Seriously people! Can someone not believe in God and that people need encouragement and help without being persecuted? What is so wrong with Joel Osteen? Is it because he has made a great living for himself and his family by teaching the word of the bible in a way it is more easily understood and by truly caring about people and trying to help them feel better about themselves? All of you who are taking smack need to just admit you are mad because of the success he has become and you MUST find a way to abolish that success because you are not reaping the rewards! Think about it, would you be complaining if you received Joel’s calling and were living his life right now? I think NOT! Jealousy is a horrible sin and obviously a sin too many of us practice EVERYDAY! Let the guy continue to make people feel better and believe better. Ask the people he has helped, they would give again. Would you feel the same if he was JUST a self help speaker? Or do you just have a problem with his faith?
2007-10-15 17:34:13 · 23 answers · asked by havasufem 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ok if you were on a few minutes ago there was a problem with the site so if the question posted more than once I am sorry. I also suppose some of you think the minister should starve and be homeless to spread god's word? Where's the boundries???
2007-10-15 17:44:24 · update #1
OK, to all you Christians! There are several different kinds of Christianity! The mere fact that you are down talking someone is a sin and you need to run off to church and get repentance for that sin. We live in a country that preaches freedom, freedom of speech to be more specific! If you do not like Joel, do not watch him; give money to him or anything else. What ever happened to do unto others, as you would have done onto you? I may be a preacher, but I am sick of all the devout Christians out there saying they are devout and criticizing a minister! HELLO?!?!?!?! I have accepted Jesus as my savior and I will go to heaven, but that does not stop me from enjoying what Joel brings to my family and me. Live and let live.
2007-10-16 14:47:01 · update #2
I agree, If People don't like Him. they don't have to watch His program or read His books.
2007-10-15 17:39:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well, I also watched (was it 60 Minutes?) whatever show he was on last night, and it did seem kinda like they were poking at him a bit. There is a definite difference between the "glory road" preachers (who focus on the possible good things in this earthly life) and the "cross road" preachers (who focus on the certain hardships). I think that a perfect preacher, who by the way doesn't exist, would be able to blend the two concepts better. Don't get me wrong, I do like him a lot, and on days I don't get to church for whatever reason, I watch his service most of the time. A lot of people will point to the verse that says it's easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into Heaven. AND, Jesus spoke more about $$$ than any other topic. However, He NEVER said that it was a distinctly bad thing for a Christian to be rich. We cannot serve both God and $$$, but we are certainly allowed to have $$$. God will and does bless His people with earthly blessings as well as spiritual ones.
Having said all that, a Christian's faith is the most important factor, and faith is NOT based on feeling good about oneself. So, Joel Osteen is not at all wrong or bad, but his teachings could use a little balancing out some days.
Have a great night!
--EDIT-- my answer was based on Osteen & the $$$ issue. Never saw the Larry King thing; however, it would not surprise me that he said that. THAT IS STRAIGHT UP WRONG! He does kinda make me nervous, in such a way that it wouldn't surprise me either if he "fell", i.e. Swaggart and-or Bakker.
2007-10-15 17:44:20 · answer #2 · answered by herfinator 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Joel is not preaching the gospel, friend. I have listened to him. He is a great self help speaker. He could work for Amway. One sermon I heard him speak on was all on how to lose weight. He never mentioned the name of Jesus, and only said God at the very end of the sermon. This is not the gospel. If this is the only kind of preaching he does, then he is not telling people the good news about faith in Christ, or telling folks that they need to repent and get right with God. He has refused to talk about the word "sin", which God talks about PLENTY in the Bible. He doesn't want to 'upset' people. Well, people who are going to hell need to be upset! They need to turn their lives around and get back to God.
Do you know that the Jews really like Joel Osteen? The Jews! The gospel is supposed to bring an offense. If they are not offended by what Joel is preaching, then he is not preaching the gospel, and he is letting God down and disobeying the great Commission to preach the gospel, make disciples, and baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit. He is too busy trying to make people feel good. And they will feel great- until they all end up in hell because Joel never told them that they were sinners and needed salvation!
2007-10-15 17:48:29 · answer #3 · answered by Dawn C 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know anyone who is jealous of Joel Osteen. Mr. Osteen is an embarrassment to Christianity because he has watered down the gospel in order to make money, so yes, we have a problem with his faith. He told Larry King on CNN that "there are many ways to God." This is exactly what Christianity does not teach. You really don't have a leg to stand on here, and I think you should get some rest.
2007-10-15 17:53:59 · answer #4 · answered by No Shortage 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
My problem with the man is the same problem I have with all of those televangelists.
They prey on the most vulnerable people, the loneliest, the least likely to be able to "send in an offering". They preach the "word" of God using Jesus while dressed in their Armani suits and are chauffered everywhere.
He, and others, are hypocrits. Your bible is very explicit about spreading "the word". Jesus ask Simon Peter (and others) to give away their wordly goods and follow him.
Mr. Osteen and others are just out there for the bucks....that's it. They want the big house, fancy cars and they want YOU to pay for it....
2007-10-15 18:25:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Osteen does not preach the Gospel. He claims over and again that he is not a sinner. He gets rich off misrepresenting God.
I do not hate any man. But I do not trust Osteen with God's word. He is not the first to capitalize on God and he certainly won;t be the last.
2007-10-15 17:43:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
He is a great motivational speaker teaching people how to prosper financially and is living as an example of his teaching. As for teaching the Bible and what Christ taught He is totally incompetent. The sad thing is that there are some people like the questioner that thinks he is teaching Christian values. He is not.
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
2007-10-15 18:07:00 · answer #7 · answered by cristoiglesia 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
My Dad watches Joel Osteen and I have seen him a few times and kind of like him..
2007-10-15 17:40:43 · answer #8 · answered by † PRAY † 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Are you actually under the impression that anyone here cares about Joel Osteen?
How endearing!
2007-10-15 17:37:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't hate him, I never really even heard of him until 60 Minutes did a piece on him.
Looks like the typical televangelist "you can do it if you only believe strong enough" crapola.
Treacly simplistic motivational drivel for the gullible.
Like Tony Robbins with a Bible.
Americans can be so sad.
Faith based materialism at its worst.
Can't wait for his gay sex scandal or tax evasion scandal.
2007-10-15 17:42:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I don't hate Joel Osteen. I'm pretty much indifferent to him.
2007-10-15 17:37:28 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