Reply to is joel osteen a false preacher?

Forum Index » Religion

Reply to "is joel osteen a false preacher?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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.

[/quote]

So you are one of his marks. Got it.

And the whole tired “his money comes from books and appearances” line is as stupid as the people who believe that because Trump (supposedly) “didn’t take the presidential salary” ($400K) while in office, that makes him a Man of The People, conveniently ignoring the multimillions he funneled through his own golf courses, hotels and other properties for four years by demanding they be used for everything. Come to think of it, the Osteen audience and the Trump devotees have significant overlap.[/quote]

I don't listen to Joel Osteen regularly but when I do, I very much enjoy his sermons. He always begins with a joke, like a good speaker, but his jokes are reliably funny. I have never given a red cent to his ministry and probably never will. I don't think I've noticed him asking for donations during his sermons, but maybe I haven't paid close attention when he did.

His sermons do speak of God, and our relationship to God. I don't necessarily subscribe to everything he says, such as a literal belief in the Bible, but I never subscribed to some teachings in the Catholic faith, which is my church. I also don't really dwell on a ministry of prosperity, and consider that part of his overall message. Again, I figure that's his experience of his faith, but not everyone has the same experience. That's okay. I do appreciate his message of hope and optimism. I believe God wants us to have faith. That is Osteen's primary message.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics