Joel Osteen Answers His Critics

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on Oct. 14, 2007. It was updated on June 5, 2008.

Every once in a while, a preacher breaks through and catches the attention of the public on a national level. Joel Osteen has done that, as Byron Pitts first reported back in October.

He is the most popular preacher in the country, his services seen by over seven million viewers on TV every week.

Nine years ago Osteen was virtually unknown even in his own church in Houston. A college drop-out, he worked behind the scenes producing his father, Pastor John Osteen's, television ministry. When his father died, he stepped out in front of the camera and started to catch on. So why are so many people flocking to Joel Osteen?

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Osteen's service is an uninhibited celebration that's part rock concert, part spectacular. There are no crosses, no religious symbols whatsoever. It's all taped and broadcast around the world. His service is seen in 100 foreign countries and is the most watched religious broadcast in America.

"You get ten or fifteen thousand people that are excited about God. They're from every race and every denomination and every background. They wanna be here, they weren't drug to come to church. And so there's something about that. It creates an attitude of expectancy. And we cheer and we shout and there's joy. And I try to leave them better off than they were before," Osteen tells Pitts.

They come by the thousands to nondenominational Lakewood Church, a former basketball arena in Houston, Texas, filling it to the rafters. They come hungry to hear first hand Joel Osteen's message of empowerment and inspiration.

"My message is a message of hope that God is a good God, and that no matter what we've done, where we've been, God has a great plan for our lives. And when we walk in his ways they can take us places we've never dreamed of," Osteen explains.

Osteen preaches his own version of what is known as the "prosperity gospel" -- that God is a loving, forgiving God who will reward believers with health, wealth and happiness. It's the centerpiece of every sermon.

"I want you to get a bigger vision. There are exciting things in your future. Your future is filled with marked moments of blessing, increase, promotion. God has already ordained before the foundation of the world, the right people, the right opportunity. Time and chance are coming together for you. Why don't you get your hopes up?" Osteen tells his audience. "Why don't you start believing that no matter what you have or haven't done, that your best days are still out in front of you."

It's an appealing, comforting message, and he follows it up with advice.

"If you're not making as much progress as you would like, here's the key: don't lose any ground. Keep a good attitude and do the right thing even when it's hard. When you do that you are passing the test. And God promises you your marked moments are on their way," Osteen says.

"You said 'I like to see myself as a life coach, a motivator to help them experience the life of God that God has for them. People don't like to be beat down and told 'You've done wrong.' What do you mean?" Pitts asks.

"Well, I think that most people already know what they're doing wrong. And for me to get in here and just beat 'em down and talk down to 'em, I just don't think that inspires anybody to rise higher. But I want to motivate. I wanna motivate every person to leave here to be a better father, a better husband, to break addictions to come up higher in their walk with the Lord," Osteen says.

"I mean is that being a pastor or is that being Dr. Phil or Oprah?" Pitts asks.

"No, I think we use God's word. I think the principles that you hear Dr. Phil and some of those others talk about many times are right out of the Bible," Osteen says.

"Do you ever fear with this message of optimism you may be misleading some people? That some people think, 'Well, gee if I just think positive things about my life will turn around.' And for some people that never happens," Pitts asks.

"Yeah, I don't fear it because we don't just teach that. Cause I teach that even in the tough times you have to embrace where you are. Know that God's giving you the strength to overcome. You can even be positive in a negative situation and it will help you stay filled with hope," Osteen tells Pitts.

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[FightinBack11]

You SOB! You defend your best friend in the adultery case where he had an 8 year affair with a congregants wife (100k for that lawsuit!), he gets out of paying child support for his illegitimate child, and now, he is on TV in Israel alongside of you as you meet the prime minister? What does that SOB have on you that you keep him so close? Johnny McGowan, I do not know what you have on Joel, but the whole world will know that you have an illegitimate child including your wife!
For those interested, see http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/07/21/Duplicitous_Affair_Alleged_Against_Houston_Pastor.htm

or better yet, see the filings in court at
200945454 - MOLINA, DAVID (INDIVIDUALLY AND AS NEXT FRIEND OF vs. MCGOWAN, JOHNNY (Court 334)

http://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/eDocs/Public/CaseDetails.aspx?CaseNbr=200945454&CDI=7

You get to sit him with head of states while he gets away with screwing other men's wives? Unbelievable!

[opinion48]

Jesus came as the Savior, He is coming back as a Judge to judge "everybody" even the Christians. Some "so called Christians" will not make it - why? Read the whole New Testament then the Old Testament then you will know why some Christians will not make it. You have to read the Bible for yourself to find the truth. Being a christian is not about a "religion" it's about a "relationship with Jesus Christ".

Matthew 7:14-29
* 13. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

* 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

* 15. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

* 16. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?

