Hi Ruby,
Have you ever been to Joel Osteen's Church? What do you think about him?
Thanks!
CZ
I haven't been there that I can remember. I had enormous respect for his father, John Osteen, who seemed to be a very sincere man of God, real conservative, very wonderful example of a true Christian. I used to listen to him sometimes on tv and was very impressed with him. He was blessed to be able to grow a large non-denominational church with God's help and used it to reach many, many people with his messages. John Osteen started the saying about "This is my Bible, I am what it says I am, I have what it says I have, I can do what it says I can do" Very affirming and beautiful.
Unfortunately I don't hold Joel Osteen in the same regard. He seems to be typical Christian liberal in the style of Rick Warren, etc.. He has no problem with homosexuals, and seems to be very soft on other social issues. He's always giving positive, feel good messages, never does he talk about sin and its consequences, or if he does, he softens it to the point it never sounds like a rebuke. Some of the things he teaches are good, but then so much of it is just watered down to the point that it's like people are going in there for feel good therapy rather than to really learn anything about the Bible.
One thing I will say about him that's positive though is that when Hurricane Ike hit, Lakewood church did help many people and he went on the radio and talked about trusting God through the crisis, etc. So I have to give him a big thumbs up for that at least. On other things, I think that he's really not doing what he should be doing.
I miss his father.
