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Joel Osteen

reviewed by Donovan

Joel Osteen is the pastor of Lakewood Church, based in Houston, Texas. Joel Osteen's father, John Osteen, is the founding pastor of the Lakewood Church.

Donovan
03/10/2008

Joel Osteen 5

UPDATE 4: So many "Christians" say they are "discerning Christians." So if a person disagrees with you I guess they are not discerning... Interesting!

UPDATE 3:

I disagree with the criticism of Joel. I wonder of all who make fun of him or say he's not genuine, if they themselves are doing much for the Lord. There is nothing wrong with offering hope in an encouraging and positive way to the world. Sure he could be more hell and brimstone in his approach but he's not. We all must answer for our efforts or lack thereof in reaching the lost. Rather than judging this brother when you know not his heart, look at your own personal walk with the Lord.
UPDATE 2:

My pastor told a story Sunday in church of someone who came up to a preacher and said, "I do not like your style of preaching." The preacher said "I guess I do not either. What are you doing for the Lord? How are you witnessing? Are you preaching"? The person said "No." The preacher said "I think I'll keep doing what I'm doing".

UPDATE: For those who feel that Joel's messages are not deep enough read1 Corinthians 3:1-7. Sometimes people are not ready for anything other than what draws then to the cross in the first place. Joel has a ministry to the people in his city, I will not judge him for doing what he feels he is lead to do. "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldlymere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." 1 Corinthians 3:1-7 Original Message: I have been touched by the words of this man and have felt God's anointing on his life. Before you judge Joel or anyone ask for God's grace. God give me wisdom to know when I have sinned, not my brother.

Join to vote! 20 Helpful / 2 Funny / 3 Agree / 0 Disagree
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Theoden commented 953 days ago.
Osteen is LEADING people away from redemption; that much I can hear and see. God may yet work a miracle in JO's life, but right now, he's a false prophet.

Donovan commented 953 days ago.
I disagree with you my brother. If you truly feel Joel is wrong, pray for him. God is stronger than we are and he can change hearts. If people pray for salvation at the end of his broadcasts, the salvation comes from God anyway... not Joel. I can only tell you what I feel in my heart. God bless you as you decide what is best for you.

Randyman commented 953 days ago.
I could not agree more, Donovan.

Theoden commented 940 days ago.
Better start thinking through your responses before you throw them out there. Osteen neither preaches or witnesses himself. Your quaint example is basically worthless, just like JO's "messages"... Again, think before you post.

Donovan commented 940 days ago.
Oh really, I hear him preach and witness all the time. Do you?

questioneverything commented 809 days ago.
Does Joel really lead anyone to the Cross? How can he if he doesn't talk about Jesus. "Christ" is the heart of "Christianity", If we leave Him out of the picture then we have nothing.

bks commented 808 days ago.
I agree.....I am HINDU by religion and still find Joel very inspirational. Please do not misunderstand that my faith in my religion is shaky. For your information I follow all the religious practices of Hinduism , but I find Joel with the massage which even I can relate to. So my dear I am happy for the last line of your massage.

Donovan commented 761 days ago.
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." 1 Corinthians 3:7

kevyj67 commented 714 days ago.
As I had stated in my previous responses, to not be able to share the gospel with others instead of what you want to because you don't want to "offend" them is ludacris. The gospel is going to offend by it's nature, because of our nature of not wanting to reconcile to God. When you can't take five minutes in a speech (I dare not say sermon) and talk about everything but salvation.. and don't get me started on that weak attempt of a "call to discipleship" at the end, when you never presented why Jesus went to the cross and why He arose from the dead. But alas, Joel wants you to feel good about your hethen lifestyle and claim favor over things that you cannot obtain unless you confess, believe, and know that Jesus was who He said He was. Keep reading "Your Best Li(f)e Now" and "Become A Better (Hethen) You".

Donovan commented 714 days ago.
I stand on my comment. I just pray that all who criticize this man are doing their share for the Lord's work. Joel may not be as bold of a preacher as some may want but he does love the Lord and shares from his heart. Many have been touched by his ministry including me.

Donovan commented 662 days ago.
I hear what your saying; I say God uses people in different ways. I know my heart, I do not know what's in yours. I know my heart, I do not know what is in Joel's. Let God be the judge.

Donovan commented 651 days ago.
I disagree with the criticism of Joel. I wonder of all who make fun of him or say he's not genuine, if they themselves are doing much for the Lord. There is nothing wrong with offering hope in an encouraging and positive way to the world. Sure he could be more hell and brimstone in his approach but he's not. We all must answer for our efforts or lack thereof in reaching the lost. Rather than judging this brother when you know not his heart, look at your own personal walk with the Lord.

Donovan commented 651 days ago.
For the 3 funny voters, I didn't realize my comment was so funny. If laughing at me makes you feel better about yourself then so be it.

