Joel Osteen

== Controversies ==
=== Prosperity gospel ===
Osteen's sermons and writings are sometimes criticized for promoting [[prosperity theology]], or the prosperity gospel, a belief that the reward of material gain is the will of God for all pious Christians.<ref name=blumenthal /><ref name=lite /><ref>Sources:
*{{cite book |author = Stephen Brooks |author-link = Stephen Brooks (academic) |title = American Exceptionalism in the Age of Obama |year = 2013 |page = 51 |isbn = 978-0-415-63641-4 |publisher=Routledge |quote = ... Joel Osteen and T. D. Jakes, the most prominent contemporary messengers of the prosperity gospel ...|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=r8fqsvHcRAcC&q=Osteen+PROSPERITY+GOSPEL&pg=PA51 }}
*{{cite magazine |title = Does God Want You To Be Rich? |url = https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1533448,00.html |last1=Van Biema |first1=David |last2=Chu |first2=Jeff |quote = 'Does God want us to be rich?' [Osteen] asks. 'When I hear that word rich, I think people say, 'Well, he's preaching that everybody's going to be a millionaire.' I don't think that's it.' Rather, [Osteen] explains, 'I preach that anybody can improve their lives. I think God wants us to be prosperous. I think he wants us to be happy. To me, you need to have money to pay your bills. I think God wants us to send our kids to college. I think he wants us to be a blessing to other people. But I don't think I'd say God wants us to be rich. It's all relative, isn't it?' ...|magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date = September 10, 2006 |access-date = March 19, 2015 }}
*{{cite web|date=May 23, 2005|title=Online Extra: Meet the Prosperity Preacher|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2005-05-22/online-extra-meet-the-prosperity-preacher|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327214424/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2005-05-22/online-extra-meet-the-prosperity-preacher|archive-date=March 27, 2020|access-date=March 19, 2015|work=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]|quote=Osteen is also a leading proponent of what is sometimes called the 'prosperity gospel', which teaches that God wants people to prosper in all areas of their lives—including material success.}}
*{{cite web |last=Burton |first=Tara Isabella |title=The prosperity gospel, explained: Why Joel Osteen believes that prayer can make you rich |url=https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/9/1/15951874/prosperity-gospel-explained-why-joel-osteen-believes-prayer-can-make-you-rich-trump |website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |language=en |date=September 1, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Perspective {{!}} Here's why people hate Joel Osteen |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/08/29/heres-why-people-hate-joel-osteen/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Critics of prosperity gospel consider its teachings anathema to the gospel of Mark:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joel Osteen is successful: But does God want us all to be rich? |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/joel-osteen-is-successful-but-does-god-want-everyone-to-be-rich |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Vancouver Sun |language=en-CA}}</ref>

{{Blockquote
|text=Jesus, looking at the man, loved him and said, 'You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.' When the man heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
|author={{Bibleverse|Mark|10:21-22}}
}}

On October 14, 2007, ''[[60 Minutes]]'' ran a 12-minute segment on Osteen, titled "Joel Osteen Answers His Critics", during which [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]] theologian [[Michael Horton (theologian)|Michael Horton]] told [[CBS News]] correspondent [[Byron Pitts]] that Osteen's message is [[Christian heresy|heresy]]. Horton stated that the problem with Osteen's message is that it makes religion about us instead of about God.<ref name="60 Minutes">{{cite news |url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/11/60minutes/main3358652.shtml |date = December 23, 2007 |access-date = May 13, 2011 |title = Joel Osteen Answers His Critics |publisher=CBSNews.com |work=[[60 Minutes]] |location=Houston |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418022950/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/11/60minutes/main3358652.shtml |archive-date=April 18, 2008}}</ref>

