The Gospel of Joel Osteen

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I’m getting concerned at the number of Catholics that I know who are regularly watching and spreading the message of Joel Osteen. Even the principal of our Catholic school was telling the teachers about how much she likes him and believes him. She has taped one of his sermons and is going to show us. It has something to do with suffering. She said and I quote " Who says we are supposed to suffer in life?" I wanted to scream out…"Jesus, the apostles, and every saint who has lived on this earth, that is who!!!

This is beginning to scare me and I think that priests FROM THE PULPIT need to refute this stuff. More and more Catholics are listening and weaving it into their faith.

Am I being too critical of this?

Perhaps this needs to be in a different thread, but I couldn’t figure out which one to put it in.
 
The RCIA director at our parish told us how wonderful is Joel Olsteen at our last RCIA session. She is not a bastion of orthodoxy, but this I could not believe.
 
He certainly is a smiley happy guy with nice suits and a pretty face. And a nice cadence in his speaking.

That’s as far as I will go with his positives. And it probably explains why people like him.
 
Well, it may not be a popular thing to say, but it seems to me that American Catholicism is very very influenced by evangelical Christianity, and even fundamentalism. Not really at the level of the clergy, but at the popular level.
 
So the blasphemy of this man needs to be stamped out?

Where’s that priest from the Philippines? I’m sure he can set him right. 🙂

-MontChevalier
 
Hello-

I would first watch the message because I would like to see what he is saying. He might be talking about God wanting us to live a happy life. I would not get to upset about it since it seems he preaches (yes I watch him too sometimes) surface Christianity. You know the basics to draw people in. I do not think it gets too deep in the meat a potatoes of theology of that particular denomination. I would repost this question in the Traditional Catholics forum. I have studied protestantism extensively. I know for a fact that they would never be putting anything Catholic in their schools. Remember, its our Traditions that set us apart. Chill out. If the tape is interpreting the Gospel passage the way it was suppose too it will be fine. I feel that so many times Both sides worry about semantics that we forget to do what is right - SPREAD THE WORD. Remember if you do this for a angry heart it will back fire. Pray about it and come at it like a child. Ask questions and most of all talk to your priest. Love for Jesus in all trinitarian faiths is what will ALWAYS bind us.
 
MontChevalier said:
So the blasphemy of this man needs to be stamped out?
Where’s that priest from the Philippines? I’m sure he can set him right. 🙂 -MontChevalier
Click to expand...
Joel isn’t blasphemous. He preaches (as many do) a prosperity gospel for the American middle and upper class a personal dream and business goal fulfillment through Jesus’ statement, “I have come so that you may live life more abundantly.”

youtube.com/watch?v=8TKHdxvikH4

By in large, Americans are already possessors of many “things”. IMO, Joel’s interpretation of the Gospel encourages the possession of more earthly “things”.
 
JillianRose said:
Hello-I have studied protestantism extensively. I know for a fact that they would never be putting anything Catholic in their schools.
Click to expand...
Heh. If they have the Bible, then they’re putting something Catholic in their schools. 😃
 
Joel is a product of his own success.

He preaches business success or the prosperity gospel through Jesus because he achieved his success through the brand of Christianity he preaches.

Middle and upper class Christians want to hear this gospel. It flows easily into ears and the message travels well on television.

Nice guy, nice business suit, nice message, nice auditorium, nice, nice, nice.
 
No you’re not being too critical of Joel Olsteen’s prosperity doctrine. His doctrine cheapens the Christian faith by making it a means to material wealth rather than the saving grace for our sins. If you’re concerned about it taking root in your parish, I’d imagine you could ask your priest to talk about the 10th commandment in an upcoming homily. I’d imagine that those who are falling prey to Olsteen’s doctrine have either just forgotten what Jesus and the Church have commanded of them or were poorly catechized in the first place. In any place, a friendly reminder from the pulpit is not out of order.
 
Barbkw said:
Joel isn’t blasphemous. He preaches (as many do) a prosperity gospel for the American middle and upper class a personal dream and business goal fulfillment through Jesus’ statement, “I have come so that you may live life more abundantly.”

youtube.com/watch?v=8TKHdxvikH4

By in large, Americans are already possessors of many “things”. IMO, Joel’s interpretation of the Gospel encourages the possession of more earthly “things”.
Click to expand...
So Christ says to the rich man, “Give to the poor and follow me.”

This guy looks like he’s saying, “Keep the gold and live whatever way makes you happy.”

-MontChevalier
 
JillianRose said:
Hello-

I would first watch the message because I would like to see what he is saying. He might be talking about God wanting us to live a happy life. I would not get to upset about it since it seems he preaches (yes I watch him too sometimes) surface Christianity. You know the basics to draw people in. I do not think it gets too deep in the meat a potatoes of theology of that particular denomination. I would repost this question in the Traditional Catholics forum. I have studied protestantism extensively. I know for a fact that they would never be putting anything Catholic in their schools. Remember, its our Traditions that set us apart. Chill out. If the tape is interpreting the Gospel passage the way it was suppose too it will be fine. I feel that so many times Both sides worry about semantics that we forget to do what is right - SPREAD THE WORD. Remember if you do this for a angry heart it will back fire. Pray about it and come at it like a child. Ask questions and most of all talk to your priest. Love for Jesus in all trinitarian faiths is what will ALWAYS bind us.
Click to expand...
Jillian,

I’ve watched Joel Osteen’s version of “Spread the Word: and he preaches that we were never meant to suffer, and should have all the” good things" in life . And he even says the good things are material things! The Bible states we are to pick up our cross and follow Christ. This is not Christ’s message.

