Joel Osteen

[Raiders Army]

Has anyone listened to this guy? With all of the religious threads lately, I wonder what people's opinions of him are. I really enjoy his podcasts quite a bit and before you take that the wrong way I'd like to state that I don't believe in God. I find his podcasts dually entertaining because he is a great public speaker and his message is that of a psychologist as opposed to a minister. When he says "Don't let anyone steal your joy; you can only change you, not other people," it's a message of universal truth as opposed to a message of a God. I also find it entertaining how he weaves in a Christian God into his messages.

While I find it repulsive that he's a televangelist and he uses people to get rich, I also have to admire the manner and chutzpah in which he does it. His messages are essentially good advice, perhaps if you take the religious flavor out of it, so it is worthwhile to listen.

I'm wondering if any of you have heard of this guy or have any opinions about him.

[Young Drachma]

The whole prosperity theology business is so fraudulent.

But sure, in a non-sectarian, make you feel good sort of way, whatever floats.

Just don't send him any of your money.

[Noop]

I find him interesting and watch his show whenever I get the chance but I would never send him a dime.

[Raiders Army]

Forgot to add, doesn't he look like Tim Allen?

I wouldn't send him a dime either. There are enough fools out there that do.

[Lathum]

Arent you guys indirectly lining his pockets by watching him or downloading his podcasts?

[Galaxy]

I think of Genesis (the rock group) and "Jesus He Knows Me" when I think of the guys.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

Forgot to add, doesn't he look like Tim Allen?

I didn't realize it until this post but I actually have one of his books. I didn't finish it, and don't remember what I thought of it. I guess it wasn't too impressive.

[bulletsponge]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

and before you take that the wrong way I'd like to state that I don't believe in God.

Thats ok, Gods a Cowboys fan , and he gets sick glee out of watching the raiders franchise

and Joel Osteen cant carry his old mans jockstrap

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

I would use more caution before so casually suggesting that he's a con man or false preacher. When your church averages 40k + people and you write best selling books, an abundant life may be hard to avoid. While I'm no more an expert on him than any of you, Ive listened to some of his podcasts and tv sermons and find nothing objectionable about his messages or general aura. There is nothing in the bible that says Christians or preachers must live poor, and Ive always believed they should live around the level of their members.

[Subby]

I loved Haley Joel Osteen when he played that little kid n Forrest Gump!

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by TheOhioStateUniversity

I would use more caution before so casually suggesting that he's a con man or false preacher. When your church averages 40k + people and you write best selling books, an abundant life may be hard to avoid. While I'm no more an expert on him than any of you, Ive listened to some of his podcasts and tv sermons and find nothing objectionable about his messages or general aura. There is nothing in the bible that says Christians or preachers must live poor, and Ive always believed they should live around the level of their members.

He's a motivational speaker who happens to be behind a pupil every Sunday. He had zero desire to be a pastor, but was thrown into the role after his Dad died. He spent zero time in seminary and he would admit that it's a weak point with him. Anybody with credible theology is going to have a field day with him.

Mass people coming to your church and best selling books don't mean a lot. TV preachers have done it before as well. The fact that he puts forth a non-offensive message is part of the reason why a number of Christians have an issue with him. He intentionally and deliberately avoids talking about sin on any real level. It's much more on the positive about how God wants to bless you.

He doesn't even remotely live around the level of his members even without taking in pay from the church. He makes so much money outside of it that his pay goes elsewhere. I'll give you one guess as to who's name is on the contract for the building that they use for the church, which is an older sport stadium. Hint, it's not the church's.

He's not as bad as say, Benny Hinn, but he's nowhere near what I would seek out in terms of preaching. Nationally known speakers who I would much rather listen to include Mark Driscoll and John Piper.

(skips rant about having your church be via a TV versus a local community)

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Matthean

He's a motivational speaker who happens to be behind a pupil every Sunday. He had zero desire to be a pastor, but was thrown into the role after his Dad died. He spent zero time in seminary and he would admit that it's a weak point with him. Anybody with credible theology is going to have a field day with him.

Mass people coming to your church and best selling books don't mean a lot. TV preachers have done it before as well. The fact that he puts forth a non-offensive message is part of the reason why a number of Christians have an issue with him. He intentionally and deliberately avoids talking about sin on any real level. It's much more on the positive about how God wants to bless you.

He doesn't even remotely live around the level of his members even without taking in pay from the church. He makes so much money outside of it that his pay goes elsewhere. I'll give you one guess as to who's name is on the contract for the building that they use for the church, which is an older sport stadium. Hint, it's not the church's.

He's not as bad as say, Benny Hinn, but he's nowhere near what I would seek out in terms of preaching. Nationally known speakers who I would much rather listen to include Mark Driscoll and John Piper.

(skips rant about having your church be via a TV versus a local community)

From what I know of him, I'd put him on the "least dangerous" list of these kinds of preachers. He has an ego (ie. the church named after him) but I've known very few successful preachers that didn't. And I've known some very good "legacy" preachers (sons of preachers whose name open doors), who had very little traditional education but were still very capable. I've also known some really bad ones as well.

I used to be really concerned about the "fluff" preachers, but since I burned out, I don't judge them quite as harshly. I do think they help people who need incouragement and uplifting. They reach some people in a way that harsher preaching would not.

I promise you there are plenty in the pews every Sunday of the "hellfire and brimstone" churches that could really use a more life-changing sermon. They need messages that actally affect their lives, instead the "you tell 'em, preacher" mentality. I learned in my time preaching, people love to hear what they already agree with, but give something they actually need and they balk like a 3 year-old in front of brussell sprouts. And, at least in my experience, it is not the tough sermons on sin they balk at. It is the real need for life-changing attitudes and true Christian love.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Matthean

He's a motivational speaker who happens to be behind a pupil every Sunday.

So, he's Catholic?

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I promise you there are plenty in the pews every Sunday of the "hellfire and brimstone" churches that could really use a more life-changing sermon.

I'm equally against hellfire and brimstone churches as well.

Interestingly enough, my church doesn't have one pastor who preaches nearly all of the sermons, but it's done by a group of guys that do a lopsided rotation. Two of the pastors take the bulk of the sermons and then the others fill in as needed. One of the others is the worship leader so he's usually busy with that. During the summer they do a summer long series that they have someone preach a single sermon, so they end up using 8+ different speakers. Styles range from the nearly 60 year old pastor who is straight forward to the one who is barefoot, eyebrow pierced and using his iPhone for part of his notes.

[Klinglerware]

Not directly related to Osteen, but I saw this Time article posted on CNN. Might be a bit overstated, but the suggestion seems to be that the era of lax credit standards and non-traditional mortgages added "fuel to the fire" to prosperity theology's message that if you had faith (and perhaps a donation to give), God will work financial miracles for you no matter your current economic situation.

It definitely does not sound far-fetched to conceive of someone struggling financially/with bad credit viewing an introduction to an alternative mortgage broker (and subsequent mortgage approval) as intervention from God.

Foreclosures: Did God Want You to Get That Mortgage? - TIME

[Senator]

The first time I heard of him, I heard him defend his use of a limo by saying, "If Jesus was here today, he wouldn't be riding around on a donkey."

Nice.

Then I saw his wife.

Nice.

Then she went ape shit and made a scene on a first class flight to Aspen on Christmas.

God wants you to ski at Christmas.

She was sued, but she won the case.

Good lawyers.