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Joel Osteen and Pope Francis
patheos.com ^ | August 27, 2013 | Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Posted on 08/28/2013 11:39:15 AM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM

Joel Osteen and Pope Francis

August 27, 2013 By 7 Comments

Joel Osteen the prosperity preacher from Houston has just moved up from his $2m mansion to a $10m mansion. Here’s the news.

This is one of the things that tickle me about American Protestantism. These are the folks who have traditionally beat the Catholics with a big stick about the Pope living in a palace surrounded by rich art works.

The other thing is the way Protestants will beat up on Catholics for having a highly exalted infallible leader who is treated like a celebrity. Duh. The problem with them is not that they don’t have a Pope, but that they have 30,000 popes. Every pastor a pope, and Pope Osteen is just one among many.

So Pope Francis lives in a modest suite in a functional hostel while Pope Joel lives in a palace in Houston. Even when the popes lived in the apostolic palace they only lived in a comparatively modest apartment in the palace, and all that art? It’s history and heritage. He doesn’t own it. It belongs to the world–witness the crowds who come and go talking of Michelangelo.

But who am I to judge? They say Joel Osteen makes all his loot from sale of his books and calendars and self help T-shirts. He’s welcome to it I guess, and who knows, he might live like a prince of the Church on a fraction of his takings. He might give 90% of his wealth to the poor. So live and let live and let God be the judge.

But when it comes to appearances, when it comes to the one who seems to live the life of apostolic simplicity– Pope Francis wins.

For that matter, he wins with the gospel he’s preaching too. The American prosperity gospel is a false gospel. It’s no surprise that Osteen’s church doesn’t have a cross in it. Neither does the gospel he’s preaching.

Just thought…are there any photoshoppers out there who can send me a pic of Osteen being carried around in the sedia gestatoria?


TOPICS: Catholic; Ecumenism; Evangelical Christian; Humor
KEYWORDS: megachurch; osteen; popefrancis; ybpdln
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To: driftdiver

.....”The monetary value of the Vatican and Catholic Churches around the world are FAR in excess of $1 billion....”

Here we go again with nonsensical arguments. Anyone that lumps the value of all the Catholic Churches into the value of the Vatican has rocks for brains. I will give you another chance to think this through.

The Catholic church is made up of a few billion Catholics. Of course there is monetary value in the churches. As for the Vatican, just what amount would you be willing to sell the Pieta for if you owned it - and would you guarantee that it would be protected from damages? How about the Sistine Chapel????????? How much should the CC sell that for anyway? What price the works of Michelangelo, Raphael, etc....? The Vatican, if it was owned by someone else, would still be a museum filled with priceless art works.

Every Catholic who donates money to the church is paying for the preservation of the Christian worlds’ priceless history and heritage.


41 posted on 08/28/2013 2:33:50 PM PDT by Gumdrop
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To: arthurus

Apparently much more than you have.


42 posted on 08/28/2013 2:39:28 PM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: ansel12; SECURE AMERICA; driftdiver; Alex Murphy; St_Thomas_Aquinas
Isn't that way outdated, isn't that 10-15 billion dollar figure from a Time magazine article from 1965 for instance?

So, since the Vatican is "rich," it should sell all its churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages, Vatican City, etc., and give that money to the poor, right? And what exactly would that achieve, besides assuring subsequent generations never receive any of the help and benefits from those same churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages, Vatican City, etc.?

BOOMTOWN 2: Taxpayers Have Spent $15 Trillion on 'War on Poverty'

That's just one country, and its been a complete and utter failure at that.

All those who cry about the "Vatican's riches" are fools or tools, IMHO.

43 posted on 08/28/2013 2:40:55 PM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
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To: Kartographer

osteen now has spoken against the Apostles and has said that they were wrong and that gays are welcome in the church... practicing homosexuals are just fine and dandy with GOD the man says.

LLS

Joel Osteen Rebukes Apostles Paul, Peter, and John
United for Awakening ^ | 8/27/13 | Peter Michael Martinez

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3059879/posts

Joel does acknowledge that some things are “sin” but says, “I don’t address these things from the pulpit. They only come up in interviews.” When asked if openly practicing gay/homosexual people will be accepted into heaven, Joel Osteen responded, “I believe they will.”


