jeff October 26th, 2007

Hey! I like Joel Osteen.

Unlike the other evangos you mentioned, Joel does his thing. He stays out of politics. He doesn't pretend to be anything but a positive, smiling guy who preaches happy messages about overcoming in life.

Sure, he's no Brennan Manning or GK Chesterton. but I don't think he is supposed to be.

Joel is an easy target. But he's not a jerk. He's not self-righteous. He's just successful… and a lot of people don't like that.

Erik October 26th, 2007

I agree with everything you said Jeff. But Osteen's still not cool.

Erik October 26th, 2007

You know what I mean right?

jeff October 27th, 2007

I feel u dawg!

Sean from Michigan October 27th, 2007

The church is not a cool place to be for those outside the church. Living in a business world for all of my career, to-date, I promise you that the church is NOT cool for those outside the church. As far as Osteen is concerned, I do not agree with him, but that does NOT mean that I am not FREE! I am FREE!

Christov October 27th, 2007

You guys really need to get over thinking you're not the "cool kids" of the Internet/Radio Reformation. You've got your own radio and podcast shows, a couple of websites (including Key Life), like a zillion forum-folk posting, fabuloso people commenting your blogs and podcast intro pages. If that's not cool, and if you're not it, I want to know your definition of cool.

About Joelly, I think he was totally faking on 60 minutes. "I told you I was a crybaby" – evidently, Joel had already set that up in conversation that didn't make it into the segment. In our religious subculture, we venerate tears as a manifestation of the work of the Spirit of God, or as a mark of genuineness. That is, we ascribe to tears, or to smiles for that matter, a religious significance without any good reason for doing so. Probably each tear that fell made a Ka-Ching! sound upon impact. Which isn't to say I don't think he's a Christian, I just don't think he's a minister of the Gospel.

Michael Horton, one of the guys from http://www.whitehorseinn.org , I thought, made some good points about Osteen's church being something other than what scripture defines as church, and did so without being, to use a Southernism, "hateful." The 60 minutes reporter appeared routinely and appropriately skeptical without being belligerent or rude.

Dunno about the Westboro bunch. I think anyone who defines themselves by what they do for sex has got a seriously disordered psyche, as has anyone who focuses all their energies exclusively upon opposing and humiliating those who so define themselves. They (Westboro) have a point only in so far as scripture refers to homosexual activity as an abomination, whereas all sin is not so defined. For me, I think it's enough, when speaking in opposition, to speak the truth of scripture and rely upon the Holy Spirit to bring conviction just as He wills. That, and exhibit love in the form of kindness and courtesy or whatever else God seems to be requiring of me along those lines.

I should have gone kayaking this morning – obviously have way too much time on my hands today. Cool kids, thanks for tolerating my comments.

Ciao,

C.

Don October 27th, 2007

I think that this was one of the most significant programs that you guys have done. It was both encourging and thought provoking. I have never been a "fan" of Joel Osteen, Pat Robertson or John Hagee. (Actually, I enjoyed watching Dr. Gene Scott a lot more.) Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me about my critical attitude toward these brothers and others whom I find easy targets for my critical comments.

I have come to realize what a big jerk I am and how I need to take the log out of my own eye, before I can address the "speck" in my brother's eye.

Sean from Michigan October 29th, 2007

Well, I have been listening to the podcast, and will finish it later. So I hesitate to comment on it. Regardless as to whether I need to take the log out of my own eye, which I need to do everyday, I still don't like Osteen. I'd sure like to hear more about Jesus, our actual and original, the condition of man and Grace out of that man. Are these regular themes or messages from Osteen? I hear not. Since I have a couple of logs in both eyes, can I no longer use the bible as my norm? Does pointing to the Gospel, in and by itself, make me a hypocrite? Yes, I am an hypocrite, certainly. And I am one of the most self-righteous in the bunch. But I STILL have a bible that tells me to watch out for those that deceive. To be a hypocrite, as I am, does not take away my brain and heart.

Church R Us « re-dreaming the dream October 30th, 2007

[...] I sincerely hope that you will take advantage of both the entire post (here) and the podcast (here). Okay, now let me tell you what I said at the seminary the other night. You will remember that I [...]

rev rafael December 26th, 2007

Once again, Joel Osteen's utter failure to uphold Christian truth in an age of apostacy only further supports what is all too clear about his teaching: it is spiritually bankrupt.

Here is a link to articles our ministry has created on Osteen's heretical compromise that is anointed as "Christianity" today.

http://www.spiritwatch.org/behindsmile.htm