Joel Osteen Pays Off $100 Million Debt



Joel Osteen is an unapologetic advocate of what is called the prosperity gospel. He explains that people come to his church and rallies because they want to hear something uplifting. He is consistent in advocating racial and LGBT+ equality. Now he has paid off the $100 million spent to buy and remodel a sports arena in Texas. It took less than 20 years. 

I've read that most churches, like Osteen's, are not owned by a congregation. They are owned by the preacher him/herself. Osteen's story of going to the bank along with his father for a loan leaves the conclusion he owns the enterprise. A church Board did not go to the bank. On a "celebrity net worth" site Osteen's worth is estimated to be between $60 million and $110 million. Perhaps this uncertainty is lack of knowledge about the corporate ownership of the church enterprise. If he owns most or all of the church business and his cash flow continues to be stratospheric the $110 million might underestimate his net worth.

There are other prosperity gospel church businesses like Osteen's that are doing well. While the definition of prosperity gospel is not rigid estimates of its membership say the numbers are growing. I don't know how to summarize all of the messages in this genre, but Osteen's is "Jesus wants you to do well." The message of conservative Christianity is "Don't sin. If you do you are going to hell." It's not a mystery why the Osteen version of Christianity is growing and the other declining. 

Some years ago, Osteen's father was the enterprise's preacher. Joel managed the presentation such as the TV cameras, music and drama of the event. The father died suddenly. There was no successor and Joel had never considered preaching. He did not attend any seminary. 

One can imagine the family panic when father died. The family owed millions for the auditorium. Payments were due. Probably someone said, "Joel, you have to step up and give it a try." Joel knew little to nothing about theology but knew a lot about how to present and manage church theater. It turned out "church" was about the theater not the theology. 

While I don't like Joel's message, "Jesus wants you to be a success" because there is no Jesus, mostly  his shtick is entertainment and not accusing people of sin. People enjoy his show. He is not lying about abortion or hell. That's why he, not Bible-based branches, is the future of Christianity.

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