Joel Osteen Explained

Joel Osteen
Religion:Non-denominational Christianity, Charismatic Christianity, Word of Faith
Church:Lakewood Church
Birth Name:Joel Scott Osteen
Birth Date:5 March 1963[1]
Birth Place:Houston, Texas, U.S.
School:Humble High School
Alma Mater:Oral Roberts University
Children:2
Relatives:Paul Osteen (brother), Lisa Osteen (sister)
Parents:John Osteen (father)
Dolores Pilgrim Osteen (mother)[2]
Post:Senior pastor (1999–present)

Joel Scott Osteen (born March 5, 1963) is an American pastor, televangelist, businessman, and author based in Houston, Texas, United States. Known for his weekly televised services and several best-selling books, Osteen is one of the more prominent figures associated with prosperity theology and the Word of Faith movement.[3] [4]

Early life and education

Osteen was born in Houston, and is one of six children of John Osteen and Dolores ("Dodie") Pilgrim. His father, a former Southern Baptist pastor, founded Lakewood Church (of which Osteen is the current senior pastor) in the back of an old feed store.[5]

He graduated from Humble High School, a public high school in the city of Humble, Texas, in 1981,[6] and attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he studied radio and television communications but did not graduate.[7] [8] [9]

In 1982, he returned to Houston, founded Lakewood's television program, and produced his father's televised sermons for 17 years until January 1999, when his father died of a heart attack.[10]

Career

Osteen was ordained through his father's church in 1983 and preached his first sermon on January 17, 1999. By October 3, he was the new senior pastor of Lakewood Church.[11] In 2003, Lakewood Church acquired the Compaq Center, former home of the NBA Houston Rockets and the AHL Houston Aeros and subsequently renovated it.[12] [13] According to Osteen, in 2008, Lakewood Church's weekly service TV program was viewed in more than 100 countries.[14]

Preaching style

Osteen memorizes his planned remarks before he delivers them, and listens back to previous ones on tape.[15] His sermons have been criticized as self-serving and revealing a poor command of Scripture.[16] [17] [18] [19] Osteen says he chooses to focus more on the goodness of God and on living an obedient life rather than on sin,[20] and that he tries to teach Biblical principles in a simple way, emphasizing the power of love and a positive attitude. When asked why he does not focus more on sin, the devil, and hell in detail, Osteen stated in an interview with CBN News:

Events

Since 2004, Osteen, along with his wife, have hosted Night of Hope events, as well as their annual stadium event called "America's Night of Hope", in the U.S. and around the world.[21] [22] [23] The event incorporates contemporary Christian music and inspirational messages to reach the masses at the venue and others watching online.[24] Osteen also hosted an event at his Lakewood Church in 2018, in collaboration with rapper Kanye West, called Sunday Service. According to media reports, the event was attended by 17,000 as well as joined by many people streaming online.[25] He also held his Easter service during COVID-19 with Mariah Carey and Tyler Perry.[26]

Shooting

See main article: Lakewood Church shooting. On February 11, 2024, a woman with a history of mental health issues, Genesse Ivonne Moreno, accompanied by her 7-year-old son, entered the church between services and began firing an AR-15 rifle. Two off-duty police officers working security returned fire and killed her. Her son was critically injured with a gunshot to the head by the police officers during the exchange of gunfire. Another man who was present was wounded in the hip, treated at a local hospital and released.[27] [28]

Books

Osteen's first book, , was released in October 2004, and reached the number 1 position on The New York Times Best Seller list.[29]

He released his second book, titled Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day, in October 2007. It also topped The New York Times Best Seller list[30] and had a first printing of three million copies.[31] Osteen has said that the book focuses more on relationships and not getting stuck where we are in life.[32]

Personal life

On April 4, 1987, Osteen married Victoria Osteen (née Iloff), who later would become co-pastor of Lakewood Church.[33] They have two children.[34] In 2002, some of his siblings, including Paul, were also involved in full-time ministry.

