Simon Cox Blog: Some Christians Hate Joel Osteen More Than They Love The Truth...And That's Wrong

Tuesday, 29 August 2017

Some Christians Hate Joel Osteen More Than They Love The Truth...And That's Wrong

Be silent until there is something to say.

So, I never thought I’d write a post defending Joel Osteen…

But, seriously, the floodgates of media unleashed against Joel Osteen tells me that we have a problem. The fact that many Christians have joined in shows me it is a Christian problem. It’s wrong.

It seems a lot of Christians hate Joel Osteen more than the truth.

I’d expect that from the world, but I did not expect it from the church.

So we are clear, Osteen and I are not on the same page spiritually. And I have serious problems with the prosperity gospel.

But do we have to join the deluge of hatred toward him for what is a questionable situation at best?

Apparently, Osteen had canceled church on Sunday and the church indicated (perhaps inarticulately) that the church was impassible. (They did not say it was flooded, though who needs to worry about facts when we hate someone, right?) The church directed their people, and presumably others, to take shelter with friends, family, or at the George Brown Convention Center.

As the waters rose in Houston, social media spread the word that Lakewood Church, housed in a 16,800 seat arena, was turning people away who were seeking shelter. Nope.

The torrent of tweets that I saw were mostly negative and, frankly, far too many Christians joined in. Some referred to Osteen’s mega-mansion. Others were derogatory toward the members of his church. Most comments railed about the irony of the rich turning away the poor drowning soul.

Fast forward twelve hours and the facts began to surface that the church itself was flooded in a few sections. And Lakewood responded that only three people came for shelter, and they had all been helped.

So, well, maybe we might see that facts are our friends.

And just because you hate ...