For Joel Osteen, Theology is Optional

This is silly. For one, we all know 60 minutes edits things the way they want to.

I have a seminary degree, and Pastor Osteen certainly leans on the health and wealth issues. But it is my opinion he does so at the edge of reality unlike some. Theology about the rapture, etc. that divide Christians. He does not care about it. Actually, neither do I.

I listen to his podcasts as a "second sermon" each week (my wife is a great pastor, and she is pastor #1 in my eyes).

Like many mega churches, Pastor Osteen FOCUSES more on the hope of the Gospel than Fire and Brimstone. And to say he inherited his "pulpit" from his daddy is silly. It is a non-profit corp that the board had to select a pastor. They selected Osteen.

Some "theologians" such as Ortberg have written drivel. His latest book "When the game is over, It all goes back in the Box" is awful.

Personally, I would rather "error" on the side of the hope of the Gospel than speculate on the theology of the Book of Rev.

How did you feel about Joel's fathers teaching when he was alive? Well it seems that that same congregation is still hanging around. Hmmmmm I wonder what is keeping them there. Cound it be they have no where else to go? Or is it because they "all" are just robots who doesn't know any better, Or could it be that the same God of the bible is blessing the church because he approves of it. And what ever Joel is gifted to preach that maybe it works in a spirtual good way. I've seen churches that wasn't blessed and they are pretty emptied! Go do your thing Joel!

Izzy, why would I be a member of a church pastored by a spiritually immature, unqualified pastor who is only the pastor of his church because he inherited it from Daddy?

Speaking the truth in love doesn't mean we're always to share kisses and high-fives--and if you're a pastor who preaches something different from your pulpit, I'm as concerned for your congregation as I am for Lakewood. Osteen can't give basic answers to basic questions, yet that doesn't concern you?

--Mike

To anyone that has given "negative", dare I say, "judgemental" comments about Joel or Bill Hybels or Rick Warren and so on...I have a question:

Has any of you ever been a part of those churches for say a month or so? Or are you just seeing the outside appearance? It would be a great experiment to do some research instead of pouncing on one or two situations. But I guess we Christians must have our own form of paparazzi - did I say that out loud???

If you have been a part of those churches for a length of time you'll notice the spiritual depth and significant Biblical teachings that overflow in the lifestyle and culture of those ministries.

Kudos to all those pastors and ministries that are willing to continue the work of God, even though they are judged by their own family (the family of God). Keep it up!

And come on Christians...let's show the world that we are disciples of Christ by the way we love each other, not criticize each other - I think I read that somewhere.

This kind of tickling of the ears is what the world is loving today. People do not like to hear that they are a sinner. As one feedback stated; let God judge but my bible says that if the person says that they are a christian and we catch them sinning then we are to judge them. God judges the one in the world who is not a so called christian. We seem to get this all messed up with feel good society that we have let infilterate our churches of today. I have never heard Joel speak about anything else except the same subject all the time, he uses different scripture but that is the only thing that has changed. Lord we are never to be comfortable where we are at in our spiritual life, because we are all sinners saved by grace asking for forgiveness everyday.

I seen Joel Osteen in Baltimore. The music was up lifting as in my church. His message was inspiring especially for someone who is "down in the dumps" in their relationship to God. Even though I went only because my family bought the tickets, it was one of the best christian gatherings I been too in a long time. At least he is honest about what he represents. I have a few different preachers I like to listen to because one is great on prophecy, the other on scripture understanding, and the other because he helps you realize God's love like no other can. I can't seem to find the perfect preacher who teaches on all I want to hear. Now I believe what the Apostle Paul said that every one has a different spiritual gift. So go ahead and enjoy your favorite preacher on the good he does for God and beware of those who spend their time on judging and condeming someone. Lets let Jesus do the judging on his day!

We learned a great deal about Joel Osteen in late 2005 when he and his wife Victoria were ejected from an airplane (before takeoff, obviously) because Victoria went ballistic on a Continental Airlines flight crew. What we learned, among other self-evident things, was that Joel wasn't able to contain his own wife--and that the Biblical guidelines for leadership in 1 Timothy and Titus might not have been met, at least in one crucial area.

Now we learn, from Joel's own mouth, that the rest of the Biblical qualifications for pastoral leadership are apparently optional suggestions rather than standards which must be met. This explains why there is such a paucity--indeed, an absence--of Biblical red meat proceeding from the Lakewood pulpit.

As a Christian, my "best life" is waiting for me in Heaven. I don't want to "become a better me," but more like Jesus Christ. That fact that those concepts elude you is not only mystifying, Joel, it's dangerous.

Step down. Today.

-Mike

The article, contrary to the first commentor's words, did quote Osteen, or at least I say words which were allegedly quotations from Osteen. I have, myself, read Osteen say that he is not called to be a Bible teacher, but an encourager.

It is clear that Pastor Osteen is not the best expositor of Scripture; even he agrees with that assessment. It is also clear that many Christians in the U.S. like this kind of ministry, because Osteen is not the only one doing it, T.D. Jakes did it before him, and in my opinion, does it better. Joel is the "Great White Hope" to take Evangelist Billy Graham's place when he goes leaves the scene. Whether he can fill the bill remains to be seen, but many Americans would rather have him than Jakes as "America's preacher," I'm sure.

This article is extremely harsh...and unfair.

The author is doing to Joel Osteen exactly what he claims Osteen does. He's commenting on Osteen without quoting him. He's not letting readers come to their own conclusions about Osteen, but is forcefeeding his own negative conclusion.

And I take exception to the idea that it is the primary job of a pastor to rebuke. The heart of a pastor is to heal, comfort and exort. Osteen does a whole lot of exorting.

I think it is a bit harsh to attack a man who has been appointed by God to do what he is doing.
You may think it is wrong, but christians shouldn't just be spoon feed on a sunday, they need to read scripture and ask the questions themselves. Joel Osteen is merely encouraging and inspiring them to continue on that walk.
I may not agree with everything that he says, but I see God working in his ministry. He is directing them toward God and if he believes there is better resource out there to teach theology (which there is) then why do is it that people attack him for that.