What do think about Joel Osteen's Christianity? Some Christians call it heresy. What do you think?

Answer 1

I remember when his father, John Osteen, was the leader of the congregation. Even then, I found that the tendency was to show a scripture, expound on it for a few minutes, say some ridiculous phrase that was meant to encourage you (can somebody tell me what "Stretch your faith" is supposed to mean?), and sing a bunch of songs. As a young teen, I found this odd, because there was less instruction than there was singing. Anyway, this was the procedure every week, both on camera and off. Although off camera, there was more "speaking in tongues," i.e. babbling incoherently. For some reason that kind of thing was less prevelant once the cameras started rolling.

Joel Osteen is, I think, more driven and charismatic than his father was, and certainly a top-quality showman, but I am not convinced he is a better pastor, or that he actually cares on a personal level about the thousands of people who go to his mega-church every week.

As to his preaching, I can't really say if it's any different than his dad's. Certainly both of them wanted people to feel good when they came to church so that they would return the next week. John Osteen made a point of asking the audience to examine their consciences and come forward if they felt the need to repent. I don't really know if Joel Osteen does this.

My aunt is a devoted member of Joel's congregation and has been attending Lakewood church since John was alive. She does what I expect from a woman who thinks televangelism is normal behavior: she talks about God a lot in social settings whether anyone else wants to hear it or not, and she gets loud and vocal and invokes the name of God any time anyone in her house does something she doesn't like. The loud and vocal part was always her personality, but now she thinks it's okay because she says "Jesus" when she's telling people off. She uses her religion for show. Which, now I think about it, is what most televangelists do. Including the Osteens.

Answer 2

Joel does not preach the entire Bible. He is a very inspirational preacher and that gets him a lot of attention. One can not omit any part of the Bible. For example you can't take the parts you like and leave the parts you don't like.

Answer 3

I think he's just another televangeslist who preys on the pocketbooks of the gullible and has become a very, very wealthy man.

He's an entertainer.....like Rush Limbaugh or Jerry Lewis. He just appeals to the forlorn, hopeless, ignorant people who can't take care of themselves and who are looking for someone else to do it.

Answer 4

It is only a matter of time before his particular perversions are uncovered. I think he is going to be found to have a very unpleasant set of hobbies, that will make Ted H look like a choir boy..

Atheist.

Answer 5

no, it has been plastered all over the internet that this was just an elaborate hoax and should go to show people how easy it is to say false things and make people believe them on the internet.

Answer 6

we all have to stand before God on judgment day for the deeds done in the body , if we live according to God's word we should not go wrong.

Answer 7

just another dog and pony show claiming to be christian and giving the world a false view of what a christian is...


clown...

Answer 8

He himself says he is not very good at scripture. I guess this is a cop-out.

he says, "if you have Jesus" you will be OK. If you "don't have Jesus" you are still OK?

Excuse me, have you read John 14:6 at all??

Answer 9

He is a charismatic speaker, nothing more.