Osteen lives with his family in a 17,000 square-foot mansion in River Oaks, with an estimated value of $10.5 million.[35] Osteen says that as senior pastor, he draws no salary from the church, which has an annual budget of $70 million,[36] and that he instead relies on income from book sales.[37]

Political and social views

Osteen has generally avoided discussing or preaching about controversial issues such as gay marriage, abortion, and politics.[38] [39] Having gone on record saying homosexuality is "not God's best",[40] he has stated he believes the church has a tendency to become overly focused on single issues (such as homosexuality) to the point of neglecting others.[41] When asked if he thought God approves of homosexuality, Osteen said homosexuality is a sin according to his interpretation of Scripture, but said gay people are welcome in his church without judgment.[42] [43] [44]

In an interview on Fox News in 2008 during the Republican Party presidential primary race, when discussing whether he thought that Mormons were Christians, Osteen indicated that he believed that they were. He further revealed that he had not studied the religion.[45] In an interview in 2011, Osteen stated his support for Israel.[46]

Controversies

Prosperity gospel

Osteen's sermons and writings are sometimes criticized for promoting prosperity theology, or the prosperity gospel, a belief that the reward of material gain is the will of God for all pious Christians.[47] [48] Critics of prosperity gospel consider its teachings anathema to the gospel of Mark:[49]

On October 14, 2007, 60 Minutes ran a 12-minute segment on Osteen, titled "Joel Osteen Answers His Critics", during which Reformed theologian Michael Horton told CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts that Osteen's message is heresy. Horton stated that the problem with Osteen's message is that it makes religion about us instead of about God.[50]

Osteen is estimated to have a net worth of over $50 million, with his church taking in $43 million a year in collections.[51] According to the Houston Chronicle, Osteen's church's income was $89 million in the year ending March 2017. More than 90 percent of that was raised from church followers and barely one percent of its budget went to charitable causes.[52] Osteen denied taking any pandemic CARES Act assistance, but U.S. Small Business Administration data revealed his church actually received $4.4 million from the fund.[53]

Hurricane Harvey response

During the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, Osteen was criticized for not making Lakewood Church, a 606,000-square-foot, 16,000-seat former sports arena, available as an emergency shelter for those displaced by the storm.[54] [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] On August 27, posts from the church and a Lakewood Church associate pastor's social media accounts stated that the church was "inaccessible due to severe flooding," and associate pastor John Gray posted further, "If WE could get there WE WOULD OPEN THE DOORS."[60] [61] Lakewood spokesperson Don Iloff later described floodwaters as one foot from spilling over the facility's floodgate and surging into the building.[62] He also stated that pictures showing Lakewood free of flooding were taken on Monday, after the flood waters had lowered.[63] [64]

Osteen disputed the claim that flood waters closed the church, saying "the church has been open from the beginning," and, "[w]e've always been open ... How this notion got started, that we're not a shelter and we're not taking people in is a false narrative."[65] This contradicted his earlier statement that the church would open when other refugee centers were full.[66] On the evening of August 28, it was announced by Lakewood that it would open at noon the next day as an available shelter to storm victims and emergency personnel, which it did.

On August 15, 2018, less than a year after Harvey struck, the City of Houston and Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed a day in honor of the assistance of Lakewood and Osteen in rebuilding efforts across the Houston area.[67] [68]

Other

In 2011, Osteen and Lakewood Church were sued by the band the American Dollar for copyright infringement.[69] A judge in 2012 ruled in favor of Osteen.[70]

Filmography

Year! scope="col"
TitleRoleNotes
2007HimselfDocumentary
2014Words of ArtHimselfDocumentary
2015I Hope You Dance: The Power and Spirit of SongHimselfDocumentary
2017The StarCasparVoice role

