Joel Osteen, Pastor (page 2)

new light

You sure have a way with words, Nate. Always a good read.

blondie

PRO

http://www.lakewood.cc/

CON

http://www.iconbusters.com/iconbusters/docs/letter/letter.htm

I sometimes listen/watch Joyce Meyer

PRO

http://www.joycemeyer.org/

CON

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/m26.html

Blondie

willyloman

I never figured out why elders couldn't make their own talks. I'm sure if one was allowed to give a talk that one can really specialize in or that comes from the heart, that can really benefit the listeners.

Actually, this is widely encouraged in the organization whenever the WTS gets its elders together for "training." However, the vast majority of elders are lack the education and skill to speak and teach effectively... despite many years of enrollment in the so called theocratic ministry "school." Telling these guys to prepare better make the talks more interesting was, I suppose, like telling me to change my own oil in my car; I'm not sure I could even open the hood, so the advice doesn't apply to me.

I gave talks for more than 20 years and never used the outline as more than a starting point, a list of suggested topics and scriptures, and audiences were generally pleased when I was the speaker.

In recent years, the number of really good speakers on Sunday seemed to decline dramatically. Months would go by before a Sunday talk was interesting and well presented. I never formed an opinion about why this was. Perhaps the good speakers all left, or just got tired of the work and started being less available for the traveling talk assignment. Or maybe it was just me, losing interest.

SuperMommy

I like Joyce Meyer, too. She really has some good life lessons.

GentlyFeral

Hm, you folks may be on to something. An excerpt from his sermon on "The Great Commission", his take on Mt. 28:19, 20 (and Mark 16:15):

...sometimes religion with all its rules and regulations and do's and don'ts, it gives us a false idea of what God is really like.
But friends, God is not mad at you. God is not out to get you. God is not standing over you with a snarl on His face and with a ball bat in His hand just waiting to knock you down into hell for the next mistake you make. Don't ever think like that. ...
And friends, if anybody is judging you or passing sentence on you or condemning you, I guarantee you it is not from God. And when we go out of here, we've got to make sure we share the Good News. People already feel enough guilt and condemnation and shame. They know what they're doing wrong. You don't have to tell them. You don't have to convince them. Most of the time that just makes them more defensive. 99% of the time, every one of us here deep down on the inside we know when we're doing right; we know when we're doing wrong. You can fool a lot of people but you can't fool yourself. But see, God never called us to point out each other's mistakes. Jesus said in Luke 3:37, "Judge not so that you will not be judged; and condemn not so that you will not be condemned." One of the few times God tells us to judge, He says, "Judge yourself".
See, the Bible says the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin. You don't have to do it. Leave it up to God. God can do it for you. And see, I'm thoroughly convinced that showing people God's love and mercy and forgiveness has a far greater impact than just continually beating people over the head for every single mistake they make. ...The Bible says "It is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance."

Blondie, the "Con" page you linked too lays some accusations about Rev. Osteen having far too much money and ... not preaching enough hellfire!

GentlyFeral

edited because my finger slipped

Satanus

Doesn't it still come down to the same thing?

GF

Atheists already know that god isn't mad and that we judge ourselves. They don't need osteen to tell them.

SS

Mum

I have never heard of Rev (or whatever) Olsteen or Joyce Meyer. But if they send a positive message, why not listen to them? Is it kind of like Anthony Robbins, but with some religion thrown in?

SS, I agree that many of us here don't need someone else to tell us things, but not all of us have reached that level. Whatever helps us get there is good, religious or not.

Regards,

SandraC

Quotes

"even the most diehard atheist has to admit that Osteen's message is upbuilding and has a positive effect on people's lives"

Even before I read the previous post, I was about to add:

That's fine, but if all you want it a "postitive, upbuilding message" then you will get much better milage out of an effective motivational speaker (e.g. Tony Robbins) or life coach, with no fuel wasted on the dead-end of religion.

five_crew

I first heard him a few months back and really liked the message I went away with. Usually when I see church on TV I switch the channel, but for some reason that time I didn't. He really is good.

sunshineToo

Yeah, I've listened to him a couple of times. He has a sort of sales-rep kind of style. For some reason he always remind me of a traveling sales person. But I do like his message, though. It is very comforting and makes me want to go to a church. And he seemes to be so young, and his wife is very pretty, too. I wonder what kind of person she is. Is she as popular or approachable as her husband?

You know people who are in the position like Joel, need to have a very good wife who is also a very good people-person. Otherwise it can kill their images.

Joel Osteen, Pastor

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