You say something I do not understand. What do you mean by “If you do this for an angry heart, it will backfire”. Are you talking about what I wanted to say to my principal about the the untruth of this message? It is a fact that Jesus, the Apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and every saint has said that suffering is part of our life In Christ. Therefore, I cannot “chill out” to Osteen’s false message.

Life IS hard…but God is good!
 
I think that when you just preach a touchy feely gospel of smiley faces you lose out on the message of Christ. Repent for the kingodom of God is at hand. You gotta show both sides of the coin not all are going to heaven due to sin. Lets see if he ever teaches of what hell is really like!
 
coco2 said:
Jillian,

I’ve watched Joel Osteen’s version of “Spread the Word: and he preaches that we were never meant to suffer, and should have all the” good things" in life . And he even says the good things are material things! The Bible states we are to pick up our cross and follow Christ. This is not Christ’s message.

You say something I do not understand. What do you mean by “If you do this for an angry heart, it will backfire”. Are you talking about what I wanted to say to my principal about the the untruth of this message? It is a fact that Jesus, the Apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and every saint has said that suffering is part of our life In Christ. Therefore, I cannot “chill out” to Osteen’s false message.

Life IS hard…but God is good!
Click to expand...
Hi!!

What I am referring to is, make sure you approach it nicely. ANGER is not a gift from God. Your concerned and I would be too. What I am saying is just think about what you are going to say. You also do not want to belittle some one who is wrong. Just make it understood that its not what is taught in our church. I have protestant friends who teach and the Catholic Church and they are not sure what we believe. I don’t understand why they teach there, but they do. I never watched the episode you are referring to. Please don’t think this person is doing it maliciously. We have to treat each other with LOVE and Respect. The problem with these posts are that we don’t necessary which tone the person is coming from. I feel more of an Angry tone then general concern.

Be Blessed!!
 
JillianRose said:
Hello-

I would first watch the message because I would like to see what he is saying. He might be talking about God wanting us to live a happy life. I would not get to upset about it since it seems he preaches (yes I watch him too sometimes) surface Christianity. You know the basics to draw people in. I do not think it gets too deep in the meat a potatoes of theology of that particular denomination. I would repost this question in the Traditional Catholics forum. I have studied protestantism extensively. I know for a fact that they would never be putting anything Catholic in their schools. Remember, its our Traditions that set us apart. Chill out. If the tape is interpreting the Gospel passage the way it was suppose too it will be fine. I feel that so many times Both sides worry about semantics that we forget to do what is right - SPREAD THE WORD. Remember if you do this for a angry heart it will back fire. Pray about it and come at it like a child. Ask questions and most of all talk to your priest. Love for Jesus in all trinitarian faiths is what will ALWAYS bind us.
Click to expand...
Jillian,

Osteen is not preaching the Gospel. As a former Protestant minister, Osteen was/is considered an Apostate by many many protestant groups. If I remember correctly his father, who started this church (lakewood), was not so nicely asked to leave by the SBC. On Larry King live 10/23/08 Osteen would not affirm that Jesus is need for salvation. Or as Jesus said in the Gospel, “I am the way…none come to the Father except through me.” Osteen denied the Gospel that night. So no, he is not preaching the Gospel. Just expanding a market for his wares to support his lifestyle.

He is smooth talker leading many away from Christ.

Mark
 
You take the money and big business success talk out of Joel’s church. You got no more Joel.
 
Okay… well, I’ve held my tongue long enough. Osteen is a heretic and that’s all there is to it. He does not teach the gospel. He teaches prosperity and all kinds of ideas that are not Biblical, but people with itching ears want to hear it.

I have some very dear friends who are Catholic and they see Osteen for what he is. He’s a slick snake oil salesman.
 
JillianRose said:
Hi!!

What I am referring to is, make sure you approach it nicely. ANGER is not a gift from God. Your concerned and I would be too. What I am saying is just think about what you are going to say. You also do not want to belittle some one who is wrong. Just make it understood that its not what is taught in our church. I have protestant friends who teach and the Catholic Church and they are not sure what we believe. I don’t understand why they teach there, but they do. I never watched the episode you are referring to. Please don’t think this person is doing it maliciously. We have to treat each other with LOVE and Respect. The problem with these posts are that we don’t necessary which tone the person is coming from. I feel more of an Angry tone then general concern.

Be Blessed!!
Click to expand...
Ok Jillian, I understand you now. This is my boss, so you gotta know when I said I WANTED to say such and such, that is what I meant. I sat quietly and fumed, looked at a few raised eyebrows, then got up and left the room. She hasn’t shown it yet, and if she does, I will tell her one on one either before or after the fact. One reason I like this forum is that I can blow off all the steam, then think, pray, and ask for guidance before I act. However, I can’t let this slide if she shows it, because it isn’t right. You are correct that I have an angry tone…now, but I’ll calm down before I talk to her. 👍
 
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