Osteen is estimated to have a net worth of over $50 million, with his church taking in $43 million a year in collections.<ref name="indystar">{{cite web|first1=Dwight|last1=Adams|access-date=2020-05-31|title=Joel Osteen in Indianapolis: Why the televangelist is so beloved and controversial|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2018/08/09/joel-osteen-house-net-worth-lakewood-church-wife-why-televangelist-so-beloved-and-controversial/935789002/|website=The Indianapolis Star}}</ref>  According to the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', Osteen's church's income was $89 million in the year ending March 2017. More than 90 percent of that was raised from church followers and barely one percent of its budget went to charitable causes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-04-18 |title=A preacher for Trump's America: Joel Osteen and the prosperity gospel |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3990ce66-60a6-11e9-b285-3acd5d43599e |access-date=2023-01-31}}</ref> Osteen denied taking any pandemic CARES Act assistance, but U.S. Small Business Administration data revealed his church actually received $4.4 million from the fund.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-15 |title=Here's How Joel Osteen and His Tax-Exempt Megachurch Legally Got $4M in COVID-19 Funds |url=https://lawandcrime.com/opinion/heres-how-joel-osteen-and-his-tax-exempt-megachurch-legally-got-4m-in-covid-19-funds/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Law & Crime |language=en}}</ref>

=== Hurricane Harvey response ===
During the immediate aftermath of [[Hurricane Harvey]] in August 2017, Osteen received significant criticism for not making [[Lakewood Church]], a 606,000-square-foot, 16,000-seat former sports arena, available as an emergency shelter for those displaced by the storm.<ref name="WaPo_083017">{{cite news |last1 = Kuzydym |first1 = Stephanie |title = Joel Osteen calls claim he shut church doors on Harvey victims 'a false narrative' |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/08/29/we-were-never-closed-joel-osteens-houston-megachurch-disputes-claims-it-shut-its-doors/ |access-date = September 8, 2017 |newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] |date = August 30, 2017 }}</ref><ref name="NYT_082917">{{cite news |last1 = Bromwich |first1 = Jonah Engel |title = Joel Osteen Says Lakewood Church Is Open to Harvey Victims After Criticism |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/29/us/joel-osteen-backlash-church.html?mcubz=0&_r=0 |access-date = September 8, 2011 |newspaper = [[The New York Times]] |date = August 29, 2017 }}</ref><ref name="Newsweek_082817">{{cite magazine |last1 = Sinclair |first1 = Harriet |title = Is Joel Osteen's megachurch too flooded to help hurricane Harvey victims? |url = http://www.newsweek.com/televangelist-joel-osteen-flood-hurricane-harvey-656163 |access-date = September 8, 2017 |magazine = [[Newsweek]] |date = August 8, 2017 }}</ref><ref name="LAT_092917">{{cite news |last1 = Associated Press |title = After criticism, televangelist Joel Osteen denies closing Houston megachurch to people seeking shelter |url = http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-joel-osteen-houston-megachurch-harvey-20170829-htmlstory.html |access-date = September 8, 2017 |newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]] |date = August 29, 2017 }}</ref><ref name=Tribune>{{cite web |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-joel-osteen-megachurch-harvey-victims-20170830-story.html |title = Joel Osteen pushes back against accusations he closed his megachurch to Harvey victims |author1=Kuzydym, Stephanie |author2=Phillips, Christine |work = Chicago Tribune |date = August 30, 2017 |access-date = August 30, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Joel Osteen defends not opening megachurch to Harvey victims |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036 |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=NBC News |date=August 29, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> On August 27, posts from the church and a Lakewood Church associate pastor's social media accounts stated that the church was "inaccessible due to severe flooding," and associate pastor John Gray posted further, "If WE could get there WE WOULD OPEN THE DOORS."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fox13news.com/news/277145632-story |title=Joel Osteen's megachurch blasted for lack of outreach during Houston flooding |work=Fox 13 News |date=August 29, 2017 |access-date=August 30, 2017 |archive-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829225240/http://www.fox13news.com/news/277145632-story |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fox26houston.com/news/kwalking-should-osteen-have-opened-church-as-a-shelter-sooner|title=KWalking – Should Osteen have opened church as a shelter sooner?|last=FOX|website=KRIV|date=September 4, 2017|access-date=2019-09-01}}</ref>  Lakewood spokesperson Don Iloff later described floodwaters as one foot from spilling over the facility's floodgate and surging into the building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/megachurch-hurricane-harvey-lakewood_n_59a60e8be4b00795c2a28e87|title=Inside The Megachurch Accused Of Closing Its Doors During Harvey|last=Lohr|first=David|date=2017-08-29|website=HuffPost|language=en|access-date=2019-09-01}}</ref> He also stated that pictures showing Lakewood free of flooding were taken on Monday, after the flood waters had lowered.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-joel-osteen-megachurch-harvey-victims-20170830-story.html|title=Joel Osteen pushes back against accusations he closed his megachurch to Harvey victims|last=Phillips|first=Stephanie Kuzydym, Kristine|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=July 27, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.inquisitr.com/4469615/joel-osteen-responds-to-criticisms-over-closing-lakewood-church-amid-hurricane-harvey/|title=Hurricane Harvey Flood: Joel Osteen Didn't Turn People Away, Says There Was Safety Issue At Lakewood Church|date=August 31, 2017|work=The Inquisitr|access-date=July 27, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