Selected works

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joel Osteen | Biography, Books, & Facts | Britannica . February 18, 2024 .
  2. Web site: Obituary: Pastor John H. Osteen . Houston Chronicle . January 26, 1999 . November 12, 2007 . September 27, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927184558/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=obits_3413529 . dead.
  3. Book: Bowler, Kate . Blessed : a history of the American prosperity gospel . 2013 . 978-0-19-982770-1 . New York . 841172074.
  4. News: Romano . Lois . 'Smiling Preacher' Builds a Huge Church . . 30 January 2005.
  5. Web site: Joel Osteen Books and Ministry . ChristNotes.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20120625224321/http://www.christnotes.org/_joel-osteen.asp . June 25, 2012 . dead.
  6. Book: Salvation with a Smile: Joel Osteen, Lakewood Church, and American Christianity . Phillip Luke Sinitiere . November 13, 2015 . NYU Press . 9780814708149 . August 30, 2017 .
  7. Web site: About Joel . JoelOsteen.com . November 15, 2013 .
  8. Web site: Popular positive pastor Joel Osteen brings 'Night of Hope' to Utah . October 2, 2013 . Brown . Matthew . Deseret News . September 20, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131123153501/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865587553/Popular-positive-pastor-Joel-Osteen-brings-Night-of-Hope-to-Utah.html . November 23, 2013.
  9. Web site: Kellner . Mark A. . Televangelist Osteen baptizes 1,000-plus in four-hour ceremony, first in two years . September 12, 2022 . January 30, 2023 . The Washington Times . en-US.
  10. News: Joel Osteen: The Man Behind America's Largest Church . CBN.com . November 16, 2013 .
  11. News: Mathieu . Jennifer . Power House . January 31, 2014 . Houston Press . April 2, 2002 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080821174508/http://www.houstonpress.com/2002-04-04/news/power-house/full/ . August 21, 2008.
  12. News: Somers . Meredith . Osteen draws 40,000 to Nationals Park . January 21, 2014 . The Washington Times . April 29, 2012 .
  13. News: Nation's largest church opens in stadium . Associated Press . . July 17, 2005 . March 22, 2010 .
  14. Web site: Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen Ministries. About Pastors Joel & Victoria . April 16, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080729162130/http://joelosteen.lakewood.cc/site/PageServer?pagename=JOM_aboutus . July 29, 2008 . dead . mdy-all .
  15. News: Joel Osteen: By the numbers and other interesting facts . April 25, 2013 . Christian Post . Menzie . Nicola.
  16. Miller . Christine . Carlin . Nathan . February 1, 2010 . Joel Osteen as Cultural Selfobject: Meeting the Needs of the Group Self and Its Individual Members in and from the Largest Church in America . Pastoral Psychology . en . 59 . 1 . 27–51 . 10.1007/s11089-009-0197-7 . May 3, 2024 . 143635448 . 1573-6679.
  17. News: Butler . Anthea . August 31, 2017 . Opinion The Cheap Prosperity Gospel of Trump and Osteen . en-US . The New York Times . January 27, 2023 . 0362-4331.
  18. Web site: August 21, 2013 . The False Promise Of The Prosperity Gospel: Why I Called Out Joel Osteen And Joyce Meyer . January 27, 2023 . HuffPost . en . Henderson . Rick.
  19. Book: R., Geiger, Wayne . Joel Osteen : a critical analysis of sermonic methodology . October 10, 2023 . University of Central Missouri . 978-1-109-60661-4 . 651017356.
  20. Web site: Fox News on Osteen . FoxNews.com . September 20, 2014 .
  21. News: Tucker . Jill . Preaching pep in a troubled world, Joel Osteen comes to AT&T Park . . 8 August 2015.
  22. News: Ibanga . Imaeyen . Pastor Joel Osteen to Give Message of Hope at Yankee Stadium . . March 29, 2009 . en.
  23. News: Boorstein . Michelle . Osteen's 'Night of Hope' draws crowd to Nationals Park . . 29 April 2012.
  24. News: Barnhart . Melissa . Joel Osteen at Night of Hope Miami: Relinquish Control to God . . April 21, 2013.
  25. News: Smith . Morgan . Joel Osteen on Collaborating with 'Very Genuine' Kanye West: 'We Just Struck Up a Friendship' . . December 17, 2019 . en.
  26. News: Yancey-Bragg . N'dea . 5 powerful quotes from livestreamed Easter Sunday services around the world . . April 13, 2020.
  27. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/shooting-joel-osteen-church_n_65c93fdbe4b067c6b73d4836 Woman Firing Rifle Killed By 2 Off-Duty Officers At Joel Osteen's Church, 2 Others Hurt, Police Say
  28. Web site: Shooter at Houston megachurch had lengthy criminal history including weapons charges, police say. Christina . Maxouris . Lauren . Mascarenhas . John . Miller . CNN. February 12, 2024.
