is joel osteen a false preacher?

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01/15/2023 17:49

Subject: is joel osteen a false preacher?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that if you don’t like Joel Osteen, you shouldn’t listen to or watch him. A lot of people do like him and it is the height of arrogance to adjudge them all stupid, misled or ignorant simply because of that. One of the things he repeats in every broadcast is that people should find a local church home for their foundational religious activity and come to/support his ministry only secondarily. According to various articles, his own money comes from books and appearance fees and he donates a not inconsequential amount back to the ministry in sort of a reverse salary arrangement. Information on charitable giving is harder to find but it appears that the ministry does support charitable causes to at least some extent. Giving him the benefit of the doubt it is entirely possible that he and the ministry are doing more than us public, following the biblical admonition to not let one’s right hand know what the left hand is doing with regard to charity.

The prosperity gospel is open to valid criticism that it overemphasizes God’s provision over other aspects of religious observance. At the same time, a person like Mr. Osteen, with his infallibly positive and uplifting message and personal enthusiasm can be a source of badly needed hope to someone at the end of their rope and ready to give up.

I don’t watch him often, but I find it uplifting when I do. His critics appear to be motivated at least as much by envy of his success and popularity as by any legitimate concern for people who like him. Unlike some other popular preachers, he has not (at least so far) been caught up in any personal moral scandal, nor has he been caught using audience information cards and concealed transmitter equipment to appear to be able to prophesy.

Anyone with a brain can see the man is a grifter who preys on the week.

He is a con man in a fancy suit period.

Not once has he ever helped his community but he sure has taken their money hasn't he over and over again.

They want to give it to him willingly more power to them however it does not make us wrong saying he's a con man because Facts show unequivocally he is.

Someone has to be. brain dead to give that utter shit money.

You see, the problem with emotionalism, unsupported, conclusory “responses” like this is that they do nothing to advance the discussion, and refer to “facts” without actually citing any. Even a cursory level of research confirms that he in fact does not take money from the ministry but rather donates to the ministry money he makes from books, appearances and the like. Not sure how the relatively dispassionate and deadline-free decision to buy a book fits in with the idea of being “conned” by a “grifter.” His ministry is not well known for lavish external contributions, but they do make some, and they have a spending category called “outreach” that might well involve individual acts of assistance to persons who approach them asking for help.

I think you envy his success.