Joel Osteen fascinates me for many reasons. I’d say I’ve seen about 15 of his televised sermons. When I first saw him I was compelled to sit down and watch his entire sermon. What really struck me is how everything was very easy to digest. I didn’t hear the condemnation or seperatist type statements that seem to be typical of TV evangelists. He didn’t seem “fake”, he seemed very real and present.
But what I also noticed by the fifth sermon or so was a real avoidance of all the hot topics. Basically an avoidance of all the topics that would be an indication of how he approached interpretation of scripture. Are Paul’s letters to the Church in Corinth to be followed, just used as guidelines or written off as cultural comments of the time that have no bearing on today. (Interpretation of Corinthians is my personal benchmark to know how people are approaching interpretation).
At the time I was involved in a “New Thought” church and I heard several people very excited that “new thought is finally being accepted by the Christians”. This was a little red flag to me, because every Christian fundamentalist friend of mine is very opposed to new thought ideas. What a genius man this Osteen is, to be embraced by Christian AND New Thought congregations simultaneously.
History shows me this cannot continue. At one point Joel Osteen will need to make a stand on the beefier issues, and that will create firm dividing lines as to who accepts or does not accept him. These are just my personal opinions, and I could very well be wrong. Just the way I see it.
In a 60 Minutes interview they asked him to make a comment on some of the heavier issues, including sexuality. His answer was to give that Sunny Jim southern smile and say something to the effect of: “Oh no, I don’t want to go there. I want to keep things positive.” Good or bad to do this? The jury is still out I think.
Here’s an interesting blog article on Joel Osteen from the Wesleyian Blog.
And my whole point of this article: It’s very easy in any theology to make everything work when you keep it light and superficial. But when you dig in deep is when people are going to show their real colors and where they stand. For me, I’d rather dig in deep first and see where everything is leading and then get to the superficial “feel good” stuff later. I’d like to know I’m not wasting my time barking up the wrong tree.
If Joel Osteen can keep his ministry going and never make a stand on those very sensitive divisive issues, then my hat’s off to him. He has succeeded in the tight rope act of the century.
I like some of the more positive messages he gives.
I like the fact it is not the fire and brimstone type of preaching it is a breath of fresh air, and for a lot of people that are low in the hope department his message is an answer to prayer.
But I could not take a steady diet of him because all his messages are a lot alike.
Gob Bless
Stef
With love as the watchword and motivation, isnt the issue truth?
Carlos
Hey Conrad!
I like him. He is positive, upbeat and easy to listen to. How bad can it be if someone likes to talk about the good and make you think positive thoughts- if only for awhile. There is sooooo much netativity around- we all need some uplifting and hope. God is using Joel today for a purpose– remember- there is a time and place for everything. What good one can do- should be done– doesn’t matter the reason– we al have agendas all — Thank you Joel for just “being there”
Jim
I could not find how to get a code that would work to hear your sermons. What must I do to hear your sermons on the internet? I am looking forward to this as I am a ailing man with cancer and life is a strain to say the least. I am on Chemo and it is sapping my strength and I would like to hear your talks. I have been a Christian all my life and know the Lord as master of my life, but my body is failing and I want some added strength to face tomorrow.
Bob G
Hi Robert,
This is a post about Joel Osteen, but not the actual Joel Osteen website. The Joel Osteen website is located at http://joelosteen.lakewood.cc/
I run a free prayer support website where you can request support from our “prayer warriors” – the website is at http://www.Christian-Prayers.com and it is non-denominational.
Your pain is evident and if I could reach out and take it away I would. These small offerings are all I have to help guide you.
Joel, i saw your 1/21 message this morning.It really hit home. like your father i am also on dialysis.when i found my body was shuting down at 40 years young I gave up I refuse to believe god has given up on my purpose. I want to believe my life is not over and i have a mission that gog want’s me to do i would really like to talk with you i know you are a verry buisy man i live in florida right next to the space center maby we could get togather and bring a group of kids to see a launch up close just an idea anyway hope to hear from you may god keep blessing you and every one around you , your brother in the lord SCOT
I suppose the rich man from Luke 16:19-31 would have wanted someone to come to and warn him about, from his own words, “I am in agony in this flame.” v.24 And again, “warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.” v.28 A true positive message is that Jesus Christ shed his sinless blood & became sin for us so that we will not have to go this this awful & real place of torment called Hell. This is the good news, that if we will repent of our sins, confess Jesus Christ as Lord, believe in our hearts that He is in fact, the Son of God who was raised from the dead on the third day, then we will be saved. Saved from an eternity in Hell. That’s what I call a positive message! Romans 10:9,10
Just believe the four spiritual laws Amy then you are saved from the futility of a purpose driven life with no assurance.
