$500k? Yes. But that doesn't make one "rich." Not even close, cause I know what that salary buys. This guy is making 5 times that.

That may be true, but do you ever drive past the church? His name is HUGELY displayed on the side of it. Does it matter that he's the pastor there? I think not. I never said anything about Osteen's wealth in my above statement, just that he appears full of himself.

I can't say that I'd act differently than these guys, but I'm no super Christian, or pastor material, either.

 

I was raised in Minnesota, but have lived in Texas for the past 20 years, and the one thing I have really noticed is that there is a HUGE difference between religion in the North and religion in the South.

In the North, religion tends to take the form of large institutions -- think the Catholic or Lutheran churches. Here in the South, religion tends to take the form of independent communities that are only loosely affiliated with a mainline (usually Baptist) religion. These churches are often led by young, charismatic and flashy ministers who promote their name and business just like any other businessman would do -- they just happen to be selling "Jesus" instead of "aluminum siding".

I tend to recoil from this Southern form of religion just because their leaders usually come across as too slick for my liking. After having attended services at some of these churches, I am also left with the feeling that they are not selling "Jesus" so much as they are selling "entertainment" under the guise of Jesus. I have also wondered if my distrust of this form of religion might be rooted in my Catholic upbringing, in which things like "entertainment" or "fun" would never be part of the conversation when you were talking about an important subject like religion.....

As a final note, my mother-in-law worked for several years as a secretary at what is probably one of the most well-known and prominent mega-churches here in the Houston area. (I used to only jokingly ask her how things were going down at "Religion Incorporated".......) The stories she could tell about the leader of that church and the inner workings of the organization would probably compel you to become an atheist -- to say they were "non-Christian" would be an understatement......

 

Yes you're correct. He no longer takes a salary from the church. All his money comes from book royalties. It's his message that's the problem. He believes a faith in God guarantees financial success or happiness in this life like God owes us something because we believe in Him. God offered His Son in exchange for our sin so we can have fellowship with Him. He has given us everything He has and doesn't owe us anything. Accepting Jesus as our Saviour guarantees us eternal life. God offered no guarantee that we would be financially set or happy in this life, in fact Jesus said we may suffer for for following Him. A lot of Christians are suffering persecution and even dying because of their faith all over the world. There is no guarantee in the Bible for Christians to have their "best life now".

 

There's no such thing as a perfect church, because they are run by people who sin. Yes even the Catholic church. Church is for worshipping God, and fellowshipping with people who go through the same things. If you keep going to a church and just look for what's wrong with it, you'll never find a church home. There are thousands of great churches with honest people who you can worship with, but remember there's no such thing as a perfect church.

 

I think I'm on board with most of this post, EXCEPT maybe living a lavish lifestyle.....pastors and leaders in the ministry are (sometimes unfairly) held to a higher standard, so to drive a $80k BMW and live in a million dollar home that is strictly paid for by church tithes doesn't sit well with me......second, the bible (Paul specifically) talks about not being a stumbling block to another AND avoiding even just the appearance of evil (meaning, even though it's done legally and ethically, it just looks wrong).

I'm all for a Pastor being paid and even being paid well, but even when some biblical figures were super rich, they didn't drive and live like it.

X2

I believe this is correct......as much as I'd like to throw this guy under the bus, I do like his sermons and believe he leans too far on the grace part of the bible and very little if any on the merciless side of the gospel. I like the guy and have watched him doing interviews with tough reporters and is incredible in his responses.

I've been to his church in Houston which his dad built from the ground up to about 10k members.....in just a few short years after taking over, the congregation more than quadrupled under Joel.

The story goes is that Joel was working in the studio on the television part of the church while his dad pastored and had absolutely no interest in preaching, but when his dad passed away, he ended up doing it while resisting the whole time.

 

Being of the reformed "persuasion" and having been involved with church youth leadership, I have come to see that a growing, thriving church (financially) is to some degree at enmity with Father. That would include its leadership. I call it a dead church.

I attended and got involved with a popular local church- a megachurch I suppose you'd say, and for years was tormented with witnessing heretical indulgences and discussions, a "seeker friendly" approach which eliminates a full 1/3 of scripture so as not to offend, and many other things that did not sit well. Right on down to the bookstore peddling heresies as well.

Money. Butts in seats. I would say no- with rare...very, very rare exception- pastors drawing large salaries is not proper. If a church is preaching the entirety of scripture, the fullness of it, it is likely going to drive most people away who simply don't want to hear all of it- only the "happy" parts, or "good" parts. Church is not a place where you go for a self-help seminar, it's a place where sinners go to be encouraged and healed- but not pandered to about the reality and deadliness of a life of sin unwashed.

Most Christians I know, falling into the Arminian side of the line, do not like FULL Truth. It depresses them. If a rapture of THE Church were to take place today, I believe a lot of churches (most) would still have a large attendance...

I don't mince words over something this serious. God has removed many veils form my eyes over the years, I can tell you this- Western society does not take Him seriously, to their own shame and potential demise.

 

The name is there for marketing purposes.....he is the one that sells, not the church.

Very well said. I couldn't agree more with all of it.

 

And why does it need marketing? I still don't like that. Doesn't need to be displayed like he's a celebrity.

 

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just why it's there.....his name is what brings people in.

 

I can understand that.