Joel Olsten

[Guest]

I have to add some more commentary.

Reverend Horton believes that Osteen tells only half the story of the Bible, focusing on the good news without talking about sin, suffering and redemption.

And Rev. Horton goes even further. He levels the harshest charge of all, calling the Osteen method of teaching heresy.

"It is certainly heresy, I believe, to say that God is our resource for getting our best life now," Horton says.

"Because?" Pitts asks.

"Well, it makes religion about us instead of about God," Horton explains.

Horton's last comment is the epitome of Calvinism. What theology continually makes this "is about us, not about God" charge? Who do you hear repeating this over & over & over? Who always focuses on "us" and how "we" are saved? The Calvinists.

Contrary to Horton, Osteen's message is the exact opposite of his charge -- always being about Everybody (in heaven and on earth): Me & you & everyone we know & meet and what role GOD plays in every part of all of our lives, which includes everything, everywhen, and everyhow.

I also wonder Who else can people go to? -- if not to God? -- to possess the "best" Abundant Life & find out how how to live it right now? Jesus sed, "I came to give you LIFE, and life more abundant!"

OK, done,
and not to get too far off-topic,
Rick

[Guest]

To be fair, Michael Horton seemed to be answering to a "prosperity gospel" that Joel Osteen didn't seem to be advocating in the piece. I know very little about Joel Osteen so I don't know if Horton's criticism is valid or not. I don't trust infotainment media, which I believe 60 Minutes to be, to give a well rounded picture on any subject, so I still don't have a complete opinion about Osteen.

Going by the man's own words as presented last night, I guess he's ok. I'm not clear on what fills an arena every Sunday, however. I wouldn't go through all that hassle just to get encouragement to "live my best life." To me, it falls a little flat, but then this same weekend I listened to two lectures by Michael Frost which were more encouraging to me; although he advocates a missional lifestyle which might not seem to be "the best life" in the view of many.

I've listened to two of Joel Osteen's sermons, but both while I was doing something else and not paying close attention. In one he spoke about cleaning up your life...like...rid your car of all that trash and take it to the carwash; and get the junk outta your front yard so the neighbors won't be offended. In the other he talked about how your diet affects your outlook and he preached that a kosher diet is good for your health. Neither sermon really made me think about God very much, but obviously they were memorable.

Osteen is often lumped in with the Word of Faith people. Why is that? Does he actually preach that, or is it a mistaken notion?

[Guest]

It is my understanding that Joel Osteen's father, who started the church, was more open about his WOF leanings. I have listened to Joel on numerous occasions, and i have read the transcripts of his larry king live appearances. To his credit, he is very open about not being a "bible preacher." like rick said, he says his calling is to be an encourager.

one thing i have no idea about is whether his gigantic church has any kind of ongoing discipleship program that gets people to go deeper in their faith. they obviously arent getting this from Joel's sermons. my problem with Joel (and i guess its just my personal opinion) is that anybody can "preach" what he "preaches"- i.e. you dont have to be anointed of God. you just have to be a good motivational speaker. and the fact that JO references the bible now and then doesnt change this, for me at least.

TK

[Guest]

I'm seeing Joel Oct 19th at Madison Square Garden in NYC. My wife and daughter and her boyfriend and my son in law are coming too as it's my birthday. My wife who is not a believer said if Joel had a church in the NYC area she would join it.
I know Joel's teachings as they are similar to Joyce Meyer's who i saw in the NJ meadowlands with my 85 yr old mother in law recently.
Different styles reach different folks.

[Guest]

true, steve. if a person comes to christ via JO, hallelujah! they can move on to Steve G later.

TK

[Guest]

true, steve. if a person comes to christ via JO, hallelujah! they can move on to Steve G later.


Amen and amen!

[Guest]

true, steve. if a person comes to christ via JO, hallelujah! they can move on to Steve G later.


So i saw JO at Madison Square Garden on 10/19 and 20,000 people were standing and cheering for Jesus.
JO calls himself an encourager not a bible teacher , he says that is his calling and he is very good at it.
I find it helpful to me to listen to different people's teachings because they can all reach you differently and at least for me it helps me not to have any down periods.

[Guest]

STEVE & all,

I watched Joel on tv last nite for the first time in a few months.

His topic was: "How to Handle Criticism"

In it he talked about how he could allow his own critics control his destiny if he "wasn't who God made me to be." That if he tried to please them he would never satisfy anyone! (think about it)....
And once again, (as he said on 60 Minutes), "God called me to be an encourager" and that other people are more qualified than he and are called "to teach deep theology."
He also made jokes (with himself as the butt of them) that were especially funny,
He read a section from Matthew and quoted Isaiah making 'meat of the Word' daily-life, in-the-real-world applications that any 'deep theologian' or regular ol' person (anybody) could take to the bank!
At one point he almost broke out into tears as he had on 60 Minutes.

The last time I watched Joel I was really blessed...being at a down time in my life. Last nite I was encouraged again to keep on keepin' on in my faith toward God---and really living out the Christian life.

Brother Joel Osteen is a simple yet very wise man who knows how to bring the encouragement of God into the hearts of believers and unbelievers alike. I personally think his ministry has probably led thousands to salvation...even though he isn't specifically called to be an evangelist (by his own admission). His humility is to be emulated...
Rick

[Guest]

Isn't it amazing how God uses all sorts of people to do his work? Although I'm not sure I would be inspired by hearing Joel Osteen week after week (or even just week,) I can praise the Lord that both Rick and Steve have been greatly encouraged in their walk by this man. I pray that his ministry continues to bring hope and revitalization to many people.

[Guest]

Hey Guys/Girls,

I really hate being the odd-man out here, but I don't really see where Joel Osteen's messages offer anything of any significant spiritual value. To each his own I suppose, but my reasoning is like this, the man clearly preaches something far different than that of the Apostles, and the historic Christian faith. Osteen says "God wants you to be rich(materially)and have everything you want", Jesus says "Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."

Larry King interviewed Osteen and asked him some important questions concerning the gospel, and current topics that scripture has something to say about, and of as the transcript reveals, Osteen bombed out. He is not "in defense of the gospel"( Phil 1:17)as the Apostle Paul was.

Here is a few excerpts from the transcript.

KING: How about issues that the church has feelings about? Abortion? Same-sex marriages?

OSTEEN: Yeah. You know what, Larry? I don't go there. I just ...

KING: You have thoughts, though.

OSTEEN: I have thoughts. I just, you know, I don't think that a same-sex marriage is the way God intended it to be. I don't think abortion is the best. I think there are other, you know, a better way to live your life. But I'm not going to condemn those people. I tell them all the time our church is open for everybody.

Clearly Osteen is just concerned about having an audience. Again, I want to emphasize that I am not "bashing" the man or anything, I am just very skeptical of this mans message.

Here is a piece of the Larry King interview where Osteen denies a fundamental Christian truth, that Jesus is the the only way to the Father.(John 14:6 John 5:40)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MfwYU2pmWYQ