I received an email update from Joel Osteen Ministry and they've informed me that both husband and wife will be interviewed live by Larry King on Oct. 16, 2007! An hour full!
I'm excited for them. =D.
I also received an email that says Osteen was interviewed by CBS News about criticisms. How he handled criticisms. So, out of curiosity, I googled his name to find what criticisms did he receive. Then I found this page: http://www.apprising.org/archives/2005/10/joel_osteen_smi.html
I really snorted! After reading excerpts of this article, I KNEW it must be from a religious preacher who ALWAYS think that those who did NOT quote or PREACH about the Bible is ... a FALSE PROPHET!
The man who wrote this is still in a boxed mindset, that's how I viewed it.
So, if his man ever gets to read my blog, here's what I have defend on Joel Osteen's messages and ministry:
Firstly, we're living in the 21st century. If you keep on preaching about the Scripture in some traditional methods, do you think people of this era will accept it so easily? Think! This era is really different. As compared to five-ten years ago, today is the time when ALL of us are taught to think and reason. Ever wondered why people become free-thinkers? Because they think that religion is NOT for them. Too many rules. Too many things to commit. Eeeew, hello .... life now is about how you present yourself -- study, get an A+ and your honors, get a good job, get married, and voila ... retire before you die. I trust in myself. I know that I can do it. I don't need anyone else. <<< THAT! is the mindset of most people who's living in this century.
So, if the Gospel's carried out in traditional methods with traditional terms, who the heck would listen??? Even old people won't bother, at least that's what I know, coming from experience (ahem! my grandpa)
Joel Osteen's approach is very practical, I must say. I heard so many testimonies about how his sermons touched even the non-believers. One of my Mom's friends, who's a non-B, told my mom that he knew Joel Osteen. He listened to his sermons before he flew off the plane (he's an SIA pilot! ;p). He liked it very much and he can relate to it better. I mean, with testimonies like this, Joel Osteen is doing a very good job in transforming people's mindset in their views of God.
Christianity is NOT a religion. It's a relationship with our God. Take Jesus' life for example. Has He ever indoctrinate the people SO MUCH like the Pharisees? Has He ever say, "PEOPLE! I FREAKIN' FORCE YOU TO BELIEVE IN GOD!"? Don't you think if He says that, people will get turn off because people don't even know if He's the real Messiah or not UNTIL He acts like one! Yes or no? He showed people that He is the ONE because of His life! The way He lives really showed that He is in Earth not to have fun and because His Father commanded Him so...He offered Himself to save ya'll and me. He came as a human being just like you and me. He knew the Word and that's why He chose to share the Truth with the world, IN PRACTICAL MANNER!
Imagine if Jesus has no relationship with His Father God in Heaven, do you think that He can bear the cross? He's doing it because He knows that this'll help EVERYONE in the earth, who has sin against God receives freedom and access to eternal life. He knows who He is in God's eyes. He knows that in the end, it's not only Him who gets the reward, but everyone who believes in Christ Jesus.
Basically, my main point is ... live righteously! Take the Word, apply it in your life, and voila ... you're all set for the day! =)
Don't be SO OOOOOOO religious and spiritual, like every sentences has "Hallelujah" at its tail ... OMG. Even I ... will be so turned off by that.
Anyway! Joel Osteen! He's da bomb! ;)
Visit his site and try hearing his sermons:
http://joelosteen.lakewood.cc/site/PageServer?pagename=JOM_homepage
