Joel Osteen on Politics?

I've had a couple recent hit wherein someone has searched for "Joel Osteen on politics." Okay, folks, is this a big mystery which way he goes? Let's see: he's a fundamentalist "Christian," he's white, he's rich, and he lives in Texas (the American South). For the simple ones out there, the word that is usually included in that string of descriptors is Republican, maybe even conservative Republican. If you have rich, white, Christian and Democrat, generally we're talking about an Episcopalian or Congregationalist from the East, especially the Northeast. I realize I'm making a broad generalization here, but we are talking about the guy who thinks God wanted him to have a big, expensive house, and he had not a shred of guilt. Democrats who manage to earn or inherit wealth usually feel a little guilty about it: that's why they're Democrats.

Comments

[Resident Atheist]

People tend to create God in their own image. Vengeful and hateful people usually worship a vengeful, hateful God; kind and generous people usually worship a kind, generous God; insecure people usually worship a God who constantly needs to be reminded of his omnipotence. And in this case, we have an example of a narcissist worshipping a God who, ever so coincidentally, wants the best things in life for his Number One Follower.

I say all this to point out that even from the "other side" of the aisle (if there even are sides, which I often doubt), the theology of people like Joel Osteen says nothing about God and everything about the sad state of their followers--people who are so desperately lost that they have to postulate a cosmic teddy bear just to survive from day to day. It seems to me that if anyone in this world needs saving, those Christians would be pretty high on the list.

[Resident Atheist]

Oops--pretend this comment was posted in the other Joel Osteen thread. It would make more sense in that context.

[Jennifer]

I had never seen Osteen but lingered for a moment just now. I pose you this question: Does Joel Osteen have a man perm?

[Brandon]

Probably could've easily searched for "Pat Robertson on politics" or "Jerry Falwell on politics" and got the same results.

[dawn's light a*k*a anonymous]

Joel Osteen does not preach politics from the pulpit! Why are you people so consumed with him? have youguys nothing better to do than criticize him. I'm sure he'd laugh if he saw all this STUFF on the your site. MAN THIS IS SO SAD!

Also,Joel Osteen's million dollar home was purchased before he ever became pastor. Joel was invested in several great real estate decisions, in which he did make a profit that allowed him to purchase a very beautiful home which does reside in the uptown Houston area. HAVE YOU SEEN THE PRICES FOR A MODEST HOME IN HOUSTON? If you argue my credibility, check when the house was built, and the owner of the property before the property was built. Joel owned them long before John Osteen ever died, and before he became pastor. Do a little more research before you incriminate someone with using funds of a church in an inappropriate manner.

BTW, thanks for the comment RA. God is my comfort. HE IS MY DAILY SUSTAINER! Sorry that you can't see Him like that.

[Resident Atheist]

Thanks DL, but I think if I were to see God sustaining you every day I'm pretty sure it would violate some kind of privacy law. I'm not much of a voyeur anyway.

Best,
RA

[dawn's light]

Your sarcasm is noted RA. Make a mental note of the OTHER meanings for sustain for future reference.

sus·tain (v):
To keep in existence; maintain.
To supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for.
To support the spirits, vitality, or resolution of; encourage.

[Streak]

Am I missing something, but is DL justifying Osteen's house because he wasn't a pastor then? But pointing to the house as proof of God's "grace" is ok? And does anyone imagine Jesus living that way?

[greg]

Streak,

I think that's what DL is doing. DL also wants to know why we're obsessed with Joel on this "sad" site. I guess he/she didn't read about how my hits went up when I mentioned his name on the blog. Hmm... Pays to read, DL. I will say though, that since so many "fine Christians" google this guy, he is rapidly becoming the poster boy for Christianity gone awry. Anytime you can get an arena full of idiots to listen to you dispense drivel that allegedly comes from the Bible, so long as the Bible is understood as a collection of proof texts to be organized in whatever fashion is convenient for my ad hoc argument, then you are bound to attract the attention of gadflies of the sort that haunt this blog.

[Resident Atheist]

Erm, DL, it wasn't sarcasm so much as deliberately misinterpreting what you meant. But here's what I see:

You're here to criticize Greg and company for attacking Joel Osteen, when all they've done is call his character into question. I so far as to call him a narcissist, which (at least to me) is a much more direct attack, and all I get is a pat on the head? How come Christians get both barrels and I only get condescended to?

