Christian Rich Critiques Joel Osteen’s Approach to Preaching
Country singer and publicist Christian John Rich recently shared his views on Lakewood Church’s pastor, Joel Osteen, suggesting he avoids discussing end times topics to keep the congregation comfortable.
“Today’s churches, well, they seem hesitant. I mean, they don’t really want to preach about the End Times. A few do, but not many. Joel Osteen? He definitely isn’t going to talk about that. It would make everyone uneasy on some level,” Rich remarked during an appearance on the “Shaun Ryan Show” podcast earlier this month.
He added that Osteen would never confront the congregation’s conscience or deliver hard truths about heaven and hell, implying that these topics are often omitted from his sermons.
Rich, whose father is a Baptist pastor, criticized Osteen along with other prominent pastors at Lakewood Church in Houston, suggesting they prioritize book sales and merchandise over genuine gospel preaching.
The country musician also touched on themes like the Antichrist, the Mark of the Beast, and the persecution of Christians, referencing passages from Matthew 24, which point to the return of Jesus Christ, according to reports.
“Some Christians—and even some preachers who have criticized me online—say, ‘God doesn’t put us through that.’ But I ask them, would they tell that to underground Christian groups in China facing persecution? What about Christians in Syria? They’re risking everything to practice their faith,” he said emphatically.
Rich continued, “Do we really think we, as American Christians, are somehow superior? No. They show a level of faith that many of us may never understand, risking their lives to worship God. Here in the U.S., we don’t face those kinds of challenges.”
