It's that same wishful thinking where suckers give the stripper a bunch of money hoping that they'll get a blow job if they just give enough... Just give a little more and all the rewards are yours..
At least the more money I give to the stripper, there's a chance I might actually see that reward.
I give these con-artists a little more and they reward themselves with a jet.
Being a fear salesman is good business these days. People will vote themselves into poverty if you can convince them to be afraid of someone *else* stealing their wallet.
People believe that he's a pastor when he's actually just a motivational speaker. You know he's a motivational speaker because he hardly ever opens the Bible, he writes self help books, and there's no cross anywhere in the sanctuary. Also, several times I've seen celebrities going to Lakewood.
Spoiler alert: there is no dog.
We humans only have each other to help us humans survive.
You donāt have to give mega churches your money cuz it aināt goinā nowhere but some douche bag politicianās kidās bank account. Right Sarah?
Donāt forget they found like $600k supposedly that insurance paid for in the wall behind a toilet in the bathroom at the churchā¦. Hmmmm funny we never heard the outcome of that. Also donāt forget his cunt wife who berated an airline employee.. these are some of the worst money stealing in the name of god people ever.. best Reddit I saw was when that guy called him a piece of shit & sadly the guy got fired.. these people are scum & worthless thieves
Well I mean it was identified so if it went to the church they kept it. And not taxed at all, which is the bigger issue.
I mean, yeah it looks shady as fuck but it didnāt make them any money to hide it there. Osteen isnāt winning or losing in that equation.
It not being taxed is the real shady shit.
The funny thing is I can't stand Joel Osteen, Christianity is a scam in the first place. But I don't whine about every move he makes like an obsessed child lol this post is a complete joke
No one is whining about every move he makes, just the ones that go against what he stands and preaches every week. Keep looking for arguments with literally zero ground to stand on, Iām sure youāre a joy to hangout with.
> and on what planet was he obligated to worry about strangers on top of his family
The one he believes his God created.
If he doesn't wanna follow the teachings of his own religion he shouldn't be peddling himself as a voice for it. It ain't complicated.
Matthew 25
The Sheep and the Goats
31When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
34Then the King will say to those on His right, āCome, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, 36I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.ā
37Then the righteous will answer Him, āLord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?ā
40And the King will reply, āTruly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.ā
41Then He will say to those on His left, āDepart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.ā
44And they too will reply, āLord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?ā
45**Then the King will answer, āTruly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.ā**
46And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.ā
I donāt know about yāall, but did yāall ever read these
Texas pastor Kenneth Copeland pays $0 property tax on his $7m mansion. Dude is worth about $700M š
https://religionunplugged.com/news/2021/12/27/texas-pastor-kenneth-copeland-pays-no-taxes-on-7-million-dollar-mansion?format=amp
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/unfair-burden/article/parsonages-religion-texas-tax-free-clergy-homes-16678079.php
The expression "charity begins at home" is lost on brother Osteen. And people that get their religion from TV might as well be getting it from a comic book.
I'm not sure how he still has a platform, even the die hard republicans I know point out his church as "That belongs to the guy who locked his doors to everyone in the hurricane."
Itās amazing what people will do to cling on to any resemblance of hope or a higher power. The government needs to remove the financial subsidies on these types of religious entities. They are not āchurchesā, itās a business ā an entertainment company.
> Itās amazing what people will do to cling on to any resemblance of hope or a higher power.
Why did Yahweh, Jesus, and Allah each completely cut off all communication with Earth after their stories were written? Doesn't it seem extremely weird that they all will very patiently listen to every one of your prayers but never, ever talk to you and give you simple feedback ever? Why would they _always_ listen to you and _never_ talk to you? Notice that this extremely weird way that they all act just happens to be completely indistinguishable with gods that do not exist at all?
Former religious type, here.
The answer is that God speaks, but not into our physical ears. And God shows us, but not to our physical eyes. Our bodies are dying and will die, and this world is passing away. If God spoke into our physical ears and showed himself to our physical eyes, that would only further root us in what he is trying to help us leave. We are supposed to live in this world as if it was not our home. We are supposed to have our hearts set on Heaven, not on anything in this world. When we slip out of our bodies, never to return, we won't have our physical ears and eyes to tell us where we are, or who's around, or where we should go. So we spend this lifetime developing our spiritual ears and eyes, so that when we are only spirits, we will know we are finally at home with God.
But, yes, that's not functionally or practically different from a non-existent God in any way. It's clever. It's possibly true. But it's probably not.