* 17. Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

* 18. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

* 19. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

* 20. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

* 21. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

* 22. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'

* 23. And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

* 24. "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

* 25. and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

* 26. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

* 27. and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

* 28. And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,

* 29. for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

[opinion48]

Jesus came as the Savior, He is coming back as a Judge to judge "everybody" even the Christians. Some "so called Christians" will not make it - why? Read the whole New Testament then the Old Testament then you will know why some Christians will not make it. You have to read the Bible for yourself to find the truth. Being a christian is not about a "religion" it's about a "relationship with Jesus Christ".

Matthew 7:14-29
* 13. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

* 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

* 15. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

* 16. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?

* 17. Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

* 18. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

* 19. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

* 20. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

* 21. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

* 22. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'

* 23. And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

* 24. "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

* 25. and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

* 26. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

* 27. and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

* 28. And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,

* 29. for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

[opinion48]

Jesus said: Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place--unless you repent. Revelation

[opinion48]

Yes,Joel is a good man and nice man a friendly man, but the Gospel message is not about how good you are, or how nice you are. How good you are is not going to save you. It's about repenting, accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and living a godly life. Yes, a lot of people have changed their lives who are not Christians because they made a decision to change. Becoming a Christian is about repenting of your sins, receiving Jesus and transforming your life according to the word of God.

[opinion48]

AutumnDaze77 it's about balance. The Gospel message is about repenting, accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, lives being transformed and yes about love and forgiveness. Jesus came as a Savior, but He is coming back as a Judge to judge everybody, even the Christians. There are righteous judgments and there is unrighteous judgments. We are to judge by the "word". And the word says "repent of your sins".

[opinion48]

Joel keeps many people from repenting of their sins because he preaches a "feel good message". There are people in his congregation who call themselves Christians who are living like the devil and I know some of them. These people I know who go to his church are hateful, spiteful, liars, committ adultery, fornication, they steal, cheat, need I say more? And that is the truth. Without conviction there is no repentance.

[AutumnDaze77]

Joel is a good man and he speaks from his heart. I'm not a bible reader and I NEVER liked going to church because the message was so often negative and always came from a place of lack. It never pretained to me except to say how wrong life is and how bad a person you are. Who needs that? When I listen to Joel's message about God's love and mercy, my heart is lifted and I am motivated and inspired to want more from my life. Isn't that the way life should be lived, in peace and gratatidue? A lot of so called "Christians" are the biggest hiypocrites and are very jugemental. All the comments posted are just that --comments. (As is mine). Love your neighbor as you love yourself...you don't need a college degree or religious education to learn and practice this teaching. Joel's message is a good one and more ministers need to adapt these teachings and focus on the positive. They may even find more folks showing up to church and garnering more parishioners who want to hear the "Good Word".

Peace and blessings everyone. :)

[mirrecles]

hi everyone tell joel threw god he has helped bringme back where i am sopose to be, it seems like its times when i become hopeless i turn on tv and wow there he is with a message just for me. its like the first time you go to the candy store the taste the smell never leaves you , you always want to go back because it feels so good and comforting. thank you so much for all you give threw your graceful father, who has never let me down . hope fully some day i will get to meet you and your wonderful family. my pray for my son greg, please pra for him with me god bless you all marilyn from lebanon new hampshire.

[elyse3]

opinion48, You've hit the nail right on the head so to speak, but truth be told God/Jesus are not looking at how 'good' we think we are, nor is God a 'gimme, gimme' one either. Why is it considered 'hate' when we ask why Joel seems to refuse to preach the 'whole Word of God', when the Bible says itself that's what we're supposed to be doing? God never ever said we'd have 'the best' or even a 'good life' while we live on this earth, mainly because this earth 'isn't our home'. Lifting people's spirits when they're down is a good thing, but the Word of God is much more than that. Where is the message about what Christ gave up for ALL of us, if he loves those people as much as he says he does, what's the harm in saying we need to repent of the sins in our lives, ask Christ to wipe them away by turning from those sins and relying on Him to help us to that? Stargazer_77, do 'you' know for certain that satan is at the heart of 'all' the comments that side with the Word of God? What would you do if when you had to stand before a Holy, Righteous, and 'Just' God who said to you "it's not what Joel had to say to you, but what did I and my Word say to you"? Meaning well but doing what's right via the Bible are two totally different things. Newsreader 07, that's the 'whole point here', because my Archbishop says the same thing, "whatever that minister is saying to you, if it doesn't follow the scriptures, you're being dangerously lead down the wrong path, and if he/she doesn't change their position via the Word, then you ought to find a church that does preach the whole Gospel". Call people who follow Christ and want the best for their leaders anything you choose, but I'd rather follow Jesus then be lead to hell by someone who doesn't follow Christ as well. I hope that Joel will get to know the "real Christ of the Bible, and not the one that he's made for himself". I will keep him, his family, and those who go to Lake Wood in my prayers.