Steve
Seems no one has written here for a while, but I will add to it anyway.
Good article and comments. I come from the opposite place. I was an evangelical Christian. Then, I found New Thought and have never looked back. Amy’s “positive message” neglects some very import points, like, 99% of humanity is bound for hell because they don’t believe the “right” way. That includes most of your family, friends, and colleagues, Amy. St. Thomas Aquinas said that one of the major joys of heaven is to be able to look over the edge of the abyss to watch all the sinners writhing in agony in hell. Sounds like a real gas, don’t you think?
It comes to this: For God to create a creature with the ability to send itself to hell for all eternity, and to even create the hell for that purpose; to create a being (Satan) that could rebel against HIm, fall to earth and be loosed in the new Garden of Eden to tempt the Innocents (and they WERE innocent); to treat His so-called Chosen People the way he did throughout the early parts of the Old Testament; to behave as an angry, egotistical dictator; to find it necessary to create the horrible plan of salvation that included the crucifixion; the threats of church, the fears of the people for nearly 2000 years; the inquisitions; the arrogance of the missionaries around the world (we’re here to save you from your horrible way of life); the divisions within Christianity itself, and of course, all of the superstitious nonsense about devils and demons and angels and… Well, I think that covers enough.
It all has nothing to do with being a good or bad person. It is all about believing a certain way. And that is the true crime here. All good Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and the rest are condemned to hell simply because they do not believe like you do, Amy. And that includes the multitudes who never heard anything about Christ throughout human history.
I would rather spend an eternity in hell than a single moment with the god of the Bible. But, gratefully, he is the product of the human mind, unreal, and unnecessary.
But, who am I to tell anyone what they should believe?
Interesting. Fundamentalist Christians taught me the saying, as a young child, “The Devil is a Lie!”. They don’t even know how true that is. It is a widely accepted idea… let me repeat, it is a WIDELY accepted idea that the “devil” is the Master of Deception. Supposedly, the biggest and most widespread deception the devil has accomplished is ‘making people believe that he doesn’t even exist.’ How can this be true when the majority of people either believe this or have heard this?
The most ubiquitous deception accomplished by The Liar is that ‘he’ DOES exist. Those of us who have New Thought and are embracing even newer thoughts about principles and wisdom of the ages understand a deeper meaning of Revelation 21:1-4. When you change the way you look at things the things you look at change. We are experiencing a ‘New Heaven & a New Earth’ because the way that we think about heaven & earth is new. The former things have passed away.
I’d have to disagree that Christ & New Thought cannot be reconciled (within one’s own mind) but I’d definitely agree that you cannot reconcile this in the mind of another. Teaching mysticism is fruitless. It cannot be done for a mystic experience is just that… a personal experience. You may introduce people to Esotericism but it’s not even about whether they accept it or not. Babes in Christ need milk and cannot digest solid food.
the bible warns us that the time will come when they will no longer endure sound doctrine but heap to themselves teachers having itching ears….paul warned everyone with tears night and day …God told ezekiel to warn the wiked and the righteous if he turn from his righteousness…even the rich man in hell wanted a hell fire preacher to warn his brothers of their doom lest they come into this place of torment positive should be trashed for truth, it is the most arrogant of men that thinks he knows better than God and says God really doesnt know what hes talking about so i will leave this or that out i know better than God….thats the spirit of antichrist rene
RE: Paul’s letters to the Church in Corinth to be followed ? ? ? ?
These letters were specific to the Church in Corinth.
What does that have to do with today ? ? ?
Hi Swami,
Well, that’s a main point you bring up right there. There are those that believe parts of the bible were written for the contemporary time they were written and there are those that believe the bible was written for all time and literal. It comes down to how people want to take the words.
Well Jesus said the word will judge you in the last day, and heaven and earth shall pass away but my word will never pass away rene
hi joel osteen my name is sakiaya andrews im a big fan of you. i look at your program on tv and you are a true man of god. im from dertoit,mi and i love your show on tv. you have a wonderful wife to and you to. and god will bless u always. love you to.
It is 2014 and Joel is still on TV and he is on many channels. That says something about him. My husband and I watch him and it is like he speaks directly to us. I feel better all week after watching him. He speaks of God, how can that be wrong?