A couple of years ago, my brother (who was raised in church with me, but who now seems to despise everything about Christians and Church, and who now denies the truth of the Bible) was at my house. I had the TV on a Christian station when Joel Osteen came on. My brother pointed at the TV and said "Now, I like that guy. If I could find a preacher around here like that, I'd go back to church."
Just this morning, I came across a clip on www.wayofthemasterradio.com of Kirk Cameron talking with an atheist. And the guy says "well, I do like Joel Osteen".
Does the fact that so many un-Godly people enjoy listening to Joel Osteen mean that he is a great preacher? Or does it mean that he is definetly NOT preaching the true Gospel found in the Bible? Personally, I think it's the latter.
By the way, if you have a few minutes to listen to Kirk talk to this atheist, it's really interesting. Here's a link to it. Or, go to www.wayofthemasterradio.com
Atheists Prefer Joel
Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by Brian30755, Apr 21, 2006.
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Atheists prefer atheist darwinism instead of the Genesis "account" as well.
I wonder if there is a connection? -
Interesting interveiw. (Even with my Windows media player going off and on constantly buffering :( ) Our church has decided to get the teaching videos they offer for witnessing to others. I have acually tried the techniques on my son in law.
I don't know if I could listen to Joel all the time, but it is his individual preaching stlye. Surprise of all suprises... I have even been to churches that I didn't like the way the preacher preached. I wonder if its just the spirit in the person or the connection that some preachers have with some people that he don't have with others. Some people like a straight forward preacher (Hell fire and brimstone preaching), Some like a "non condeming preacher". I have sat in quiet churches, loud churches. I like a preacher who is on fire for God! :D -
If I'm not mistaken, the people in Spurgeon's day loved to hear him preach. It was 'fashionable' to go hear Spurgeon. Even if you weren't a Christian.
Now I've just done something I never thought possible. I've drawn a parallel between Joel and Spurgeon.
My point is, I don't think you can say that just because non-believers like listening to a guy means he's not preaching a true gospel. I think to determine that, you need to look at more than who likes to listen to him. -
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If an atheist prefers a certain preacher, I would run as far from that preacher as I could! Joel Osteen does nothing but "tickle the ears" of the 18,000 members of his church with "feel good" and "health and wealth" preaching. I watched two of his shows, and neither one he picked up a Bible or quoted Scripture except at the beginning when he lead is herd into their "This is my Bible..." chant. He did use the word "God" occasionally.
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It's not whether atheists prefer Osteen that makes him problematic, it's his teachings. Osteen rarely gives the gospel - he gives motivational talks to make people feel good. He's closer to Norman Vincent Peale than to a preacher of the gospel.
Not only that, but Joel is Word of Faith as well. His theology is very messed up. -
I am not sure how often this happens - but I agree with Marcia on this one.
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Looked like a cookie-cutter repeat of the Copelands (both of them)
Or maybe I just caught him at a bad time - all those times.
In Christ,
Bob -
In no way was I trying to defend Joel. I just wanted to make sure if someone is called a false preacher etc it isn't JUST because of who listens to him. We need to have some evidence of lack of Bible use, or WoF or "Power of Positive Thinking" otherwise, we're just the evangelical version of McCarthyism.
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Back in the early fifties when Dr. T.T. Shields was the pastor of Jarvis Street Baptist Church in Toronto, a famous English professor at the University of Toronto, sent his students to hear Dr, Shields preach. He advised them to ignore his message, but pay attention to his use of the English language. Shields was a master of the English language as well as a masterful preacher.
Yes, people often attend services for peculiar reasons.
Cheers,
Jim