There are certain people that I find to be quite interesting, whether or not I agree with them. I found this excerpt from a recent article on Joel Osteen, one of those people, to be incredibly revealing and thought I would share it:
Osteen will tell you that his success is a result of God’s favor, that his message is God’s message, and that all that he has achieved is a blessing from God. Clearly, he is more than just an inspiring pastor; he is also a master marketer and-pardon me for saying this, Joel-a damn good chief executive.
He presides over an empire that takes in tens of millions of dollars a year and has been growing at a boom-time pace. (Though Osteen gives a significant portion of his book and CD earnings to the church, his take is still ample enough to allow him and his family to live in 5,000 square feet of leopard-skinned luxury in one of Houston’s tonier neighborhoods.) Rough economic times, Osteen believes, make the business of saving souls that much richer. “I would think that our message would have increased relevancy in a time of economic uncertainty. I think people want to know that God is taking care of you. As it gets darker, I think the brighter message shines.”
Within the article, there are several gems just like the one above. Read the whole thing here.
How subtle is his message of prosperity?