  29. Web site: Hunter . Bob . Your Best Life Now: Seven Steps to Living at Your Full Potential . equip.org . June 11, 2009 . Christian Research Institute . 30 September 2020.
  30. Book: Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day . 9780743296922. 30 September 2020. Osteen. Joel. August 4, 2009. Simon and Schuster .
  31. Web site: New Osteen Book at Three Million . Garrett . Lynn . Publishers Weekly . April 13, 2007 . September 20, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20080118052203/https://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6433682.html?nid=2286 . January 18, 2008 . dead.
  32. Web site: CNN Larry King Live: Interview With Joel and Victoria Osteen . CNN.com . December 22, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140829164844/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0612/22/lkl.01.html . August 29, 2014 . live.
  33. Web site: Joel Birthday-1963-March-05. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070830035734/http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/harris/vitals/births/1963/harrb63n.txt. August 30, 2007. May 8, 2007.
  34. Web site: McCaugherty . Stephen . Joel Osteen's Kids & Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know . Heavy.com . April 12, 2020 . Heavy, Inc. . 30 September 2020.
  35. Web site: Joel Osteen Net Worth: Pastor Closes Megachurch During Hurricane Harvey . August 28, 2017 . ibtimes.com . December 31, 2017 .
  36. News: A Conversation With Joel Osteen . Bogan . Jesse . Forbes . December 21, 2017 . en .
  37. News: Religious Broadcaster Gets Rich Contract for Next Book . Wyatt . Edward . March 15, 2006 . The New York Times . December 21, 2017 . en-US . 0362-4331 .
  38. Web site: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006 . ABC . 20/20 . December 12, 2006 .
  39. News: Blumenthal. Ralph. Joel Osteen's Credo: Eliminate the Negative, Accentuate Prosperity. March 30, 2006. The New York Times. January 5, 2014.
  40. Web site: Joel Osteen says homosexuality is not God's best for man. January 28, 2011 . ChristianToday.com.
  41. News: Piers . Morgan. CNN.com Video. January 24, 2011. January 4, 2014 . CNN.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110301002113/http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2011/01/24/piers.osteen.homosexuality.cnn.html . March 1, 2011.
  42. Web site: Joel Osteen: Being Gay Is A Sin. But I Don't Dislike Gay People (Video) . May 2, 2012 . The Huffington Post . September 20, 2014.
  43. News: Tapper. Jake. Televangelist Joel Osteen on the power of Twitter, and same-sex marriage. March 29, 2013. CNN.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131103221400/http://thelead.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/29/televangelist-joel-osteen-on-the-power-of-twitter-and-same-sex-marriage/ . November 3, 2013.
  44. News: Tenety. Elizabeth. Joel Osteen: 'Homosexuality is a sin'. January 28, 2011. The Washington Post. B2.
  45. News: Transcript: Pastor Joel Osteen on 'FNS' . December 23, 2007 . May 13, 2011 . Now, as with most successful people, you have critics who say that what you offer is gospel 'lite,' the prosperity gospel. . FOXNews.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080917155457/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318054,00.html . September 17, 2008.
  46. Web site: Joel Osteen, Israel and the Jews: an exclusive Q&A . JewishJournal.com . January 19, 2011 .
  47. Sources:
    • Book: Stephen Brooks . Stephen Brooks (academic) . American Exceptionalism in the Age of Obama . 2013 . 51 . 978-0-415-63641-4 . Routledge . ... Joel Osteen and T. D. Jakes, the most prominent contemporary messengers of the prosperity gospel ....
    • Does God Want You To Be Rich? . Van Biema . David . Chu . Jeff . 'Does God want us to be rich?' [Osteen] asks. 'When I hear that word rich, I think people say, 'Well, he's preaching that everybody's going to be a millionaire.' I don't think that's it.' Rather, [Osteen] explains, 'I preach that anybody can improve their lives. I think God wants us to be prosperous. I think he wants us to be happy. To me, you need to have money to pay your bills. I think God wants us to send our kids to college. I think he wants us to be a blessing to other people. But I don't think I'd say God wants us to be rich. It's all relative, isn't it?' .... . September 10, 2006 . March 19, 2015 .
    • Web site: May 23, 2005. Online Extra: Meet the Prosperity Preacher. subscription. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200327214424/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2005-05-22/online-extra-meet-the-prosperity-preacher. March 27, 2020. March 19, 2015. Bloomberg Businessweek. Osteen is also a leading proponent of what is sometimes called the 'prosperity gospel', which teaches that God wants people to prosper in all areas of their lives—including material success..
