Joel Osteen proclaims loud and long that he preaches a “positive” message (whatever in the world that means). Trevin Wax begs to differ—and he’s got a point!
Joel Osteen’s Negative Message
Joel Osteen sheds tears when he thinks about the number of people who’ve written him to tell how much he “helps” them. Sadly, Osteen’s negative, “Jesus-Lite” message of works and self-improvement helps nobody, but deceives millions.
This phrase comes from the 1978 "Jonestown massacre" in which most members of the Peoples Temple cult, blindly following their leader Jim Jones, committed suicide by drinking cyanide-laced Kool-Aid.
Radically Tolerant - of all people, irrespective of race, faith, circumstance. As a person, you will be treated with the respect and dignity you deserve as an individual created in the image of God.
Radically Intolerant - of slipshod reasoning, emotion without intellectual substance, bad ideas, lazy thinking, cowardly ad hominem attacks, the preposterous notion that 9/11 is some government conspiracy (proceed directly to the Loony Bin; do not pass "Go"; do not collect $200), the designated hitter, and the Dallas Cowboys.
Osborne: A Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God
Schlossberg: Idols For Destruction
Ogden: Unfinished Business
Marshall: Reclaiming God's Original Intent for the Church
Yancey: Rumors of Another World
Frazee: The Connecting Church
Pearcey: Total Truth
Postman: Amusing Ourselves to Death
Bork: Slouching Towards Gomorrah
3 Responses to “Joel Osteen: A “Positive” or “Negative” Message?”
I want to be just like Joel Osteen.
Except for his accent.
And that smarmy little smile.
Oh, and that thing of having to speak at church and act like he’s really interested.
And living in Texas, I’m not so high on that.
Hmmm..okay, I want Joel Osteen’s money. Everything else….
john peters ~ Feb 22, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Yeah, but I couldn’t live with his money if I made it the way he has. And neither could you.
Byron ~ Feb 22, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Yep, you’re right about that.
john peters ~ Feb 22, 2008 at 11:56 pm