Posted on 10/12/2007 8:57:42 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
(CBS) Answering his critics, Pastor Joel Osteen says he's not perfect, but the reward he gets from helping to change the lives of his followers is affirmation enough that he is preaching the right message. Then, the popular pastor, who is seen, heard and read by millions across the world, breaks down in tears in his interview with correspondent Byron Pitts.
Osteen's interview will be broadcast on 60 Minutes this Sunday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. PT.
"You know, you get people that want to criticize, 'You're not doing enough of this, enough of that.' Well, we're not perfect," he tells Pitts. "But to have, you know, hundreds of people telling you, 'You changed my life. I haven't been in church in 30 years,' or 'You saved my marriage.' Not me, but God, but they're telling me ..." says Osteen, who then buries his head in his hands. "I told you I was a crybaby, but you just feel very rewarded. You feel very humbled," says Osteen of his reaction to his followers' thanks.
Osteen's message lacks the fire and brimstone of fundamentalism and eschews doctrinaire interpretation of the Bible. His extremely positive message, delivered to 42,000 attendees each week in his Lakewood Church in Houston and in books and speaking tours, is attacked by theologians for being too optimistic and easy.
"I think it's a cotton candy gospel," says Dr. Michael Horton, theology professor at Westminster Seminary in Escondido, Calif. "His core message is God is nice, you're nice, be nice ... If it were a form of music, I think it would be easy listening," he tells Pitts.
Osteen says he's just keeping a complicated subject simple. "Sometimes you have to keep it simple and not make it so complicated that people don't understand," he says. "I think you need to talk on the peoples' level, not dumbing it down, but just saying, 'You know what? ... I could get up here and try to impress you with Greek words and doctrine.' And there are people that need that. They want to study deeper. But I know what I'm called to do is say, 'I want to help you learn how to forgive today. I want to help you to have the right thoughts today.' Just simple, simple things."
The strategy has paid off in followers and revenue for Osteen, who came from behind the scenes eight years ago to take over his deceased father's ministry. His Sunday service, seen by 10 million TV viewers worldwide, is the most-watched religious service in the world. His books are bestsellers in the U.S. and abroad and are available in 25 languages. In addition to the book revenue, Lakewood Church takes in $43 million a year in collections and followers send another $30 million into his ministry by mail.
Dr. Michael Horton will appear on 60 Minutes this Sunday, October 14, to discuss the ministry of televangelist Joel Osteen and whether or not Osteen's motivational message is more about self-help than a true representation of the Christian faith. 60 Minutes airs on CBS Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings).When the producers of 60 Minutes asked Dr. Horton about the amazing success of Osteen's ministry, Horton replied, "The Christian gospel is not determined by success, but by faithfulness to the original message of Christ and him crucified. That may not fill stadium-sized church gatherings, but it's the message that true Christianity is centered on."
The Rev. Dr. Horton is professor of systematic theology and apologetics at Westminster Seminary California, the host of the nationally syndicated broadcast of The White Horse Inn radio program (Salem Radio Network), editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine, and a minister in the United Reformed Churches of North America.
It doesn't matter how simple you make it or how many people think you helped them. If your message doesn't help people recognize their need for a savior, then it isn't much of a gospel.
Simple simple things indeed for simpletons, I think. The most shallow person I know is a dedicated follower of Olsteen. If something isn’t nice, nice, nice, she says it’s “of the devil.” What she gets to do with this pseudo philosophy is condemn everything and everyone who is having even a slightly bad day. It’s not nice to have a bad day, you see. Must be your fault. Bad you. No one needs friends like that.
If you suggest she should buy health insurance, she says you’re being negative and under attack by “the enemy.” How stupid is that (especially after she ran up a $15k medical bill)? It’s essentially New Age thinking at its worst disguised as Christianity. Olsteen is a self-serving conman imo, with no principles nor regard for his “sheep.”
Lord save us all from these dangerous idiots. They’re giving Christianity a bad name. IMO of course.
In other words, he waters it down so that anyone can accept the Gospel without having to really change anything>
Olsteen is vinegar on my mitre, there is something about his sermons that makes me queasy.
That being said, I do think that there will be “some” who want more of real teaching and study with a view to the harder things of Christianity.
The bible mentions milk and meat, and that when you are a child, milk is sufficient, when you grow up, you put away childish things and look to strong meat.
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