Give Joel Osteen a break!
A Guest Post Because I Just Can't Finish My Own Essays
By: Robert Hunter
(In the spirit of different points of view, here is one from my friend Bob)
Forget what you’ve heard. Set your biases aside and just listen. I recently tuned into a podcast featuring Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. He reaches millions online and leads one of the largest churches in the country. The podcast is found here:
There’s no denying that Joel draws plenty of criticism—most of it aimed at his theology, which, to be fair, I also find somewhat shallow. But that’s not the angle I want to take here. It’s an easy critique, and frankly, not the most interesting one.
Instead, I want to approach this from a different perspective. Maybe it’s time we cut Joel a little slack, and here’s why.
Whether you admire Joel Osteen or question his theology, one fact stands on its own — the man chose to stop collecting a salary and fund his life through the marketplace instead. According to the interview, he’s a best-selling author, and his books regularly appear on the New York Times best-seller list. He doesn’t need a church salary. Joel has been very open about his income. In a world where trust in religious leaders continues to decline, a pastor who doesn’t need the church’s resources is refreshing. Whatever you think about Joel, at least know that he’s not taking money from the offering plate; he’s working to create content that millions of people pay a fair amount to access. I have no problem with that, only respect.
Does Joel Osteen live a lavish lifestyle? You be the judge. By many accounts, he keeps things relatively modest in the day-to-day. He drives himself to Lakewood Church in a twelve-year-old Audi sedan—hardly the image of excess. There are no yachts, sprawling car collections, or private jets attached to his name, and the Osteens have been known to fly commercial. And flying commercial has not been without its challenges!
His wife, Victoria Osteen, did have a widely publicized dispute with a flight attendant years ago that led to a lawsuit. The claim was that she became verbally aggressive, but the jury ultimately ruled in Victoria’s favor. Situations like that can arise in the close quarters of commercial travel.
Joel and Victoria do live in a large Houston home on a couple of acres within a private, gated community. Given their income from book sales and investments, that level of living isn’t especially surprising. In fact, many people in a similar position would likely make the same choice—for privacy, security, and the well-being of their family. I get it, this comes with the territory. There are a lot of crazy people who would be knocking on your door at 2 AM. So, no judgment there.
Joel’s temperament is another reason we should give him a break. Joel is as cool as a cucumber, both in and out of the pulpit. How do I know? Secondhand, but credible knowledge. A former boss of mine met Joel Osteen in 2014 when I was working for a black car service in Phoenix. Joel and his family were in town for Super Bowl XLIX, and while I was hoping to get the assignment, my boss took that one.
He ended up spending a couple of hours with the Osteens, navigating the chaos of Super Bowl traffic while shuttling them around the city. Despite the delays and congestion, there were no outbursts, no frustration, not even a stray complaint. They were calm, composed, and genuinely pleasant—model passengers. Cooperative, respectful, and generous tippers. What more could you ask for?
Joel has a reputation for maintaining that kind of composure. He doesn’t crack under pressure—no meltdowns, no tantrums, and no drama. Some might say he’s too laid back, though it’s hard to see that as a flaw. Better yet, it is a fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5: 22-23).
Joel Osteen is deeply committed to fidelity in marriage. He and Victoria Osteen have been married for nearly four decades, which places them in rare company. Many of Joel’s peers in the mega-church leadership community have been remarried or have withstood affair accusations. Over the years, there hasn’t been any credible evidence of infidelity or scandal attached to their relationship.
Joel has also consistently empowered his wife, elevating her as co-pastor of Lakewood Church and frequently ministering alongside her. The enduring visibility of their public ministry together speaks volumes. Sometimes the most compelling theology is lived rather than argued. In that sense, Joel’s long-standing marriage to Victoria bears witness to the God they love and serve.
Speaking of Joel’s theology, let’s take a closer look. While many people evaluate him as if he were a pastor or trained theologian, I do not. He has no formal theological education or pastoral training, nor does he present himself as a serious voice in doctrinal matters. There’s little evidence of careful exegesis, sacramental depth, or engagement with historic Christian tradition. For those reasons, I don’t place him in the category of a pastoral leader. He often gets tagged with other prosperity preachers, but he’s nothing like a Kenneth Copeland or Benny Hinn when it comes to the theological fallacies they spew.
So what is he? More accurately, he functions as a motivational speaker, life coach, and Christian counselor. I’ve often described him as the best big brother I never had. He’s consistently encouraging, positive, and non-judgmental. Qualities I’d love to have in a big brother. Suffice it to say, these qualities resonate with millions, and understandably so; the world could use more people like Joel, not less.
Expecting him to meet the standards of a pastor feels misplaced. While he prays and delivers sermons, he does so without the grounding typically associated with pastoral ministry. Are his sermons really sermons in the traditional sense? I don’t think so. That said, his influence doesn’t strike me as particularly harmful. His theological positions are relatively easy to challenge, and he doesn’t seem interested in defending them. In fact, he has no history of being defensive of his content. He delivers it and lets people digest it for themselves. If he represents a theological concern, it’s not a major one.
Several years ago, I reached out to a pastor who was battling deep discouragement and depression. Call it heresy if you want, but I prescribed a steady diet of Joel Osteen—not to refine his theology, but to restore his hope in ministry. Sometimes what we need most isn’t a sharper doctrine, but someone who believes in us and, with a genuine smile, reminds us that things are going to be okay. That’s where Joel excels. He’s the smiley face preacher for a reason.
If I’m worn down and struggling, I’d rather hear from someone who can lift my spirits than from an ivory tower theologian. The most effective encouragers are often those with a simple, grounded faith, and Joel embodies that. He doesn’t complicate things or demand intellectual heavy lifting. He’s straightforward and approachable, and he’s built an audience around lifting people up rather than weighing them down. Many of our churches could benefit from this approach. People need to feel it is possible to have the weight lifted. Does your ministry give people a lift or a letdown?
One more thing—I genuinely admire Joel Osteen’s commitment to a healthy lifestyle. He’s known for eating well and staying consistent with his workouts, and it shows. For a man in his 60s, his physique and appearance are impressive. Some people claim he’s been treated with Botox, but I’m not sure about that. Joel has never admitted it. Not a big deal anyway. I’m more curious how he maintains that perfect helmet of hair. One heck of a hair spray brand that’s for sure.
Let’s be honest, religious people don’t always model great habits when it comes to physical health. The track record among many ministers is, frankly, pretty poor, and the example can be discouraging. But Joel breaks that mold. He’s built a home gym, stays active, and plays tennis regularly with his son. A few years back, a photojournalist captured a shirtless beach photo of Joel on vacation in Hawaii, and the dude was ripped!
That kind of discipline is rare, especially in ministry contexts. At 56, I know how much work it takes to stay healthy, and in that regard, Joel is genuinely motivating. I work out, eat healthy, and it takes a lot of effort!
You can criticize Joel Osteen for his theology, his lifestyle, or his role at a megachurch—and some of those critiques may be fair. Joel himself likely wouldn’t push back; he’d probably just shrug it off with a smile and keep moving forward. But before going too far down that road, it’s worth pausing for a moment of self-reflection. Are you doing even a fraction of what he does to encourage, uplift, and help others? And when you think about it, is theological perfection a prerequisite for entering the Kingdom of Heaven? If it is, we might all be in trouble!