JCSaves commented 648 days ago.
There are way too many people who are fooled by Osteen, who is definitely one of the wolves in sheeps clothing that Jesus warned would appear on the scene. None of the apostles presented a gospel without hardship, without persecution, without trials and tribulations. None of the apostles sold books and made themselves rich by telling people that they need to pursue their best life here on earth. Jesus told the disciples that many of them would be killed for the faith, and they in turn told converts that in order to reign with Christ, they must suffer for him. Very few people want to suffer, so Osteen took the opportunity to administer a different gospel, one that would enrich his finances, and produce a multitude of saltless, powerless Christians whose main pursuit is not suffering for the cause of Christ, nor dying daily to the flesh, but living high on the hog in THIS life. It's a gospel that spits in the face of martyred Christians both past and present. Shame on Joel

Donovan commented 647 days ago.
JC, I'm not fooled by Osteen if that's what you imply. I don't think he's trying to fool anyone. I guess those who have grown in the Lord or who have been encouraged to stay with Christ in their despair are pawns of satan. I wish people would look at their own lives and what they are doing for the kingdom before they judge others.

WarmHand commented 639 days ago.
Donovan, are you related to Joel Osteen? Osteen's circle PRAY that peoplw who expose for what he is would just go away and pray for him. This gigantic apostasy generally doesn't bring out a quiet response from Christians. What Joel Osteen is doing is a scandal to the faith, not a minor offense.

Donovan commented 638 days ago.
Warmhand, just because I have been touched by JO's ministry does not mean I'm related to him. Are you? You seem to know his heart. I just wish Christians would look at their own lives before they cast stones at others.

Twitchin' Monkey commented 632 days ago.
I share your stance, Donovan, and I genuinely thank you for not giving in and backing away from what you believe and feel because others subject you to this barage of criticism. you've encouraged me, and others as well, I'm sure.

Donovan commented 632 days ago.
TM, thank you so much for your comment! God bless you friend!

Donovan commented 627 days ago.
Look I don't want to argue with you over someone else's motivation or what's in their heart. Just because I have been touched by his ministry does not mean I've naive, related to the man or anything else. It is what it is and if Joel is so evil then why when I was down and out one night did I pray and read my Bible after hearing him speak?

JCSaves commented 621 days ago.
For whatever reason, RIA erased the last 20 or so comments here, specifically, the ones where you and I debated. Look, I know that you think I'm making personal attacks, Donovan, and that is very unfortunate. One should be so confident in their beliefs that nothing can shake or "belittle" them. So many so-called Christians have written messages to my profile and told me in so many words, that I'm hell-bound because I dare speak against "God's anointed." One other thing that I mentioned, that RIA erased, was the fact that about 3 years ago, I was flipping through channels and landed on TBN(The Baal Network)and saw Eddie Long preaching. Now, Eddie is another false teacher in the same cloth as Osteen and Jakes, and has a large following as well. He said something as I paused to listen, and it was a word that seemed to have spoken directly to a dilemna I was going through. It was indeed a timely message for me, but it didn't make Long any less a false teacher. I've found that God can speak through anyone. I've even had atheists that I know personally, tell me something encouraging. So, what I mean to say is, if God can speak to a wayward prophet through a donkey-as he did the prophet Balaam-He can speak through anyone. A timely message can just as easily come from a heretic as it can a legitimate person of God.

Donovan commented 621 days ago.
If you go on the RIA Blog you can read that all messages/ reviews were lost from about 4pm yesterday. They had some problems that had to be fixed and in the process postings were lost. The site has been down all day. I'm sorry that people have said things to you on your userpage that were mean spirited. I am secure in my faith and I know your heart is in the right place. If you don't remember anything else from me know that I do not hold any resentment towards you. I understand what you are saying about people encouraging us whether they are Christian or not, your point is well taken. I will pray that God will open Joel's eyes to things that he is NOT saying that is causing people to doubt his ministry. I do not like prosperity teaching and find those who do it disturbing. Many of the comments I have made on RIA have been on those TV evangelists who are tagged as such. God's Word will not turn void and even though many of these preachers talk of giving money to the point of nausea they still can be used by God. I just pray the good they do eventually points them to the bad they do. God bless you brother.

JCSaves commented 621 days ago.
God bless you too, Donovan. And I would like you to remember the same, that I don't, and never did, hold any resentment. Like I said, you are a respected member on RIA, and rightfully so. To me, there's nothing wrong with a little debate. Be blessed

Donovan commented 621 days ago.
I agree and this one ended well. Have a nice evening!

Plato's Cave commented 590 days ago.
Joel Osteen benefits immensely from living in 2008, when most people wouldn't know scripture from shoepolish. 150 years ago, they would've run him out of town. "Tolerance" is our mantra today, even if people are blatantly lied to. Who would have ever followed Jesus if He had said: "Become a better you?" No Cross, no repentance, no sacrifice....just a bigger house and high-paying job."

Donovan commented 491 days ago.
PC, I see your point and understand your concerns.
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