Watching Church on TV....Joel Osteen

[Buckalew11]

I don't doubt he actually believes all that, but I don't think it comes across in his preaching.

I saw him on Larry King and I remember thinking to myself he's probably a nice guy, sincere enough.

I just think the messages he teaches are heavy on anecdotes and light on scripture. He reminds me of that Tony Perkins guy...is that his name...the one from Shallow Hal? A personal growth speaker with a little God thrown in.

Personally, I like preachers that have a little more meat in their sermons.

My thoughts exactly. "A little more meat in their sermons" was my exact thoughts when I thought of Joel Olsteen's talks. Like I said, nothing wrong with the positive thoughts and words he shares but he never seems to move any deeper. I want scripture preached and taught in a sermon. Dig into it, analyze it, compare it...

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I am struck by your post. First, did you know that Joel Osteen tours the country and is currently on tour. I can't remember his website, but go to it and see if he is coming near you. Second what he suggests is where you need to start. If you want to find a church like his, look in the phone book and start calling around. You want a Bible based teaching church that has contemporary christian music. Ask whoever answers the phone if they are a progressive church that teaches from the Bible. I hope you find what you are looking for. The contemporary churches generally have the hip music and teach on your level, not in a condeming way. Good Luck!!

thank you
i appreciate your post
i dont know what i am looking for
i just liked what he had to say
I was raised for the most part catholic but dont really believe in the chruch or trust alot of it here in MA
My son is starting to ask alot of questions about god and so are tryingt o fgiure out where we want to go with it
but its definetly not a catholic church

 

[4greatboys]

Yes he has a way with people. I think he has helped many dishonest people do the right thing.

 

[tngramma]

A few years back when I was selling Mary Kay Cosmetics my director recommended listening to Joel Olsteen. I loved him from the beginning. Being in a Baptist church in the south for many years I found his style much different from my church. He is a breath of fresh air. When visiting our son and daughter-in-law, both in the Army, we go to church with them. Their church is very comtempary and we also have a wonderful time worshiping with them. Sometimes change is good.

 

[jimmiej]

Two exceptions, however. I adore Billy Graham, and I love Charles Stanley. They don't have any bells and whistles, the Gospel is pure and simple and the most predominant thing of all. My kind of preacher.

I really wouldn't classify Billy Graham as a televangelist. Not in the sense we think of them today. He's an evangelist that's televised occasionally. Someone can correct me, but Charles Stanley is a pastor who happens to be televised.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

 

[aquinas]

My litmus test for sermons is this: Did Jesus have to die for this to be true?

Osteen is just another easy believism prosperity pastor. His dad founded the church and he took over for him. He doesnt have a seminary degree either. Cotton Candy sermons that make people feel good. He doesnt preach the WHOLE counsel of the Gospel.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe JO is a name-it-and-claim-it preacher.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a "name it and claim it" preacher? Is that kind of like the Secret? The philosophy that if you want something you have to act like it's already yours?

 

[jimmiej]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a "name it and claim it" preacher? Is that kind of like the Secret? The philosophy that if you want something you have to act like it's already yours?

Look back at my original post. I gave a link. You're thinking along the correct lines, though.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

My litmus test for sermons is this: Did Jesus have to die for this to be true?

Osteen is just another easy believism prosperity pastor. His dad founded the church and he took over for him. He doesnt have a seminary degree either. Cotton Candy sermons that make people feel good. He doesnt preach the WHOLE counsel of the Gospel.

I totally agree with you.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Look back at my original post. I gave a link. You're thinking along the correct lines, though.

Should have clicked on that first, sorry. I went through a New Age period not too long ago and it does sound very similar. The whole "I am God" thing never felt right to me and I returned to Christianity pretty quickly. The New Age group was also really big on visualizing what you wanted and it would magically appear. Of course, that really didn't work all that often. The trick they used was to have you visualize a LOT of things and then when one or two things worked out, that was proof that visualization worked. They kind of blew off the stuff that didn't work. The risk I would see in a Christian gospel following this nature would be that if the "name it and claim it" doesn't work, the person might turn away from God forever and that would be a tragic thing.