    • Web site: Burton . Tara Isabella . The prosperity gospel, explained: Why Joel Osteen believes that prayer can make you rich . . en . September 1, 2017.
  48. News: Perspective Here's why people hate Joel Osteen . en-US . The Washington Post . 2023-01-29 . 0190-8286.
  49. Web site: Joel Osteen is successful: But does God want us all to be rich? . 2023-01-27 . Vancouver Sun . en-CA.
  50. News: Joel Osteen Answers His Critics . December 23, 2007 . May 13, 2011 . CBSNews.com . . Houston . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080418022950/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/11/60minutes/main3358652.shtml . April 18, 2008.
  51. Web site: Dwight. Adams. 2020-05-31. Joel Osteen in Indianapolis: Why the televangelist is so beloved and controversial. The Indianapolis Star.
  52. News: 2019-04-18 . A preacher for Trump's America: Joel Osteen and the prosperity gospel . Financial Times . 2023-01-31.
  53. Web site: 2020-12-15 . Here's How Joel Osteen and His Tax-Exempt Megachurch Legally Got $4M in COVID-19 Funds . 2023-01-27 . Law & Crime . en.
  54. News: Kuzydym . Stephanie . Joel Osteen calls claim he shut church doors on Harvey victims 'a false narrative' . September 8, 2017 . . August 30, 2017 .
  55. News: Bromwich . Jonah Engel . Joel Osteen Says Lakewood Church Is Open to Harvey Victims After Criticism . September 8, 2011 . . August 29, 2017 .
  56. Sinclair . Harriet . Is Joel Osteen's megachurch too flooded to help hurricane Harvey victims? . September 8, 2017 . . August 8, 2017 .
  57. News: Associated Press . After criticism, televangelist Joel Osteen denies closing Houston megachurch to people seeking shelter . September 8, 2017 . . August 29, 2017 .
  58. Web site: Joel Osteen pushes back against accusations he closed his megachurch to Harvey victims . Kuzydym, Stephanie . Phillips, Christine . Chicago Tribune . August 30, 2017 . August 30, 2017 .
  59. Web site: Joel Osteen defends not opening megachurch to Harvey victims . 2023-01-27 . NBC News . August 29, 2017 . en.
  60. Web site: Joel Osteen's megachurch blasted for lack of outreach during Houston flooding . Fox 13 News . August 29, 2017 . August 30, 2017 . August 29, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170829225240/http://www.fox13news.com/news/277145632-story . dead .
  61. Web site: KWalking – Should Osteen have opened church as a shelter sooner?. FOX. KRIV. September 4, 2017. 2019-09-01.
  62. Web site: Inside The Megachurch Accused Of Closing Its Doors During Harvey. Lohr. David. 2017-08-29. HuffPost. en. 2019-09-01.
  63. News: Joel Osteen pushes back against accusations he closed his megachurch to Harvey victims. Phillips. Stephanie Kuzydym, Kristine. chicagotribune.com. July 27, 2018. en-US.
  64. News: Hurricane Harvey Flood: Joel Osteen Didn't Turn People Away, Says There Was Safety Issue At Lakewood Church. August 31, 2017. The Inquisitr. July 27, 2018. en-US.
  65. News: Joel Osteen calls claim he shut church doors on Harvey victims 'a false narrative' . The Washington Post . September 9, 2017 .
  66. Web site: Pastor opens his megachurch for shelter after video showing it empty . Oliver . McAteer . August 29, 2017 . Metro . September 9, 2017 .
    News: PHOTO: Joel Osteen's Wikipedia Trolled Over Church's Response to Hurricane Harvey . Prince . S.J. . August 29, 2017 . Heavy.com . September 9, 2017 . en-US .
  67. News: Joel Osteen honored by city of Houston for post-Harvey help . August 14, 2018 . ABC13 Houston . August 15, 2018 . en-US .
  68. News: Lakewood Church Receives Mayor's Proclamation for Harvey Support – After Initial Criticism Houston Public Media. Martin. Florian. August 14, 2018. Houston Public Media. August 15, 2018. en-US.
  69. News: Joel Osteen, Church Sued by Band for $3M. Christian Post. Perkins. Joseph.
  70. News: Joel Osteen & Lakewood Mostly Win Copyright Suit Filed by Indie Duo. Houston Press. February 21, 2012. Connelly. Richard. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906031846/http://www.houstonpress.com/news/joel-osteen-and-lakewood-mostly-win-copyright-suit-filed-by-indie-duo-6726800. September 6, 2017.
  71. Web site: Joel Osteen – Become A Better You – Book Review . April 16, 2017 . February 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200226070942/https://bookpage.com/reviews/5395-joel-osteen-become-better-you#.V1cbPpMrJE4 . dead .
  72. Book: Osteen, Joel . It's Your Time: Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams, and Anticipate God's Favor . October 1, 2009 . Simon & Schuster, Limited . 9781847376572 . April 16, 2017 . .

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