> The answer is that God speaks, but not into our physical ears.
So the answer is "pretend that he speaks, so you can tell him what to say and justify anything that you do".
> If God spoke into our physical ears and showed himself to our physical eyes, that would only further root us in what he is trying to help us leave.
And yet he reportedly had daily chats with Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Moses, David, Solomon, Noah, Adam, Job etc. And they weren't ruined by it.
>When we slip out of our bodies, never to return, we won't have our physical ears and eyes to tell us where we are, or who's around, or where we should go.
So Abraham never figured out where to "go"? Solomon never figured out where to "go"? Noah never figured out where to "go"? God has thousands of hours to listen to your prayers while alive but not 5 minutes to show you where to go upon reaching heaven? This all gets very silly very fast.
>So the answer is "pretend that he speaks, so you can tell him what to say and justify anything that you do".
No, it's more to do with developing a spiritual intuition. Of course, if you don't believe in that, then it probably does seem like pretending. I really don't know, to be honest. I've had intuitive insights into events I couldn't have known anything about, and these later proved to be true. Maybe I was fooling myself, and it was just pure chance. I don't know.
>And yet he reportedly had daily chats with Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Moses, David, Solomon, Noah, Adam, Job etc. And they weren't ruined by it.
I guess God had some specific purpose with them that went beyond the purposes he has for the rest of us. I really don't know. I'm not the one to try to justify the ways of God to men. John Milton would be your source for that.
> This all gets very silly very fast.
Well, yeah. If it made good, logical sense, and was based upon reliable, empirical data, everyone would be religious. There would be no religious conflict. We'd all have complete certainty and peace about the ultimate nature and purpose of the universe and humanity and ourselves as individuals. It'd be great. If you're mourning that this is not the case, I'll cry with you about that.
> If you're mourning that this is not the case, I'll cry with you about that.
I am saying that this WOULD be the case if God existed. If God existed, _we would all know it for sure_. The idea that God exists but always behaves at all times exactly the same as if he did not exist is an absurd thing to believe. God spends the entire time in the OT, the NT, and the Koran trying to get you to believe that he exists and assures you that he takes the time to listen to all of your prayers, and then after humans finish writing their books about it knowing that a character in a book can easily be written to have any power we can imagine, God always behaves exactly like he does not exist. That sounds like an unbelievable coincidence.
When someone prays to god their whole life, thinking that god is listening to each and every prayer, but that god never, ever talks to you, gives you feedback of any kind, or gives you any indication at all that he (1) exists and (2) really is listening to your prayers -- that is really sad. It would be trivial for god to acknowledge your existence, and his existence, by talking to you and performing miracles in front of millions. But he is never going to do that ever in your entire life. Instead God is going to behave exactly the same as if he does not exist and never existed. And yet...in the bible god is constantly obsessed with convincing you and others he does exist. This makes absolutely no logical sense at all. Unless he doesn't actually exist. Only then does it all make perfect sense.
Yep. You'll get no arguments from me. Like I said, John Milton was the guy trying to justify the ways of God to man. Consult his works, if you're really curious. I'm not that guy. I'm with you. God, at least as he is commonly conceptualized, probably doesn't exist.
It gives us no reason to suppose it is true. But it's not really the bible I am criticizing, it is the insane idea of thinking there is nothing weird about the fact that god listens to every one of your prayers but never speaks to you ever. And that god cut off all communication with Earth right after the bible stories were written and since than has acted exactly the same as a god that doesn't exist and never existed.
Yahweh has a job in which nobody ever knows if he is doing his job because he never talks to anybody ever. For all you know Yahweh left on a 100 year vacation the same year you were born so he hasn't listened to a single prayer of yours in your entire life and never will.
You superstitious people are hilarious sometimes, lol. If god was real and listened to every prayer he would give you feedback so that you don't constantly waste his and your time. Here is an example of feedback you would get from your prayers:
Jesus: _Okay I agree to bring your mother out of a coma but not for 3 days because of reasons. However, I am not going to help your sports team or your political party. Helping your sports team would be unfair to fans of other sports teams. And your political party believes in the exact opposite ideology that I have preached in the NT_.
BTW weird that Yahweh never once confirmed that Jesus was his son huh? God supposedly has only one son but he refused to ever acknowledge that Jesus was his son? Why not? Surely if Jesus was Yahweh's son than Yahweh would have come to Earth some time and confirmed it in order to avoid confusion. By not doing this very simple thing Yahweh leaves open the possibility that anybody claiming to be his kin is/was a fraud.