Osteen disputed the claim that flood waters closed the church, saying "the church has been open from the beginning," and, "[w]e've always been open ... How this notion got started, that we're not a shelter and we're not taking people in is a false narrative."<ref name="Tribune" /><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/08/29/we-were-never-closed-joel-osteens-houston-megachurch-disputes-claims-it-shut-its-doors/ |title = Joel Osteen calls claim he shut church doors on Harvey victims 'a false narrative' |newspaper = The Washington Post |access-date = September 9, 2017 }}</ref> This contradicted his earlier statement that the church would open when other refugee centers were full.<ref name="Tribune" /><ref>{{cite web |url = http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/29/joel-osteen-opens-his-megachurch-for-shelter-after-video-showing-it-empty-6888322/ |title = Pastor opens his megachurch for shelter after video showing it empty |first = Oliver |last = McAteer |date = August 29, 2017 |website = Metro |access-date = September 9, 2017 }}<br />{{cite news |url = http://heavy.com/news/2017/08/joel-osteen-wikipedia-summary-trolled-vandalized-hurricane-harvey-lakewood-church-photo-screenshot/ |title = PHOTO: Joel Osteen's Wikipedia Trolled Over Church's Response to Hurricane Harvey |last = Prince |first = S.J. |date = August 29, 2017 |work = Heavy.com |access-date = September 9, 2017 |language = en-US }}</ref> On the evening of August 28, it was announced by Lakewood that it would open at noon the next day as an available shelter to storm victims and emergency personnel, which it did.<ref name="Tribune" />

On August 15, 2018, less than a year after Harvey struck, the City of Houston and Mayor [[Sylvester Turner]] proclaimed a day in honor of the assistance of Lakewood and Osteen in rebuilding efforts across the Houston area.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://abc13.com/society/joel-osteen-honored-by-city-of-houston-for-post-harvey-help/3957138/ |title = Joel Osteen honored by city of Houston for post-Harvey help |date = August 14, 2018 |work = ABC13 Houston |access-date = August 15, 2018 |language = en-US }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2018/08/14/300096/lakewood-church-receives-mayors-proclamation-for-harvey-support-after-initial-criticism/|title=Lakewood Church Receives Mayor's Proclamation for Harvey Support – After Initial Criticism {{!}} Houston Public Media|last=Martin|first=Florian|date=August 14, 2018|work=Houston Public Media|access-date=August 15, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Other ===
In 2011, Osteen and Lakewood Church were sued by the band [[The American Dollar (band)|the American Dollar]] for copyright infringement.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/joel-osteen-church-sued-by-band-for-3m-54585/|title=Joel Osteen, Church Sued by Band for $3M|newspaper=Christian Post|last=Perkins|first=Joseph}}</ref> A judge in 2012 ruled in favor of Osteen.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/news/joel-osteen-and-lakewood-mostly-win-copyright-suit-filed-by-indie-duo-6726800|title=Joel Osteen & Lakewood Mostly Win Copyright Suit Filed by Indie Duo|newspaper=Houston Press|date=February 21, 2012|last=Connelly|first=Richard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906031846/http://www.houstonpress.com/news/joel-osteen-and-lakewood-mostly-win-copyright-suit-filed-by-indie-duo-6726800|archive-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>