Joel Osteen the prosperity preacher from Houston has just moved up from his $2m mansion to a $10m mansion. Here’s the news.Posted on 08/28/2013 11:39:15 AM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
Joel Osteen the prosperity preacher from Houston has just moved up from his $2m mansion to a $10m mansion. Here’s the news.
This is one of the things that tickle me about American Protestantism. These are the folks who have traditionally beat the Catholics with a big stick about the Pope living in a palace surrounded by rich art works.
The other thing is the way Protestants will beat up on Catholics for having a highly exalted infallible leader who is treated like a celebrity. Duh. The problem with them is not that they don’t have a Pope, but that they have 30,000 popes. Every pastor a pope, and Pope Osteen is just one among many.
So Pope Francis lives in a modest suite in a functional hostel while Pope Joel lives in a palace in Houston. Even when the popes lived in the apostolic palace they only lived in a comparatively modest apartment in the palace, and all that art? It’s history and heritage. He doesn’t own it. It belongs to the world–witness the crowds who come and go talking of Michelangelo.
But who am I to judge? They say Joel Osteen makes all his loot from sale of his books and calendars and self help T-shirts. He’s welcome to it I guess, and who knows, he might live like a prince of the Church on a fraction of his takings. He might give 90% of his wealth to the poor. So live and let live and let God be the judge.
But when it comes to appearances, when it comes to the one who seems to live the life of apostolic simplicity– Pope Francis wins.
For that matter, he wins with the gospel he’s preaching too. The American prosperity gospel is a false gospel. It’s no surprise that Osteen’s church doesn’t have a cross in it. Neither does the gospel he’s preaching.
Just thought…are there any photoshoppers out there who can send me a pic of Osteen being carried around in the sedia gestatoria?
.....”The monetary value of the Vatican and Catholic Churches around the world are FAR in excess of $1 billion....”
Here we go again with nonsensical arguments. Anyone that lumps the value of all the Catholic Churches into the value of the Vatican has rocks for brains. I will give you another chance to think this through.
The Catholic church is made up of a few billion Catholics. Of course there is monetary value in the churches. As for the Vatican, just what amount would you be willing to sell the Pieta for if you owned it - and would you guarantee that it would be protected from damages? How about the Sistine Chapel????????? How much should the CC sell that for anyway? What price the works of Michelangelo, Raphael, etc....? The Vatican, if it was owned by someone else, would still be a museum filled with priceless art works.
Every Catholic who donates money to the church is paying for the preservation of the Christian worlds’ priceless history and heritage.
Apparently much more than you have.
So, since the Vatican is "rich," it should sell all its churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages, Vatican City, etc., and give that money to the poor, right? And what exactly would that achieve, besides assuring subsequent generations never receive any of the help and benefits from those same churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages, Vatican City, etc.?
BOOMTOWN 2: Taxpayers Have Spent $15 Trillion on 'War on Poverty'
That's just one country, and its been a complete and utter failure at that.
All those who cry about the "Vatican's riches" are fools or tools, IMHO.
osteen now has spoken against the Apostles and has said that they were wrong and that gays are welcome in the church... practicing homosexuals are just fine and dandy with GOD the man says.
LLS
Joel Osteen Rebukes Apostles Paul, Peter, and John
United for Awakening ^ | 8/27/13 | Peter Michael Martinez
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3059879/posts
Joel does acknowledge that some things are “sin” but says, “I don’t address these things from the pulpit. They only come up in interviews.” When asked if openly practicing gay/homosexual people will be accepted into heaven, Joel Osteen responded, “I believe they will.”
I am NOT Defending Osteen. I already made that clear.
Why change the subject?
Personally I’m just interested in what appears to be some fake claims about the lack of assets in the Catholic church.
I think that just about any billionaire or investment group would jump at the chance to pay “1 billion dollars”! for just the total Vatican assets, of the total wealth of the Catholic denomination.
“The other thing is the way Protestants will beat up on Catholics for having a highly exalted infallible leader who is treated like a celebrity. Duh. The problem with them is not that they don’t have a Pope, but that they have 30,000 popes. Every pastor a pope, and Pope Osteen is just one among many.”
I don’t actually even think Osteen is a Christian. Then again, I think the same thing about “Papa” Francis.
A lot of money to be made in Amway. That’s all this grinning buck tooth creep is. A fast-talking, grinning hyena, trying to swindle money off gullible old people.
Facts are funny sometimes, aren’t they?
You're in for a big surprise.
“You’re in for a big surprise.”
That salvation isn’t really through grace without the working of the law, but that I really needed to live in slavish fear to the Roman Catholic Church?
Somehow I doubt this will ever happen.
Not really fair to lump all protestants in with Blinky Osteen. His is only one if many different protestant viewpoints.
Please do not think that I thought that you were... my post was against osteen and not you. My apologies my friend.
LLS
Did I get that right? After all, isn't that the underlying point of Longnecker's article? That Joel Osteen is part of the eeeeevillllll 1%, and the [current] Pope is really one of the 99%?
Related threads:
March participants say Occupy movement’s concerns aligned with Catholic social teaching
US bishops call for continued unemployment benefits
Catholics 'more likely to back state economic intervention' [European Central Bank study]
CARA suggests polls on creation of a third party: Christian Democrats
Time for True Democrats to Start Their Own Party [or, why Catholics can't vote Democrat any more]
Pope Francis's Economics: Yes, He Has A Leftist View Of Free Markets
What a show of grace.
The vatican and the churches, two different things. Perhaps you are to focused on throwing insults to think before you make an ass of yourself.
Did I say anything about selling? Nope, bzzzzt try again.
I was replying to someone who said the value in monetary terms of the vatican was $1B. Now that you have the context you didn’t bother to read before you can apply your vast learning and take another shot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.