I have since had a change of heart about a great many things and regret my judgments. I have now watched maybe three months or so worth of his Sunday program and have gotten something of value out of all but one. (I have since apologized to a neighbor who likes him quite a bit for my past poor behavior.)
For the last few decades I've been paying attention, popular self-help psychology, found in books, magazines, tapes, CDs and seminars and taught by its many practitioners, have attracted legions of followers, but their rates of long term success rarely live up to their hype.
Though they are of value, I believe those that fail do so b/c they are incomplete and inadequate, as they ultimately don't address the true source of our distress, nor the true source of our healing. Many are a sort of emotional band aid, which does provide some temporary relief, but often little more.
Joel Olsteen's approach uses many of their methods and he can be quite entertaining. Like them, his counsel is practical advice for adjusting our point of view and attitude, but unlike them, his approach is from a Scriptural based point of view and appeal to God to heal us, our spirit and our soul.
I've come to believe that God uses him, same as He will use anyone who lets Him use their will and then gets out of His way, to speak to his audience, which would explain the emotional reactions I sometimes have.
In my case, I've come to believe these emotional reactions are the cracks in the now crumbling stonework that my heart has become encased in, finally letting in His healing Light.
Just one man's opinion and experience, for whatever that's worth.
Have a whole story I won't tell about coming back from non-belief, but it started with going to see Joel Osteen in Philadelphia. I didn't "follow" him after but your quote above hit the nail on the head. As an aside, Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff is awesome.
Thank you for sharing that experience.
I think in this economy and throughout the testing stages of a Christian’s life, people like Joel Osteen (the Encouragers) are necessary. They help us all look at the more positive side of our life, and pick ourselves up with God’s help and move forward.
During discouragement, despair, and disillusionment the last thing we need is a ‘fire and brimstone sermon’ driving us deeper into depression. There is a time for everything so judging someone because it isn’t what you want to hear isn’t right. The religious people killed Jesus, so that’s my point......Joel Osteen helps people see their possibilities, and I’m glad you found that out.
Those who do most of the criticizing usually need that encouragement more than others. Judging others is the hardest thing not to do, and we are all guilty.
If we were perfect...we would be Jesus, but we aren’t.