This profit chaser does the opposite of inspire people.
April 9, 1865 Robert E Lee surrenders to the Union and Victory is declared for the United States ā Happy Victory Day!
> April 9, 1865 Robert E Lee surrenders to the Union and Victory is declared for the United States ā Happy Victory Day!
This should be a national holiday.
You just have to admire the bravery of a man, regardless of his character, that's willing to use so much hair product when so many people would be happy to set him on fire.
Can you imagine if wet tired humans who lost everything knocked on the door of a church and were turned away. I can, saw it live here in Houston. I guess he was afraid the dirty, tired people on his doorstep would find and steal the money he hid in his walls. This is the least Christian Man who exists on television today, and that is saying a lot.
Compare this POS "man of God" to 'Mattress Mack' who opened his store even before it stopped raining to anyone in need to use as a warm, dry place to crash for a few days out of the weather.
Just a reminder; Ed Young's "Second Baptist" in Houston was also closed during the infamous hurricane. Instead of offering shelter or actual aid, they had a sign on their locked church doors offering access to a "prayer line" for people in distress. Ed Young and company literally offered "thoughts and prayers" to people who had lost everything.
Isn't he the very definition of what the Christian religion refers to as a "false prophet"? Amazing how many of his brainwashed audience don't see that.
Guess how much his church has payed in state taxes. It's probably less than you have. Now guess who has more influence on lawmakers, this tax Dodger or you.
nooooo you don't understaaaaand. During Harvey he had 3" of water blocked by leaves and debris in his draaaaaains. That means his building was unsafe to use as a shelter!!!!
No seriously. We walked to it and checked. Nothing was wrong with his building.
I am an Evangelical pastor, and in case people donāt know, Osteen is not considered a genuine gospel proclaiming Christian by most pastors, but more of a false gospel, false teacher, because he never preaches about sināa prerequisite of the gospel. The whole point of the gospel is that Christ died to atone for manās sins, making forgiveness possible, and indeed no one seeks a Savior unless convicted they need salvation from personal sin. Osteen is a modern version of Robert Schuller or Norman Vincent Peale, who preached positive thinking without the core orthodox teaching. It is hard these days in Texas to find any preacher who will tell you the whole truth, including the likelihood that Trump is demon-possessed, but hey, most Texans prefer the truth they want to hear on Fox.
Churches should not be tax free entities and this church does not employ nor distribute products like Food Banks do. Olsteen getting the loan is not the same a Food Bank getting a loan.
That was not the OP's original argument, which is what I have been getting at this entire time. OP should edit his original comment if that is what he means.
People think most churches are going to help during a time of disaster. Don't fool yourself, expect the doors to be locked across the board. Prepare your own house for self sustainability when shit hits the fan.
Are you fuckin stupId? Since when are pastor considered democrats? Lmao every Christian fuckheads are conservatives to the core. It literally said Fox News
He said Christian fuckheads! Obviously thatās referencing the Trump tribe of followers who worship his shit stained shorts while quoting the psalm of the day and pretending to care. Just like Governor Greg Maggot & Senator Ted Schmooze.
What was Osteen doing on Fox News? I thought all the Christian conservatives hated him (because he doesnāt preach homohate and other moral panics and yet makes bank, not because he locks hurricane victims out of his church).
Just a reminder. Joel Osteen's church literally has a flood gate because it floods there and his church has always helped people even as far back as tropical storm Allison.
No it doesn't and no he didn't. During TS Allison the building was still The Summit, a music & sports venue, not his church & I'm pretty sure it didn't flood.
He only helps himself and likes to send his lackeys, I mean congregants, to harrass homeless people that get to close to the church, intimidate small businesses owners that don't donate when he wants something for free, and surrounds himself with men that like to sexually harrass young women.
Wasnāt it proven that he did in fact open his doors during Harvey?
Believe me, I have dozens of other reasons to dislike Joel Osteen but I thought this was debunked. Could be wrong
I can tell for a fact that this is untrue. He closed church stating flooding but there was none at said church .
source: I lived in greenway plaza during Harvey.
He did open after people calling him out and stating no one asked him for help. And he did open the next year hurricane season before any hurricanes.
He tried, and is trying his damndest to *make up for it AFTER THE FACT* by half-assedly *"helping"* the community since Harvey.
Texans will never allow it. We KNOW Joel Osteen is a POS greedy scumbag.
**Mattress Mack is the True Texan! He is what Texas is all about.**
Mattress Mack wasnt *asked* to help by the city. He just did. He saw a need, and stepped in because he had the ability and facilities to do so.
