Dear Joel Osteen: About that “hoax…”
t is very unfortunate that someone would target you for a scandalous internet hoax, making up fake websites and convincing the world that you had decided to resign over your “lack of faith.” Anyone who would put up bogus news sites to look like CNN, Drudge Report, Yahoo and the Christian News Network, not to mention the fake YouTube video and bogus Twitter page in your name is a criminal in my book, and should be brought to justice.
You? Resign from your position because you no longer believe the Bible is true? A lot of people believed it. Heck, even I was taken for a few minutes. Certainly no one could blame you, your family and your church for being upset by this elaborate lie that was obviously designed to harm you.
Here’s the thing though. There are two hoax crimes that have been committed here.
Let me explain:
Amidst the outrage you must be feeling toward this person, he or she appears to have been quite correct in several statements in your now-famous fake quote:
I have been accused of altering the ‘message’ to fit my own doctrine and dogma. Others have accused me of preaching ‘feel good Christianity’. I have also been accused of profiting greatly from my ministry, with my books and television deals.
Pastor, it seems to the world that you have done all of those things. In fact the “jesus” that you preach and write about isn’t the real Jesus of the Bible at all. Just a genie-jesus whom we can control with our spoken words, as though he is just waiting to bless us richly if we would only make the right and positive proclamations.
So my question to you about the hoaxer is this: Inasmuch as this criminal has made up a fake “Joel Osteen” at a great harm to you and your family, haven’t you been doing the same thing to our Lord Jesus and His family? In making up a fake Jesus, haven’t you greatly and eternally harmed those who would follow this false creation of yours?
And finally, have you considered that the real Jesus might actually be outraged enough to bring you to justice?
Please consider repenting, pastor. And if your repentance results in you resigning your position for real and apologizing to those who’ve been deceived by you, it would go a long way toward healing and restoration.
Also See
I quit: Joel Osteen target of elaborate
hoax
