Joel Osteen is pastor of Lakewood Church, the largest evangelical church in America with 30,000 weekly attendants. With a TV ministry, it's watched in at least 100 countries.
Asked if it's part message and part marketing, Osteen says: "To me, we're marketing hope." And hope sells. Last year, Lakewood brought in $55 million. Sales of Osteen's book "Your Best Life Now" became an instant best seller. But he makes no apologies for his style or his success. "We need to be excellent for the Lord," says Osteen. "There's nothing that says we can't come in and have great sound and great lighting and be on time and have this service more produced if you'll call it that, because, you know what, God deserves the best."
Preaching by evangelicals across the country has taken on a new form by offering everything from Christian-themed parks to rock bands. Critics like Notre Dame sociology professor Michael Emerson say it cheapens religion by making it just another commodity for people to consume. They call it "feel-good theology." "Religion changes to nothing more than 'make me feel good,' and there's no sacrifice," says Emerson.
That's not how they see it at Lakewood. "The Bible says it's the goodness of God that leads people to repentance, and you know the more we preach hope and that God is good for you, the more people we will see come and get their lives turned around," says Osteen.
If Osteen's Lakewood Church is the Cadillac of all mega churches, then this new facility will be the Hummer. It's the old Compaq Center where the Houston Rockets played professional basketball and where Osteen hopes to soon save souls. It's a $90 million facility that will seat 16,000 people, double the current space. Osteen sees a day when up to 100,000 will stop in for weekly services. "It's the same message that people were preaching hundreds and hundreds of years ago, we're just repackaging it," he says. Osteen says it's a new day, and God's people need a new house.
14 comments:
If it snatches people from the fires of hell, isn't that what truly matters?
Who says that it does? Have you ever looked into his preaching? He never once mentions repentance or the fires of hell. It's all "feel good" and "think positive" type stuff.
If it is true that he never mentions repentance and faith in Christ, I can totally see your point.
I've rarely watched him personally, and have only second hand info on him from a pretty trusted source (which was very positive).
PLEASE read and pass on this info to your friend. You will find it here.
http://www.myfortress.org/JoelOsteen.html
It's Osteen in his own words.
Interesting stuff.
Like I said, I never really gave Joel Osteen much thought. I didn't care for his preaching style, so I don't watch him.
I'll let my friend know to do some research.
Although I wouldn't depend completely on MyFortress.org. After all, you and Simpleton might have something to say about what they write about Roman Catholicism.
http://www.myfortress.org/CATHOLOCISM.html
Quotes are quotes. Misinterpretation of Scripture is another thing. They have the same views of most protestants. Yes I disagree or I would not be Catholic but we need to be cautious in all areas and I welcome opposing views.
I saw a second source confirming what myfortress said about Osteen. I hereby retract any doubt I had.
Geez. How disappointing. I told my friend about it, showing them both source of the quotes and they were practically heartbroken. But hey, better heartbroken than led astray, right?
Thanks for the heads up, Powerball.
I'm glad to hear it. I'm not out slam anyone but false teachers are everywhere. There is a great website in my "links" section under false teachers. They list all the big ones. I encourage all of you to be cautious as to who you choose to lead you.
Because he lives 'i can face tomorrow' and Osteen preaches just that.
Kia Ora from New Zealand
I have watched Joel on his program. He smiles alot, talks softly, doesn't want to ruffle any feathers so to speak. He's not really much on preaching the gospel. He talks about being the best you can be. Your best life now. Now when Joel was on Larry King he really blew it. Made himself to look like a complete idiot. Me I'll give any person the chanch to defend himself. But this man I believe knows less about the the gospel than I do. Therefore I don't watch him anymore.
I have been to Lakewood and while I can say that I no longer go, he served his purpose and now I attend another bible based church that preaches the word of God based on the baptism, blood and resurection of Christ. While they do a feel good sermon, I do think that for some baby christians, he gives a point in the right direction and for those who keep growing in Christ, they eventually move on for more indepth teaching on the word.
Apparently, you feel you are the authority of the word. Well I have news for you.... the only authority is the Bibile, that is the true and written word of GOD. Joel never stated that he thought he was meant to do this, he never said that he was the most experienced for this but yet GOD called him! He does preach Hope and he preaches goodness and understanding. How many souls have you saved today? Try living for two days what Joel teaches... I bet you can't, He is teaching the fundamentals of How GOD wants us to be.. Wake up some morning feeling hopeless then listen to Joel and you'll have some hope, you will turn to your bible and read actual scripture even though he is not reading or preaching scripture, he is telling the stories and lessons behind the scripture. God brings hope to the hopeless and broken and if he uses Joel to bring that hope then so be it. Who are we to judge? I believe it is ignorant for you to call him a false prophet, and although you have a right to your opinoin as I do mine, it doesn't mean you have th final say so. I go to a church that the pastors all went to the REHMA bible training and they are saving souls upon souls and they teach from the bible although you also are calling Kenneth Hagan a false prophet his teachings are all from the word of God and yes my church teaches us about false prophets... I do not believe either of these men are. I think you need to get off your high horse and think about some of the things you are posting, just because you are not saving as many souls does not give you the authority to say someone else is right or wrong. The final say is when you are judged by GOD.
This is the problem. What you are defendind is nothing more than idolitry. No man saves souls.
I don't claim to be a pastor, but I do hold those that do accountable.
We are warned about men like this in Scripture. I dont' have the right to jusdge someones salvation but I do have the right to judge their actions and words.
Men like these are folling people into believe false things. In time they will all come tumbeling down. It's begining already. We seeing churches in court and debating homosexuality. ORU is in the news as it's starting to fail. There are investigations into the biggest names in false teaching.
You will see all these theives fall and those that follow will have only one place to turn.
I have been to Lakewood Church, I watch Joel's sermons regularly ...he is good ! If he (or anybody) can bring you to Jesus ...what else do you expect ? Who do we think we are that deserve to criticise other ? True ..he does not have a strong Bible knowledge, but his brother (Paul) does ...and Paul runs bible class every Wednesday evening. Some of us thinks we know bible more than Joel does. The question is "do you practice" your bible ? Have we brought people to Jesus ?Come on guys ...do not be jealous! If he is rich (and we are not), if he talks nice (and we are not), if he brings people to know Jesus (and we are not) ...if he is "idiot" (and we are "smart" ..we think!) just enjoy it ! What kind of "false teaching" has he given ? At the end of church service (not shown on TV), he would call people to accept Jesus ...and as ALWAYS many people would come forward ! Try listen to his sermons ...and try practice it ...
I do not want to judge people, I take the positive things and try to live my life of victory God has in store for me!
See you guys in heaven.
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