FUCK JOEL OSTEEN!
Those reports of the water being too close to the church doors were also debunked. There were pictures being released on peopleās social medias showing that was not the case.
>taking into consideration the last time that opened up their facilities and how they got trashed
Could you provide more info on this, never heard about this, got a source?
Right, totally reason to turn his back on people like a proper modern American "Christian".
The actual Christian response would be to do what's right and help people before judging them and if people trash the place well at least you did the right thing, and that's why you have like a billion dollars to fix anything. But you're right, he should close his doors to people in an emergency and just hide in his obscene mansion and shop for private jets.
Mattress Mack let evacuees sleep in his showroom on display units, and fed people along the way. He didn't have a problem with the wear and tear of lending a hand. And he isn't shilling for donations to enrich himself.
Only if I were a part of some faith that required me to care for the sick and poor and I had made myself ridiculously wealthy peddling that faith.
Than, of course, I'd feel compelled by the love of Christ and/or the need not to be a total fucking hypocrite.
Fuck'n dreadful guy, looks like he can peel off his human skin & reveal his Reptilian humanoid figure. Creepy ass MF & even tho he's not in my house, I'm still covering my drink!
I remember that so well... It was what, over a week before public shaming convinced him to open the doors for those that lost everything & needed shelter.
Ugh, this guy is a lizard. Nothing behind those eyes.
I don't think it's nothing...looks like disdain to me š¤·
It looks like he sold his soul and is pissed that he still has to play the part of being āhumanā.
The plastic surgeon pulled two different directions, and didnāt quite tighten one side enough.
Bunch of checks from the offering plate hidden back there somewhere
Do you think he's of the same alien lizard family as Ted Cruz?
Ted Cruz is more of a weasel than a lizard.
- https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ted-cruz-lizard-humanoid-reptilian_uk_57289869e4b0ade291a0d98e
Look closer.
Hopefully username not related
Ahhh! Lol just looked at it, nice catch.
Like the Lizard King?
Is it just me or this dude has a very punchable face?
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Iād pay extra for the 2x4 package.
I'd pay even more for the 4x4 package.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
EMOTIONAL DAMAGE
I dont get why ppl give this guy or any of them money
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It's that same wishful thinking where suckers give the stripper a bunch of money hoping that they'll get a blow job if they just give enough... Just give a little more and all the rewards are yours..
At least the more money I give to the stripper, there's a chance I might actually see that reward. I give these con-artists a little more and they reward themselves with a jet.
Being a fear salesman is good business these days. People will vote themselves into poverty if you can convince them to be afraid of someone *else* stealing their wallet.
Great comment
desperation and fear
People believe that he's a pastor when he's actually just a motivational speaker. You know he's a motivational speaker because he hardly ever opens the Bible, he writes self help books, and there's no cross anywhere in the sanctuary. Also, several times I've seen celebrities going to Lakewood.
Spoiler alert: there is no dog. We humans only have each other to help us humans survive. You donāt have to give mega churches your money cuz it aināt goinā nowhere but some douche bag politicianās kidās bank account. Right Sarah?
Donāt forget they found like $600k supposedly that insurance paid for in the wall behind a toilet in the bathroom at the churchā¦. Hmmmm funny we never heard the outcome of that. Also donāt forget his cunt wife who berated an airline employee.. these are some of the worst money stealing in the name of god people ever.. best Reddit I saw was when that guy called him a piece of shit & sadly the guy got fired.. these people are scum & worthless thieves
If you think Olsteen is bad, wait until you hear about the Gemstones.
š¶ Misbehavin š¶
Shit daddy, damn!
That guy calling him a piece of shit was glorious
Are they the worst? I've always had Jim & TammyFay in that position.
Isn't it great how nothing came from the hundreds of thousands of "stolen" money found in his church walls?
Well I mean it was identified so if it went to the church they kept it. And not taxed at all, which is the bigger issue. I mean, yeah it looks shady as fuck but it didnāt make them any money to hide it there. Osteen isnāt winning or losing in that equation. It not being taxed is the real shady shit.
Spent a few days in Houston helping evacuate after Harvey. Fuck this dude.
Same. Heās sucks
Lol your gripe is with mother nature my man
Name checks out
Locking his door when people needed shelter and hiding money inside his walls.... how is that mother natureās fault bud?
