60 Minutes Wrap
Monday, October 15, 2007 at 02:39PM 
It was great to see Michael on 60 Minutes! Just a couple of thoughts about the interview . . .
Out of nearly four hours of taping Mike got about 3 minutes of air-time. Too bad that so much of that was spent watching Mike climb the stairs of my beloved Alma Mater (Westminster Seminary California). I had hoped CBS would give Mike a chance to tell the audience about the true gospel, but then again we can't expect too much from CBS. At least they gave someone (like Mike) a chance to respond. What they did use from Mike was germane and to the point. Did anyone else notice that Bryon Pitts looked like he was gonna hurl at several points while interviewing Osteen? Obviously, he wasn't buying it.
The gospel always seems to lose out in heavily edited interviews like this, especially when the guy not preaching it can cry on command and seems so sincere and bent on being positive, even if its "not his ministry" to tell people the truth about the human condition and what Jesus has done to save us from our sins. If you are interested, there are some great resources dealing with Osteen's fluff "gospel" on the White Horse Inn webpage (Click here: osteen2).
On the lighter side, just so you know, Michael's already caught a fair bit of flack from his friends. As one noted Reformed theologian pointed out, "Osteen’s theology may indeed be popcorn theology, but it appears that he can bench press more than Horton can." Michael has already promised to spend more time in the gym and will challenge Osteen to a rematch. Maybe the only Reformed guy who can currently out-bench Osteen is James White.
I also wonder if Joel hasn't been chuggin' down a few cans of Pat Robertson's famous Diet Shake. Pat claims to leg press some 1000 lbs (if I recall). That Joel Osteen can actually bench press 300 lbs was the real surprise of the interview. Everything else was pretty much as I expected.
It is also no surprise that thousands of people will flock to an arena to be enthralled with a light show on the ceiling, a pop concert, and to hear a dynamic message about how they can reach their potential. Joel's very good at what he does, but it is an absolute shame that doesn't include preaching Christ and him crucified. That makes him an "evangelist" without an evangel. That Best Life Now drivel rings pretty hollow in light of eternity.
Reader Comments (44)
"I think it’s a cotton candy gospel," says Rev. Michael Horton, a professor of theology at Westminister Seminary in Escondido, Calif.</i>
My favorite part is how CBS calls Dr. Horton part of the "mainline"...
Zrim
CJ Mahaney could also take Osteen in basketball!! Maybe he and Lig could team up against Joel and his co-pastor Victoria!
The other impression I had was that Osteen is kind of effeminate and his wife a little, uh, manly. Did anyone else suck in their breath a little bit when she opened her mouth and spoke? Her voice is kind of deep. Freaked me out a little bit.
Be a man Joel! Preach the real Gospel. Let your wife have a seat in the congregation.
First, Osteen was benching using the smith machine, so it doesn't count. Anyone can bench a lot with that.
Second, Pastor, those were real tears. He feels. <i>He feels</i>.
Third, the only way to settle the horton/osteen feud, as you all well know, is a cage match. Horton's girth will assure his victory. Trust me.
Haha! Uber pwnage. good point.
<grin>
Somewhat more seriously, taking shots at Joel is really like shooting fish in a barrel.
Consarnit! You stole my fish in a barrel point. I used to say "ducks" but those can fly away...maybe Joel is like a duck? Someone said if it walks and quacks like one...
Zrim
I do want to put a plug in for this weeks related (periferally) WHI episode, Faith and the Gospel.
It's good.
No point was really made here - since the there was no truth presented, and anyone can say, to each his own. Dr. Horton was presented as dry, and Osteen got to show his misplaced sincerity with his tears.
It greives me deeply that while all this goes on, thousands perish without hearing the gospel, and men like Joel don't use the power they have to warn them.
I am now 44, but watching Osteen shoot b-ball, I am fully confident that I am a Reformed guy who could still take Osteen to the hoop!
I also would not mind telling him he is sincere, but sincerely a heretic who implicitly denies the sufficiency of Scripture and the sufficiency of Christ as Savior of Sinners.