by Sheila Anderson

Created on: December 30, 2008

Joel Osteen is one of the best salesmen I've ever come across. He has that engaging, enticing smile and such a neighborly style of speaking. Throw in an alluring hint of elegance and he's just about irresistible. Listen to him for awhile and you will quickly be consumed by fluff and become immune to substance.

His broadcasts radiate warm concern for for each and every person in his 30,000+ congregation.I don't doubt Joel Osteen's intentions. He most likely truly cares about everyone he speaks to personally and through his broadcasts. However, he is a human being, in one place at one time. Yes, spiritual change can happen without intimate personal interaction, but this is generally not the case.

Jesus connected with many people while He walked this planet. Most were changed by their very personal encounters with Him. Passively watching a television broadcast is in no way similar to what Jesus and His apostles very actively did. Superficial interaction doesn't have the same spiritual impact. This is the unfortunate truth beneath the feel good lie.

If you read the Bible, the gospel was initially set up to be spread through personal relationships. This is still the method through which the gospel is usually given and received. Ask any Christian for their testimony and very few will say they embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ because of a teacher they watched on TV. Someone personally shared and they received. Before television this was the only way it was done. First Jesus, then dedicated people, now referred to as the twelve apostles, walked and talked to share the gospel. More and more people continued doing this and it worked. The success rate was huge. The gospel spread worldwide.

I'm sure Joel Osteen desires to be a success in the eyes of God. He truly wishes to share the gospel and is using every available technology to do so. What he doesn't realize is that technology will never substitute for humanity.

He will be rewarded for every person he's personally touched just like the rest of is. He'll hear about every person he's somehow personally influenced to respond to the gospel, just like the rest of us. I'm sure in this regard he has done a great deal, perhaps more than the rest of us.

Joel Osteen is selling. Lots of people are buying. He is preaching what sells on the airwaves. He's on stage, filming a commercial for the gospel, but fluff remains fluff. Substance is a little harder to find.

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