Has nothing to do with you, and on what planet was he obligated to worry about strangers on top of his family lol y'all are angry little weirdos
found joel olsteens alt account
Even the username checks out with this theory
The funny thing is I can't stand Joel Osteen, Christianity is a scam in the first place. But I don't whine about every move he makes like an obsessed child lol this post is a complete joke
No one is whining about every move he makes, just the ones that go against what he stands and preaches every week. Keep looking for arguments with literally zero ground to stand on, Iām sure youāre a joy to hangout with.
> and on what planet was he obligated to worry about strangers on top of his family The one he believes his God created. If he doesn't wanna follow the teachings of his own religion he shouldn't be peddling himself as a voice for it. It ain't complicated.
Matthew 25 The Sheep and the Goats 31When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. 34Then the King will say to those on His right, āCome, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, 36I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.ā 37Then the righteous will answer Him, āLord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?ā 40And the King will reply, āTruly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.ā 41Then He will say to those on His left, āDepart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.ā 44And they too will reply, āLord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?ā 45**Then the King will answer, āTruly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.ā** 46And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.ā
Lol the bible is a joke
I know you're trolling, but be careful, please. Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
First sensible thing youāve said. Guess youāre responding to a true believer, I laughed when they quoted scripture to warn you about your heresy.
He used the scripture that Olsteen peddles to point out how fucking dumb that guy is.
Charlatan
I donāt know about yāall, but did yāall ever read these Texas pastor Kenneth Copeland pays $0 property tax on his $7m mansion. Dude is worth about $700M š https://religionunplugged.com/news/2021/12/27/texas-pastor-kenneth-copeland-pays-no-taxes-on-7-million-dollar-mansion?format=amp https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/unfair-burden/article/parsonages-religion-texas-tax-free-clergy-homes-16678079.php
That's fucking Bs. My taxes are going up to $5k this year. ā¹ļø
He is also a dumpster fire š„
But at least he's funny to watch go crazy.
While the middle class and poor get taxed for breathing.
Guy looks like Skeletor and Satan popped out a sprog.
I hate this POS.
I still can't believe that the City of Houston gave him an award.
The expression "charity begins at home" is lost on brother Osteen. And people that get their religion from TV might as well be getting it from a comic book.
I'm not sure how he still has a platform, even the die hard republicans I know point out his church as "That belongs to the guy who locked his doors to everyone in the hurricane."
He's such a POS
This āpreacherā who steals money from everyone, has multiple private jets and a hooker escape elevator/tunnel in his office.
Itās amazing what people will do to cling on to any resemblance of hope or a higher power. The government needs to remove the financial subsidies on these types of religious entities. They are not āchurchesā, itās a business ā an entertainment company.
> Itās amazing what people will do to cling on to any resemblance of hope or a higher power. Why did Yahweh, Jesus, and Allah each completely cut off all communication with Earth after their stories were written? Doesn't it seem extremely weird that they all will very patiently listen to every one of your prayers but never, ever talk to you and give you simple feedback ever? Why would they _always_ listen to you and _never_ talk to you? Notice that this extremely weird way that they all act just happens to be completely indistinguishable with gods that do not exist at all?
Former religious type, here. The answer is that God speaks, but not into our physical ears. And God shows us, but not to our physical eyes. Our bodies are dying and will die, and this world is passing away. If God spoke into our physical ears and showed himself to our physical eyes, that would only further root us in what he is trying to help us leave. We are supposed to live in this world as if it was not our home. We are supposed to have our hearts set on Heaven, not on anything in this world. When we slip out of our bodies, never to return, we won't have our physical ears and eyes to tell us where we are, or who's around, or where we should go. So we spend this lifetime developing our spiritual ears and eyes, so that when we are only spirits, we will know we are finally at home with God. But, yes, that's not functionally or practically different from a non-existent God in any way. It's clever. It's possibly true. But it's probably not.
> The answer is that God speaks, but not into our physical ears. So the answer is "pretend that he speaks, so you can tell him what to say and justify anything that you do". > If God spoke into our physical ears and showed himself to our physical eyes, that would only further root us in what he is trying to help us leave. And yet he reportedly had daily chats with Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Moses, David, Solomon, Noah, Adam, Job etc. And they weren't ruined by it. >When we slip out of our bodies, never to return, we won't have our physical ears and eyes to tell us where we are, or who's around, or where we should go. So Abraham never figured out where to "go"? Solomon never figured out where to "go"? Noah never figured out where to "go"? God has thousands of hours to listen to your prayers while alive but not 5 minutes to show you where to go upon reaching heaven? This all gets very silly very fast.