44 posted on 08/28/2013 2:42:00 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!)
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To: Brian Kopp DPM
The Myth of Vatican Wealth–on Helping the Poor
45 posted on 08/28/2013 2:43:52 PM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
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To: LibLieSlayer

I am NOT Defending Osteen. I already made that clear.


46 posted on 08/28/2013 2:53:57 PM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Brian Kopp DPM

Why change the subject?

Personally I’m just interested in what appears to be some fake claims about the lack of assets in the Catholic church.

I think that just about any billionaire or investment group would jump at the chance to pay “1 billion dollars”! for just the total Vatican assets, of the total wealth of the Catholic denomination.


47 posted on 08/28/2013 2:57:50 PM PDT by ansel12 (Obama-[obamacare] "used to be a Republican idea. There's a governor of Massachusetts who set it up.")
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To: Brian Kopp DPM

“The other thing is the way Protestants will beat up on Catholics for having a highly exalted infallible leader who is treated like a celebrity. Duh. The problem with them is not that they don’t have a Pope, but that they have 30,000 popes. Every pastor a pope, and Pope Osteen is just one among many.”


I don’t actually even think Osteen is a Christian. Then again, I think the same thing about “Papa” Francis.


48 posted on 08/28/2013 2:58:35 PM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans
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To: LibLieSlayer

My Pastor Steve Smothermon

http://www.legacychurchnm.com/index.cfm/pageid/2532/index.html


49 posted on 08/28/2013 3:02:06 PM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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Comment #50 Removed by Moderator

To: Brian Kopp DPM

A lot of money to be made in Amway. That’s all this grinning buck tooth creep is. A fast-talking, grinning hyena, trying to swindle money off gullible old people.


51 posted on 08/28/2013 3:04:32 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
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To: Brian Kopp DPM

Facts are funny sometimes, aren’t they?


52 posted on 08/28/2013 3:31:34 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans
Then again, I think the same thing about “Papa” Francis.

You're in for a big surprise.

53 posted on 08/28/2013 3:35:51 PM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
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To: Brian Kopp DPM

“You’re in for a big surprise.”


That salvation isn’t really through grace without the working of the law, but that I really needed to live in slavish fear to the Roman Catholic Church?

Somehow I doubt this will ever happen.


54 posted on 08/28/2013 3:38:18 PM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans
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To: Brian Kopp DPM

Not really fair to lump all protestants in with Blinky Osteen. His is only one if many different protestant viewpoints.


55 posted on 08/28/2013 3:52:35 PM PDT by al_c (http://www.blowoutcongress.com)
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To: Kartographer

Please do not think that I thought that you were... my post was against osteen and not you. My apologies my friend.

LLS


56 posted on 08/28/2013 3:58:05 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!)
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To: Brian Kopp DPM
So, since the Vatican Joel Osteen is "rich," it he should sell all its churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages, Vatican City Lakewood Church, his old mansion, his new mansion, etc., and give that money to the poor, right? And what exactly would that achieve, besides assuring subsequent generations never receive any of the help and benefits from those same churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages, etc.?

Did I get that right? After all, isn't that the underlying point of Longnecker's article? That Joel Osteen is part of the eeeeevillllll 1%, and the [current] Pope is really one of the 99%?

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Catholics 'more likely to back state economic intervention' [European Central Bank study]
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Pope Francis's Economics: Yes, He Has A Leftist View Of Free Markets

57 posted on 08/28/2013 3:58:22 PM PDT by Alex Murphy (Just a common, ordinary, simple savior of America's destiny.)
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To: Kartographer
Nice site and from the looks of it, it seems he is one of the good guys battling satan!
58 posted on 08/28/2013 4:00:27 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!)
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To: Gumdrop

What a show of grace.

The vatican and the churches, two different things. Perhaps you are to focused on throwing insults to think before you make an ass of yourself.


59 posted on 08/28/2013 4:01:40 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Brian Kopp DPM

Did I say anything about selling? Nope, bzzzzt try again.

I was replying to someone who said the value in monetary terms of the vatican was $1B. Now that you have the context you didn’t bother to read before you can apply your vast learning and take another shot.


60 posted on 08/28/2013 4:03:21 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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