If you watched the news, you probably heard of the news that someone made an elaborate hoax claiming that the American Pastor Joel Osteen left the faith. Those of you who lives in the US but don't know Joel Osteen, do you live under a rock?! In case you don't know, Joel Osteen is a megachurch pastor who is quite popular in the United States. However, he is criticized for preaching what's known as the "prosperity gospel", the feel-good message that God would give you your best life now and God wants you to prosper. That is not the gospel at all and I am one of those people who's not a fan of Osteen's theology (or lack thereof)

However, this hoaxster tried to use fake information about him leaving the faith to try to prove a point or get his attention. Now, I know the phrase "desperate measures", but this person is being ridiculous. This person is sinning through deception. If he claims that he is a Christian, I really doubt the genuineness of his faith because his fruit is not showing it. He says that he is not planning to stop and wants this hoax to go on as long as possible.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/09/joel-osteen-hoax-discredit-televangelist-lost-religion_n_3044562.html

play4fun :  As much as Osteen's (and many others) message of prosperity is hurting true Christianity, I agree, this is not the way to go about in discrediting the man, or anyone else for that matter.  We can only pray for teachers of prosperity to change their message, to preach the true gospel, undiluted.  We cannot change any persons heart by force, or in this case, by deception.  Only God is able.  

Eh I could careless about what other people say about someone but I really really can't stand osteen he is very moronic also his thing about if I read every page of the bible god will give me a good live thing. It is crap all if what he says and to be honest we don't know what's in his heart maybe he doesn't believe and never did. I do know for a fact what is in this dude's pockets lots of money and if you pay me lots of money I will tell you that the sky rains icecream and hails marshmallows. Just saying you don't know what he truly believes.   

Devil may care.

play4fun :  I think that the problem with Joel's preaching is that he doesn't have balance.
The Bible tells us that there are hardships and blessings for following the word of God.

He never talks about repentance, and Biblical Doctrine.

I do very much believe that God wants us to prosper- if we do what's right.
Just don't forget the other side to things, Because our God is a just God,
He destroyed Sodom and Gamorah with fire from Heaven.

Sword legion : I would actually put it a little bit more boldly, I think he is not providing the whole truth, if not the truth at all. A wise person once told me that "A half-truth without the whole-truth is not-truth-a lie" He talks about different things that are on the borderline of being what the Bible talks about, and there were statements that were just completely wrong with twisting scripture all over the place. Some of his interviews, he would hesitate to address the more serious and tougher topics, sometimes even avoid it. Compare Jesus' teaching to his teaching, can you spot the difference?

play4fun : Yeah, Jesus called the Pharisees vipers, Joel won't attack groups that are sinning.

Yes, Jesus called the Pharisees vipers, but consider who He is & what time He was in. He was able to call them that to their faces. You have to tread more carefully nowadays. That's what the hoaxster doesn't seem to understand.

Let's say Random Group does the same thing the Pharisees did but in today's time. If Mr. Osteen came out & said "You brood of vipers!" to Random Group, people would say that he was preaching a message of hate & not of love. You can't just say that anymore. You need to pick your battles carefully.


All I'm saying is be careful of what you say about a man of God. While I don't know what's in his heart, & I know you haven't been disrespecting him the way the hoaxster has, we all need to respect his position of Pastor. We need to be careful of what we say.

Surgiac : Actually, I don't think the hoaxster was concerned about the same things us Christians were concerned about Joel Osteen. I saw the interview of him, and he was rambling about different things that are not even prominent social issues. So I don't think we are on the same page with him. However, I do think we can call out on Joel for preaching such "feel good" messages that can be on the brink of heresy. Writing such books like "Living Your Best Life Now" and not giving Biblical teaching to the congregation is neglecting his position as Pastor.