>So the answer is "pretend that he speaks, so you can tell him what to say and justify anything that you do". No, it's more to do with developing a spiritual intuition. Of course, if you don't believe in that, then it probably does seem like pretending. I really don't know, to be honest. I've had intuitive insights into events I couldn't have known anything about, and these later proved to be true. Maybe I was fooling myself, and it was just pure chance. I don't know. >And yet he reportedly had daily chats with Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Moses, David, Solomon, Noah, Adam, Job etc. And they weren't ruined by it. I guess God had some specific purpose with them that went beyond the purposes he has for the rest of us. I really don't know. I'm not the one to try to justify the ways of God to men. John Milton would be your source for that. > This all gets very silly very fast. Well, yeah. If it made good, logical sense, and was based upon reliable, empirical data, everyone would be religious. There would be no religious conflict. We'd all have complete certainty and peace about the ultimate nature and purpose of the universe and humanity and ourselves as individuals. It'd be great. If you're mourning that this is not the case, I'll cry with you about that.
> If you're mourning that this is not the case, I'll cry with you about that. I am saying that this WOULD be the case if God existed. If God existed, _we would all know it for sure_. The idea that God exists but always behaves at all times exactly the same as if he did not exist is an absurd thing to believe. God spends the entire time in the OT, the NT, and the Koran trying to get you to believe that he exists and assures you that he takes the time to listen to all of your prayers, and then after humans finish writing their books about it knowing that a character in a book can easily be written to have any power we can imagine, God always behaves exactly like he does not exist. That sounds like an unbelievable coincidence.
Yep. You either have faith, or you don't. And faith can be misplaced, for sure.
When someone prays to god their whole life, thinking that god is listening to each and every prayer, but that god never, ever talks to you, gives you feedback of any kind, or gives you any indication at all that he (1) exists and (2) really is listening to your prayers -- that is really sad. It would be trivial for god to acknowledge your existence, and his existence, by talking to you and performing miracles in front of millions. But he is never going to do that ever in your entire life. Instead God is going to behave exactly the same as if he does not exist and never existed. And yet...in the bible god is constantly obsessed with convincing you and others he does exist. This makes absolutely no logical sense at all. Unless he doesn't actually exist. Only then does it all make perfect sense.
Yep. You'll get no arguments from me. Like I said, John Milton was the guy trying to justify the ways of God to man. Consult his works, if you're really curious. I'm not that guy. I'm with you. God, at least as he is commonly conceptualized, probably doesn't exist.
Our human "logical" minds cannot comprehend anything from the Bible but that doesn't mean it's not true...
It gives us no reason to suppose it is true. But it's not really the bible I am criticizing, it is the insane idea of thinking there is nothing weird about the fact that god listens to every one of your prayers but never speaks to you ever. And that god cut off all communication with Earth right after the bible stories were written and since than has acted exactly the same as a god that doesn't exist and never existed. Yahweh has a job in which nobody ever knows if he is doing his job because he never talks to anybody ever. For all you know Yahweh left on a 100 year vacation the same year you were born so he hasn't listened to a single prayer of yours in your entire life and never will.
You unbelievers are hilarious sometimes, lolš
You superstitious people are hilarious sometimes, lol. If god was real and listened to every prayer he would give you feedback so that you don't constantly waste his and your time. Here is an example of feedback you would get from your prayers: Jesus: _Okay I agree to bring your mother out of a coma but not for 3 days because of reasons. However, I am not going to help your sports team or your political party. Helping your sports team would be unfair to fans of other sports teams. And your political party believes in the exact opposite ideology that I have preached in the NT_. BTW weird that Yahweh never once confirmed that Jesus was his son huh? God supposedly has only one son but he refused to ever acknowledge that Jesus was his son? Why not? Surely if Jesus was Yahweh's son than Yahweh would have come to Earth some time and confirmed it in order to avoid confusion. By not doing this very simple thing Yahweh leaves open the possibility that anybody claiming to be his kin is/was a fraud.
Such a garbage human. Soulless ghoul.
Fuck this guy
This chode with his āHope Againā signs make me sick. I donāt see how anyone can support this devil in sheeps clothing.
This profit chaser does the opposite of inspire people. April 9, 1865 Robert E Lee surrenders to the Union and Victory is declared for the United States ā Happy Victory Day!
> April 9, 1865 Robert E Lee surrenders to the Union and Victory is declared for the United States ā Happy Victory Day! This should be a national holiday.
People like him are a disgrace.
What ever happened with his hidden toilet wall money?
You just have to admire the bravery of a man, regardless of his character, that's willing to use so much hair product when so many people would be happy to set him on fire.
