Comments on: Dear CBD: Why the endorsement of Joel Osteen?

By: Bea K.

Bea K. — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:37:16 +0000

For Rebecca re: “the last thing I’m gonna do is belittle him (Joel Osteen) and his message (in reference to the Jews??), Michael Krause re: “My Jewish neighbor loves him”, and Tirzah Luczynski “Jewish believers”. Don’t know if you’ve heard of them, but what about ministries such as *’CrossTalk International’ with Rabbi Randy Weiss*, *’Discovering The Jewish Jesus’ with Rabbi Kirt Schneider*, and ‘Jewish Voice Ministries Internal with Rabbi Jonathan Bernis’? Rather then ‘pointing anyone to Osteen’ who is in serious error when it comes to the scriptures, why not point your Jewish friends, neighbors, etc. towards “real ministries” who have the Word of God and Jesus in their mouths, and who have a “true, heart and mind for spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom”?
Why is it when someone ‘tells the truth about Joel’ (and a few other ministers and ministries as well) via the example of the Bible, it’s seen as “putting him down or slamming him”? When does Bible truth take presidence over a lie that can destroy many lives and put them on the road to hell?
I’ve also heard from many ‘Christians’ that “Joel means well, is helping to lift people’s spirits (thought that was the job of the Holy Spirit in some part?), and who wants to ‘always’ hear about sin? Seems like the “itching ears” and ‘non-gospel’ of prosperity has gotten a running start, and sadly some don’t seem to have a problem with it. When so-called ‘Christians’ go to places like Africa and other areas that need food, water, clothing, etc. to teach this prosperity crap, it shows me just which way our world is headed and that we’d better wake up before and stop playing thses foolish games, before Christ returns to this earth.

I deeply apologize for this extremely long letter my brothers and sisters, and lastly ‘who’ exactly are these bookstores, publishers, etc. looking to for the ‘help’ they need in selling their items, other than those who buy the books? Why not ‘consult’ God and Jesus “ultimately” for ‘theirs’ help, by not having to sell books or anything else that work against the kingdom of God?

P.S. As for Joyce Meyer, I’m earnestly praying for her (Osteen and the rest), as at the very least, she does know the Word, talk about Jesus, and mentions sin and hell while Osteen seems to refuse to do so. Which shows there is some ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ if they wish to receive it.

By: Kazeluxj

Kazeluxj — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:32:46 +0000

Hi webmaster!

By: Sherrill Noel

Sherrill Noel — Tue, 20 May 2008 22:49:01 +0000

Michael,
Hi There…are you the same Michael Spencer that has a mother in Ringe, NH and goes to Monadnock Full Gospel? If you are, my husband and I did praise and worship for you a couple of times when you came and held meetings at a fellowship hall at a resturant. The last I heard you were pastoring in New York, are you still there?
If this is not you then….good article.

By: Tirzah Luczynski

Tirzah Luczynski — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:25:56 +0000

This thread is an interesting read. Yes, compromise is everywhere. It is amazing how we justify ourselves based on opinions.

Also, Mort, you didn’t mention if the “little old Jewish lady” at Zondervan who “runs things” is a believer in Jesus. Just curious if you understand that there are some of us “Jews” out there that are? You know, like Paul, Peter, Matthew, John..etc.

Oy vey.

Tirzah L.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:41:42 +0000

I agree Michael. Many non-Christian co-workers and neighbors of mine have seen Osteen on television and have begun asking questions. The last thing I’m gonna do is belittle him and his message.

By: Michael Krause

Michael Krause — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:35:37 +0000

Although I’m not a fan of fluff and I have never even seen Osteen on TV or read his books, my question is do authors like this have a “pre-Christian” role? My Jewish neighbour loves him and it has been the stimulus for much deep conversation about faith and Jesus.

By: Bob Smietana

Bob Smietana — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:39:35 +0000

Michael,

I was responding to these comments:

“Why is Mr. Osteen pre-featured on your front page? Why is his book highlighted? Is it because Mr. Osteen’s power to create sales is the “golden goose” in publishing and you are going to ride his sales as far as possible? I can’t believe it’s because, as a business serving Christians, you actually believe that what’s best for us is the teaching of Mr. Osteen, who has said that the cross of Jesus and the historic orthodox Christian message are of no interest to him. I can’t believe it’s because Mr. Osteen represents a message that should be heard in every pulpit in America. I can’t believe it’s because Mr. Osteen’s prosperity Gospel is what we should be giving to our children and to new believers.

No, it must be because it’s going to make you a lot of money.”

Selling Osteen is not going to make CBD a lot of money. It’s not. If you knew anything about the publishing business, or even called a Christian bookstore and asked them why they sell books by celebrity authors, you’d have found that out.

CBD and other booksellers sell Osteen’s books at a deep discount as loss leaders–to generate other sales. Christian booksellers–like all booksellers these days–rely on blockbuster titles like Osteens and TD Jakes and Joyce Meyer and all the other celeb authors to keep them in business. That’s why, for example, so many secular bookstores sold Harry Potter for such deep discounts– to get people into stores. That’s the reality of the business, which the head of the CBA told me when I interviewed him recently. Publishing is a tough business these days and bookselling is as well–and hundred of Christian bookstores have gone out of business.

Selling Osteen is one of the unpleasant compromises that booksellers have to make to keep the lights on.
They are not a church–they are business that sells books. At least do CBD the courtesy of acknowledging that.

By: Heisthatheis

Heisthatheis — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:18:17 +0000

Hes selling cookie cutter generic homogenized chritianity,jesus with a little j

By: Michael Spencer

Michael Spencer — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:08:55 +0000

I never said anything about hating Osteen.

And the idea that a Christian bookseller HAS to sell Osteen is………baloney.

“Spewing.” “Get your facts straight.” What are you talking about?

CBDs profit margins are our concern? I’ll pass that one on. Christian bookstores need to sell Osteen to stay open? Says who?

By: Bob Smietana

Bob Smietana — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:53:09 +0000

Michael,

Joel Osteen’s book is not going to make CBD a lot of money. Especially if they are selling it at a mega-discount. They are selling it because their customers want it, and they hope that when their customers order Osteen’s book, they’ll order something else that will pay a profit.

This may sound distasteful, but it’s the way booksellers and publishers keep the lights on, pay their bills and support their employees. Selling books is a perilous and difficult business–that’s one reason why Christian bookstores sell Jesus junk–that other merchandise allows them to stay in business. It’s one of the unpleasant realities of the book–selling marketplace: you’ve got to sell some junk in order to sell the good stuff. And you’ve got to stock bestsellers in order to keep customers.

Hate Osteen all you want. But if you’re going to condemn a bookseller and its motives for promoting and selling a book, and accuse them of trading their souls for material gain–then at least get the facts straight. Try to see things from their point of view for at least two seconds. Take a few minutes to understand their business and the realities of their industry—where sales of religion books dropped 10% last year and droves of Christian bookstores have closed—before spewing your uniformed anger on them.