Will the real Joel Osteen please stand up... Respected Evangelical Pastor of a Texas mega-church? Popular Christain speaker and writer? Or purveyor of a message so watered down, it's hardly recognizable as the Christian Gospel, and thus becomes no gospel at all? Who is the real Joel Osteen?

Mike Spencer at InternetMonk is on a campaign to Out Joel Osteen. Mike also is challenging the Evangelical Blogosphere to join in the expose'. Spencer is not just ranting and raving. He has links to a number of articles where Joel Osteen in his own words, or lack of words as the case may be, speaks for himself. In pondering some of those interviews, I found myself asking if Osteen would even confess to those fundamental doctrines as articulated in the Apostle's Creed. Maybe he would, but you would not necessarily know it from what he says in those interviews. Don't take my word for it. Check out the resources Spencer has made available, and draw your own conclusion.

I've always been skeptical of the "mega-church self-esteem" stuff, so it's easy for me to be skeptical of Osteen right from the get-go. What's scary is Osteen's own words play down some fundamental gospel truths. Where is the preaching of the cross, Joel? Where is the preaching of Christ crucified that is a stumbling block to some, and foolishness to others? (I Corinthians 1:22-24)

Solo Christo,

~ The Billy Goat ~