I sincerely mean no offense by this, but what did you expect?

[greg]

RA, I'm afraid our evangelical/fundy brethren and sistren don't take atheists very seriously. See, you're not a Chrsitian, so you can't discern Christian things. They've even got a proof text for it. Something Paul said somewhere as I recall. If you like, I'll insult you with severity and thus cover the multitude of sins for which my fellow-believers are guilty.

[marty]

I second Greg's motion. RA should get some old fashion Christian cruelty.
RA, you know what our forefathers used to do to heretics, don't you? The same kind of shit they did to indigenous folks. Let that be a lesson. We got it in our religious bloodline.

I think herewith Resident Atheist should be referred to as Random Atheist.

(I like h/er/is blog. But don't tell h/im/er. It wouldn't be enough like making fun.)

[Resident Atheist]

Hey, sweet! Just dress me up like a witch (they had male witches, right?) and we can have a good old-fashioned Monty Python burning. Just let me turn somebody into a newt first.

Which one of you wants to be Bedevere?

[Brian]

Brandon,
Do you know how many internet laws you just broke by flipping out and typing in all caps? Like 1...typing in all caps.

[Brian]

I think I meant DL

[PV]

To RA and friends:
Joel Osteen is a phenomenon without a doubt. It's funny though... I had been inclined to think of his message as being less fundamental and more in line with a kind of cosmic consciousness. Wasn't Jesus essenitally delivering a message of cosmic consciousness? If that be the case, it could be why I sensed a wave of conflict in the message Jesus delivered to the masses by way of parables; and then later, in private, at the request of his diciples, whom seemingly didn't get it the first time, interpreted his parables with the fire and brimstone of the old text. Which begs me to wonder... were those interpratations that of Jesus, or, simply an added security measure of the Hebrew heirarchy? If the later be true, then Jesus true message might very well have been one to enlighten the path of cosmic awareness. With that said, I can never condon a man of the cloth who would encourage his paritioners to not question their government and urge them to go along with top authority figures who would wage hell's fire upon the innocent of other nations, using the youth of their own nation as pawns and sacrificial lambs and ultimatly, blood lusting fiends-- all for imperial gain. No preacher has the right to tell me not to question the moral fortitude of my government! In the words of Jesus, "Yea hypocrite!"

[pignose7724]

let me tell you all one major thing that you are missing. i've with many others have watched joel osteen many times and have felt the holy spirit fall upon me through the television. you look at politics and money and dont realize thats not what even matters. And just maybe his huge house is a blessing from God, because he is doing something right. Whose the one that is on television everyday across the nation uplifting poeple? is it you or is it Jole Osteen. i think he's doing something right. And the reason he is so uplifting and doesnt preach fire and brimstone is because in the present poeple are so stubborn that they just turn away as soon as they hear someone trying to explain hell or condemnation. And also you all are not appointed judges on this man. Sounds to me like the only persons most of you need to be judging is yourself. What if other poeple sat around and judged you on your faults and thought up every way to critisize you. You prbably wouldn't like that to much would you. No offense to anyone by my comments.

[Dallas Tim]

I was only offended by the name "Pignose."

[Leighton]

I'm just shocked (s)he wasn't another spammer.

[greg]

I think pignose is gender neutral.

[Paul]

Dear Mr Osteen Please see WWW greenrecovery.org Please advise if you can be of assistance with delivering my message to Troops in need Thank You for you time. I watch your show on mercy toward others it took me a time to figure that out it's great that you can explain that to others in the way you do it has a positive affect on everyone.

[jd]

Haha. You are a complete idiot, and you should try to learn a little English before you start spouting your ignorant commie rhetoric. Just because a white man in America worked hard to earn a lot of money and buys a "big, expensive house" there is NO reason for him to feel guilty about it. IDIOT! Haha. All the lazy poor people in this country should get off their butts and do something with their lives. Quit complaining. My IRISH family was poor a couple of generations ago, but now we are upper middle class with NO REMORSE. And guess what. We are not Democrats because their agenda is to keep people poor and dependent on the state. Good luck!

[Adam]

This just in...jd had too much green beer for St.Patricks Day....