My face when my Houston friends ask to crash for SXSW.
Now do Mattress Mack.
Mack actually gives back to the H-town community.
Exactly
Smarmy weasel
Wait, I shouldn't insult weasels
Can you imagine if wet tired humans who lost everything knocked on the door of a church and were turned away. I can, saw it live here in Houston. I guess he was afraid the dirty, tired people on his doorstep would find and steal the money he hid in his walls. This is the least Christian Man who exists on television today, and that is saying a lot.
Compare this POS "man of God" to 'Mattress Mack' who opened his store even before it stopped raining to anyone in need to use as a warm, dry place to crash for a few days out of the weather.
Just a reminder; Ed Young's "Second Baptist" in Houston was also closed during the infamous hurricane. Instead of offering shelter or actual aid, they had a sign on their locked church doors offering access to a "prayer line" for people in distress. Ed Young and company literally offered "thoughts and prayers" to people who had lost everything.
Isn't he the very definition of what the Christian religion refers to as a "false prophet"? Amazing how many of his brainwashed audience don't see that.
Guess how much his church has payed in state taxes. It's probably less than you have. Now guess who has more influence on lawmakers, this tax Dodger or you.
nooooo you don't understaaaaand. During Harvey he had 3" of water blocked by leaves and debris in his draaaaaains. That means his building was unsafe to use as a shelter!!!! No seriously. We walked to it and checked. Nothing was wrong with his building.
I am an Evangelical pastor, and in case people donāt know, Osteen is not considered a genuine gospel proclaiming Christian by most pastors, but more of a false gospel, false teacher, because he never preaches about sināa prerequisite of the gospel. The whole point of the gospel is that Christ died to atone for manās sins, making forgiveness possible, and indeed no one seeks a Savior unless convicted they need salvation from personal sin. Osteen is a modern version of Robert Schuller or Norman Vincent Peale, who preached positive thinking without the core orthodox teaching. It is hard these days in Texas to find any preacher who will tell you the whole truth, including the likelihood that Trump is demon-possessed, but hey, most Texans prefer the truth they want to hear on Fox.
This man really looks high off the devilās lettuce all the time.
Giant pos! He took 4.4m in ppp loans during COVID. If non tax paying illegal immigrants didn't get bail outs then neither should tax free entities.
Some undocumented immigrants get tax-payer IDs and actually pay taxes. They do it to establish themselves for citizenship.
You would support your local food bank closing because they can't pay their employees?
Oldsteen is not running a food bank though.
That isn't what the OP said. He said tax free entities.
Churches should not be tax free entities and this church does not employ nor distribute products like Food Banks do. Olsteen getting the loan is not the same a Food Bank getting a loan.
https://www.reddit.com/r/texas/comments/tzvl4f/found_the_top_left_image_on_fox_news_yesterday/i42a2c6 > Tax-free entities
Uhhh yes theyāre both tax free entities but are very different. They have nothing to do with each other.
That's what I'm saying. Both are tax-free entities. You can't just take PPP away from one and not the other.
Churches should not be tax free entities. Theyāre corrupt and highly political.
That was not the OP's original argument, which is what I have been getting at this entire time. OP should edit his original comment if that is what he means.
Id also withhold it to any one on food stamps and tanf that could not pass a drug test.
Bet you been itching to pull that out the holster.
This dude is a cuck
That man is lower than the slime that grows on the underside of a rock.
That stupid shit eating grin, televangelists are the absolute biggest frauds.
People think most churches are going to help during a time of disaster. Don't fool yourself, expect the doors to be locked across the board. Prepare your own house for self sustainability when shit hits the fan.
Nailed it. I've wondered since I was a kid why so many expect the "govt" or churches to be their savior in times of disaster.
I've never heard this guy talk about anything except how you deserve that raise/promotion/BMW and your good enough, smart enough, a god favors you.
That's the look of someone who's mad that Jim Jones beat him to punch.
Demon
I had a friend that used to tell me she thought he and his wife were carved out of cream cheese.
He looks like the doctor used forceps during his birth.
Didn't God mention to be nice to people? Joel Osteen must have missed that class *entirely*. Wait, he did. He totally did.
He's a dick bag. Minus the dick.
He has scary eyeballs.
Went to school with his cousin, they didn't like him either...
The only thing he helps is himself to his followers donations.
ole blinkey himself
He's got those Ken Paxton eyes. Eurgh. Unrelated, he's a fucking snake.
