Why Joel Osteen Avoided Being Called an "Evangelical"

I agree with Osteen. He is not a one size fits all preacher -- then again, the Apostle Paul's ministry was quite different from the Apostle Peter's or James. I think most people admire Osteen because he is unafraid to preach about a good and loving God that wants the best for those who believe. Most preachers don't preach sermons that dwell on God's goodness because they dont' know how to explain why bad things happen to good people. How can they preach to their congregation that God loves them and then explain why children die of cancer. So they call God vengeful and they preach a "gospel of dispair." Then they criticize Joel Osteen because he is doing what they cannot. It takes guts to preach God's goodness. Good for you Joel Osteen!

I would also not want to be known as an evangelical. What ever happened to Christian?

"there was a time where I thought I don't want to be known as "an evangelical" because at the time that meant you were a Republican that was against everything. I think that's changed. That was a few years back."

Osteen is wrong about Republicans no longer being against everything - at least the ones the make the headlines. The supposed party of values only proposal is to reduce taxes by 10% for the wealthy and cut funding for education.It is sad to watch members of Congress and their leaders- Limbaugh, Hannity, Glen Beck, and other fill people with hate and misinformation.

Dobson and Warren are unbelieveable. Warren is a liar and a hypocrite. I lost total respect for Warren when he called mainline church members, "Marxist in Christian clothing."

I have only half-way listened to Olsteen, but I completely agreed with, "I'm not going to force anything down their throats."

I think it drives people away from churches.

I do think individuals such as Olsteen should have address the unjust war, torture, and starving individuals.

Osteen preaches a soft gospel, if any gospel at all. He won't tackle the sin issues because he can't take the chance of losing pew sitters. So he like Rick Warren should talk about what God says, especially about sin, but they don't because like Obama it's above their pay grade, it's not their thing. Everything in the Bible should be a Christians thing. But for these mega pastors......got to keep those tithes coming in, got to say the politically correct thing, got to preach what people want to hear so they can leave church feeling good about themselves. I thought we went to church to GLORIFY GOD? Someone in their church should point that out to them.

Christ talked about hell more than he ever talked about anything else. He came for the sinner and thats everyone. The scriptures make it plainly clear what sin is. Osteen and Warren should concentrate more about this. They should take the Great Commission more seriously. Neither one cares about abortion, the single most controversial issue of our day. They could make a difference in this area but they won't, for selfish reasons.

I pray that God changes their hearts.