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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: Alex Murphy
After all, isn't that the underlying point of Longnecker's article?

On the contrary, I think it was just to point out the hypocrisy/stupidity of all the anti-Catholic "the Vatican is too rich" bigots. At least that's how I read it :0)

61 posted on 08/28/2013 4:22:09 PM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
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To: Sirius Lee
Reported. Say goodbye to that comment. You want I save a copy for you?

That said, I have no real problem with the new and present "pope". But to me, in one sense, he's just another guy.

62 posted on 08/28/2013 4:26:20 PM PDT by BlueDragon
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To: Sirius Lee
Yours just happens to smell a lot more..

We recommend you remove your nose, then.

63 posted on 08/28/2013 4:29:42 PM PDT by Admin Moderator
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To: Brian Kopp DPM

I don’t fault any Christian for living in nice surroundings. However, poor doctrine and teaching is another matter. Both Osteen and the Pope are simply false teachers of scripture. I suppose in that sense that makes them equals.


64 posted on 08/28/2013 4:51:09 PM PDT by HarleyD
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To: driftdiver

“Very few protestant leaders live in 10m mansions.”

How many protestant leaders are there? And how do you know which ones are correct in their preaching?


65 posted on 08/28/2013 4:55:15 PM PDT by ebb tide
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To: HarleyD
Both Osteen and the Pope are simply false teachers of scripture.

LOL! So saith a follower of false teachers of scriptures...

66 posted on 08/28/2013 5:06:15 PM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
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To: ebb tide

“How many protestant leaders are there? And how do you know which ones are correct in their preaching?”

There are many but not enough.

How to tell? Well usually I use the Bible as a guidepost. How do you tell?


67 posted on 08/28/2013 5:25:37 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

“Well usually I use the Bible as a guidepost.”

Puts you back at square one.

How do you know which denomination or Protestant leader, among thousands, has the correct interpretation of Scripture?


68 posted on 08/28/2013 5:41:41 PM PDT by rbmillerjr (We have No Opposition to Obam a's Socialist Agenda:)
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To: rbmillerjr
among thousands

35,000 a recent study showed. 35,000 little napoleons, or should I say martin luthers?

69 posted on 08/28/2013 5:45:35 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: rbmillerjr

No actually it doesn’t put me at square one. It puts me in sync with God.

How do you know your priest has the right interpretation of the man made catholic doctrine?


70 posted on 08/28/2013 6:05:47 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

“No actually it doesn’t put me at square one. It puts me in sync with God.”

In sync as much as the other 1,000s of denominations and leaders, with their different interpretations.

Unless you have a uniquely revealed ability to interpret Scripture better than those mentioned above.


71 posted on 08/28/2013 6:26:57 PM PDT by rbmillerjr (We have No Opposition to Obam a's Socialist Agenda:)
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To: LibLieSlayer

Watch:

http://www.legacychurchnm.com/index.cfm/pageid/2532/index.html#la=loaded&h=860&w=1040


72 posted on 08/28/2013 6:28:35 PM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: rbmillerjr

huh

keep trying, its really not that hard


73 posted on 08/28/2013 6:51:32 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Kartographer

Thanks. I will have to watch it from work tomorrow as this dsl line is creeping tonight. Gamers probably sucking up bandwidth.


74 posted on 08/28/2013 6:57:28 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!)
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To: driftdiver

“Well usually I use the Bible as a guidepost.”

Only “usually”? What are some of your exceptions?


75 posted on 08/28/2013 7:06:01 PM PDT by ebb tide
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To: ebb tide

“Only “usually”? What are some of your exceptions?”

Thats between God and I. I guess you’re the second perfect person to be born on the earth.


76 posted on 08/28/2013 7:17:01 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver
The monetary value of the Vatican and Catholic Churches around the world

Actually, the Catholic Churches in the United States are not owned by the Vatican.

77 posted on 08/28/2013 7:57:49 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Don't blame me for McCain.)
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To: Jeff Chandler

Has a court decided if the Catholic church owns it’s churches, or does someone else.


78 posted on 08/28/2013 8:18:35 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: ansel12

It’s the way they are set up legally. Each diocese is an independent unit and the parish properties are owned by the diocese, specifically the bishop.

I believe that in some dioceses, the ownership of the individual parishes have recently gone to the parishes.


79 posted on 08/28/2013 8:25:19 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Don't blame me for McCain.)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

I have no use for any televangelists.

Osteen, Hinn, whoever.

Charlatans, all.

Billy Graham is the only one who has any credibility.


80 posted on 08/28/2013 8:28:27 PM PDT by metmom ( For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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