Posted on 12/19/2009 6:37:28 PM PST by marshmallow
Houston, Texas (CNN) -- Joel Osteen strides into the former Compaq Center. Some 20,000 people are standing and singing. Purple lights softly pulse across the ceiling, and mist floats around two giant screens flashing words to the songs.
It's not a pulpit but a podium. It's not an altar but a stage. There is no cross. Instead a huge globe spins, and two massive bubbling creeks flank the stage. A lighting system softens distant corners of the massive arena and spreads colored light and smoke in strategic spots. Somehow, the space that will hold 40,000-plus on Sunday morning doesn't feel like a sports arena.
In the control room, producers watch multiple camera angles and feeds.
Smiling broadly, Osteen bounds up the few stairs to the stage, closes his eyes, lifts his hands and leads a prayer.
"God, I'm going to start this week off in faith. Expecting your goodness. Expecting to have a blessed and a prosperous week. Amen. Well, God bless you. Give him your very best today."
Welcome to Sunday morning at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. It's reportedly the nation's largest congregation and probably one of the most diverse places in America. One third of these churchgoers are Hispanic, one-third African-American and a quarter white. There are dozens of nationalities.
Osteen will give this sermon twice. He later said he knows immediately which segments to edit together into a sermon that will air on television to millions three weeks later.
Between services, he is signing his most recent book in the lobby, just past the bookstore that is one of the highest-grossing Christian bookstores in America.
His wife, Victoria, is co-pastor of the church and a best-selling author in her own right. In fact, the Osteens are not paid to be pastors at Lakewood, according to .............
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
btt
I don't know about the "Book of Wisdom," but I know the Bible says, "Looking unto Jesus...who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross..."Hebrews 12:2. Joel emphasizes that the hard times now are meant for our good and for a future blessing God has in store. Totally scriptural.
I don’t assume Joel is perfect.
However, I find his sermons Biblical.
I find his small groups work at maturing people in discipleship relationships in authentic Christianity.
I find the rock throwers petty, prissy, often hypocritical, pharisaical and usually rather mean-spirited.
I’ll take the Biblical fruit of Joel’s ministry over the fruit of such bad heart attitudes any day.
I seem to recall that Jesus promised his followers suffering in this life...but that kind of thing doesn’t exactly fill an arena now does it?
It's more than a symbol. Jesus says that anyone who would be a follower of His, must take up his own cross. The New Testament is clear both in the word and in the example of the apostles and evangelists that trials and struggles await those who follow Jesus
And .. for anybody who is willing to hear, CHRIST IS NOT ON THE CROSS ANY LONGER. JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD - BY THE POWER OF GOD - PROVING THAT JESUS SACRIFICE WAS REAL AND HAD A PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE WAS TO SAVE ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE ON HIM (CHRIST) .. not all those who believe on Joel.
Jesus is the head of the Church which is His body. The Church militant here on earth still suffers and struggles and lives out the Passion of Jesus.
I watch Joel every Sunday. I find his preaching refreshing and uplifting, and I write down all the scripture references he uses and read them for myself.
Read a few he doesn't use.
Its only jealously to be afraid of a Christian man who owns a huge and fancy arena in which to preach. Such a person needs to be redeemed.
Who's jealous? I fear for the Osteen "bubble".
A good key to remember is this: If Joel is from God, nobody will be able to stop him. If Joel is not from God, God is more than capable of shuting him down. The unbelievers of this world dont have to do anything .. God can take care of it.
On that, we agree.
What sort of a "blessing"??
Moolah?
As a life long born again Christian myself, Joel Olsteen is class 1-A huckster new age fraud.
Just in my opinion, I'd be more inclined to listen to Tony Robbins than Joel Osteen. At least Robbins gives practical advice.
On the subject of "moolah", haven't you ever read, 3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers."
I you don't like it, take it up with God, it's His Word. He certainly won't force you to take what his Word grants you.
Joel Osteen=Christianity light
How about the Christians who were martyred behind the Iron Curtain. What was their problem? No faith?
Osteen's shtick might fly in the air-conditioned comfort of the Compaq Center but it won't fly in the real world.
Many don't like the scriptural message and demonstration of hope and faith in God's love. They killed Jesus because of it.
As the Alumnus of a 3-yr Bible school - I can assure you I have read quite a few scriptures.
And .. it was rude and presumptions of you to ASSUME I had not.
When Jesus said, take up your “cross” and follow me - He was not talking about a literal CROSS - He was talking about the burdens of life - which every person has. But .. to follow Jesus, you have to lay them down (not carry them around with you) and follow HIM, not a symbol.
Non-believers or some who believe evengelical preachers are all bad seeds should read what God has to say about judgement. If we cannot judge - then we need to have a mechanism by which to “judge” people - Jesus called it DISCERNMENT. If more people would tap into discernment (from the Holy Ghost) instead of judgement - they wouldn’t get so cranky about what other preachers are doing.
The only “bubble” Osteen is in .. is one supplied by God, and I believe God is more than capable of sustaining it.
Hebrews 12:2 and 3John1:2 is God’s Word. As I said, you’re going to have to take up your complaint with God.
Wow! Such ignorance. How can you possibly be a conservative.
Amen and Amen!
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