A good friend of mine recently recommended Joel Osteen’s podcast.
Joel is a Christian, evangelical preacher in Houston (where I was raised). My friend (also from Houston) told me that Joel attracts all types of people to his sermons — even non-Christians and atheists — so I thought it was worth the listen.
It was.
This one is about “Going from Believing to Expecting.” Check it out. I think it has very broad and relevant applications for us all, regardless of our religious affiliation.
You’ll have to excuse an inveterate skeptic but Osteen is at the forefront of the prosperity gospel movement, the folks who claim that your money will be increased by your faith in God, that believing that you will receive monetary and social blessings from God will make them happen. He has a very light touch, but I’m highly skeptical of his motives… especially when they involve sport stadiums, high ticket fees.
He’s a slicker Peter Popoff.
Does he charge tickets for Sunday worship?
Speaking of Osteen attracting atheists to his sermons, I assume this is a reference to “friendly atheist” Hemant Mehta covering Joel Osteen’s ministry in his book I Sold my Soul on eBay. Mehta described Osteen’s focus on values that aren’t just Christian values (such as spending time with your family, strengthening your marriage, etc.). He didn’t say anything to indicate a connection with the prosperity gospel movement…
I have given enough money to the church to pay off my house and go to Europe a couple of times, in style. I’d give twenty bucks more if I could hear one sermon like this a month.
It’s wisdom, no matter what religion this guy is. I could also get this wisdom from The Secret, or The Power of Positive Thinking.
But I avoid church because I’m going to hear one more boring talk given without enthusiasm or joy, which motivates me to sleep, not act on the word of God.
No, Sunday services are held in the old Compaq Center. However, to get into one of Osteen’s speaking engagements will cost you a pretty penny.
He pastors his church roughly three months on, three months off schedule according to the church website (Summers seem to be big on the speech circuit, winters less do) but currently is engaged on a North America/ Europe tour.
He’s not Benny Hinn, he’s more of a light touch prosperity gospel preacher. I took a class about the history and source of these pentecostal/charasmatic movements and I’m a bit of a one trick pony in spotting them now.
John, you might be interested in a 1950’s documentary called Holy Ghost People, it’s available at the Internet Archive/Wayback Machine, or I could rapidshare it for you if you’d like. Interesting cinema verite look at some of the roots of these movements
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Faith
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Osteen
http://www.lakewood.cc/site/PageServer?pagename=LCH_index