What about those who do suffer? Is there room for them in Osteen, Inc?
My vision is that God wants all to be Saved, and that he sends his message out in ways that those who will be saved can accept. He also gives every Believer what they need to successfully follow the Plan God has for their life. So I take from the growth of Joel Osteen’s ministry that there are a lot of people who need encouragement. That, clearly, is Joel’s gift, despite his initial resistance to coming out from behind the TV production console.
The late Chuck Smith gave a very good explanation of how God uses different ministers to approach different types of people in his sermon on Galatians.
http://cts.cdn.scaleengine.net/sestore1/vodstore/cts/c2k/c2271.mp3
Chuck’s entire Through the Bible series is at http://www.twft.com/?page=C2000.
Note that Chuck Smith spent 17 years trying to be an evangelist before he gave up and became the pastor God wanted him to be. Of course there are all kinds of people who attack Calvary Chapel for various reasons.
All of these attackers think that they know what God “really” wants to be taught, and that their attacks are “helping” God do what He wants better and faster. I know that I can never understand God’s methods, but only have to listen for His guidance in MY life and let Him take care of everything else.