News & Tech

Larry King introduced him this way on his CNN program on Tuesday night. "Joel Osteen -- the pastor some call a spiritual rock star. Of all of the mega churches in America, none is more mega than his and now the leader of the nation's largest congregation on why he told female worshipers to shop at Victoria's Secret." That comment and Osteen's entire ministry are under fire from some as critics hammer away at the minister and his wife.

Critics Hammer Preacher Joel Osteen: Is it Envy? (Image: Wenn)

Osteen is back in the news as he promotes his latest book. Joel is senior pastor of the Lakewood Church in Houston, home of America's largest congregation. His new book is "Become A Better You: Seven Ways To Improve Your Life Every Day". It's published by Free Press, which is a division of Simon & Schuster.


He told Larry King, "The concept is that God never wants us to get in a rut to matter where we are, how successful or how low we are. We should be growing. We should be learning. We should get better in our attitude, in our relationships. And so it's really just simple things that we probably all know, but it just reminds us to -- to don't get stuck in a rut. Don't get stuck, you know, with a health issue and think, well, I'll never get over this. Or even in a marriage -- don't get stuck at a certain level. We can all be kinder. We can be happier."

Critics have called him everything from "Christian Lite" to "Theology is Optional." Paul Edwards rips him in this Town Hall column: Everything wrong with Osteen’s teaching and ministry stems from the fact that he views theology as optional. A ministry focusing solely on preparing people for their best life now can do little to prepare them for eternity. We must pray that Osteen comes to realize “if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:19).


Despite his critics, his church continues to grow and many more watch him on television. Many believe that his detractors are just envious of his success and his wide audience. Richard Young, who wrote "The Rise of Lakewood Church and Joel Osteen," came to his defense on Wednesday. Young uses Sunday's interview on "60 Minutes" as an example of how the mainstream media and some theologians ridicule Osteen.

"Journalist Bryan Pitts asked every possible question he could to trick Osteen into saying something that would discredit him as a man of God. Pitts repeatedly pointed to the lack of crosses and religious symbols inside Lakewood Church and questioned why Osteen called himself a life coach and motivator," commented Young. "In addition, '60 Minutes' interviewed Dr. Michael Horton. Horton, a professor at Westminster Seminary California, called Osteen a heretic and ridiculed his ministry. I don't understand what Joel Osteen does that is so bad that a seminary professor has to condemn him on national television."


"Critics say Osteen lacks biblical references in his books and claim that he preaches prosperity gospel," said Young. "However, I found nearly 130 scriptural references in 'Become a Better You,' Osteen's newest book." Let's pray his detractors aren't envious.

But some of the commentary I have read is absolutely brutal and certainly doesn't sound as if it is coming from men and women of God.