I like Joel. I admit to being one of the old geezers not in the greatest health. Joel's inspirational ministry is popular among us guys.
The mega churches are simply taking up where the main line denominations left off. I am one who believes the main line has been intentionally subverted by counter reformationists, who infiltrated the churches with one world government leftists. The Presbyterians and the Lutherans seem to take turns at seeing who can lose members fastest. The Lutherans took a 500,000 member hit, recently, over one issue in one six month period. They have gone from around 5.5 to under 2.0 I think.
The thing we should be looking out for, in this free country, is not the great success of prosperity churches, but the rise of another kind of church -- the ones that remind us of the New World Order: Cults. Very centralized and dictatorial global organizations. Those that preach the one and only true collection box. The ones who are always harping on the poor and pointing the finger at the well to do. Those are the ones I would be looking at.
When it gets right down to it, Joel and Victoria Osteen preach the American way, one nation under God. Other churches should get a clue. Maybe then Lakewood wouldn't have it all. After all, seats 18,000, six services on the weekend, that's a dollar per attendee to get to sixty grand.
I tune in to Joel and Victoria on Serius XM channel 6. Four or five times a week. My passion and hobby is playing and singing old hymns. I find my singing voice has improved considerably, listening to Joel Osteen. Not only is my phrasing more direct and powerful, by my tremolo, you know, voice quaver, is much stronger and more effective as a result of my letting go, trusting in God that my destiny will be fulfilled if I should only trust God put my soul in His hands. Voice tremolo is like a flag in the wind. Notice the flag doesn't just stand straight out in the wind, but it flaps. Unless the wind is blowing ninety miles an hour. The vocal chords yield to the wind to a certain point, then they automatically recover their original shape. This goes on with frequency. The result is what is called tremolo and you can't force it. Musicians consider it a sign the singer is doing something right.