We are with a group of people and someone mentions Joel Osteen.
Secretly, we like to listen to him, but why are we so tempted to nod when someone says he is a money grubber, a gaudy TV preacher, a con-man? If we are in a group of Christians, it is easy to criticize Joel for not being hard on sin. Why do we get sucked into the frenzy of holy criticism?
Why is it we are pulled by the riptide to say something bad about others?
Maybe because the devil wants our help.
In the first chapter of Job, the devil had free access to the throne of God. He would walk around the earth, take notes of what people did and run straight to the throne to accuse them day and night. But Jesus threw the bum out of heaven. His direct access is cut off. Nevertheless, the enemy knows Christians have direct access to the throne. So, if he can get us to accuse, curse or judge our brothers and sisters, his work is done.
By the way, my son Andrew Jr. works for Joel, and I think he is great.
Here are some points about Joel that you might not know:
- He does not take a salary from the Church. He makes money from book sales.
- What you see on TV is not the whole church. There are discipleship ministries and so many other things going on inside the church that you will never see on TV.
- He is always directing people to local churches nearby to where they live.
- He is a great boss to my son.
About Team McMillan:
In 1994, the McMillan family traveled to the kidnapping, murder, and drug capital of the western hemisphere to plant a church and a foundation. God thought Medellin, Colombia a good place to raise a family. And turns out He was right (as He usually is). It became a very large family: The church, Comunidad (Community), is now the largest church in Medellin with over 8,000 members, the Foundation, Viento Fresco, cares for over 150 high risk children, and a non-profit coffee shop, New Hearts Cafe, serves cups of caffeine and the love of Jesus to thousands of college students.
God is doing so much in Medellin, and we write about here on the Teammcmillan.org blog!
- Do not forget to check out Andrew´s new book, The Safest Place on Earth,
- And think about supporting us and Mission South America via Paypal. (We need help)
TEAM MCMILLAN 
Excellent post ps Andrew i like to much listen his preaching, he is a good man