so many to this smilin’ preacher now seen in millions of U.S. homes and 150 nations around the world?
He’s never attended any seminary and dropped out of college after just a year to work for his father, Reverend John Osteen who founded Lakewood Church.
"It’s just who I am," he says. "I’ll be the first to admit my sermons are uncomplicated. They’re simple but they’re Bible truths and when Jesus was here, he taught simple."
"Nothing is worse than self-centered life, my problems, my heartache, my pain. Quit thinking about how you can be blessed and think about how you can be a blessing. Make it your business to make somebody else’s day and God will make your day," Osteen has said.
Instead of harshly hammering home the laws of God to keep you on the path to heaven, Osteen’s sermons are more practical advice for a happier life, here and now - Like telling women to toss out grandma’s old, ugly flannel nightgown they like to wear to bed.
"And you know it doesn’t do anything for you and it certainly doesn’t do anything for your husband," he once preached. "One of the best things you can do is throw that thing away and go down to Victoria Secret and get something good that you can wear!"
At the Trinity Foundation in Dallas, Olie Anthony has studied religion and scrutinized TV preachers for years. So, why does he criticize the wildly popular Joel Osteen?
"It can’t last. It won’t have anything sustaining to it. It’s just like cotton candy. If you eat it, you can’t sustain yourself," Anthony says.
Joel Osteen’s response to that?: "Man, I’m talking about issues in our everyday life. When I hear people say. ‘Well, that’s just cotton candy.’ I think, you know what, not living a bitter life, not being angry, not blaming God, not being selfish, to me that’s where the rubber meets the road."
He didn’t have to, but Osteen released to 7 Action News audited financial reports covering 2 years. They confirm the same conclusion even his critics have acknowledged.
"There is no hint of fraud or wrongdoing or false promises, per se, or inducements to give money. There is none of that in him and I applaud him for that," Olie Anthony says. "It’s great but again I’m concerned with the spiritual depth of his message which is an inch thick and a mile wide."
So how is anyone harmed with a positive message that lacks stern judgments and threats of hellfire and damnation? Because, Anthony says, people come thinking Pastor Osteen will show them all how simple biblical principals can lead to richer, more- perfect lives, here and now.
"And that’s not what the gospel is about," Anthony says. "So, they will end up being disappointed and they will throw out the possibility of God as a viable instrument in their life because He failed them by Joel’s definition."
Olie Anthony of the Trinity Foundation says, "We have never had any, any even hint of fraud in his activities and he’s doing it extremely well obviously. The only question is, ‘Is this what the New Testament calls for?’"


Our own investigation also found no hint of impropriety in the ministry. And a review of audited financial statements Osteen provided voluntarily along with other records backed up everything he told us.

So what could possibly be wrong for those who flock to Osteen’s upbeat approach that could be called "Religion Lite"?
It’s a criticism which, ironically, may well help explain Osteen’s success as crowds flock to hear him and fill every seat as they did here in Chicago a few weeks back. From Joel Osteen, there is no Bible thumping, no stern judgments, and no threats of hellfire and damnation. And that’s about as much traditional religion as you’re likely to get when Joel Osteen comes to Detroit. He’s at The Palace in Auburn Hills in the fall but if history is any measure, those $10 tickets that become available this week will sell out within hours and scalpers will be looking for $100 or more.

 

How many $2500-a-pop furnishings has Billy Graham ever asked for? How many $10 tickets to get into his crusades?

I'm not accusing Joel of being a crook, I'm just not too enthralled by those that ask for that kind of money for their church. Period. And tickets to see him? I'm gonna puke.

You can find Jesus on a park bench. For free. Millions of folks already have.

 

Good points. Billy Graham has been around since the 50's and has plenty of supporters from which to pay for the large stadiums he once filled. God has used him in a tremendous way, and I believe at this time there is a need for another preacher like him who can draw large numbers of people.

In addition his crusades were always preceded by a year or more of planning by the local area churches which helped to pay for the stadiums. Joel has only been preaching since 1999..I think..not sure exactly. But Lakewood is apparently the world's largest congregation, and they bought Compaq Center which once housed the Houston Rockets..so I guess it really takes enormous amounts of money to pay for a building that large..and there people willing to help pay for it since he does reach so many people worldwide with the gospel, and yes, it is the gospel, and not a "name it claim it-material wealth nor a faith healing ministry."

Praise God for ministers like him, and we need more of them.