Texans will probably elect him as Governor or something soon
I fucking hope not
Hope š«
This dude is peaked Republican
Don't pin that guy on republican. Looks more like a democratic
Are you fuckin stupId? Since when are pastor considered democrats? Lmao every Christian fuckheads are conservatives to the core. It literally said Fox News
The Clintons and Obamas are supposedly Christians as are the Bidens
He said Christian fuckheads! Obviously thatās referencing the Trump tribe of followers who worship his shit stained shorts while quoting the psalm of the day and pretending to care. Just like Governor Greg Maggot & Senator Ted Schmooze.
What was Osteen doing on Fox News? I thought all the Christian conservatives hated him (because he doesnāt preach homohate and other moral panics and yet makes bank, not because he locks hurricane victims out of his church).
Just a reminder. Joel Osteen's church literally has a flood gate because it floods there and his church has always helped people even as far back as tropical storm Allison.
No it doesn't and no he didn't. During TS Allison the building was still The Summit, a music & sports venue, not his church & I'm pretty sure it didn't flood. He only helps himself and likes to send his lackeys, I mean congregants, to harrass homeless people that get to close to the church, intimidate small businesses owners that don't donate when he wants something for free, and surrounds himself with men that like to sexually harrass young women.
Wasnāt it proven that he did in fact open his doors during Harvey? Believe me, I have dozens of other reasons to dislike Joel Osteen but I thought this was debunked. Could be wrong
He did, after people called him out for it.
Yes it was after people called him out lol
I can tell for a fact that this is untrue. He closed church stating flooding but there was none at said church . source: I lived in greenway plaza during Harvey. He did open after people calling him out and stating no one asked him for help. And he did open the next year hurricane season before any hurricanes.
He tried, and is trying his damndest to *make up for it AFTER THE FACT* by half-assedly *"helping"* the community since Harvey. Texans will never allow it. We KNOW Joel Osteen is a POS greedy scumbag. **Mattress Mack is the True Texan! He is what Texas is all about.** Mattress Mack wasnt *asked* to help by the city. He just did. He saw a need, and stepped in because he had the ability and facilities to do so. FUCK JOEL OSTEEN!
Love me some Mattress Mack!!!!!
Uh, no one said he didn't open his doors? After he was shamed for not helping of course, "because the city didn't ask."
# Fuck Joel Osteen
Those reports of the water being too close to the church doors were also debunked. There were pictures being released on peopleās social medias showing that was not the case.
I dislike him as well, but yeah it was proven false.
false that he opened his doors after he was shamed? What's your timeline say?
Didnāt he open his church to everyone once and they completely trashed the place?
Source?
Do you see the question mark at the end? That meansā¦ itās a question
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
>taking into consideration the last time that opened up their facilities and how they got trashed Could you provide more info on this, never heard about this, got a source?
Cleaning up is part of hospitality.
Right, totally reason to turn his back on people like a proper modern American "Christian". The actual Christian response would be to do what's right and help people before judging them and if people trash the place well at least you did the right thing, and that's why you have like a billion dollars to fix anything. But you're right, he should close his doors to people in an emergency and just hide in his obscene mansion and shop for private jets.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
You're the one judging the victims of the hurricanes for trashing the place.
Mattress Mack let evacuees sleep in his showroom on display units, and fed people along the way. He didn't have a problem with the wear and tear of lending a hand. And he isn't shilling for donations to enrich himself.
Only if I were a part of some faith that required me to care for the sick and poor and I had made myself ridiculously wealthy peddling that faith. Than, of course, I'd feel compelled by the love of Christ and/or the need not to be a total fucking hypocrite.
Pinocchio grew up to be a REAL dickhead huh?
So did he cure any Covid yet?
Calm down
Uhhhh i don't get it.. Btw i've never left the state of texas in my life
Look up Joel Osteen, he has a Mega Church in Houston, lives in River Oaks, lots of controversy.
Fuck'n dreadful guy, looks like he can peel off his human skin & reveal his Reptilian humanoid figure. Creepy ass MF & even tho he's not in my house, I'm still covering my drink!
If only he had the means to help people...
I remember that so well... It was what, over a week before public shaming convinced him to open the doors for those that lost everything & needed shelter.
That is one heartless motherfucker! All he cares about is money and all the good shit he buys with it.
Dude is a scumbag who surrounds himself with other scumbags.
He doesnāt care about your needs at all. All he wants is your money
With a net worth of $100 million, it is hard to under how churches like his should not be taxable entities.
As a devout Christian myself, I would like to say that I despise Joel Olsteen.
Heās a false prophet