Posted on 01/09/2010 2:05:13 AM PST by Gamecock
Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas is arguable the biggest congregation in the nation. The church is housed in the old Compaq Center which used to be the home of the Houston Rockets basketball team. On any given Sunday 40,000 people pack the church to listen to Osteen spew his version of the gospel.
With a following like that one would expect Osteen to earn a hefty paycheck from the church but not a single penny of the church's money goes to Osteen. All his money comes from his books. His Wikipedia entry lists him as a best-selling author first and a pastor second and his Lakewood Church bookstore is one of the highest-grossing Christian bookstores in America.
Osteen was paid a $12 million advance by Simon & Schuster for his third book "It's Your Time" which currently has around 850,000 copies in print.
Between Sunday services Osteen sets up shop in the lobby and holds a booksigning.
Do we need a separation of Church and Books?
YBPDLNPL Ping.
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Remember when you could shake your pastors hand without buying his latest book?
This Osteen’s a real Gem.
I bet most of the members of his church want an autograph copy of his book. So he is saving them a special trip somewhere. You could probably make a case and compare Joel to the money changers, but pastors get enough condemnation and judgement. Jesus is a lot more outspoken against condemning others.
Does he charge for the book signing?
Apparently you've never read what Jesus told the religious leaders.
I haven’t listened to Osteen very much but I get the impression the big effect he has on people has a lot to do with the way he looks. What does it say about a pastor when a large picture of him appears on the front cover of virtually all his books? It says that his look must be a major selling factor. My theory is that some people find this look very very attractive, whereas as others might find it somewhat creepy.
Sure as hell beats listening to Husseins crap!
I have seen this guy and his number one theme is keep people motivated. He’s good at it. Of course he will be attacked, that is natural.
Other than the cost of his book?
The Gospel properly preached does that.
Of course Osteen denied the Gospel, so he needs another shtick.
Note the use of the word ‘Spew’ instead of say, ‘expound’ or ‘preach’. It makes him sound slightly insane or deranged. No doubt this was the intention.
Osteen certainly denied the Gospel when he recently blessed the lesbian mayor of Houston at her inauguration live on C-Span.
If you are one of 40,000+ (don’t know why you would attend a church like that, but many do), this might be a chance to actually meet the guy. I have had pastor/authors sign books before, and I have had pastor/musicians sign cds - sometimes as gifts for family/friends who may, ah, appreciate someones ministry more than I...
I don’t think the guy is perfect, but I doubt he or God care much what I think about it...
That slip will require some discernment. :^)
Disputable. Are you as upset about the pastors who swear in the drunks, the greedy, the idolaters, the adulterers as mayors?
Disputable. Are you as upset about the pastors who swear in the drunks, the greedy, the idolaters, the adulterers as mayors?
What good is a megachurch? I know a minister I can call at 2 in the morning if I need to. I bet that maybe 1/3 of the attendees have had any personal contact with their “pastor”.
Having said that, The PI should back the hell off. This is how he earns his money. I kind of like it that he doesn’t take a salary from the church.
The pop culture marketing is a bit much, though.
Of course, as we all should be! And it is NOT diputable...
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